Well I wanted to put this one in here because I have this plan and Claudus and Kyra need more screen time…..together :)

Re-made chapter 5

Thank you lady black mage! (I'm serious people she's sooooo helpful!

The day was late and the sun was setting over the mountains, giving its last rays of light to the people of Thundera as if telling them goodbye.

However, all wasn't well in Thundera, not for everyone.
After Kyra put the boys in bed, she heard a commotion in the throne room. Curiosity kills the cat they say, but it was hard to resist when one of the guards beckoned her over to see.

The guard put a single finger up to his lips, signaling her to stay silent as she walked over.

What Kyra saw was a sorry sight: two lower class mothers held their young cubs in their arms. But one mother's cub was dead and the other one was breathing.

The mothers shared a house together; the one with the dead cub said they didn't have enough money to buy a crib, so the cubs would be in the only bed with them at night.

The other mother claimed the one with the dead cub rolled over and suffocated her child. King Claudus listened carefully, hearing every word they had to say before he gestured to one of his guards.

"Take the cub that's alive and cut it in half; give one half to each mother." As the guard went to swing the first mother cried out desperately, gripping the sword and screaming.

"Please, my lord! Give him to her! That way he lives!"

The second mother yelled, "No my king, kill him! That way no one can have him!" Kyra scowled at that comment; if she wanted him so bad, then why did she say that!

"Give the cub to the mother that begged for his life," Claudus said gently, gesturing for the guard to lower his sword, "Only a real mother would respond like that."

What amazing wisdom he has, Kyra smiled, A wise king but lonely.

"Did you plan that or were you going off a whim?" she asked, walking up to the king.

He nodded, looking away from her. Kyra frowned. "Are you thinking about Eden again?"

She earned another nod and a mumble. Huh? "What did you say my king? Can you repeat it?"

"How are the boys?" he said a bit louder, but Kyra had to lean in to hear it.

"They're fine; why wouldn't they be? Oh, wait! I'm their nanny! They might be ok…I don't know, you should go see."

Claudus chuckled but it slowly turned into laughter as her joke set in.
Bingo! Claudus has some humor over the years Kyra helped him out.

Standing up, he smiled at her, eyes a bit brighter. "You're not that bad, Kyra. Give yourself more credit."

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "And so do you Claudus."

He raised an eyebrow and leaned down to her eye level. Why did she have to be so short?

"I don't remember ever telling you to call me just by my name."

Kyra stood on her tiptoes, making him lean back a bit. The 23-year-old grinned at him.

"I don't have to. I'm a woman: I know best." She walked off with a slight swing in her hips, casting an evil grin at him.

Of course, Claudus, being a 30-year-old male, had his own joke to pull. A bit crude, but her reaction was priceless. "Woman? Ha! Then tell me Kyra, why is it that your chest is so flat?"

Kyra swooped around, face red as the king's mane. Claudus laughed as she continued to blush, opening and closing her mouth, trying to find a comeback. He hit the nail on the head.

You could ask anyone in the palace and they would all say the same thing. Kyra and Claudus had reached a point where they could say whatever they wanted to each other….and get away with it. Kyra could get away with it, but then again Claudus was the king.

"Come on Kyra, you know I'm joking." Claudus patted her shoulder.

"Though your right…I am flat."
"True."
"CLAUDUS!"
"Sorry!" Claudus held his hands up in defense. She shoved him to the ground, and he pulled her with him! He laughed as she scrambled to get up, claiming he needed to stop getting catnip. Of course, Claudus wouldn't let her get up until she took the catnip comment back.

"Fine, I take it back, now let me up NOW!"

"Nicer, Kyra! I know you can!" Claudus said, smirking.

"If someone walked in on this, they might take it wrong!" Kyra said, trying to get up, but he kept swiping his foot under her.
"Nope, not what I want to hear." He smirked as she huffed.

"I'm sorry, my lord." She mumbled.
"Oh it's my lord now?"
"Claudus!" He let her get up this time.
"Need help old man?" she asked, holding her small hand out to him.

"I can get up." Claudus said, pushing himself up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see if the boys are alive and well."

Kyra snorted as he walked past her. "You won't find them in their rooms."
"Oh? Where are they?" Claudus asked as she walked next to him.
"That soup you ate today was them." Claudus laughed at her joke. She kept walking smiling slightly.
"You're not serious are you?"