How Did Cats Get Their Fur?- 5: The Victory

“King Nakura,” she hissed.  “So called king of dogs.  Say good bye to the wor---”

“Wait!”  Lyra stepped back as Karen barked out.  “I want to say a few words,” she explained, coming toward her to stand before her felled mate.  “You were a good king, until you were overcome by greed.  You could have led a great army, and became a great legend.  But now, you are a broken soul.  You are what everyone fears.  You may think that is a good thing but it is not.”  Karen paused.  “You have a chance to redeem yourself.  Become a good king, that is all I ask.  Or we must kill you.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Lyra saw Thunder get up and shakily stumble over to stand by them.  “Karen is right,” he mewed.  “Be a good king, or die.  You have done enough evil in this world.”

Nakura grunted.  “No, I am not evil.  There is only power, and those who are too weak to see it.”

Lyra raised her sword.  “And Nakura?” Karen growled.  “I have bore you a pup.  I named her Shakira.  She will be the good ruler of the Doglands.”  And then, with a flash of silver, King Nakura of the Dogs was no more.

The threesome sat down heavily on their haunches.  “Do you really have a pup?”  Lyra asked.

“Yes,” Karen answered.  “She is in the weapons bag.”

“What?” Thunder exclaimed.  He hurried over.  Sure enough, a little pup was there.  

“Woof!” barked Shakira.  “Woof, woof!”

“She wanted to hear the battle,” Karen explained. “I think she likes you!”

Thunder nuzzled the pup.  <She smells nice,> he commented to Lyra.

Lyra purred in amusement.  Suddenly, there was a yelp.  Karen had stepped on one of the cats’ weapons!  But instead of disappearing, she began to glow green, until she morphed into Bast.  “Karen is gone,” Bast meowed.  “You must take care of her pup.  You have completed your mission.”  And suddenly, the cats began to grow fur.

Lyra became a cat with soft flaming orange fur, and paws as white as snow.  Thunder was more coarse haired, and he was striped grey.  All over the country, cats began to grow fur.  White fur, blue fur, orange fur.  There were some longhaired cats and some shorthaired.  Cats began to look beautiful and elegant, and they marveled at the gift that had been given to them.

Meanwhile, Lyra and Thunder were trying to get out of the cave.  After a lot of effort, they made a hole big enough to crawl through, along with little Shakira.

Outside, a battle was raging.  The rebels had turned on Nakura’s faithful army.  Lyra yowled for them to cease fighting.  “Stop!”  The fighting dogs froze and turned around to face the slight creature at the mouth of the cave.  “Nakura has fallen.  He is dead.  He has a pup, Shakira.  She will be your next leader.  You will either join us, or be exiled.  Make your choice.”

Lyra and Thunder watched as slowly, dogs began to leave, until there was only three fourths of the dogs left.  “You are the faithful dogs of the Doglands,” Thunder mewed.  “You will vote for a council that will care for and nurture Shakira until she is old enough to understand she is leader and can make smart decisions.  You will release all the species you have captured.  And the cats have finally gotten our fur.  We are free from Nakura at last!”

At this, everyone cheered, and they began to reorganize themselves.  Lyra left Shakira with one of the young, bright-looking females, and left with Thunder to return home.