Another year passes by, and a lot of changes will happen to the Swat Kats. Now, it's 1996. Why is it 1996 there and 1999 here? Think of it as time difference between universes. After all, when I first started these stories, I told you it was about a year after the second season, making it 1995. OK, enough with this babbling. The summary of the story, please! During Jake and Katarina's wedding, a wolf, claiming to be Jake's sister, kidnaps Kari to lure the Swat Kats back to ancient Greece where Razor must train himself to become a full god, not knowing what he is about to do for it. OK, here it goes! Till Death Do We Part By Kari Gilmore Chapter 1: Kat paced back and force in her room down in the hangar while muttering to herself. "'Chance, you know how you always consider Jake like a brother to you? Well, you won't have to pretend anymore in a couple of months.' No. Um... 'You know, this is the perfect year for a wedding, don't you think?' Oh, no, that's terrible. Think, Furlong, think! 'Guys! We got a lot to plan for this year! We have to do things like shopping, and vacationing, plan for a wedding--' Rewo! Hmm... Maybe Jake thought of something." "No, Jake hasn't thought of anything," Jake said, climbing down the ladder to the hangar. "Jake, we gotta tell them. I mean, how would it feel if they found us trying on a wedding dress or a tuxedo?" Kat asked. "Well, I'd feel pretty embarrassed if the guys found me in a dress--" "Jacob!" "I'm kidding! I was just trying to brighten up the room a bit." "Nice try. Look, we could just tell them the truth. It's that simple, right?" "Right. It's just finding the right words." "How about something along the lines of 'Guys, we're getting married'?" "Perfect." Upstairs, Kari, disguised as a kat, was listening to her headphones and humming as she was exercising on a Jane Fonda workout video. "Hear this! All the girl could want was a little attention from a man who's strong and not to mention..." she sang. "What the hell is she listening to?" Chance asked from inside the kitchen. "She told me it was Celine Dion. She says she's the human version of Celine Catton," Buster said, bringing him and the girls a can of milk. "Yeah, and get this: She says that David Litterbin is called David *Letterman* in her world. Can you believe that?" Tigera asked. "Hey, where's Jake and Kat anyway?" Ann asked. "Down in the hangar. Why?" "Just wondering." "Lady, treat her like a lady. You'll make a good girl crazy if you don't treat her like a lady!" Kari continued singing in the background. Chance looked back at her and sighed. "She must have some kind of pestering power, because she seems to get on my nerves every so often." He opened the can of milk, and it squirted in his face. Kari entered the kitchen with a smirk on her face. "I can hear pretty well with the headphones on, Chance," she said, gently patting the miniature keyboard on her left hand. "Oh, *now* she tells me." Chance grabbed a towel and wiped his face. "Good, you're all here," Jake said as he and Kat came out of the hangar. "Hi, guys. What's up?" Kari asked. "We have something we need to tell you guys," Kat said. "Don't tell us you're pregnant again," Tigera said. "No! You want to tell 'em or should I?" Kat asked Jake. "I'll tell 'em. Guys... Kat and I are getting married." "Oh, Kat, Jake, that's wonderful!" Ann said as she, Tigera, and Kari came up to Kat and hugged her. "Hey, Jake, we're gonna be in-laws! Now you'll really be my little brother," Chance said as he and Buster gave Jake a high-five. "Man, we got ourselves a wedding to plan. This is so cool! I always wanted to sing at a wedding," Kari said. "Oh, puh-leez, Kari. It should be a day of happiness, not a day to be covering your ears and yowling," Chance said. Kari hissed and motioned her fingers on some of the keys on the keyboard. "What? You can't take a joke?" She growled and removed her paw. "No." "Leave her alone, Chance. She just happens to be a very talented singer. She was in middle school show choir once. She would've made high school show choir if she had a ride to get to rehearsals in the mornings," Ann said. "Thanks, Ann," Kari said. "Well, we got a lot of planning to do. We got a few months to get everything ready," Jake said. "C'mon, girls. Let's go shopping," Kat said, grabbing her purse. "You read my mind! I got about 150 bucks to blow anyway," Kari said, grabbing her purse. "How'd she get her paws on that much cash?" Buster asked. "Birthday and Christmas money." Chapter 2: While at the mall, Kari was in Camelot Music looking for some good wedding songs. "Ah, so many choices, so