Chapter 7
They all gathered in the med bay, Tygra had Leo check the Sword at the door and a member of the ThunderGuard promised to keep it safe. Lion-O was suddenly looking old, as if the Sword had exacted some horrible revenge for good deeds that had previously gone unpunished.
"How are you Dad?" Leo asked, very concerned. He just gave his son a weak smile before speaking to the group assembled.
"It is with a heavy heart that I must give up the title and position of Lord of the ThunderCats. Tygra has performed some tests and after that last energy blast that brought Sahara back, I am no longer able to strain myself. My heart has been weakened. I'll be forced into bed rest until Tygra and Pumyra can create something to strengthen the beat of my heart. That being said, Leo, you are next in line. Are you prepared to take up the mantle?" The lion turned to his son, who stood rigidly, his mouth opened and he heard himself say,
"I am father."
"Then so be it. First thing tomorrow morning we will hold the appropriate ceremony," Lion-O nodded.
"How is Sahara?" Lea asked, noting that Tyler and Pumyra were not present at the meeting.
"She is stable but the major burns she suffered to her hands are a very real concern. She has yet to regain consciousness and Pumyra is fearful of infections despite Sahara's unique healing abilities. It could be days before we know the final outcome," Lion-O heaved a sigh.
"All right everyone. Lion-O is in need of his rest. Unless you happen to be a cheetah, out," Tygra said. Everyone told the King to feel better before heading out for the evening.
Tyler stood in the sterile room, a mask, scrubs, and gloves on while he helped his mother check Sahara's bandages. Mercifully, she was under pain medication which dulled the effects of the certainly painful scrubbing and the process of removing the dead skin that had been performed earlier. The babies had been told that their mother was not well and Snarf had managed to get them in bed while Tyler tended to his wife.
"What about the baby?" He asked cautiously, breaking the oppressive silence that had fallen between mother and son.
"We'll have to run some tests. I'm not sure what affect this has had but she's very early on and there is a good possibility that her pregnancy will terminate. The only good thing I can say is that she is not far enough along to have the baby be much more than a mass of tissue. The chances of it affecting her health are small," Pumyra tried to comfort him but she knew it was killing her son. He only nodded as the continued to check the damage down by the Book of Omens Guardian.
Meanwhile on the outskirts of Plundarr an old enemy lurked. Waiting, biding its time for when the Thunderians would be at their weakest. Waiting for the opportunity to strike…
To Be Continued…