Loss of Innocence, Chapter 2
Loss of Innocence Chapter 2 Four months had passed when Bengali stormed in to the Dining room and ordered his wife to follow him to the control center and he did not look happy. Wily Kit was stunned by his anger and wondered what was going on. She knew that something had happened last night at the Berbil village when Linda and Bengali had gone to see the Arrietta bird and she wondered if his visit to Mumm-Rana had anything to do with it. Not long after, Cheetara and Tygra showed up looking for Bengali and Kit directed them to the control center. Curious as to what was happening; she ordered Jonalia to stay and finish her lunch and followed the Thundarian couple. She got there in time to see a very enraged Bengali slamming the door in Cheetara and Tygra’s faces and was completely shocked! “Daddy looks mad.” said a small voice beside her. Kit looked down to see Jonalia next to her. “Hey, I thought I told you to finish your lunch!” “I’m not hungry any more; besides, I wanna know what’s going on.” “You and me both kid.” thought Wily Kit as she lead the child back to the Dining room to wait for the others. The next day Bengali asked Kit to take Jonalia to the Lair. Knowing how serious the situation was, she readily agreed and packed a few things to keep the girl entertained. As they were driving to the Lair in the Thunder Tank, Jonalia asked Kit a question. “Is momma sick?” Kit sighed, wondering how to answer that question. Linda and Bengali had sat down with her last night to let her know what was going on. When she heard that Linda was pregnant, she had been very shocked. She knew that this pregnancy was dangerous to the human woman and she hoped that when Pumyra arrived today, that she and Tygra would be able to help her. Most likely they would abort the fetus to save Linda’s life and Kit felt very sad for her, knowing how much the woman wanted a baby of her own. Her attention was brought back to the present when the little girl asked again if her mother was ill. “No honey, your momma isn’t sick.” “Is she dying?” Jonalia asked with a hint of fear. Kit turned to the girl and smiled at her. “No, she isn’t dying either.” “Then why is aunt Pumyra coming New Thundera to see her?” Wily Kit looked at the girl in surprise. “How did you know that Pumyra was coming to see your momma?” Jonalia looked away guiltily. “I overheard one of the transmissions this morning. She was asking Daddy how Momma was and warning him not to let momma do anything strenuous. What does that mean anyways?” Kit could see the Lair off in the distance and continued driving while she answered the child. “Strenuous means working too hard. You know how your momma likes to continually move around and take care of the Tower, but Pumyra is just worried that she may over do it, that’s all.” Jonalia sat quietly for a while, making Kit think that she had run out of questions, but the child’s next one nearly got them into an accident. “Is aunt Pumyra coming here because momma is having a baby?” Kit looked at the girl in shock for a moment and when she looked back up, she had to swerve to miss hitting a tree. With her heart racing, she brought the Tank to a stop and gaped at the child. “How in the Hells of Plundarr did you hear that?!” she demanded. Jonalia’s eyes grew wide in shock and fear to hear her friend cursing so. Kit closed her own eyes and took a few breaths before saying anything. “I’m sorry about that Pussy Cat. You kind of threw me off their and I reacted badly, but I would still like to know how you learned about your momma having a baby.” Jonalia was near tears and looking in her lap when she answered. “I listened to momma and daddy telling you stuff last night. I didn’t mean to listen in, but I got thirsty and was walking past the den when I heard you guys! I’m sorry!” the girl wailed. Kit wasn’t quite sure what to do in this situation so she did the only thing that came to her mind; she picked up the little girl and held her close and let her cry for a bit before trying to soothe her. “Shhh, it’s ok, no harm was done Pussy Cat.” Then she laughed a bit. “I have to say that you have ears more perceptive then Lynx-o’s at times.” “Daddy says I have ears bigger then a bobcat’s.” said the child as she finally calmed down. The young woman laughed. “You do at that honey. Remind me to come to you first for the local gossip.” Jonalia giggled at this then nearly jumped when someone tapped on the window. Kit looked up to see the concerned face of her brother. “You two ok in there?” he asked. “We got worried when we saw the Tank stop. Is everything alright?” Kit nodded. “Yes, we just needed to have a little talk, that’s all.” she said to reassure Kat. “Want me to drive you ladies in?” he asked. “Oh no!” she said laughing. “Your driving is as bad as your space board flying! Get in and I’ll drive!” Kat laughed and jumped in the back, space board in hand. “I have gotten better you know.” “Please! You’ll never be as good as me.” she joked as she started the Tank and continued to the Lair. “Hmm, if I didn’t know better, I would think that you were challenging me, sis.” “Just give me a space board and I’ll show you who’s best!” She was grateful to her brother for helping her to distract Jonalia and hoped that all was going well at the Tower. Even though she had to remain optimistic for the child’s sake, she too was worried about Linda’s chances with this unexpected pregnancy. For the next month, Bengali followed his wife around like a faithful hound until Linda got completely sick of it. Whenever she turned around, there was her mate ordering her to rest or getting her things to drink or