little time. Hmm, 'Two Candles'. Mom and Aunt Sharon sang that at Aunt Pam's wedding. I'll save this one." As she stood up with a small pile of sheet music, she bumped into a kat. "Oh, excuse me. Jeff?" "Hi, Kari. Still in the fur, I see," the kat said. "Jeffrey. No one is suppose to know that I'm really a h-u-m-a-n. They don't even know what one is. So, they would consider me some kind of monster." "I know. But your friends know, right?" "Yes, but I know them better than you and I'm not too sure you can keep a secret." Then she started walking away. Jeff followed her. "Hey, you can trust me. I actually care for you. I mean, after that night..." "Are you talking about the mistletoe? If you are, there was no real meaning to it, it was just a tradition." "Well, that came to mind. But I was talking about us and the Swat Kats." "Look, Jeff, I have a lot of shopping to do. Katarina's getting married and we have a lot to do in a few months so if you don't mind..." "Do you need someone to help you get around? I mean, you're new around here and I don't see your friends anywhere around. And it would just be as friends." "Well... Just as friends. I'll go pay for these and you can come along." When they got out of the store, Kari asked, "By the way, who are *you* here with?" "No one. I drove here." Jeff went ahead of her when she stopped in her tracks. "Hmm, cute, mature, my age, *and* he has a car. The perfect boyfriend. Damn, I finally find a guy I actually *like* and he's not even my species." Then she walked after him. A few months later. Katarina is in front of a full-length mirror while she was putting on her wedding dress. "Katarina Lynn Furlong-Clawson. That's a mouth-full. Katarina Clawson. It's going to take some getting used to." She looked at the claw scars over her left eye and spoke in Latin. Suddenly, the scars disappeared. "Won't have to worry about them for awhile." Then came a knock on the door. "The door's open," she said. In the mirror's reflection, she saw Chance entering the room. "Me-yow. Katarina, you look beautiful. Just looking at you makes me want to get down on one knee and propose to Tigera," he said. "Why don't you then?" "Ah, she doesn't feel the same way about me." "What are you talking about? What about all those times you were together kissing? I saw you kissing her on Christmas. I thought you two were still an item." "Well, I'm not sure if she still loves me." "I didn't know Jake loved me three months ago and look at me now. You can always ask." "True. Well, you just finish getting ready and I'll be on my way." Kat nodded and Chance left. In Jake's room, he was looking out of the window. "Don't you even think about it, Jake," Chance said as he entered the room. "No, I wasn't thinking about it, Chance. I was just... Thinking." "About what?" "Well, what'll happen when we get married? What if Kat and I actually decide to raise a family on our own? I never had a father to show me how to raise one." Chance came up to Jake and put his paw on his shoulder. "Jake, your dad's a god. You know he would be busy and never have time for one of his sons." "I-- I know, Chance. But I still wish he could see this." "I'm sure he'd be as proud of you as I am, Little Brother." "Thanks, Chance." "Well, I'll let you get ready and then we can start." Then Chance left. Outside, all of the guests were being seated. "Oh, always a bride's maid, never a bride," Tigera said. "Oh, cry me a river," Kari said, pinning a rose on her sweater and walking past her. "Why should I? The guests will do all the crying." Then organ music was playing. "Show time." The flower girl came walking down the aisle, dropping flowers as she walked. The ring bearer came up behind her, holding a pillow with two rings on it. Kari walked over by the organ player and picked up her music. The Maid of Honor and the Best Kat, Tigera and Chance, came walking down the aisle and stood on the opposite sides of the altar. The bride's maids and groom's kats walked up next to them. Then Jake came walking down the aisle and stood next to Chance. "Nervous?" Chance whispered. "Nervous as Hell," Jake replied, clearing his throat. Then the "Wedding March" played. The guests stood up as Kat was lead down the aisle by her father, Michael Furlong. Jake smiled tenderly as she was lead down the aisle. Then she came to the altar. She took Jake by the arm, but her father would not let go. Smiling, she said through her teeth, "Let go, Father." "Sorry," Michael said, releasing her. "You should be." The minister cleared his throat and opened his book. