Song: Mad World by Gary Jules

Chapter 39: Mad World

"You didn't believe him, did you?"

"Of course not, I'm not an idiot."

"I was about to say. I mean, there's absolutely no way that you could be Satos. You look absolutely nothing like him and your personality is nothing like what you described. But did he really turn against the Thundercats?"

I sigh, rubbing my sore cheek where I was sucker-punched by Mumm-Ra as I look at my brother. I can see Jøhba behind him, preparing a type of herbal medicine which the young lion brings to his Father.

"I hope not. It's not documented in any history books…" I begin, before remembering the book in the library in the Lair which had several pages of Barbary history torn from it that are still missing to this day, "However, there's an old book in the Lair library that has a ton of pages torn out. What if those are about what Satos did?"

"Well if it genuinely did happen, then that's plausible but it doesn't make sense. Neither of us are anything special aside from the fact that we were born into the Thunderian Royal Family. Nothing in the prophecy mentioned anything about this."

He gives me the herbal medicine as he holds an ice pack to my face which is hurting like hell. The medicine is bitter but I still take it despite the horrible aftertaste. I sit back against the cushions and pillows on Leo's bed, looking at the stars in the night sky outside of the window of his home.

"Besides, why did you run from the Lair? Cheetara called me crying because she was worried. Everybody was looking for you."

"We…had a bit of an argument and I left because I was scared that I would hurt her if I got too mad…"

"She did mention that but she doesn't know about your worry does she? You do realise that you were missing for three hours before you came here, right?"

"Th-Three hours?"

"Yeah. The call was while you were out cold and let me tell you, Cheetara is not happy with you."

"Is she ever at the moment?"

Leo looks at me and I explain everything, and he just sighs and shakes his head.

"As much as I would love to completely forget about that battle, I know that I never will because I lost my firstborn son. It's not going to be easy to recover but I know that in time it's going to get easier."

With that, he turns and pats Jøhba on the shoulder before leaving through the door as I look at my nephew. His eyes are brimming with tears which he's struggling to fight back.

"Jøhba…"

The young lion looks up at me, furiously wiping his tears away on the back of his hands before walking towards me when I beckon him over. I can tell that he's in a lot of distress and pain which is understandable because it's been less than a day since he lost his older brother.

"Jøhba, I'm so sorry."

"It's ok, he's with Mum now, looking down on us. Dad told me about the Astral Plain. I know that they're both up there…"

I hug him, and I feel him hesitate before returning it. He breaks down as I comfort him, and then I look up as Katzeran walks in.

"We've been looking for you everywhere Dad, where the heck did you go?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you…Did your Mother-"

"She stayed at home with Lola. Come on, I'm taking you home."

"But you're not allowed to drive the Thundertank…"

"Panthro let me because of the urgency of the situation. You and Mum could do with couples' counselling, you're fighting more often and it's starting to affect Lola's school. We hear you whenever you do argue."

"Me and your Mum are doing fine." I say as the kitten fires up the 'Tank, and he turns to look at me.

"Stop trying to lie to yourself Dad, it's not healthy! If you and Mum were genuinely happy, she wouldn't be yelling at you as much as she does!"

"Katz, I've practically only just returned from a six month stint on Third Earth, she's missed me just as much as you and Lola."

"Why do you keep changing the subject? You can't go avoiding it forever."

"Katz…"

"Look, Dad, anybody can tell that your relationship is starting to fray. You need to get help with it or you are going to end up getting a divorce!"

I sit there in shock, and the rest of the journey home is in silence as I look at the roads and the countryside that spans the visible horizon after the city. I mean, the kitten does have a bit of a valid point because it was a horrible fight that led me to leave for Third Earth in the first place because I'd hurt Cheetara and set fire to the Suite. It makes sense that, now that her heat cycle is over, she's returned to being fairly shut-off from me which I hate.

When we walk back into the suite, the cheetah wraps her arms around my neck as she sobs, and I hold her close as she cries. Ok, this is definitely not what I was expecting. I look down at her, dressed in her pyjamas with her robe on.

"Lion-O, I was so worried, how did you end up in the Ferrals' Village?"

"I…It's a long story and I'd rather tell it in the morning when we have the other Thundercats present."

