Empty cradle
Chapter 4
Panthro stocked down the hall with Leanna in tow; towards the one place he could find comfort, his beloved hanger.
"Panthro," Leanna said calmly following her mate to his office. The big panther just put up his hand and the lioness remained silent. She stopped at the door and waited for him to sit down, she didn't know if he wanted to be alone or have her there while he sorted out his thoughts. After a few minutes he didn't bid her leave, so she quietly walked further in and closed the door. Taking a few steps she sat herself down on the empty stool that sat in front of a drafting table.
She watched as he picked up a pile of work orders and looked through them quickly. She got up with out a word and poured a cup of coffee into a mug and walked around the desk and set the mug down on the desk beside the panther's hand. Instead of picking up the mug, Panthro picked up her hand and raised it to his warm lips, planting a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist.
The lioness smiled slightly, it was his way of letting her knew he wasn't angry with her; he just needed to think, "Pan," Leanna said quietly, "We really need to just talk about this, and I know it's something we were never expecting".
"Got that right," Panthro interrupted with a snort, "how the hell would he like it if I just walked up to Cheetara and asked, hey Tara...Would you have my child?... do you think he would take it well? "The panther fumed, his temper now got the better of him.
"He didn't say have, he said carry." Leanna corrected
"This is ridiculous Lea, what the hell." Panthro huffed getting up out of his chair, "If I hadn't been in shock I think I would have clocked him right where he sat...asking my wife to carry his child," Panthro grumbled throwing his hands up in the air.
"He wouldn't of asked, if it wasn't the last option" Leanna said as the panther paced like a caged cat.
"Do you realize what this could do Lea?" Panthro asked, "How would he explain this to the elders, because if they found out what he was planning it could start an all out clan war "
"They will take everything anyway, so what's the difference?" Leanna shrugged
The panther stopped and wheeled around, "Woman, don't even try to use logic with this... this goes much deeper. You have no idea what he is asking you to do"
"Of course i do" Leanna said her stubborn side showing through, "I'm not thinking about myself, i am thinking about two of my dearest friends who need me to do something, give them a wonderful gift.. Remember when you held your child in your arms for the very first time?"
Panthro didn't say a word he just nodded, "you remember how you felt? wouldn't you want the same thing for your friend?"
The panther gave her a look that would melt stone, "Emotional blackmail?"
"No...Just trying to get you to see Lion-O's side of things"
"Wait...Did you know about this?" Panthro asked, "Because you seem a bit too calm"
"No, not exactly...I knew something was wrong. Tara and I do talk you know" Leanna said in defence, "But I can feel for them and their situation"
"You really need to keep those female feelings in check, they get you into too much trouble" Panthro scowled
"Oh, that's rich coming from you," the lioness snorted, "Mr. Blows a gasket at the drop of a hat, I should have you neutered just to calm your temper down then" the panther looked at her and growled, she stood on her toes until she was nose to nose and growled back.
"You're going to be the death of me you know that," Panthro said backing down.
"Aww blueman...You know you love me," the lioness smiled sweetly
"I do... very much, that's why i have to say no"
"But," Leanna started to say, but her mate cut her off.
"No, Lea...There is too much at stake here," Panthro said backing away from the lioness." They will have to find someone else".
"Is this your pride talking?" Leanna asked.
"No, lea, this has nothing to do with pride, I am thinking of my family" Panthro answered honestly.
Lion-O sat in his bedchamber holding his head in his hand, "stupid, stupid, stupid," He chastised himself. He didn't hear the door open or feel his mate was close," Lion-O?" the cheetah asked, "what's wrong?"
"Oh Tara, I messed things up badly" he said with a heavy sigh.
"You spoke with them?"
"Yes, but I could of handle it better, Panthro stormed out of my office, luckily I still have my head"
"Oh boy...you want me to go talk to him?" Cheetara asked.
"No..not right now, just let him cool down and think it over"
The cheetah walked over and plopped herself down on her mates lap, "Maybe we should just forget about it"
Lion-O raised his head and gazed into his beloved's eyes, "Is that what you want to do? You know if us having a child isn't meant to be, then I'm willing to accept that, I don't care what the elders want or demand of me. This is our life, not theirs".
"But I do agree you do need an heir," Cheetara said softly.
"Why?...I don't plan on stepping down or going off and getting myself killed anytime soon"
"But Lion-O, what if that did happen?. What then? Who would take your place as lord of the Thundercats?"
A small smile lit the lion's lips, "the same person who would have taken over if I hadn't survived the journey to third earth in the first place...Tygra"
"But things are different now; we're not on third earth any more"
"I am well aware of that Tara"
The cheetah got up , "I'm going to go find Leanna and see what's going on" with that she left the lion's office.
It didn't take long for her to find the lioness; Leanna was in the kitchen helping Snarf prepare lunch.
"Lunch won't be ready for another half hour," Snarf spoke up when the cheetah entered the kitchen.
"That's fine Snarf," Cheetara replied, "I came to speak to Lea".
The lioness set the bowl she had in her hand down on the counter and picked up a dish towel and wiped her hands, and without a word left the kitchen motioning for the cheetah to follow her. The two women went outside into the garden and sat down on the edge of the fish pond. Leanna was the first to speak, "He said no".
The cheetah's faced dropped slightly, "well, if that's his wish then"
"No," Leanna interrupted, "he's just being his stubborn self"
"No, Lea...I fully understand why he refused," Cheetara said opening a side panel and taking out a container of fish food.
The lioness looked at her friend, "Tara, I know what will happen if I don't help, Lion-o's family line cannot end with him; his family line have been leaders for the past six generations. It can't end like this".
"And if Lion-O hadn't survived the trip to third earth, or if he had of been killed when Thundera first destroyed it's self. Then what? There would have been a new lord appointed" Cheetara said as she placed a pinch of food into the water.
"That's not the point," Leanna said with a dismissive wave of her hand, "it's those damn elders, and they will crucify him if they find out, you know the hell he had to go through just so you two could marry, no. I want to do this for you, not out spite, but I know you deserve to be a mother, I know how much you love children and fate has dealt you a cruel blow"
"What about your husband and his wishes" The cheetah questioned.
"He'll get over it," The lioness shrugged.
"Lea, think about it, if you go behind Panthro's back and do this, he may not just get over it" Cheetara warning as she placed the container of fish food back in the panel.
"I love my husband dearly, but he's wrong" Leanna nodded, "he's just too stubborn to see that right now, so go and tell Lion-O I will do it..I will carry your child for you"