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to bring this kat and this she-kat together in holy matrimony." Then Kat's ears twitched and she turned her head away from the minister. "Katarina, please pay attention." "How can I when I hear something that's bent on destroying us?" she asked. "What are you talking about?" Ann and Tigera looked over at Chance and Buster on the other side. "Father, she's rarely wrong about things like this," Jake said. Tigera squinted her eyes and used her x-ray vision (No, it's not something I ripped off of Superman. Just one of her powers as a god) and saw a wolf walking into the church. Her eyes widen and looked at the others. Kari looked at the guests and then at the kats standing by the altar. "You know, somebody's gotta say it. Somebody's coming down the aisle and it ain't the bride," she said. Jake and Kat looked and saw a wolf howling and running towards them. Jake pushed himself and Kat out of the way just as the wolf reached the altar. The wolf growled and bared its teeth. "Since when do wolves take part in Sunday services?" Kari asked as she took the stand from the altar and started bringing it towards the wolf. "Back, Kujo!" The wolf grabbed the other end of the stand and started pulling it away from Kari. "Boy, you really *are* Kujo. And you're not even a Saint Bernard. Heel, boy!" Then the wolf pulled the stand away from her. She back away as the wolf came closer to her. Kari extended her claws and was about to slash them at the wolf when the wolf grabbed her arm. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the wolf said. The wolf stood on its hind legs and held Kari up in the air. "Put her down, you mutt!" Chance said, marching towards the wolf. The wolf glared over at him and sneered. At that moment, Chance flew back into a potted plant. Tigera rushed over to him. "Don't take me lightly, mortal. I'm not as I appear to be," the wolf said. Suddenly, the wolf started to change. Her muzzle shrunk and the silver hair on her fur coat shortened. On top of her head appeared long red hair with a white streak and she wore a black leather outfit with a black collar around her neck. Tigera quietly gasped and whispered, "Serval." "You know her?" Chance whispered. "Let's just say she's not one of my favorite cousins." "OK, Lady. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Jake asked, keeping Kat behind him. "I am Serval. I've come for you, Jacob Clawson," she said. "Why me?" Serval looked over a the guests and an evil grin spread across her face. "I'd tell you, but then I'd let a certain identity slip and everyone here will know your dark little secret, both of them," she whispered loud enough for Jake and Kat to hear but no one else. "Put me down now!" Kari grunted, trying to get free from Serval. "You heard her. Let our friend go," Kat said. "If you want her back, meet me at MegaKat Harbor at midnight tonight. Otherwise..." Serval extended her claws and placed them inches away from Kari's neck. Kari gasped and panted. "You get the picture. And the reception will be way after midnight. So you two lovebirds have a choice. Either you cancel the wedding or I'll cancel your friend." Then she disappeared into thin air with Kari. Chance, Buster, Ann, and Tigera all came to Jake and Kat. "Are you guys all right?" Ann asked. "We're fine. But she's got Kari," Jake said. "What are we going to do?" Tigera asked. "What *can* we do? We're going to have to postpone the wedding until we get her back," Kat said. Chapter 3: That night, two cars appeared at MegaKat Harbor. Chance, Jake, and Kat stepped out of the first one while Buster, Ann, and Tigera came out of the second one. "Look, I really appreciate you guys coming along, but Serval just wants me," Jake said. "She seems to know that you're a you-know-what and she wants to destroy you. Believe me, you're going to need some back-up," Chance said. "Well, let's hope she doesn't want to destroy anybody. That would ruin the wedding." "Oh, I have no means of destroying you, Katarina, or your husband," Serval said as she appeared from the shadows. "Where's the girl?" Jake asked. "She's safe. I have no use for her. You, however, are different." "Hold on a minute, Serval," Tigera said, stepping forward. "Since when do you get involved with mortals, Tigera?" "Since I became one. What do you want with Jake?" "Well, you know what happened to your sister and her daughter Vitalini." "We try to avoid it." "What about it?" Jake asked. "Well, before Vitalini met her fate, Jake just happened to discover his... Gift." "Yeah. What's your point?" "Well, when your demigodhood was discovered, Daddy