Chapter 20
It only took two days to erect Lynx-O's tomb. Thunderians from every village helped the ThunderCats build the stone monument measuring fifteen feet in length and eight feet tall. Inside the room, a stone coffin would sit in the middle of the floor. The casket would be six and three-quarters feet long, two and a half feet across, and one and a half feet deep; Tygra had memorized the dimensions and they would forever be etched into his memory.
On The third day, all the ThunderCats returned to New Thundera, leaving the Thunder Guard to watch over the Mutant prisoners. Tradition required Lynx-O to be buried with honor just as he had served the peoples of Third Earth and New Thundera. He was dressed in his best military uniform and carried his weapon at his side.
All the ThunderCats quickly dressed in their military uniforms upon landing on their home planet and then Lion-O, Panthro, Tygra, Ben-Gali, Cheetara, and Pumyra removed the temporary casket from the spaceship as the ThunderKittens draped it in the flag of Thundera. Two members of the Thunder Guard stood in front of the group and began to beat their drums somberly. The procession made its way to a place called the Valley of the ThunderCats just behind Cat's Lair. It would be not only Lynx-O's final resting place but also theirs when the time came. There everyone from Thundera gathered. The casket was led into the tomb and the flag was removed. The red and black flag was then hung on twp hooks that jutted from the wall. Next Lynx-O's body was gingerly removed from the wooden casket and placed in the stone one. The lid was then pushed back over the top and the group stood back. Lion-O lifted the Sword of Omens and cried,
"HO!!!" Blue energy shot forth and effectively sealed the stone coffin. Then the Lord of the ThunderCats called again.
"HO!!!" The Sword of Omens extended all the way to its full length and the Eye of Thundera roared. The Cat Signal shot forth and etched itself into the top of Lynx-O's casket. Then Lion-O put the Sword back into the Claw Shield and stood at rapt attention. The others followed suit and then all of them put their hands against the center of their chests in a salute-like manner. Silence enveloped them for what seemed like a very long while before finally Lion-O dropped his arm. The others did the same and they filed out of the stone monument. Later that evening a great bonfire would be held and the wooden casket burned so that no one would ever use it again but for now all returned to their homes. Lion-O went to the cat's Head and pulled the Sword of Omens once again from its sheath.
"Thunder, thunder, thunder, THUNDERCATS HO!" The great Cat Signal shot forth into the sky and the mighty Cat roared for all to hear. It would ring out for five minutes letting everyone know that today a ThunderCat had been buried.
Later, as the sun dipped behind the distant mountains, the ThunderCats stood outside cat's Lair. Lynx-O's empty wooden casket was on top of a platform made from tree branches, soaked in a flammable liquid. Lion-O turned to his comrades and the people who gathered.
"Lynx-O was a loyal ThunderCat, trusted advisor, and good friend. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and never complained about losing his sight. He always offered to help and never shied away from what needed to be done. We will miss you Lynx-O. Your friendship, your kindness, your valor, and your courage will never be forgotten. Farewell, old friend, may you rest well in paradise among those that have passed before you." The Lord of the ThunderCats lifted his sword and shouted,
"HO!!!" An energy blast shot forth from the blade and ignited the large wooden pyre. Then he turned toward the sky and shouted once more.
"HO!!!" The other ThunderCats followed suit. The Eye of Thundera roared and another blast of energy shot from the mighty weapon, lighting up the night sky. Soon the townspeople began to disperse and head home once more. Tomorrow would dawn a new day and things would return to some sense of normal.
Pumyra stood near the blaze staring into it. Its warmth didn't comfort her but in fact it felt as though it burned her flesh. She had let Lynx-O down and now she would never talk to the man she often considered her father. The puma felt Ben-Gali's loving hand on her shoulder and she turned to him. She could see the love in his eyes and knew that from this moment on it would just be the two of them and nothing would ever be normal again.
To Be Continued…