"I understand…Lion-O, I'm sorry that I yelled at you earlier. I was just worried because of how deadly it could be if you mixed alcohol with your antidepressants."

I sigh as she gently grasps my hand and leads me up the stairs towards our room where she helps me get undressed. Exhausted, I slide into bed as the cheetah curls beside me with her fingers trailing through my mane as I purr.

"What's going on with us, love?"

I look at her as she cuddles close, her head on my chest.

"I don't know but Katzeran thinks that we're heading towards a divorce. I mean, we have argued a lot in the past two years but the looming threat of that war had played absolute havoc with us."

"But that's over now, thankfully. Although there were mass casualties, we still won. Now try to get some sleep."

She turns the light out and I close my eyes as I hold her close, breathing in her warm scent as my heart stills itself, my body relaxing as I let out another purr of contentment. Finally, for the first time in a long time, I feel safe to be where I am again.

…

The Next Morning

"The prophecy has never spoken about anything along those lines but yet it is thousands of years old. Maybe there is some truth to it?"

"Tygra, I think I would have noticed by now if my husband and mate was an ancient Barbary. There's no way that it can be true."

"Brrr, none of this makes sense, Sneyarf sneyarf…Lion-O is the son of Leandra the Virtuous but Satos is his distant Grandfather, it's written as so in the Book of Omens!"

"But the most distressing part of it," I say as I look down at the pages of the Book, "Is that Satos was a turn-coat. He betrayed his own people and killed his own family. He worked for Mumm-Ra."

"Now Lion-O, you don't know for sure that what you saw is true."

"I know but it just makes so much sense…there have always been lions of close relation to the Royal Family who turn evil in every generation and there's not been one for this one yet."

"But that does not mean that it's going to be you though. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that he was just trying to get your guard down to kill you."

"He did try but I was far too fast for him. I dread to think about what would have happened if I wasn't so lucky though…"

"That doesn't bear thinking about, Lion-O," Cheetara remarks as she takes hold of my hand, "The only thing that truly matters is that you're still alive and here with us – with me."

I sigh, knowing that this is true.

"I'm so lucky in that respect because I've come so close to death so many times yet I've escaped every time. I just know that, at some point, I'm not going to be anywhere near as lucky."

I feel my mate squeeze my hand, but I know from the silence in the room that everyone is fearing that same thing – the day that I don't return alive. I know that everyone is fearful of that day, it's so obvious when Cheetara sends the Guard after me every time that I leave the Lair. I know that my health has been declining recently and the expensive and sometimes painful treatments that I am given for my varying conditions show just how worried the Medical Team are.

"Well hopefully that is not going to happen for a long time yet."

(BORDER) —

"Leandra, honey, what's troubling you?"

I turn around to look at Claudus as he approaches me from behind and I can't help but heave a heavy sigh as he stands behind me, arms around my waist.

"Our sons are in turmoil, Claudus. Leöncha has lost his eldest son and L'ûencho is questioning his very existence. I hate this so much…"

"I know that you do, dear."

"I just wish that there was something that we could do to help them through this horrible time. Neither of them deserves to suffer the way that they are."

I wipe the tears from my cheeks as I feel the lion rest his chin atop my head, and I try to contain my emotions.

"It's unfortunate that we can't help."

"We should be able to, just to help them through."

He nods in agreement but his expression is pained and I know exactly how he's feeling as I hug him.

"Within time, we will be there to guide them, I promise. But until them, rest assured knowing that they are safe and surrounded by those who love them."

- (BORDER) -

Two Days Later

"Katzeran, concentrate! I don't want to end up hurting you because you aren't paying attention!"

I snap out of whatever funk I was in before focusing on Dad as he opens the trunk on the grass before him. I approach cautiously before staring at the contents of the box in awe - it's a bunch of swords and other weaponry.

"Now, seeing as how you are going to go through your Anointment Trials when you turn twenty, you need to learn how to handle the Sword of Omens. You might just think about it as a mere magical weapon but it's a lot more than that; depending on your bond with it, it may become an extension of your body."

"But how? It's literally just an enchanted stone embedded in a metal sword that gives it magical powers."

"It's a lot more than that, Katzeran," Dad says as he draws the blade from the Claw Shield, "The Sword is a sentient being of its own - it's alive. The powers that it has is due to the splinters of the souls of previous Kings fusing with the Eye. It's our people's most precious artefact and it will be yours once you pass the Trials and become the Lord of the Thundercats."