taking things out of her hands or deeming something to dangerous for her to do. When Dr. Vorien ordered her to bed rest after her early contraction scare, Linda complied readily, hoping that now Bengali would give her some space. He did, but only because Linda threatened to castrate him in his sleep if he didn’t stop hovering around her. Kit had been bringing Linda a tray of tea when she witnessed this event and had had to fight off laughter to see this small human woman scaring the crap out of her big strapping husband. Bengali had turned as white as a sheet at his wife’s threat, which was an amazing feat seeing as his fur was a pure white to begin with, and even Linda had to smile at the way he covered his genitals as he left the room. “You’re evil at times, you know that right?” Kit said as she set the tray down on the night stand close to Linda’s side of the bed. Linda scoffed. “You know what’s really evil? I meant every word I said to him.” The young Thundarian woman giggled as she poured her and Linda a cup of tea. “Would you really have castrated him?” Linda grinned as she accepted her cup. “At that precise minute I would have.” Then she sighed, “I know he’s worried about my health and all and I love him for it, but Damn! He is driving me crazy!!!” Kit smiled and sipped her tea. The honeyed scent of sweetened Chamomile tickled her nose and she breathed in deeply before speaking, “I think it’s sweet the way he dotes on you. There aren’t a lot of men like him out there.” Linda paused in mid sip and looked at her young friend, knowing that they weren’t talking about Bengali and his most recent annoying habit. “Kit, is something wrong?” “No, well, yes, well, uhh, I don’t know.” she sighed. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m getting depressing again. I see you and Bengali and all of the other Thundercats who have loving mates and wonder if I will ever find something that special. I’m starting to feel as if I will never find love. I mean, even Renee has a mate and a child now and she is 9 years my junior!” “Honey, I know it seems as if love is passing you by, but really it’s not. You just haven’t found the right person yet. Give it time.” “I don’t know how much time I have left. I’m not getting any younger.” Linda began to laugh loudly. “You’re kidding me right?!” she said between laughs. When she saw Kit’s confused face she said, “Girl, look at me. I’m almost 40 years old and about to give birth to my first natural child. Please don’t talk to me about time running out. Things will happen when you least expect it.” Kit felt abashed as she realized how right the human woman was and a little ashamed at how selfish she had seemed. When she saw the pregnant woman yawning, she knew it was time to go. She helped Linda get comfortable then gathered up the tea things and prepared to leave. Before she stepped out the door, she turned back and said, “Thanks for listening to me. I know I was a bit shallow and I’m sorry about that.” Linda smiled sleepily. “You weren’t shallow; you had a real concern and I’m honored that you could share with me. I’m always happy to listen.” She said this last part then snuggled down into the bed and fell asleep. Kit quietly walked out of the room and returned the tea tray to the kitchen before going to the control center to check the monitors. She noticed one light blinking, indicating that an audio transmission was taking place. She pressed the proper buttons to access the transmission and heard a frantic Bengali calling for help. “…I repeat, medical emergency! I have a man down, massive dehydration. We need to get him to the med lab quick!”
Loss of Innocence Chapter 2 Four months had passed when Bengali stormed in to the Dining room and ordered his wife to follow him to the control center and he did not look happy. Wily Kit was stunned by his anger and wondered what was going on. She knew that something had happened last night at the Berbil village when Linda and Bengali had gone to see the Arrietta bird and she wondered if his visit to Mumm-Rana had anything to do with it. Not long after, Cheetara and Tygra showed up looking for Bengali and Kit directed them to the control center. Curious as to what was happening; she ordered Jonalia to stay and finish her lunch and followed the Thundarian couple. She got there in time to see a very enraged Bengali slamming the door in Cheetara and Tygra’s faces and was completely shocked! “Daddy looks mad.” said a small voice beside her. Kit looked down to see Jonalia next to her. “Hey, I thought I told you to finish your lunch!” “I’m not hungry any more; besides, I wanna know what’s going on.” “You and me both kid.” thought Wily Kit as she lead the child back to the Dining room to wait for the others. The next day Bengali asked Kit to take Jonalia to the Lair. Knowing how serious the situation was, she readily agreed and packed a few things to keep the girl entertained. As they were driving to the Lair in the Thunder Tank, Jonalia asked Kit a question. “Is momma sick?” Kit sighed, wondering how to answer that question. Linda and Bengali had sat down with her last night to let her know what was going on. When she heard that Linda was pregnant, she had been very shocked. She knew that this pregnancy was dangerous to the human woman and she hoped that when Pumyra arrived today, that she and Tygra would be able to help her. Most likely they would abort the fetus to save Linda’s life and Kit felt very sad for her, knowing how much the woman wanted a baby of her own. Her attention was brought back to the present when the little girl asked again if her mother was ill. “No honey, your momma isn’t