Chapter 12 (Ocicat)

The leader of the Ocicat clan sighed as he awaited word of his daughter. Shaking his head he knew she wasn’t reckless picking her time to strike. The thing was it had been 3 mintons with still no word good or bad. He knew in his heart she was probably dead, as the ramifications of that thought weighed heavier on him. If indeed she was gone then the clan was doomed.

A small female entered the clan meeting chamber. Looking around she saw the leader sitting at the center of the room. The look of pain was more than apparent on his face. Sighing the female knew she’d have to wait for a while before she could approach the leader. Even with the news she had she dared not try to talk to him in open chamber. She just hoped that the news she had would help to save his daughter and the clan.

The leader looked up when he felt an old familiar presence in the room. What in the world was she doing here? She had been ostracized almost 3 quants ago. If anyone of the clan detected her she would be dead within no time. What in the name of the great feline was so important that she’d risk her life like this?

The leader arose heading for his private chambers. It was the only place that they could talk privately. Stepping in he left the door open walking to his desk.

“I’m not sure why you are risking your life coming here. What could be so important that you would tempt death?” The leader said before he sat.

“Contrary to what everyone has said about me, I do still care about my family, brother.” The small female replied.

“So you say but your past actions do not hold to that. Again I ask, why are you here risking your life.” The leader questioned.

“I saw my niece taken prisoner, the swordsman had exceptional skill. He wore the emblem of the king, the emblem of a first knight of the realm!” The female told the leader.

Shaking his head the leader thought yes, it would take someone of that much skill to take his daughter. “When did this occur?” The leader asked.

“Not more than a half toton ago.” The leader’s sister said.

Shaking his head again the leader stood. “I must check this information, if it is true you may have a low place in the clan again. I wouldn’t place much faith in it but it may happen. I suggest if it does you not squander this second chance.”

The leader’s sister had a shocked look on her face as she hissed, “I did not do this to regain the clan, and I care about my niece. If I am still an outcast so be it, I care not. I only care about my niece, and you my brother.” This last was whispered with a touch of love in her voice, then she was gone.

She still has all the skills the leader thought. Rubbing his whiskers he began to wonder if she was really guilty of the things she’d been accused of. If she had spoken out against the charges he might have been able to do something. She had remained silent, again he thought something was going on, a wicked smile crossed his face. Yes something was going on behind the scenes and he was damn sure going to find out!

Bill walked slowly toward the palace Twitty, Gleena, and Niaco all around him. Damn it he hated feeling so weak. As Henna Glac had advised him though, the poison was one of the deadliest and fastest acting. It was also one of the longest to recover from. She had told him that he was only the second she had ever heard that had lived through the poison and the full effects of the cure. Bill was still shaking his head about what she had said, he was obviously powerful to have survived the cure!

Grimacing Bill thought about the upcoming coronation. With a groan he sat in a chair inside the door. He had no desire to be crowned the king as of yet. Unfortunately the outer planets of the realm were forcing his hand, as it seemed was his uncle.

Glenna, Twitty, and Niaco rushed to his side as he sunk into the chair. “Mate!” All three yelled as he leaned against the back of the chair. All three were immediately taking out their comms. calling for the Doctor.

“We would never forgive ourselves if anything else happened to you!” A concerned Twitty told him.

“We both should have been with you when you went to bed!” Glenna said as she purred rubbing her face on Bill’s paw.

“It would have made protecting you that much easier,” Niaco added as she rubbed Bill’s neck.

“I needed sleep my mates, had any of the three of you been with me in the room that wouldn’t have happened. I want Kitts some day but not this soon! I know all three of you have a very strong desire for kitts, and that was why we were in separate rooms.” An exacerbated Bill told them as they each showed mock shock on their faces.

“We’re sorry mate but you are quite a handsome male. I envy Twitty as she has seen you unclothed many times. Even if it was in her pure feline form and your pure human form.” Glenna said as her purring increased in volume.

“I would have loved to have gazed upon that Twitty.” A loudly purring Niaco said.

Twitty was at his other side rubbing her face on his other paw. “It is quite different than his full form Glenna, Niaco, though still quite powerful and handsome.”

“Enough!” Bill tried to roar, then groaned as the effort had him feeling weaker. Sinking lower into the seat all three of the females were a flutter around him.

Suddenly a voice behind all of them from the doorway made the females freeze. “Please back away from him so I may check my patient. That is unless you wish for me to sedate you also!”

Quickly all three of the females slowly backed away from Bill as Henna Glac advanced shaking her head. Some females really! She thought. One might think that they were sex starved and desperate! Kneeling she started her examination peeking quick glances at the pacing and anxious female mates of Bill.

Bill’s head was starting to pound when Henna knelt at his side. Here he thought his strength would prevail in the end for a quicker recovery.

Looking at the furrowed brow of Bill she could almost guess what he was thinking. “I think I know what you are thinking,” Henna started. “In almost all cases you would be right, your strength would prevail. I’m afraid though, that in this case it is your great strength that is your savior and your worst enemy.”

Henna watched as Bill got a questioning look on his face, “My worst enemy? Ok Doc that is a first if I have ever heard it!”

Nodding Henna explained, “This is a unique and rare poison. Your great strength helped your body to defeat it and survive the cure. In the mean time though, It was your great strength that the cure fed off of. The fact is because you are so strong, the cure was that strong. Consequently the cure took ALL of your strength when it fended off the poison. I am afraid it will be a few more days before you are even near where you were.”

“So I take it as soon as I am stronger, I will need to start working to build up my strength?” Bill asked.

Henna thought about it a moment then said, “yes, though I suggest that you not try to overdo it at first. I’d hate to have to sedate you again because you have pushed far harder than I think you should. Remember you are strong, far stronger than any I have ever seen but you can push too far to the point of collapse. If that happens I will have you restricted to bed for a week with a guard posted watching your every move. Do I make myself clear?”

Bill a half smile on his face snapped as good a salute as he could, “yes sir!”

His mates all snickered behind Henna, as Roth had walked in a moment before and had a wide smile on his face. “You had better watch yourself sire. You know how sneaky these Doctors can be. Or have you forgotten she got you, me, and her mate?”

This of course started Bill’s mates snickering harder, “Serves the three of you right,” Niaco said as she started to laugh. “Had you listened in the first place, then she wouldn’t have had to take such extreme measures!”

Henna had to smile she was glad that the king elect’s mates were on her side. Then again she thought as she looked at Roth, she would have loved to try her skill against the knight. She was after all a clan leader’s daughter, what better way to see?

They all finally got Bill to his room though this time all three of his mates insisted and won the argument to place small cots in the room. Bill had thrown up his hands in defeat there was still no denying them as it was also their duty.

They still had three totons before the coronation was to take place. Laying down Bill was actually starting to feel better. Thinking about what the Doctor had said about his strength he wanted to try something. Relaxing Bill let his strength go lax as he did the rest of his body. To his amazement he actually was starting to feel better and better! Ok this was the strangest poison he’d ever heard of.

Bill had been there almost a whole toton when he got a call from the front gate. It seemed that an elder Ocicat clan male was there wishing an audience. Bill allowed it having all four of his knights to search the male then his mates when he entered.