The lioness turned on the shower the removed her clothing and tossed them half hazardly into the hamper in the corner, opening the frosted glass panel she stepped inside and sighed a bit as the hot water hit her body, no only was she tired physically but mentally as well, ignoring the pain of her bandaged hand she picked up her favorite bar of soap and lathered the soft sponge until it couldn't hold any more. She scrubbed her body hard, trying to rid it of the smell of smoke from the fire. As the sponge slid across her arm her thoughts drifted back to the night before, she couldn't imagine what poor Sele had gone through, she didn't need to die. Now she had to find away to tell the cub she was gone, but first, she had to take care of her husband and son, kale would be ok, he was young and resilient, it was Panthro who worried her the most, if they had to remove his injured foot, how would he cope?. He would have to learn to walk again after it was healed and that would take months, and Panthro was not one for sitting idle and doing nothing.
After washing her hair a couple times and rising the soap from her body Leanna shut off the water and opened the door and grabbed one of the soft fluffy towel and wrapped it around her wet body and picked up a smaller one and walked back into the bedroom drying her hair with the small towel on the way.
"Mom" Lila said making the lioness nearly jump out of her skin.
"Lil!...you scared the daylights out of me, "Leanna said dropping the towel she had in her hand for her hair and placing her hand on her chest
Lila bowed her head slightly, she knew better then to walk in without knocking first, "sorry, "she said quietly and started to whimper.
Leanna walked over and dropped to her knees in front of her eldest daughter, "aw hunny, I'm sorry, "Leanna said and hugged the child to her.
"Momma, I'm scared, what will happen to Kale and daddy?" she asked through her sobs.
"Don't you worry, Kale is ok, he's sleeping now so he can get better, but he's ok" Leanna said gently running her hand up and down the child's back.
"And Daddy? I seen him fall in the sand" Lila said.
"you're father will be ok too" Leanna smiled, "he's a strong man he'll be ok, he's been through a lot worse then this and was ok" Leanna said not wanting to upset the child and more then she already was.
"I miss, Sele" Lila sniffed again, "where is she? Why isn't she here?"
The lioness looked at her daughter; she didn't know how to tell her, how could she tell her? "Hey how about we go and visit your father and brother, would that make you feel better?" Leanna asked touching the child's tear stained cheek.
Lila nodded her head, "Ok let me get dressed and we'll go" Leanna smiled and went to the closet to get her clothing; Lila went over and sat on a chair while her mother went into the bathroom to change. Once dressed the lioness came out and took her daughters hand and lead her down tot he med bay, Sabar was at her desk when they walked in. She got to her feet, "Lila is upset, i thought a visit with her father and brother might be in order "Leanna said smiling down at the cub.
"I think that is a wonderful idea" Sabar smiled, "Kale is still sleeping though, we're keeping him in a medical induce coma for just a bit longer, but I'm sure seeing him will make Lila feel better" the female panther took the little girls hand and took her over to her brothers bedside, "see, he's ok".
Lila went over and looked at her sleeping brother, she reached out and touched his hand "why is that mask on his face?" she asked
"That's to help his lungs get good air, he breathed in a lot of smoke, that's why he isn't feeling good, the oxygen will help heal that up" Sabar explained so she would understand.
Satisfied Lilia looked up at her cousin and smiled, Sabar smiled back and gently squeezed her hand, Lilia reached into her pocket and took something out, she went closer tot he bed and touch her brothers hand, she gently grasped his wrist and turned his hand over and placed the object in his palm, Leanna looked at what it was, it was a tiny seashell. The kids had spent their last morning at the beach house shell hunting and this was one of the shells that Lilia had picked up off the sand. "Kale liked this one, but he gave it to me" Lilia said quietly.
"That's very kind of you Lil" Leanna said brushing her hand over the back of the child's head. "Let's let Kale rest, we'll go see your father now"
"Any change?" Leanna asked as they went over to the Panther's bedside.
Sabar shook her head, "we'll know more soon as Pumyra gets back, she's gone into the city to speak with one of the other healers"
Lila walked over and seen her father and all the white bandages that cover his injuries this frightened her more she backed up a bit. "It's ok Lil," Leanna said.
Hearing the lioness's voice, Panthro slowly opened his eyes, he felt a bit better, in fact his head felt kind of fuzzy and his body numb from the pain medication in the IV that was in the back of his hand, but at least his lungs didn't feel like they were on fire anymore, Leanna leaned over and softly kissed his dry lips, "Hey handsome," she said smiling, "how are you feeling?"
A goofy grin came across the panther's lips, "like I'm floating in a warm bath want to join me?"