I take the weapon from my Father and I feel the sudden shock as pure Ancient energy courses through me. I feel it searching through my thoughts and memories, meticulously combing every detail.

"Dad!"

"Don't fight it, it's okay. Just let it do what it needs to do."

It brings me down to my knees as I close my eyes but, as quickly as it started, everything stops and I open my eyes, seeing an unfamiliar lion standing before me in the darkness.

"Dad?"

The lion shakes his head.

"No, Katzeran K'al'iviryix. I'm not your Father, or at least, in this form I'm not."

"Satos?"

The lion nods this time, and I feel the fur standing on edge across my shoulders and down my back. I don't know how to ask. He watches me carefully as I get to my feet, and I take a deep breath.

"So, it's true then…?"

"Yes, it is and it's the one thing in my life that I regret the most. You mustn't let yourself fall the way that I did. And you must promise to protect the Thunderians. This Sword is my greatest creation and it can do amazing things when in the hands of a powerful ruler."

I look down at the blade in my hands, and when I look back up again, I see my Father standing in front of me. He's holding one of the swords from the trunk which he is polishing, and so I go to stand by his side and watch what he's doing. He looks exhausted and, if we're about to have a training swordfight, how do I know that he won't make a mistake and get hurt?

"I assume that you know what we're going to do?"

"I don't want to."

"Katz, you need to learn how to handle the Sword before your Trials."

"I've still got two years before that, Dad. Do we have to do this today? You're tired."

He gets to his feet, passing me the Claw Shield which I put on, realising that it's slightly too big.

"Today is as good a day as any. It doesn't matter about me. Now prepare yourself!"

I hold the Sword in front of me with both hands as my Father prepares himself before catching me by surprise and charging with a roar. I bring the blade up to block the blow from his weapon, and his brute strength shocks me. I didn't know he was so strong! Backing away, I give a growl and swing the Sword, my arm being jarred when the two blades make contact.

"Hold your form! Follow through with your motions!"

I bring the Claw up and block his blow again, sending painful spasms up my arm as I jump, but bring the Sword up again, colliding with his weapon. He leaps back, missing my swings by inches as I try my hardest to imitate the way that I have seen him fighting before. He strikes again, disarming me and knocking me to the ground as I feel the tip of his sword against my throat.

"You need to be more careful of your actions Katz," he says as he stabs the blade into the earth and helps me up, "I know that this is only your third lesson but you need to put into consideration everything which I have taught you so far. The Sword is a powerful weapon and it'll help win multiple battles but only if you respect it. You have to remember that the Sword is alive and it will judge your thoughts and feelings to ensure that you are worthy of its powers. Only those in our family and the Thundercats have the power to wield it."

He corrects my hold on the handle and adjusts the Claw Shield on my hand before pulling his sword from the mud, and I charge at him with a roar as we lock blades. His strength is immense but I know that I have something to my advantage that he doesn't – I may be half lion but I have more cheetah in me. I give a quick slash and disarm him, punching him in the face as he cries out in shock before kicking him in the chest and belly, sending him backwards into the dust with a roar. The pained sound sends a wave of guilt through me as I rush to his side as he gasps, winded.

"I…I certainly…wasn't expecting that…"

"Dad, I'm so sorry, I don't know why I-"

"No," he cuts me off as he stops me from helping him up as he gets to his knees, a thin trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth, "It's fine…I'm proud…of you. The hand-to-hand training paid off…You're strong…"

"Only because of you. Dad, are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm sure," he grunts as he spits a mouthful of blood into the grass, "Bit my tongue when I fell but it's fine. Just don't tell your Mother that you kicked me like that, you know how she worries."

"She'll know anyway if that makes a bruise. Either way, we'd better et back because Snarf won't be happy with us if we miss lunch."

I watch Dad as he limps to the trunk, and I immediately go to his side and help him to the Thundertank. I hope that I haven't hurt him too badly but I did kick him quite hard and the punch hurt me as well so I know it was painful for him. Mum will kill me if she finds out that I did what I did because I know that she doesn't like the fact that Dad does all my combat training by himself. I've left so many cuts and bruises on him and yet he continues.

