Panthro groaned from the pain as he became more conscious, both legs felt as if they were on fire. Sabar, who had been standing next to his bed checking his vitals, placed a hand on his arm. "It's ok uncle "she said soothingly, "I will give you something for the pain". As she started to move away Panthro's strong hand grasped her wrist.
"Kale," he whispered hoarsely.
Sabar's heart sunk. "His body is still in status" she replied and gently pulled her arm away to give him a shot of pain mediation through the IV line.
"No, no more" he said meaning the needle she had in her hand.
Sabar dropped her hand, "but it will make you comfortable uncle" She explained.
"No!" the panther said more determined he wanted to have a clear head, "I need to see Lea".
"She's resting at the moment, as you should be"
"Dang blasted Sabar, get her now!" Panthro half shouted
"Alright "Sabar said looking at her irritated uncle, and went to go get the lioness.
Sabar found the lioness n her bedchamber. When she entered the lioness was sitting on the foot of the bed. "Sorry to bother you but Panthro is awake and very agitated"
Leanna stood and stretched her shoulders "you ok?" Sabar asked
"Nothing that soaking in a hot tub for a week won't cure" the lioness smirked, "I'm getting to old for this"
"Hardly "Sabar replied and the two stepped out into the hall way. As the two walked a shout from behind made the two women stop and turn around. A young boy followed by a very large ligerlynx came barrelling down the hall towards the two women. Both Sabar and Leanna gave Therja a questioning look, "stop him" Therja half shouted. The two women instantly stood side by side blocking the young boys path.
Leanna reached out and grabbed the young boy by the shoulders, "whoa there young one" she said softly" Where you running off too?
"Let me go" the young boy snarled and bit the lioness on her bandaged arm. The lioness yelped but didn't release her hold. She held firm and dropped down to one knee so she was eye level with the young boy.
"Hey now "Leanna said calmly "Settle down" she said slightly loosening her grip on the boy "no one is going to hurt you"
The boy looked up at her his eyes full of tears, "thank the gods "Therja said catching up "he can run fast"
"You're out of shape if a small boy can out run you" Sabar said with a slight smile.
Therja just snorted, "As if"
Leanna gave the two a look then turned her attention back to the young boy "So who do we have here?" she asked.
The lioness's heart sank; she should have known just by looking at him, keeping her emotions in check she smiled slightly "hello Kuro, Did Therja frighten you?" she asked giving the large male a glance.
The boy looked at her his amber eyes large and full of fear, he nodded slightly" Pay him no mind, he's harmless "Leanna smiled slightly and studied his face, she could see so much of Panthro in him, he flinched slightly when she gently touched his cheek "I'm not going to hurt you" she replied then glanced at Therja again.
"I want my mother," the young boy sobbed.
Sabar looked at Therja, "He knows that's why he ran" Therja replied.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your mother" Leanna said.
The young boy just sobbed, "She's not coming back is she? "He asked.
Leanna shook her head; "no" she said softly then pulled him in to her arms and hugged him, the young boy seemed to just melt into her arms, his hands clenched into small fists holding onto the materials of her top as he buried his face against her collarbone. With her free hand the lioness gently rubbed a spot just behind the boys left ear, this calmed him quickly, she could feel him relax and start to go slack in her arms. She nodded to Therja who knelt and scooped the boy up in his arms. to settle down to sleep" the lioness smiled, "Take him to my room and let him sleep "she ordered, "and for Jaga sakes don't frighten him anymore Therja"
"Yes Ma'am"
"Sabar go with him and keep watch on the boy, I will go see Panthro"
As the lioness got closer to the med bay she could hear a commotion coming from inside the room.
The panther was arguing with the orderlies. He was trying to get them the help him get out of bed.
"And where do you think you are going?" Leanna questioned standing in the door way with her arms folded across her chest.
"Lea" Panthro said relieved.
Leanna dropped her stance and went further into the room. "Now tell me panther, what has gotten you so riled up?" The lioness asked as the two orderlies' left the couple alone.
"I think I have finally lost my mind" Panthro said lying back against the med bed.
The lioness just looked at him. it was clear something had him agitated. "Why? What's going on?" Leanna asked as she sat down on the side of the bed.
"I know this is going to sound, well crazy but I need you to do something for me" Panthro said
The lioness gave him a questioning look. "Please. I need you to do this" he replied taking her hand "I need you to have Sabar check on Kale"
"What do you mean check on him?"
"Lea…he's still alive"
Leanna pulled her hand away and stood "Panthro I know losing our son has been hard on both of us but he's gone" Leanna said.
"No, you don't understand "Panthro said getting agitated again.
"Of course I do, I watched him die! "Leanna half shouted "why are you putting yourself through this?"
"I was told he was still alive" Panthro simply stated
The lioness looked at him "by whom?"
"My mother"
Leanna just blinked she knew Panthro's mother had died when he was a young boy. "What?"
"I know it's crazy, hell even I thought I had died when I saw her, but lea, she came to me and told me he is still alive"
"Panthro, I know you were running a fever"
"no. lea. It was actually her I think she somehow managed to cross the astral plane somehow just to tell me" Panthro explained.
