Chapter 14
Morning came and the camp was bustling. Well most of the camp. After talking a good portion of the night, Cheetara had finally fallen asleep and Pumyra gave strict orders to the Evil Chaser outside the cheetah's room to let no one in.
Lion-O convened a meeting of the ThunderCats and Evil Chasers after breakfast. Willa and Nada were well enough to travel and the Warrior Maidens would be leaving once they had all their possessions. Commander Tiberius offered them a transport ride home, which they graciously accepted. Snowman said that he and Snowmeow had to get back to Hook Mountain and he promised to let them know if they ran across Red-Eye. Lion-O thanked all their friends for their help.
"Robear said the Berbils would stay put until the Lair was back up and running while the Wollos and Balkans have headed home as well," Tygra told the group.
"Good. How are the wounded?" Lion-O asked.
"Most are mobile again and can be watched by their own doctors now. Shay and Bol are recovering well. Thanks to Lady Pumyra, we were able to help save Shay's leg," Commander Tiberius gladly reported.
"I was concerned given her skin color but I'm glad that it worked out," the puma smiled.
"You did a fantastic job. Even one of the survivors of Thundera said so," the Commander said.
"Who do you have up there? I know you've been playing coy with us because you were running background checks and wellness checks but I think you can spill the beans now," Panthro told him.
"Quite right but Lion-O ordered me to keep them safe until Red-Eye had been dealt with," Tiberius reminded him.
"Well I think names will be fine to give Commander. I do thank you for your help," the King said.
"Very well. The one I mentioned earlier is Doctor Leanna, a lioness. The Captain is a liger by the name of Samson. His first mate, Torr, is a panther. They were able to rescue ten Cats from the planet's surface – a family of four lynxes, a family of four tigers, and two cheetahs, one male, one female. I have a list of their names," Tiberius pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Lion-O. He read it and his face went a little white.
"What is it?" Slythe asked.
"Did the male cheetah say anything to you when you mentioned the ThunderCats?" The lion wanted to know, his question directed at the Commander.
"No, why?" Tiberius was confused.
"Because that name on the list could be Cheetara's fiancé. We all thought him dead and she's been cursing herself for not trying harder to find him before we left," Panthro responded having looked over Lion-O's shoulder at the list.
"It's my fault. Jaga said that we needed to get me and the Sword off the planet. I was the last in the line of royals and the only other wielder of the Sword, other than Jaga," the lion said.
"Hardly your fault. You were a cub and we all knew what we had to do the minute we became ThunderCats. Duty always comes first. Cheetara would never hold it against you," Tygra spoke up.
"Well perhaps he is not her fiancé. How popular was that name amongst cheetahs?" Slythe suggested, having no idea about such things.
"I have no idea but I'm the only one who met him so I think a trip to the ship is in order. If it's not him, then it's just a horrible coincidence," Panthro said.
"And if it's him?" Mandora asked. She had been reinstated; the autopsy and witness testimony had cleared her.
"Then I interrogate the other cheetah and see if there is any hanky panky going on," the panther told them.
"That may need to wait. I'm getting word from a patrol. They may have picked up Red-Eye's trail," Tiberius said.
To Be Continued…