"Thundertank to Cats Lair, Katzeran here."

"Cats Lair receiving you loud and clear, Katz. Are you heading back now?"

"Yeah, we're headed back now Mum. Tell Pumyra to check Dad over when we get back."

"You didn't viciously fight each-other again, did you?"

"Yes, and I'm worried that I've hurt Dad because he's breathless and bleeding slightly."

I hear Mum sigh before she tells me to et back as quickly as I can, and I turn to Dad as he looks at me.

"I told you not to tell her!"

I take in the way he looks – the bruise on his face is starting to show up and there's more blood, making me think that something is wrong. I fire up the 'Tank and drive back as fast as I can, looking back at my Father every couple of minutes. He's just focusing on the road ahead and, once we return to the Lair, Mum is waiting for us with Pumyra. The puma checks Dad over and finds that he's fine, and as we walk up the stairs from the hangar to the dining room, I feel guilty.

I sit and listen as the adults talk about the latest reports and news whilst I pick at my pie, feeling hungry but not wanting to eat anything. I'm just lad that, for once, my parents aren't arguing but are getting along well together. Life hasn't felt like this for a long time and now that there isn't any threat of war, it feels strange. I watch my parents interacting with each other and it's so bittersweet that I don't know if I believe it.

"So, what is going on tonight?"

"Leo wants me to meet with him to further discuss this new information that we've learned, so that we can decide if we believe it or not."

"That will be interesting to find out more information if you can find it out."

"Are you sure that it's going to be safe? I know that both you and Leo are very powerful but can you be sure that it won't be dangerous?"

"I'm sure, 'Tara."

"I just want you to be careful. I don't want you risking anything because there have been many near-misses."

Dad looks at Mum, and I know that the cheetah is worried. Surely she shouldn't have to though? I mean, Dad would have the Sword of Omens to protect him and Leo in case anything happened. The lion gets up to take his plate into the kitchen as the other Thundercats talk among themselves and I follow behind him.

"I know that you're worried, Katz, but there's absolutely no need because everything is going to be perfectly fine."

He doesn't look up from washing his plate until he's done, where he turns to look at me with his arms folded across his chest.

"I can't help it because I know how dangerous everything has been for you in your life. I can't bear the thought of you dying."

"Now, where did that thought come from, Katz? I'm not even forty yet."

"I don't know, I guess that it's always been at the back of my mind. Even when I was a kid, I was always worried about it. Are you sure that you'll be fine going by yourself?"

"Katz, I've done this so many times, it's going to be fine. Stop worrying, you're just as bad as your mother."

He ruffles my mane and I find myself calmed, but I still can't shake that little inkling at the bottom of my stomach. Our lives have been so dangerous recently and I don't like it but I know that I have to do whatever he says. He may be my Dad, but he's also my King and the Lord of the Thundercats. I watch as he walks out of the room, and I follow him through to the main entrance to the Lair.

"Katzeran, I don't want you following me. I'm going to talk with Leo by myself and I don't want you overhearing what it is that I'm going to be telling him."

With that, he answers his phone as it rings and leaves to head towards the Ferrals' Village. I watch him leave as he talks on the phone, and I pace for a couple of seconds as I watch him walking down the road. I really want to go after him but I know that he would literally kill me if I did do so when he specifically told me not to. I fight with myself for a couple of minutes before deciding, against my own will, that I won't go after him. Surely, he can protect himself?

- (BORDER) -

Leo looks up as I approach him and I see that the lion is roasting what looks to be a Thunderian pheasant on a spit over the fire as Jøhba does his work. I sit down on the offered seat by the fire as my brother asks his son to leave, and we're left in silence.

"So, I assume that you learned something new?"

"Yeah, I was teaching Katz some stuff on the Sword of Omens and he saw Satos who confirmed everything that Mumm-Ra said."

"So, it really is true, our ancestor was a traitor."

"It sure would look like it but there has to be a reason why it happened. Mumm-Ra must have brainwashed Satos because I know that he would never turn to the Darkness willingly."

"Don't you get flashes of the memories?"

"Sometimes but there's never enough to make assumptions or clear decisions about what it was that happened. I haven't had one of that part of Satos' life before, whether that's because he doesn't want to remember or because he can't…"

"If you're Satos then what does that make me? Because I'm your identical twin, I would have thought that it would carry across to me."