Leanna chuckled a bit, "That's from the medication love, "she said then steppe back a bit" look who i brought with me"
Panthro lifted his head a bit and seen his oldest daughter, "hey Kitten, "he smiled and held out his hand, Leanna put the head of the bed up as Lila walked slowly over. When the child got close enough, Panthro held out both hands, Leanna lifted the child up and put her beside him, "how's my big girl today?" he asked pulling the child in his arms and hugging her to him.
"She was worried about you and Kale so i brought her down to see you both" Leanna said as the child snuggled her ace against her father's chest.
"No need to worry about me kitten, I'm tough," Panthro said softly giving Lila a hug, "but i need you to be a good girl, mind your mother and help with Lethea ok?"
Lilia lifted her head and smiled, "Ok"
"That's my girl" Panthro smiled and kissed the top of her head
"Thea and i can make you and Kale a picture" Lilia smiled, "we can put in up on the wall so you can see it"
"I would love one you your pictures "Panthro said, one wall in his office was decorated with art work his children done. "And when I'm better I can put it in my office with the other ones"
This made the little girl's smile broaden, "I'm hungry, can i go get lunch now?"
"Of course you can, and bring me back something good" Panthro whispered in her ear, "One of snarf's candy fruit cookies would be good"
Lilia put her hand to her mouth and giggled, "I'll sneak you two "she whispered like it was a huge secret.
Panthro looked at her and winked, Lilia kissed his cheek and quickly got down off the bed and ran out of the med bay; the panther looked at his mate and took her hand, Leanna sat down on the side of the bed. "Don't know what you two are conspiring, but it seems to of made her happy" the lioness said.
Panthro just smiled and laid his head back, "Lea?" He said and bit more seriously, "How's Kale?"
Just as the lioness opened her mouth to speak alarms start to sound over Kale's bed, "what's going on?" Leanna asked as Sabar ran to the boy's bed side.
"Lea, stay back," Sabar said closing the curtain.
"Sabar?" Leanna said as went to get up, but Panthro kept a grip on her hand, "Lea?" he asked fear was apparent in his eyes.
Leanna looked at him with a bewildered look, "I don't know Pan "she said and went to go see, Pumyra came through the door just as the lioness reached the foot of Kale's bed, she watched in shock and horror as Sabar hit he emergency button on the wall and pulled the pillow out from under Kale's head and removed the oxygen mask, Pumyra looked at the lioness, "Lea, please step back, "she said pushing a cart to the side of the bed. Sabar tilted Kale's head back and inserted a breathing tube as the puma opened the cart and took out the defibulator.
"Clear" the puma said, Sabar stood back as the puma placed the paddles on the boy's chest. Leanna's hands flew to her mouth as her sons body jumped from the voltage. Sabar went back to manually pumping air in to the boys lungs as Pumyra listened to his chest. She looked at Sabar, "again!" she said and grabbed the paddles "Clear!" she shouted and once again placed the paddles against the boys chest and delivered a shock that would hopefully restart his heart.
"Kale!" Leanna cried. Pumyra looked up as one of the nurse came running, "Get her out of here!" Pumyra ordered.
The nurse grabbed the lioness by the shoulders and gently but firmly pulled her back and away from the foot of the bed.
Panthro could hear all the commotion going on, but could only see Leanna being held back by one of the nurses, the look on her face spoke volumes, he ripped the IV out of the back of his hand and tossed back the sheet and threw his legs over the side. "Panthro, No!" the nurse who was holding Lea shouted, but it was too late soon as the panthers injured feet hit the floor and he tried to stand he collapsed to the hard tile like a house of cards. Both the lioness and the nurse ran to the downed panther and helped him up.
"Get off me!" the Panther growled trying to push the two women away from him, he sensed his son was in danger and he needed to go to him.
"You can't Panthro you're injured "Leanna said holding on to his arms pushing him back onto the med bed. Panthro sagged back; he just didn't have the strength to fight. "Essa" Leanna said using an old thunderian word meaning love, "Please "she said quietly stroking his cheek with her fingers, she didn't want him to injure himself further. Panthro just nodded and closed his eyes and held tightly onto her hand. Leanna looked up as Pumyra appeared from behind the curtain, her face held something that Leanna hadn't seen before, "I'm.. I'm sorry "she said quietly
Leanna's eyes widened, she instantly understood the look, "No, "she shouted and burst into tears.
"Panthro, Lea... I'm so sorry, we tried "Pumyra said trying not to break into tears herself, "we tried everything"
Panthro just looked at Pumyra and blinked, "What are you saying Pumyra?" Panthro asked not quite registering what the puma was saying, then he looked at his mate, "Great Jaga, no!"