sent me to get you and bring you back where you belong." "What are you saying, Lady?" Buster asked. "I can understand her quite clearly. She's saying she wants to bring me back to my father at Mt. Olympus in Ancient Greece," Jake said. "Yes. We need to train you so you can learn to control your powers better, my brother," Serval said, circling Jake. "Listen here, Cousin. If anyone is going to train him about his demigodhood, it's going to be me!" Tigera said. "He needs to learn from his father, not his cousin. Come with me, my brother. You'll finally know the truth about your parents." "I don't know. I don't really wanna leave the team," Jake said. "Oh, they can come along with us. Besides, it'll only take a few days. Although, you're only allowed to bring three of them." "Buster and I will stay and take care of the city," Ann said. "All right then. That leaves me, Tigera, and Katarina to go with Jake," Chance said. "Shall we be off then?" Serval asked. The group nodded. In a flash, they were gone. "You know, she didn't even tell us what she did with Kari," Buster said. "Holy kats, you're right. You know, I remember reading something about the birth of new demigods and it has something to do with a mortal. C'mon, we gotta find that book," Ann said, heading back to the car. Meanwhile in Ancient Greece, Kari was thrown onto the stone floor with her hairpins and hair tie out of her hair. Her short dark brown bangs covered her right eye as she looked up to the shadow sitting in a throne in front of her. "This is no way to treat a guest," she said, getting back to her feet. "Whoever said you were a guest? Or a lady for that matter?" the shadow figure asked. "The Swat Kats are going to find me and they're going to kick your tail, whoever you are." "Why do you think Serval went to capture you anyway? She wanted to bring Jacob back here so we can train him to become a full god and rejoin us on Mt. Olympus." "And why are you so concerned about Jake?" "I have my reasons." "I've heard that before." The figure got out of his throne and came to her. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Don't get smart with me, girl." "Sorry, my mouth has a mind of its own. Wait, why am I apologizing? You're a bad guy!" She kicked him in the leg and ran out the door. "Somebody stop her!" She panted as she ran down the hall. Then she ran into a group of wolves. "And here I thought you were extinct in this universe," Kari said, typing on the miniature keyboard on her hand. Then she pushed "Enter." Suddenly, the wolves started scratching themselves. "Got a bad case of the flea and tick season. Hmm, too bad, so sad." She ran past the wolves and continued down the hall. Suddenly, she heard a loud buzzing in her head. She covered her ears and continued running. Just as she saw the exit, something lashed onto her ankles and pulled her to the ground. She looked and saw a whip lashed itself to her. She looked up to see Serval with the whip in her paw. "So close and yet so far. Sorry, Kitten, but we have plans for you." Kari panted and gulped. Meanwhile back in the future, (hey, great title for a movie, isn't it? ;) ), Ann and Buster were searching through their apartment for the book Ann was speaking of. "You sure it wasn't a library book, Ann?" Buster asked, looking at the bookcase. "If it was, then it's a couple of years overdue. I know I've seen it around here recently," Ann said, looking through the pile of magazines. Then, as Buster sat down on the couch, a thought came to Ann's mind. "Now I remember. I use it to level the couch's leg." She walked over to the couch and lifted it up some. Then she pulled out a yellow book and dropped the couch, causing Buster to fall over. "Alert me when you do that next time," Buster said. "Huh? Sorry, Buster. Now, let's see what page that was on." Ann flipped through the pages and stopped towards the middle of the book. "Here we are. 'With each new demigod trainee that must become a full god, there must be a test to show that he is worthy. For this, there must be a mortal's life on the line. The demigod must--' Oh, my God!" "What is it?" Buster asked. "Get the phoenix gate. We have to go back into Ancient Greece and stop Jake from making a mistake!" "What's happening?" "Kari's life is in danger." Chapter 4: Meanwhile back in the past, Jake and the others were exploring Mt. Olympus. "Interesting place," Kat said. "If you're a god, you've seen it all," Tigera said. "Ah, Swat Kats. Welcome back to Mt. Olympus," Zeus said as he came to the group. "You knew we were Swat Kats?" Chance asked. "Of course. I came to greet the