"It probably did if you've seen visions from the past."

"I did when we went to the Barbary Village all those years ago, and a handful of times since then."

"There you go then, there's your answer."

"Who would've thought it, eh?"

He offers me some of the pheasant along with the wild rice that he'd been cooking, but I decline due to being full from my lunch earlier. Jøhba enters and eats his portion of the meal, and I see that the young lion is doing remarkably well despite it only being a couple of days since he lost his older brother. I catch sight of a photo of the three together beside a photo of Bräiden which are both surrounded by lit candles with the lion's pendant of the Ferrals' symbol in front of the photographs.

"He might be gone from this world but I know that he will always be with us. I just wish that I could have gotten there quicker…Maybe both my boys would still be alive instead of just one."

I sympathetically pat my brother on the shoulder, knowing how hard my nephew's death hit them. It's been hard for me even though I didn't see him very often.

"Nobody could ever know what would be different. He's with their Mother now though and I know that he would be proud of you both," I say as Leo finishes his meal, and we walk out of the hut into the cool evening air as I take a deep breath, "I remember Lydia telling us that the stars are the souls of those who have passed, looking down on us and protecting us from beyond the grave."

"I remember that tale too. I also remember both of us saying that the brightest star in the night sky was Mum. I still wish that she'd survived so that we could see her. I really wish that both Mum and Dad were still around because they would love their grandkittens."

"I know the feeling," I say as I take a sip of the hot tea which my brother had given me, "I know they'd be proud of us though too."

"There is one thing though."

"What's that?"

"I want to see the ravine that you ended up at, to see if it effects me."

"Leo, I'm not too sure that that's a great idea."

"It'll be fine, we'll be together."

I nod, and that's when we begin the journey. Throughout the walk, I can't help but worry as Leo walks ahead of me slightly, and I find myself constantly checking everywhere around me, expecting to be attacked.

"You're on edge."

"Well, you would be too if what happened to me was to happen to you."

"Yeah, that is true."

We eventually reach the cliff of the ravine, and I immediately get chills down the length of my spine. I look around again before glancing down at the Sword – it's calm and quiet which isn't what I had been expecting. Watching as Leo looks over the edge, I take in the view of the forest around us. Despite having a bit of a disturbing history, this area is beautiful in the light of the slowly setting sun. I look up from staring at my feet as we walk along the cliff side path and the first thing that I see is my brother glancing back at me.

"So, this is where Mumm-Ra killed Satos? I'm not surprised, there's a very long drop from here to the footpath below and from the looks of it, it's littered with sharp rocks."

I sigh deeply at his words as the wind blows my mane around my face.

"I remember it as if it were me who fell to their death here."

"I suppose that you did, in a way. I mean, it was in a past life but if you genuinely are the reincarnation of Satos then all of his memories will be yours."

"I still don't know if I fully believe it or not."

He scoffs slightly as I look at him, turning back to the path.

"I understand that but Satos himself confirmed it to your son. That means that so many people want to get to you and, in reality, I honestly don't know what I'd do if I lost you…You and Karys are the only ones left since…" he sighs and I see the tears threatening to spill over, "Since Lydia was killed…I have to protect you at all costs…"

I chuckle at his words.

"Leo, don't be so melodramatic; you make it sound like I can't fend for myself."

"I'm your older brother so I have to protect both you and Karys. It's what Dad would have wanted."

I smile slightly at his words. "Maybe you're right, but there are barely any threats now."

"You seriously think so? Mumm-Ra has resurfaced and the Mutants are more powerful."

"I know but I also know that we are going to manage everything thrown at us. We've grown as people and we're stronger than we were before."

Leo continues on as I stop to send a message to 'Tara, and it's then that I realise that something feels awfully wrong.

"Leo, we should go…"

"Why?"

"Because something's wrong…"

"Ok, let's go…we've overstayed our welcome here…"

He stops abruptly when I freeze, not liking the feeling of existential dread that washes over me. This can't be good.

"L…Lion-O?"

I turn to face him and his expression changes the second he sees the look on my face. "Run!"

He takes off running with me close behind him when something throws me aside, my body slamming hard into a sizeable boulder which in turn knocks the air from my lungs and I…

"LION-O!"

