Chapter 30

While a party was underway just down the hall, celebrating the marriage of Leo and Mari, Tyler remained with Sahara. The young pumiger wished she would wake up. Her body was working incredibly hard to heal all of her wounds and so far it was doing a very good job. She wouldn't even have scars and he figured that it must be nice to have the ability to do what she did.

"You know if you keep staring at me, I'm liable to be embarrassed," the litah suddenly said, breaking him from his trance.

"About what? My one good eye can't see any scars," he chuckled slightly but as Sahara slowly brought the bed up to a sitting position she could tell his sour mood wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Buck up mister or I'll be forced to get out of this bed and kick your sorry ass down to Snarf for some candy fruit and ice cream," she said.

"If that could cure everything…" this time he gave her a smile.

"It totally makes everything better. Now tell me all about what's going on down the hall. Sounds like quite the party," the litah tried to get him to switch gears, figuring the noises down the hall would perk him up.

"Leo and Mari got married about an hour ago. He didn't want to wait on account of his condition," Tyler started and then he quickly followed up with the bad news. Sahara's eyes went wide and he was sure she would have passed out had she been standing up.

"He's officially out of the running for King, you know," he finished up.

"I hardly think so. Grandpa Claudus was blind and he was still King," the litah gave him a look.

"According to the old rules of Thundera, a King must first lead the ThunderCats for five years before he leads the whole of Thundera. Leo led them for all of about five hours before he was injured," Tyler pointed out.

"Ah, so…" she wasn't sure where he was going with this.

"Your father has to make a decision but he told me that you are next in line to lead the ThunderCats. You'd be the first litah and the first woman to do so," the pumiger explained.

"So he's grooming me to be Queen?" Sahara swallowed.

"That I don't know but even with his heart machine, I don't think he can continue to lead the ThunderCats. Be King, yes. Charge into battle…" he paused.

"No wonder Jaga has abandoned us. There is no clear leader of the ThunderCats. Until there is, he has no gateway out from the Astral Plane. The Sword creates the gateway, one that can only be opened by someone with royal blood and who wields the Sword. Sweet Jaga's toothbrush," she said.

"One of these days you're going to have to explain that saying to me. But back on topic, you must know that if you need me to take a step back and hide in the shadows I can. After all, I am but a Prince Consort and can never be anything more," Tyler said.

"Oh no you don't. You and I are a team above all else. Where one of us goes, the other follows. Don't make me get your Dad's Hammer and beat that into your head. I love you, you big mug and I want you and the children to be with me, no matter what happens," Sahara told him before Ma-Mutt charged into the room and leapt onto the bed. He immediately began to slobber all over her.

"Ma-Mutt! You old hound! It is so good to see you. I would have thought you'd be waiting when I woke up," the litah teased. The dog backed off of her and pouted.

"Did you go to the party buddy?" Tyler asked and the dog wagged his tail.

"I see how it is. Play favorites with Leo," Sahara shook her head. Ma-Mutt shook his own head and got comfortable lying next to her.

"No he's going to suck up to me. Oh I see how it is," the litah chuckled. Tyler was about to say something when the alarms in the Lair went off.

"That can't be good," the pumiger said.

"Oh it's definitely not good," Sahara told him as Ma-Mutt covered his ears.

To Be Continued…