newest god. Hello, Jacob." "What relation would you be?" Jake asked. "Probably an uncle, depending on who your father is," Tigera said. "Who *is* my father anyway?" "There will be time for that in the near future, Jacob. We need to put you to the test that will show you are a true god." "Now hold on, I didn't say I wanted to become a full god." "All demigods must be put to the test, whether they want to become full gods or not." "What kind of test is it anyway?" Chance asked Tigera. "I don't really remember much about these Greek demigod tests. I think he has to kill an animal but I forget what kind," Tigera replied. "Well, does this test have to be done right away? Jake and I kind of want some time to ourselves for awhile," Kat said. "Of course. Take as long as you like. We'll just prepare the test and then wait until you're ready." Later, Jake and Kat were walking paw-in-paw on a near-by beach. "I hate that we had to postpone the wedding for this," Kat said. "I know, but as soon as I complete this test Zeus is making me do, we can go home and get married." Then Kat stopped in her tracks. "Oh, God." "What is it?" "We can't go back." "Why not?" "We still don't know what happened to Kari." Meanwhile, Kari was being chained to a table. As she struggled, she saw the same shadow person walking around the table and looking at her. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Kari asked. "To watch a mortal die is one of my favorite activities," the figure replied. "What makes you think that Jake's gonna do it?" "I have my way of doing things. Let's just say it involves a bit of magic." "Illusions? You're going to trick Jake with an illusion?" "My, what a bright child you are! Too bad that pretty brain of yours is going to waste." "So how'd you convince Zeus to let you do this? I'm pretty sure demigods don't kill someone to become a god." "Maybe in *your* universe, they don't. But in *this* one, they do. Although, we usually do animals. But since it's Jacob, we're going to make an exception." "You're Jake's father." "And what if I am?" "Why would you kill off one of your son's friends?" "You're no friend of his. You're a human, and all kats despise humans, or will in the future." "I think Jake was better off knowing his father was dead." "That's your opinion, not his. And it may be your last." Back with Jake and Kat, they had just gotten into their Swat Kat G-suits and returned to Mt. Olympus. Razor charged into Zeus's throne where he found Chance and Tigera. "Where is she?" "Who?" "Oh, you know who. The girl, where is she?" "I don't know anything about any girl." "How do you expect to fight him, Razor? He's a god, you're a demigod," Chance said. "Not for long. When can I take that test?" "Right now." Zeus clapped his paws and a god pulled a cord that raised the curtain up. Behind the curtain was a stone table where Kari was laying. From what Razor and the others saw, it was just a pig squealing. "You want me to slaughter a pig? Not much of a challenge," Razor said. "Things are not what they seem, Razor. All you have to do is behead the hog and you're a full god," Zeus said, handing Razor a sword. "Weird request, but all right." As Razor came over to the stone table, Kari's heart was pounding. "Razor, what are you doing? It's me! Snap out of it!" she said. But her words fell on deaf ears. Razor now stood over her. Razor saw the pig squealing even louder than before. "I'll make this quick for you." Kari's eyes widened and she panted. Razor raised his sword over his head. "Razor, no!" Chapter 5: Just as Razor was about to bring the sword down onto Kari's neck, a dagger and a boomerang knocked it out of his paws. "What the--?" Chance asked. They all looked to see Boulder and Shera. Boulder stepped forward and caught the boomerang. "Looks like we came just in time," he said. "What are you guys doing here?" Quiver asked. "To stop Razor from making a mistake. Razor, you were about kill Kari!" Shera said. "What are you talking about?" Razor asked. "We found out why Serval kidnapped Kari. They needed a human's blood to begin the life of a new god. And you were about to do it by taking her head!" "Uh, Shera, this is not Kari. This is a pig." "*This* is an illusion. No self-respecting feline would kill a person, but they would kill an animal. That's why they put an illusion on her. Look!" Suddenly, the illusion of the pig faded and Kari was in its place. "Kari! Are you all right?" "If you brought that sword down any further, I wouldn't be able to answer," Kari replied. "Sorry about that, Kitten. What kind of trick is this, Zeus? You tried to