25. Chapter 25

Fifteen minutes after the proprietor appeared, the chef

entered, “Everyone, dinner is served!”

“Oh no and I had really wanted to give Crystalandra and Argo

their gifts!” Rangerkitty exclaimed;

Tygra smiled while navigating her towards the long buffet table that was set

up. “You’ll get your chance after the

dinner…Do you see Argo over there?” He

pointed towards the Tiglon who had made certain he was first in line to

eat.

“Yes…Oh…I see what you mean.” She couldn’t help but laugh over the Tiglon’s

eagerness to chow down. He was busy

piling his plate up with everything he could lay his hands on with Crys looking

on in dismay!

“Do you think there will be any food left after he is

finished?”

“From the look of things we’ll be lucky if we manage to get

any table scraps!” And he burst into

laughter.

Standing in the buffet line ahead of Tygra and Rangerkitty,

Galina was chatting animatedly to Bengali pleased as punch with her gift; she

twirled the charm on its chain admiring the way it sparkled in the light.

“I am going to treasure this gift always!” She gushed.

“I really never expected Ranger would give me something as unique as

this!”

“Uh huh…” Bengali

answered not quite listening to his companion’s excited chatter—his attention

was diverted eyeballing Crys’ revealing outfit—she was bending forward over the

selection of meats trying to decide what she wanted.

“Ben?”

“Yeah…nice…babe…I am in total agreement with you…”

“Benny?”

“Hmmmmm?”

“BENGALI!” Galina

shouted tugging at her white curls in irritation. “You haven’t heard one single word I have

said to you!”

He gave her a sheepish look, “Y-yes of course I have

hunny!” He stuttered. “I heard everything…”

“All right lover boy…If you have been listening, what did I

say?”

The white tiger gulped.

“…You were talking about the weather?

Honestly Gali I’m sorry…My mind was uh…preoccupied…”

Galina jabbed her mate unkindly in the ribs with her elbow,

“Yeah, I bet it was! It was preoccupied

with a certain half breed she-cat with leopard spots!”

“Not at all!” Ben

began to sweat, “I was thinking how Crystalandra pales in comparison to your

beauty…No one can hold a candle to you dearest!”

“Nice try…” She

snorted and cut out of her place in line to stand beside the Tiglon who was

attempting to balance three full plates of food in his large hands. “Hey handsome need some help?”

Argo smiled, “Ah Galina—perfect timing! Would you mind grabbing those four plates

over there for me?”

“That’s a lot of food even for Crystalandra…Has she gone off

her diet?” The tigress joked.

“It’s not for her—they’re all mine. Crys has already taken back six plates for

me.”

Galina shook her head in amazement. “Wow—you can really eat!”

“I’m starving!”

Sighing, the white tigress took the Tiglon’s meals and

traipsed ahead of him towards a private table where Crystalandra sat

waiting. And Galina being the tease that

she was put an extra wiggle in her step hoping to entice a reaction out of the

huge he-cat. A quick peak over her

shoulder, however, made her stop for Argo was far more interested in the food

than in her! He was salivating profusely

licking his chops at the prospect of eating ogling his plate.

Damn it! Perhaps if she were to smear barbeque

sauce all over her persons the Tiglon would take more notice of her! Galina mused grinning mischievously over the

idea…But seriously would she chance it with Crystalandra? Most likely not…

“Thanks for your help Gali.”

“You’re most welcome…”

The white tigress hastily replied.

“Enjoy your…er feast…Hi Crystalandra…”

The Tiglon busily

arranged his plates and tucked in once he made himself comfortable in his

seat. Crys’ deep purple eyes coolly

regarded Galina, “You had better run along and get your food before all of the

prime choices are gone.”

“I guess I’ll leave you two alone since Argo has taken up

all of the available room at the table…We’ll be sitting across from you.”

The Sh’iar queen nodded absently, “Wonderful.”

Rangerkitty tapped Galina on the shoulder, “Hey Gali, come

on—Ben wants to know what you want added to your plate.” And she pulled the white tigress along with

her.

All throughout dinner, Galina watched feeling her jealousy

rise each time Bengali’s eyes wandered to especially admire the view of

Crystalandra’s open front dress. When

the meal ended, the white tigress decided that she had had enough and made the

decision to confront the hybrid.

“This is something I should have taken care of a long time

ago.” She muttered to herself marching

over to where Crystalandra stood perusing a tray of after dinner treats.

“Crys we need to talk.”

Galina stated without preamble; the she-cat raised an eyebrow, “Ah there

you are, yes we do.”

After scanning the area to make certain Argo wasn’t nearby,

Crys took Galina by the arm leading her away from the festivities towards a

side room. “I don’t know what's up with you hanging around

Argo.”

Gali placed her hands defiantly on her hips, “And what about

you? I can say the same thing about

you—you’ve been overtly friendly with Bengali!

What’s wrong lost interest in Tygra so now you you are playing at Galina

but I thought I had warned you a long time ago that you may look but not touch

my mate. I have had my eye on you

tigress all weekend and I find you have been making yourself a bit too comfortable

are planning on sinking your meat hooks into my man?!”