The worry in my brother's voice scares me and when I turn around, I'm greeted with the sight of Leo being held over six feet above the ground with a cold, rotted hand clamped around his throat and crushing his trachea; a hand that I recognise. One that only belongs to one person…one thing…none other than…

"M…Mumm-Ra?"

My breath catches in my throat, the words coming out as a shocked squeak at how the undead being is standing in front of me once again.

"None other, Thundercat!"

I growl deep in my throat as I go to grab the Sword of Omens, only for the very feeling of my heart dropping when I realise that I haven't got the damn thing. For Jaga's sake, how could I have forgotten it?

Mumm-Ra sees me hesitate, and tightens his grip on Leo's throat until he starts to to turn blue.

"Mumm-Ra, let him go!"

The mummy ignores me right at first so I step forward with an intimidating growl and repeat myself but I can't stop the fear from creeping into my voice…

The look he gives me chills me right down to my bones, and it's only then that I realise just how terribly I've just fucked up.

"As you wish, Your Majesty…"

The venom in his voice hits me and my heart sinks into my guts as Leo seemingly hangs in the air for ages, only to feel like time stands still as he disappears over the edge of the cliff with a shocked roar.

"L'ÛENCHO!"

The terror in his fading voice snaps me back to my senses, just in time to hear the horrifying impact of my twin hitting the bottom of the cliff.

It doesn't register with me right away what I just witnessed but I can't even begin to come to turns with the fact that I may have just witnessed Leo's death. No…this can't be real…It feels like a dream…

"Sorry, cub…not this time…"

I growl and take a step forward, my claws coming out fully. I don't understand, why Leo and not me? I'm the only real threat to him and I'm currently unarmed.

"Why? You had a perfect opportunity to finish me but you went for my brother instead?"

"Because both of you are a danger to my reign…one down, but I'll never stop until you are destroyed."

"You have me, why not end me now?"

"Because, Thundercat," he growls as he leers at me, "I want to see you suffer…"

"But why my brother?"

"Because he has some of Satos in him too…What you don't realise, Thundercat, is that your life is a curse – as long as you are alive, your loved ones will die horrific deaths. Your friends, your family, everything you love shall die, and you too shall die with it! That's the price to pay for being who you are!"

With that he disappears as I frantically search for a way down the cliff, which I eventually find. The rocks are treacherous but I manage to eventually climb down, my eyes threatening to spill their tears.

"Leo, can you hear me?"

Nothing but silence greets me as I desperately scramble over the rocks towards where my older brother lies motionless on the mountainside pass. The boulders are coated in moss which has been made slippery by the rain, meaning that getting there is dangerous and I nearly fall a few times; the efforts of my journey end up sending loose rocks and scree down the remainder of the drop towards the river. Leo fell a worrying distance onto a narrow path, and I have no way of telling if he's still alive or not. Still, I have to at least hope. Thoughts race through my mind as I run towards the place where my brother landed, cutting my legs, arms and hands on the rocks every time that I slip and have to grab them for support.

When I get close enough, I can see that he's badly wounded and, as I stand over him, I can see that he's lying with his head to the side. "Leo? Leo, can you hear me? Please tell me you're ok." I say as I kneel down on the damp earth beside the lion. His eyes are slightly open and so too is his mouth, a thin line of blood trickling from his lips...

"L...Lio...Lion-O...I...It...It h-h-hurts so...so much..."

Relief washes over me when I realise that he's still alive by some miracle, although barely. He coughs weakly, and I'm shocked when a thick stream of bright red blood dribbles down his cheek and speckles the rocks in front of him. I know that he's dying, but I refuse to accept that fact. I can't lose my brother. Not like this. Not for good.

His breathing is unsteady and ragged, and he wheezes and gasps upon inhaling - he can't breathe. I roll him onto his back in hope of making it easier for him to breathe, only to be met by a body slick with blood from where multiple sharp rocks have pierced his chest, the biggest of which has two spikes that have impaled him under his sternum and deep into his ribcage.

I have to turn away as I throw up, bringing the contents of my stomach at the gruesome sight.

"It's…bad, isn't it…"

"I'm not going to lie, you're hurt…" I say as I tear my shirt of, ripping strips from the fabric which I use to create makeshift bandages to try to staunch the bleeding.