make me kill one of my best friends!" Razor said, turning to Zeus. "I had no part in this! That illusion was powerful enough for even me. I don't know how it was done," Zeus said. "You've been trick with the same illusion every time, Zeus! I know who did it! It was that god Shadow!" "Shadow? I don't recall any god named Shadow," Chance said. "He's not a legendary god. He was born mortal until he got a hold of some ambrosia," Tigera said. "Well, then, let's get after him!" Chance and Tigera got into their G-suits, freed Kari, and went to find Shadow. "There he is!" Kari said. He was a black kat in a light brown leather suit. "Serval, take care of them!" Shadow said. As the group came running after him, Serval jumped in front of them. "With pleasure, Daddy," she said. "Daddy?" Razor asked. "That's right, Little Brother. He's your daddy, too." "Great. Now how can I fight him?" "We're dealing with *her* right now, Razor. Haven't you ever heard of 'sibling rivalry'?" Kari asked. "Yeah, I've heard T-Bone and Quiver go at it several times, but they've been at it longer than me." "Don't worry, we won't let you take her on. I have a beef with her," Quiver said. Serval growled and changed back into her silver wolf form. "Oh, so *that's* your game? Well, two can play it." She growled and changed into a black panther. "Where did you pick up that trick?" Serval asked as they circled each other. "Call it a gift that I couldn't return for a refund," Quiver replied. They both growled and started fighting. Kari looked away as she heard the growls and yelling in pain. "I thought I was writing like PG-13 stories. How did it turn into the 'R' rated?" she asked herself. Quiver panted as she circled Serval again, who had a few claw scratches on her body but not bleeding while Quiver was. "You may be a goddess, but I can still do some damage. How'd you like to spend eternity in five pieces?" she asked. "I'm going to make you eat those words, Furlong," Serval said. Quiver's eyes suddenly grew large and glowed red. "And they'll come right back up again. And that reminds me..." She slashed her claws across her face. "That was for kidnapping Kari!" She scratched her again and knocked her down near a cliff. "And that was your father's illusion that almost killed her!" Serval got back up and started to back away, making her fall of the cliff and grab onto the ledge. "And this..." Quiver said, raising her fist in the air where Serval's fingers were. "Is for ruining my wedding." She brought the fist down onto Serval's fingers, making her let go and fall of the cliff. "Quiver! I had no idea you could out-stage a god," Shera said. Quiver panted, "It was personal. She crashed my wedding. And nobody messes with my kat. Now, let's go after Shadow." They started running down the path they saw Shadow run and ended up in a weapon house. "Why do gods need weapons, anyway? Can't they just zap their enemies?" T-Bone asked. "Even gods need extra protection, T-Bone," Venus said. Quiver's ears twitched and she pushed the others to the ground. "Rather pushy today, aren't we, Quiver?" Kari asked. "If I wasn't pushy, you would've almost lost your head again," Quiver replied. They looked to the wall they were standing in front of and saw two swords stuck in them. "Well, I doubt I'd lose my head, but I'm pretty sure it would puncture my neck." Razor got back to his feet and look around. "All right, enough with the fancy magic tricks! Show yourself! Or are you too much of scardy kat to face your own son?" Suddenly, black smoke appeared in front of Razor. They formed into Shadow. "You're no match for me, Jacob. I am a god; I know how to channel my powers to destroy the likes of your mortal friends. You are merely a mortal demigod, a trainee, if you will. You know nothing about *real* power," Shadow said. "Now I wish I had never known you were still alive. I was better off! If not for you, I would be with my wife in a nice hotel on Ana Katta Island!" "That's the way life goes, Son. And it's about time that I took it away from you!" He stole a dagger from the weapons wall and almost slashed it across Razor's chest. Razor ducked and rolled over to the weapons wall. There, he pulled off a sword. "Hmm, he has a dagger and I have a sword. Not very fair, but who the hell cares?" "If I were you, I wouldn't think that I had the upper paw so quickly, Son," Shadow said, pulling out a small vile of red liquid from his pocket. "Is that what I think it is?" Kari asked. "It is if it's hind's blood," Boulder said. Shadow opened the bottle and poured some of the blood onto the dagger. "You'd kill your