Chapter 6

By the time darkness fell, the housing situation had been improved with more stable structures that the Evil Chasers had brought with them. The housing units were dome shaped but braced with hexagonal supports that would take high winds and even the weight of some snow. Lion-O hoped that it wouldn't come to that but the science team that the Commander dispatched figured it would take them the better part of a week just to figure out if the mountain was stable enough to rebuild from the soil samples. Since the bridge collapsed, the samples would need to be taken using special equipment. Panthro had been interested to watch them work as was Tygra.

Now Lion-O headed for the new medical structure with a bag in his hands. It was two of the domes put together where one dome was actually able to be quickly converted into a sterile operating room and the other dome acted like a doctor's office with beds for the patients that hadn't had to go to the battle cruiser.

"There you are. How are you feeling?" Lion-O asked, as he sat down next to Cheetara. Her attempt to help had done some damage to her healing lungs and her leg had had to be recasted as the plaster broke when she attempted to run.

"Like I'm completely useless," the cheetah admitted.

"Hey, no one could ask more of you. I'm just glad you're going to be ok. Promise me that you'll let us do the fighting. I'd like to see you out and about not stuck in here," he said.

"I promise to behave… for now…" she teased.

"Good. Now I have something for you. Panthro had wanted to give it to you sooner but things weren't exactly calm enough to do so," Lion-O reached into the bag and pulled out the small ornate box the panther had retrieved before the bridge collapsed.

"Oh that panther," Cheetara started to tear up.

"I thought you'd be happy," the lion was a little confused. He reached for a nearby box of tissues and handed her one.

"I am. I just worried that I'd lose it forever," the cheetah wiped her eyes.

"Well I'm glad he was able to grab it. I didn't even know you had it," Lion-O admitted.

"Only Panthro knows I had it. He introduced me to Kimoni," she said, not offering exactly how Kimoni and the box go together. The lion didn't press, knowing that speaking of her fiancée was not easy for her.

"Well with any luck, it'll have a sturdy shelf to go back on inside the Lair soon," he smiled at her. Cheetara reached over and put her hand on his.

"The box represents my past. This is a chance for everyone to start over. It was our chance to start over when we landed here but I wasn't ready. I cannot forget, but I do need to move on," she seemed like she was trying to tell herself as much as she was telling him.

"The people we miss haven't left us, they're still in here," Lion-O pointed to his heart. Cheetara smiled but it was a tight one like her heart was barely keeping it together. He wondered just what demons she was grappling with when footsteps broke his train of thought.

"I hate to break this up but the Evil Chasers want to go after those bloody Lunataks," Slythe told them.

"We have the manpower; we might as well take the fight to them. Any word on how Shay and Bol are doing?" The lion wanted to know.

"Bol is doing just fine, thanks to the wizard. He offered his assistance to Shay and I guess something worked out because he's joining us in the hunt," the reptile said.

"Well then let's get a move on," Lion-O nodded. Slythe gave him a slight smile and turned to give the two cats a moment alone.

"When I get back, we'll talk some more. Rest," without thinking, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

To Be Continued…