Chapter 13

Lion-O left the treasure chamber. He couldn't believe what the Book had told him. What was he going to do?

The Lord of the ThunderCats made his way up to the sickbay. Time practically stood still when he was inside the Book of Omens and he knew that this would allow him sometime to think, as Pumyra and the others wouldn't be out of surgery yet. There had to be another way of saving Panthro; death would only be the final option.

He began to pace back and forth. The Book of Omens wouldn't tell him to kill someone unless it was absolutely necessary. However, there was usually more than one way to solve a problem.

"Lion-O." The Lord of the ThunderCats whipped his head around and saw who was speaking.

"Jaga!"

"Lion-O, there is an important decision you have to make."

"Jaga, I can't…" the lion looked around before continuing. "I can't kill Panthro. There has to be another way." He whispered.

"As Lord of the ThunderCats, there will be tough decisions that you will have to make." Jaga told him.

"I can't kill Panthro. Not only is he a fellow ThunderCat but he is also my friend." Lion-O argued. Jaga took a deep breath.

"Once a ThunderCat, always a ThunderCat, Lion-O; remember that."

"Wait, Jaga!" The Lord of the ThunderCats cried out but it was too late. His mentor was gone. Lion-O leaned against the wall and sank to the floor. He had to come up with another way.

Pumyra worked carefully. Tygra's outer wound had belied a more serious problem. His stomach and large intestine were bleeding. The puma sewed up the holes in his organs and sucked the extra blood out of his internal cavity. Shock was a very likely possibility after losing so much blood.

Right now the tiger's breathing and pulse seemed to be regular. Pumyra now moved to close up her patient.

"Well I hope that's it." She said as she finished stitching up the outer wound.

"That's incredible." Cheetara told her.

"Save it for when he wakes up. I'm afraid that Tygra has still a long way to go." Pumyra said. The puma could see the cheetah smile from under her mask.

"I know Tygra is in good hands." Cheetara patted her on the shoulder. The three then went about cleaning up the room and moving Tygra over. In no time, everything was in place and the three ThunderCats removed their scrubs, gloves, and masks. The outfits were thrown into a special container and would later be thrown into the incinerator.

Pumyra moved out into the hall while Ben-Gali and Cheetara watched Panthro. Lion-O was pacing the hall.

"Anxious?" She asked.

"A little; how's he doing?" The Lord of the ThunderCats asked.

"Well I closed up his stomach and large intestine. Because of yours and Cheetara's quick thinking, I think we've stopped him from going into shock. However, I don't think he'll be able to fight for awhile." Pumyra explained.

"Well the biggest concern right now is for him to get better. We need to call a council meeting. Can we leave Panthro alone?" Lion-O asked.

"I don't want to keep giving him sedatives. Someone should watch him." Pumyra said. Lion-O nodded.

"Maybe we'll just talk out here. The ThunderKittens are in the control room so they won't hear what I have to say." He said. Cheetara emerged from the sickbay.

"Ben-Gali is watching Panthro. What's going on?"

"I'll get him." Pumyra ducked back into the room and returned with her husband. Lion-O proceeded to tell them what the Book of Omens and Jaga had said. They remained silent, unsure what to do.

"I think I have an idea." The Lord of the ThunderCats told them.

To Be Continued…