“Oh please not you too!

Why does everyone have this silly preconception that I am on the prowl

for their mates?!

Listen Galina, I have no intentions of stealing Ben let alone

anyone else.” The she-cat sighed clearly

annoyed by the tigress’ accusations.

“I just can’t compete with you!” Gali wailed throwing up her hands!

“Wait--Is that what this is all about?” Crys asked stunned. “Why would you even want to?”

“Because men admire you and you always get the attention

that I want!”

“Is that why you have been acting so manic?”

Galina glowered at the hybrid, “I have NOT!”

“Umm…Excuse me but I beg to differ! You have been acting like a complete

nutcase! You nearly got Argo killed with

your stupid antics…In fact from what I have heard you are always suggesting

asinine stunts that endanger people’s lives!”

Crys shook her head, “You are far too irresponsible for a ThunderCat!”

“Oooh listen to the high and mighty Queen of Tymperia!” Galina cajoled, “Just who the hell do you

think you are telling me that?

Crystalandra you’re nothing but a blood thirsty Sh’iar—I don’t know how

a nice guy like Argo wound up with someone as insane as you!”

The she-cats glared daggers at each other; the air seemed to

crackle with the intensity of their fury…

Leaving the restroom, Argo had a chance encounter bumping

into Ranger who in turn was standing in the foyer waiting for Tygra. The Tiglon was pleased to catch her on her

own,

“Hey RK where’s Tygra?”

Her emerald green eyes sparkled at the sight of him. “He and Bengali said they needed to return to

their rooms to get something.”

“Oh? Sounds

mysterious…” He bounced on his

feet. “In any case, I’m glad I caught

you on your own since this will probably be my last chance to see you…”

“Oh Argo…Please don’t say that…” Rangerkitty touched his arm. “I can’t bear the thought of not seeing you

again…With all that has happened I suppose Crystalandra will make it her

mission to keep you away.”

“That is not likely to happen…” The Tiglon took her hand in his guiding her

out towards the patio.

The tigress willingly followed curiosity creasing her

brow. “Argo…What’s wrong? Why have you brought me out here?”

“Ranger…What you told Crys…You know about being in love with

me?”

“Argo…Wait…” She

pressed her hand lightly against his mouth shushing him. “Please…Don’t say another word…There is

really nothing further that needs to be said…I love you in a brotherly

way—nothing more.” The tigress gave a small

laugh. “Isn’t your life complicated

enough with Crystalandra? I don’t want

to make further trouble between you two.”

He chuckled. “It’s

just that you had me worried for a moment…I thought I had let my flirting get

out of hand.”

“Well…You can put your mind at ease.”

“Excellent…Now that we have that settled, I have something

for you.” Reaching mysteriously inside

his jacket pocket, Argo removed a small gift wrapped box. “I wanted to give this to you in private away

from prying eyes…”

Ranger uttered a small gasp of surprise, “What is it?”

“Open it…” Argo urged

watching her face intently.

Taking the box with shaking fingers, the orange tigress

hurriedly unwrapped the thoughtfully decorated box and took a sharp intake of

breath upon seeing what was within…Rangerkitty carefully removed the small

golden glass snow dome, “It’s beautiful!” and rotated it in her hands examining

the delicate handiwork.

“Shake it…”

“What?” She asked

somewhat baffled by his request. “Why

would I want to do that?”

“Watch this…” He said

mysteriously and chuckling the Tiglon removed the ornament from her hands and

shook it; Rangerkitty crowed with delight, “It’s snowing!”

“Yep and if you turn this little wind up key on the side it

plays a tune.” Argo demonstrated and he

began to sing along with the music…

December will be

magic again

Don’t miss the

brightest Star

Kiss under Mistletoe

I want to hear you

laugh

Don’t let the mystery

go now…

Ooh dropping down in

my parachute

The white city, she

is so beautiful

Upon the Black-soot icicled

roofs

Oh see how I fall

See how I fall

(Fall!)

Like the snow….

Rangerkitty clapped with delight, “Argo that was simply

wonderful! Was that song taken from one

of your old Earth music collections?”

He nodded. “The

melody is actually an excerpt from my favourite singer, Kate Bush—‘December

Will Be Magic Again…It seemed fitting in this case.’

“It’s beautiful Argo really it is…I don’t think I will ever

forget this Winter Solstice…” The orange

tigress was prepared to say more but was interrupted when she heard angry

shouting emanating from the pool area!

“What’s going on?”

The Tiglon’s normally handsome features grew stormy as he

concentrated on the ruckus; his pale eyes faded then sharpened, “Gods and

Goddesses Crystalandra and Galina are having it out!”

“WHAT?” RK grasped

Argo’s arm, “We’ve got to stop them!”

“You’ve got that right; Crystalandra will shred Galina to

pieces!”

Bengali and Tygra returned in time only to see people

rushing towards the pool.

“Hey, what’ happening?”

Tygra asked following Rangerkitty who was chasing after Argo.

“Crystalandra and Galina are fighting—we’ve got to stop

them!”

Bengali slapped his forehead. “The fun never seems to end around here…Happy

Winter Solstice.”