Leanna just looked at her husband, "that's"
"Crazy, I know" Panthro finished, "In all the years we have been together have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"
The lioness shook her head, "Well, no"
"Then please trust me on this, I would never in a billion years ever ask you to do something like this if I didn't believe it to be true"
Leanna wasn't sure if it was the look in his eyes or the pleading in his voice, "alright" she said quietly then leaned forward and softly kissed his lips, "even if you are crazy, I still love you"
This made the panther smile a little, "but Sabar is busy at the moment" Leanna said, Panthro sighed in frustration, "but" the lioness said before he could speak "I will go and see for myself"
Panthro relaxed and took the lioness hand "thank you"
Leanna smiled and nodded then gently pulled her hand away. "Get some rest"
"Don't know if I can "Panthro sighed
The lioness lay down beside him, "You need to get better; we need you" Leanna said brushing the back of her fingers gently down the side of his right cheek." Promise me, you will try and sleep" Panthro reached up and took her hand and kissed her palm" alright" he said and closed his eyes, Leanna laid her head on his shoulder and nuzzled her face against his neck until she could feel his breathing change to a slower pace, she raised her head, he had fallen back to sleep .
After gently and quietly getting up off the side of the med bed, the lioness stepped outside the med bay and leaned against the wall. The coolness of the polished marble felt wonderful on her aching back. She closed her eyes a moment resting her head back against the wall. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach, she groaned slightly as a strong wave of nausea rippled through her body. "Are you ok?" a soft female voice asked.
"No, Cheetara, not really" Leanna said trying not to lose what little bit of food she had left in her stomach all over the hallway floor.
The cheetah quickly grabbed a stool from just inside the med bay door "here sit down before you fall down" and helped the grateful lioness to sit. "I'll get someone"
"No. I'll be alright" Leanna protested, "just nerves catching up with me"
Cheetara gave her a sceptical look, "are you sure you don't want me to get someone, Pumyra, Tygra, Sabar?"
"No." the lioness sighed heavily "I think Panthro is getting sicker, he's starting to have hallucinations, He wants me to go check on Kale because his mother came to him in a drug induced dream and told him our son was still alive"
Cheetara just blinked "Wow, so what did you tell him?"
"I told him I would. He was very agitated and I don't know Tara there was something in his eyes, he truly believes what he dreamed"
The cheetah knelt down so she was eye level with the lioness, "you know sometimes it's not our place to question certain things, especially if it is from a departed loved one. If Panthro's mother paid him a visit then I think we should at least check it out and then you can put both your minds at rest and you young lady can get some food into you and some much needed sleep"
"I don't want to see my son lying in that cold chamber, not again" Leanna said quietly hugging herself.
"You won't be alone" Cheetara said and held out her hand, "I will be with you"
With shaky legs the lioness stood she wasn't sure if it was the stress of the events that took place the past few days or what it was but the closer the two women got to the stasis chamber the more her stomach churned and protested. She felt Cheetara giver her hand a squeeze of reassurance as they stopped outside the sealed door. Swallowing hard the lioness touched the doorplate and the large door slide open with a slight swishing sound, inside the room was fairly quiet accept for the low soft hum of the machines that generated the stasis fields of the individual pods that lined the three walls.
Cheetara stopped in the middle of the room and chill ran down her spine, something wasn't right. "Lea, "she said, "which" but she never finished she turned and walked over to the left side of the all where a row of chambers were, her hand slowly lifted and hovered over one door, her sixth sense was telling her something was in this one and it was alive, but just barely. She turned her head and looked at the lioness, her voice just above a whisper" Kale".
A look of horror crossed the lioness face. The thought of her son alive trapped inside that chamber made her fingers fly across the control panel. The door hissed open and the steel platform eased out effortlessly. Leanna was afraid to look down. Cheetara squeezed her hand gently before lowering the protective field.
Cheetara shut the machines down completely this was the only way she could be sure of what she had felt was real. She looked down at the boy, the tribal marking that his father had placed across his chest touched her heart, she reached out and lightly touched the boy's forehead and started her search, trying to chase the tiny spark of life she felt when she entered the room. She reached for the lioness's hand, "touch him" she whispered. The lioness obeyed and grasped Kales ice cold hand.
. The two women stood on either side of the platform one hand linked to each other their other hands placed on the boy "Call to him" Cheetara said through her mind to the lioness. Leanna wasn't sure how, she had only one this once with her mate when he was trapped in the mine, but that was different he was her mate. But she had to try. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Her thoughts wen to kale .and the things he use to enjoy doing, the darkness stared to lift and the two women were standing in the garden by the fish pond one of kales favourite places. The air was warm and the sun was getting low in the skies which meant it was much later in the afternoon when it was a bit cooler.
"Ma" Kales voice called, the lioness spun around as the young boy came running at her full force. Leanna was nearly taken off her feet and he ran into her waiting arms and hugged her tightly. "Ma where have you been I have been looking all over for you?" he asked.
Leanna dropped to her knees she couldn't find her voice, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed both cheeks" oh kale" Leanna said sobbing and hugged him tightly.
"Don't cry Ma" kale said with a smile "I'm ok; I didn't mean to scare you"
"It's time to come home Kale: Cheetara said appearing beside the two.
Leanna looked at the cheetah, "how?"
"Hold on to him tightly I will bring us back" the cheetah said.
Leanna nodded then looked at her son, "don't be afraid I have you, hold on to me tight as you can"
One moment they were in the back garden the next the cold room of the stasis room. When Cheetara opened her eyes Leanna had her arms wrapped tightly around kales body, "Lea?"
Leanna raised her head and looked at the cheetah then down at her son "Kale?"she said softly.
The boy took a big gasp of fresh air then his eyes fluttered open, "what am i doing here?" he asked looking around the stasis chamber.
"It's ok "Leanna said in-between tears as Cheetara grabbed a sheet to cover the young boy. "I don't know how this is possible" Leanna said as they wrapped the sheet over the boy's shoulders.
"It seems our young warrior is destine for greater things. and that an outside force seen fit to make sure it's fulfilled." Cheetara said with a smile "ours is not to question only to follow"
"Think I know who is responsible for this and I wish I could thank her personally" Leanna said as she picked up her son in her arms and carried him to the med bay