Welcome back, everyone. 2021 was a tough year, but I will try to update more regularly. Enjoy and review.

Back at the ThunderTank

When Gard, Lion-O and Tygra all returned to the ThunderTank, Caracalla was the first to approach. Running up to Gard, he inquired: "Can we leave? That girl won't stop talking to me!"

Gard looked over at Kit, who mouthed the word "Exaggeration." Her brother however was making a hang signal telling the Old Savage that it was somewhere closer to the middle. Giving the Young Caracal an understanding look, the Evabon merely said: "Give her a chance, boy. Give her a chance."

Once Gard, Lion-O and Tygra explained what had happened, no one was sure how to react. For a long while everyone stayed silent until Panthro uttered: "So… Pumyra is dead." Gard nodded, and Panthro asked: "And an angry Donalbain is still out there?"

"He is." Confirmed Tygra.

"Great…" Panthro muttered, closing his eyes and running a hand over the top of his head. "Too bad none of you managed to put an end to him."

"Honestly, I can't help but wonder what is going to happen to him." Commented Lion-O, stroking his chin as he spoke. "Mumm-Ra had called Pumyra 'Beloved'. How do you think he will react when Donalbain returns with her dead?"

"With that in consideration…" began Cheetara. "I think I want to do what I never thought I would."

"What's that, Cheetara?" asked Tygra.

"Say a prayer for Donalbain."

Nodding his head, Gard looked at the blade of his axe. Perhaps if he had managed to slay Donalbain, he'd have spared his adversary whatever punishment Mumm-Ra had in store for him.

And then a thought crossed Gard's mind. "Whatever happened to Bengali?"

"He went off in search of the Soul Stone a while back." Panthro answered. "Thought he could find it himself. We haven't heard from him since."

"Where did you last see him?"

"In a place where a large statue was carved out of a cliffside." Replied Cheetara. "One that was seated. Do you know it?"

Did he know it? Gard knew that place like the back of his hand, a strange place that was said to predate the birth of Evabon civilization. The statue depicted no species native to Third Earth and yet… Gard could not help but think that there was something familiar to it, as if all the native species had a kinship to it.

"Aye, Cheetara, I know it well." Gard answered, standing up with his axe in hand. "I will find you all later, I go now to that statue! I know not why, only that I need to be there."

"Let me go with you!" exclaimed Caracalla. "I don't want to stay here with them! I don't belong with them! Lion-O might be like Tsavo! And Cheetara and Panthro might be like, uh, whatever that cheetah's name was and Rudraprayag!"

"I don't know who those two you mentioned are." Commented Gard as he walked away before stopping and turning to look at the Young Caracal. "They are your own kind, Caracalla. Surely you can't expect all lions, cheetahs and leopards to be bad!"

"My father did."

"Well, he may be proven wrong." Said Gard, continuing on his way. "I bid you farewell, ThunderCats! Keep your new addition out of trouble!"

The End