"Why…don't you call…the Sword?"

"Because I don't think that it will react…"

Leo groans in agony as I scoop him up, his blood soaking into my clothes and fur. I know that I shouldn't be doing this but I have to get him to Pumyra. She can help him. She managed to save my life when the Feliner crashed and almost killed me, so I don't see why she wouldn't be able to save my brother with these wounds.

"Don't worry Leo, you'll be fine…"

"I…trust you, brother…"

I turn in many directions to try to find the best route to get off of this path, but the only obvious one that I can see is the way that I came from. Although not ideal, it's probably the best choice that I have. I adjust my hold on my brother before making my way up the steps as quickly as I possibly can but my heart is in my throat and I'm sick to my stomach with worry. Each step feels like a mountain climb with the extra weight from carrying Leo but I have to do this.

It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes before I reach the top, the trees around me bathed in the light from the setting sun. I take a deep breath before looking down at my sibling and see that he's still breathing and his eyes are still open, which is nothing but good news to me; maybe he has a better chance than I was expecting him to have.

The world is still and silent; there's no birdsong, no wind. I don't like the feeling, it's putting me at unease. I push myself into a run though, determined to get home before nightfall. Trees rush by as I push myself, my chest burning as I see the city looming in the distance.

"Lion-O…not gonna make it…"

"We're almost there Leo, just hold on a little longer!"

I don't get a reply as I force myself on, my chest and arms aching. The material of my shirt that I'd used as bandages are now completely red with blood and his eyes are closed, but I swallow my fear and press on through the gates towards the Lair. The great stone structure rises in the distance and I feel that spark of hope again.

"We're in the home stretch now Leo!"

Silence…

"Leo? Leo!"

The tears stream down my cheeks as I rapidly approach the Lair, running past the Thundertank which Panthro is working on. The panther looks up, and I see the expression on his face change from a warm welcome to the cold look of pure shock as I run past.

"Lion-O, what-"

"No time to explain!" I cry as I run up the steps towards the main entrance, almost tripping over multiple times before I reach the top, throwing the door open as I run through, slipping so many times. I have to get to the Med Bay, to Pumyra…

My footsteps echo through the hall as I race up the stairs, the servants, Guards and trainee Thundercats jumping aside as I barrel towards them. I pass by my family's suite on the way there where I see Lola just leaving.

"Daddy? Oh no…MUMMY! It's Daddy and Uncle Leo!"

I eventually reach the Med Bay and Pumyra looks up as I run in carrying my gravely injured brother.

"Pumyra!" I cry through my tears, "Help him! Please!"

She rushes over with full medical gear as I place Leo down on one of the beds, and she takes his vitals as I watch.

"Pulse is extremely weak and his blood pressure is worryingly low, he might be bleeding internally. Get him into surgery and get him outta here!"

"No! Leo!"

I fight against the medical aides as they escort me out of the Med Bay. This can't be happening! I roar with pain and rage, and that's when I feel somebody wrap their arms around me. I look down and see Lola, just as Cheetara and Katzeran join us. The shock overwhelms me as my wife and son take me back to the suite, and I feel my heart pounding. This can't be happening! It just can't!

"Lion-O, Pumyra and Tygra will do everything that they can to save Leo, I promise."

I just sit there in shock, sobbing as the cheetah washes the blood from my body with a wet rag as Katz looks on worriedly. This would never have happened if I wasn't so stupid! I forgot to bring the Sword and Leo has potentially paid the price for it. It's not fair! It should've been me who got pitched over the edge of the cliff!

"Dad, I told you that I should have gone with you! I told you that something bad was going to happen!"

"Katzeran, shut up! Let your Father calm down!"

It takes a long time before there's a knock at the door and Cheetara lets Pumyra in, who joins us in the living room.

"What news do you have Pumyra?"

"He pulled through but barely. His vitals are still very weak and the next forty-eight hours are crucial because if he pulls through then he has a chance. He was very seriously wounded and it's not looking good so we're keeping him as comfortable as possible."

To Be Continued

A/N: Well, yet another chapter pumped out and this may be the last one for quite some time due to my new project unless I find some spare time to write. This is the rewritten chapter so it's better than it was, I feel that it fits better.