Empty Cradle
Chapter 3
By Leanna
The next morning Lion-O went in search of the only lioness at cat's lair. He knew he would find her in the kitchen as her children were getting ready to leave for school.
He stood in the doorway as Snarf was fussing over the two packed lunches he made because the children had unpacked them to see what treats were inside. Lion-O had to chuckle to himself as he remember Snarf being the same way when he was at that age, forever the devoted nanny. As Snarf pulled out a few candy fruit Kale had managed to hide inside his lunch box, Lila quickly hid a few in her jacket pocket.
"Snarf i don't know why you make such a fuss, they're only going to trade their lunches with the other children anyway," Leanna said zippering her son's jacket and grabbing the twins backpacks.
Snarf looked at her slightly horrified, "come on you two, we're going to be late" Leanna said ushering her children out of the kitchen," morning Lion-O," she nodded and she passed the lion.
"Mind if i walk with you?" Lion-O asked
Leanna just shrugged, "sure if you want too, I'm walking the twins to school"
"Walking? Why not take a transport car?" Lion-O asked.
"Don't get out much do you?" the Lioness teased, "beside, these two in a confided space is not something i want to deal with first thing in the morning"
"That bad huh?"
"You have no idea" Leanna said as they headed to the entrance of the lair, once outside the door the twins ran ahead down the steps.
As they started down the side walk Lion-O took noticed of the twins, It was hard to picture Panthro as a child. But the way Kale walked and held himself, he was a smaller version of the panther. Kale was more reserved and almost bashful as they passed other people, he often stuck to his mother's side, only moving a little ahead, when Lilia called to him. Lilia on the other hand was the brash one, greeting the children she met with a wave and a smile, she remind him a lot of Leanna especially with the long dark eyelashes and hair.
"So what's on your mind lion?" Leanna asked as they neared the school.
Lion-O couldn't help but smile a little; Leanna had a way of reading him and knowing when something was on his mind. "Can we talk when you have a free moment?"
"Of course we can, you know I'll always make time for you" the lioness smiled.
Lion-O looked around as the other parents started to stare; it wasn't everyday the king himself was out in public without his thunderguards at his side. But the king took things in stride, he like being out around the people of Thundera; he spent way too much time closed up in his office. A few of the children along with their parents came over and greeted the king. Lion-O smiled his most charming smile and greeted them warmly.
The sounding of the school bell dispersed the small crowd that had gathered, "I do miss being around people," Lion-O said with a note of sadness in his voice, "but the elders have me so bogged down with things, I'm lucky to even get to sleep and eat".
"I've noticed you keep pretty much to your office as of late" Leanna said as they headed back to the lair. "May i ask what has basically turned you into a hermit?"
"More avoidance, then anything Lea...not that I'm trying to avoid you or the other Thundercats...it's the elders I'm trying to keep off my back"
"Oh?" the lioness questioned with arch of a delicate eyebrow.
The lion looked straight ahead as they neared the steps of the lair "That's why I need to speak to you; actually I need to speak with both you and Panthro"
"Ok now you really have me curious lion" Leanna replied a bit perplexed.
"Do you think Panthro can spare some time this afternoon?"
"I can ask him" the lioness nodded.
"Good," Lion-O smiled, "meet me in my office at 2 o'clock" with that Lion-o darted up the steps and went inside the protective walls of their home.
When the lioness arrived at the hanger she wasn't dressed in her normal attire, she wore a tight red and black flight suit, "Hey Panthro, she ready to go?" Leanna called walking towards the newest of the small jet fighters.
"Just about," Panthro called down from the cockpit, "doing some last minute checks"
"Well get a moving I wanna test this bad boy out," Leanna said running her hand over the smooth black metal wing.
"Sorry baby, not today," Panthro said finally emerging from the cockpit of the jet.
"You promised me I could take it out on its first test run" the lioness protested.
"Yes but we're still working out a few bugs with the onboard computer, and I won't let anyone take it up until it's fixed, you know me better then that"
Leanna sighed and set her helmet down on the work bench, "I was looking forward to a flight today"
"Lea honey if you're that bored, let's have more kids," the panther joked.
"I would but you're getting too old to keep up with them," the lioness smirked.
"Old!" the panther's eyebrows shot up," I'll show you who's too old to keep up," he said and grabbed the lioness around the waist and pulled her tight against his chest and playfully bit her neck causing the lioness to squeal loudly.
"I give" Leanna said breathless.
"You surrender yourself to me woman?" Panthro asked looking her straight in the eye.
"For now," She smiled and playfully gave the panther a sound smack on the rump, "Lion-O wants us to come see him in his office this afternoon at 2".
"Really?... did he say why?"
"Nope, just that he needed to speak to both of us... Pan I'm worried, Lion-O has been keeping himself squirreled away in his office for months and Tara has been so distance lately, something's wrong, I can feel it" Leanna replied with a worried tone in her voice.
Panthro kneaded his chin, "well maybe we'll find out this afternoon what's going on".
Later that afternoon just as the clock struck 2 a knock came to the lion's office door. "Come" the lion's voice called bidding his expected guess enter.
As his two friend came into the sanctuary of the Thunderian lords office, the large lion slowed his pacing, he had been pacing for over and hour, trying to come up with just the right words and the right approach to something very personal and sensitive, "Please, sit down," Lion-O smiled trying hard not to show his nervousness.
"Everything alright?" Panthro asked picking up the king's anxiety.
Lion-O stopped and ran his large hand through his thick scarlet mane, "to be honest Panthro..No" he walked over to his desk and picked up a large stack of papers, "Do you know what these are?"
"umm, no," Panthro answered
"Requests for a audience from the elders to see me, "Lion-O said the tone of his voice was that of anger, "I get at least 20 of these damn things a day," he growled and slammed the papers back down on his desk, "why can't they just leave us alone?"
"Lion-O?" Leanna said worried, "what's wrong...why are they hounding you?"
"Even you must know why Lea," The lion snapped, "they want to know why their king has no heir"
"Personally I think they should mind their own damn business," Panthro snapped.
"If it was only that simple Panthro," Lion-o sighed heavily and plopped his body down in the chair.
"Lion-O?...where's Tara..does she know about this?" Leanna asked.
"Yes, she's been through hell over this and it has to stop. I can't put her through this any more Lea, the pain she's had to go through rips right into my very soul" The lion said his ember eyes rimmed with tears.
Leanna got up and walked over to the lion and knelt down at his feet, "What can I do to help?" she asked sincerely, "If it will spare my best friend any more pain, I will do anything. I'll even gather up a few thunderguards and go kick some elder's old wrinkled asses"
Lion-O looked at Leanna and leaned forward in his chair, "would you be willing to carry my heir?"
It took a few moments for the words to reach the panthers ears and sink in as to what was just asked of his wife, "What?... You want to impregnate my wife! Hell no!" the panther barked and reached for the lioness, taking her arm and pulling her to her feet, "let's go lea"
"Panthro..Please," Lion-o said nearly begging, "it's not what you're thinking, please hear me out"
"You have exactly 30 seconds" The panther grumbled.
Lion-O quickly explained about the tests and the failed pregnancies and the several miscarriages, "this is our only option Panthro, the child would be mine and Tara's but Leanna would carry it for Tara"
"I'll have to think it over," Panthro said, Leanna reminded silent, she would allow her mate to decide what would happen.
"That's all I ask, thank you Panthro," Lion-O nodded.