own son with hind's blood? Now I see why you left my mother," Razor said. "Secret's out. Now, there are eight of us here and only seven are going out alive. Are you any good with math?" "Yeah. One hind's blood dagger minus one god..." Razor used the sword to knock the hind's blood dagger from Shadow's paws. Shadow tried to reach for it, but Quiver kicked his face and knocked him to the ground. Then she kicked the dagger over to Razor's feet. "It's your call, Razor. Let him live, or let him die." Razor picked up the dagger and walked over to his father. "Like I was saying: one god minus one hind's blood dagger equals one less god to worry about." He held the dagger over his father's face, where Shadow's mouth was open for panting. A small bit of hind's blood dripped off the dagger and into his mouth. Then, he closed his eyes and exhaled. Razor's eyes were wide with surprise. "What happened?" "When someone consumes the hind's blood, they die. Usually, gods drink the blood for suicide. But hinds are extinct now. How Shadow got the blood is a mystery to me," Venus said. "I was better off knowing he was dead. I should've known he wouldn't care for me." "The hell with him, Razor. You still got us," T-Bone said. Quiver walked over to Jake and rubbed his shoulders. "Uh, I hate to break up this moment, but don't we have something to finish?" Kari asked. "She's right. We gotta get you two married," Shera said. Later, they were back at the church and back in their dresses and tuxedos. Jake and Kat were exchanging rings while the minister spoke. Kari was over by the organ player with a smile on her face. "With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Jake and Kat faced each other. Jake lifted the veil from over her face and kissed her. Chance and Tigera both smiled at them, then at each other. "I now present for the first time, Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Clawson." The guests applauded while the organ player played. Jake and Kat walked back down the aisle with the bride maids and ushers behind them. That night at the reception, while Kat was walking around and talking to the guests, Chance and Tigera were talking to each other. "So, uh, great wedding, huh?" Chance asked. "Yeah. Those two are going to be very happy together. I feel like that wasn't what was on your mind," Tiger said. "Well, you're right. Just before this whole thing got started, I had a talk with Kat and I want to know something." "All right." "Well, do you still love me?" "What?" "Well, I never thought about it until recently. We haven't really been going at it for a long time and I just wanted to know." "Well, how do *you* feel about me?" "I don't know. I-- I'm still crazy for you, now more than ever when we were in high school. We don't have any secrets to keep from each other anymore and I like that. But now I wish I'd never opened my big mouth." Tigera stood there stunned as Chance turned his face away from her. "Why, Chance Furlong, I had no idea you still cared for me like that. And all this time I thought you only liked me as a friend." "Well, the secret's out," Chance shrugged. Tigera put her paw on Chance's chin and turned his face to face hers. "And so is this." She kissed him. When she released him from the kiss, he was stunned. "Does that answer your question about if I still love you?" Chance nodded. As Kari walked past them, she said, "Almost time for the first dance." "Isn't it also almost time to close this story before they start throwing the garter?" "Hmm... First dance, then closing." As they walked onto the dance floor, Buster asked, "What's the dance number anyway?" "Something Kari brought in. It's called 'From This Moment On.' She says it's going to be a big hit in '98," Ann replied. "We'll just see about that." Jake and Kat got in the middle of the room as the song began to play. Then they began to dance. "From this moment, life has begun. From this moment, you are the one. There is nothing that I wouldn't give from this moment on," the song played. Throughout the song, Ann, Buster, Tigera and Chance watched the Newlyweds kiss. (Imagine if you will the two of them kissing as a heart shape surrounded them, as the picture grew black.) THE END Well, the wedding bells rang and now it's time for the honeymoon. Don't count on *me* being there. ;-) Anyway, if you want to know, the bouquet was caught by me (don't think I'm the next in the family to get married, I caught three real ones before this one and I'm still single.) and Chance caught the garter. (Hums the "Wedding March.") Well, gotta go work on the next story. See ya!