sick.” “Is she dying?” Jonalia asked with a hint of fear. Kit turned to the girl and smiled at her. “No, she isn’t dying either.” “Then why is aunt Pumyra coming New Thundera to see her?” Wily Kit looked at the girl in surprise. “How did you know that Pumyra was coming to see your momma?” Jonalia looked away guiltily. “I overheard one of the transmissions this morning. She was asking Daddy how Momma was and warning him not to let momma do anything strenuous. What does that mean anyways?” Kit could see the Lair off in the distance and continued driving while she answered the child. “Strenuous means working too hard. You know how your momma likes to continually move around and take care of the Tower, but Pumyra is just worried that she may over do it, that’s all.” Jonalia sat quietly for a while, making Kit think that she had run out of questions, but the child’s next one nearly got them into an accident. “Is aunt Pumyra coming here because momma is having a baby?” Kit looked at the girl in shock for a moment and when she looked back up, she had to swerve to miss hitting a tree. With her heart racing, she brought the Tank to a stop and gaped at the child. “How in the Hells of Plundarr did you hear that?!” she demanded. Jonalia’s eyes grew wide in shock and fear to hear her friend cursing so. Kit closed her own eyes and took a few breaths before saying anything. “I’m sorry about that Pussy Cat. You kind of threw me off their and I reacted badly, but I would still like to know how you learned about your momma having a baby.” Jonalia was near tears and looking in her lap when she answered. “I listened to momma and daddy telling you stuff last night. I didn’t mean to listen in, but I got thirsty and was walking past the den when I heard you guys! I’m sorry!” the girl wailed. Kit wasn’t quite sure what to do in this situation so she did the only thing that came to her mind; she picked up the little girl and held her close and let her cry for a bit before trying to soothe her. “Shhh, it’s ok, no harm was done Pussy Cat.” Then she laughed a bit. “I have to say that you have ears more perceptive then Lynx-o’s at times.” “Daddy says I have ears bigger then a bobcat’s.” said the child as she finally calmed down. The young woman laughed. “You do at that honey. Remind me to come to you first for the local gossip.” Jonalia giggled at this then nearly jumped when someone tapped on the window. Kit looked up to see the concerned face of her brother. “You two ok in there?” he asked. “We got worried when we saw the Tank stop. Is everything alright?” Kit nodded. “Yes, we just needed to have a little talk, that’s all.” she said to reassure Kat. “Want me to drive you ladies in?” he asked. “Oh no!” she said laughing. “Your driving is as bad as your space board flying! Get in and I’ll drive!” Kat laughed and jumped in the back, space board in hand. “I have gotten better you know.” “Please! You’ll never be as good as me.” she joked as she started the Tank and continued to the Lair. “Hmm, if I didn’t know better, I would think that you were challenging me, sis.” “Just give me a space board and I’ll show you who’s best!” She was grateful to her brother for helping her to distract Jonalia and hoped that all was going well at the Tower. Even though she had to remain optimistic for the child’s sake, she too was worried about Linda’s chances with this unexpected pregnancy. For the next month, Bengali followed his wife around like a faithful hound until Linda got completely sick of it. Whenever she turned around, there was her mate ordering her to rest or getting her things to drink or taking things out of her hands or deeming something to dangerous for her to do. When Dr. Vorien ordered her to bed rest after her early contraction scare, Linda complied readily, hoping that now Bengali would give her some space. He did, but only because Linda threatened to castrate him in his sleep if he didn’t stop hovering around her. Kit had been bringing Linda a tray of tea when she witnessed this event and had had to fight off laughter to see this small human woman scaring the crap out of her big strapping husband. Bengali had turned as white as a sheet at his wife’s threat, which was an amazing feat seeing as his fur was a pure white to begin with, and even Linda had to smile at the way he covered his genitals as he left the room. “You’re evil at times, you know that right?” Kit said as she set the tray down on the night stand close to Linda’s side of the bed. Linda scoffed. “You know what’s really evil? I meant every word I said to him.” The young Thundarian woman giggled as she poured her and Linda a cup of tea. “Would you really have castrated him?” Linda grinned as she accepted her cup. “At that precise minute I would have.” Then she sighed, “I know he’s worried about my health and all and I love him for it, but Damn! He is driving me crazy!!!” Kit smiled and sipped her tea. The honeyed scent of sweetened Chamomile tickled her nose and she breathed in deeply before speaking, “I think it’s sweet the way he dotes on you. There aren’t a lot of men like him out there.” Linda paused in mid sip and looked at her young friend, knowing that they weren’t talking about Bengali and his most recent annoying habit. “Kit, is something wrong?” “No, well, yes, well, uhh, I don’t know.” she sighed. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m getting depressing again. I see you and Bengali and all of the other Thundercats who have loving mates and wonder if I will ever find something that special. I’m starting to feel as if I will never find love. I mean, even Renee has a mate and a child now and she is 9 years my junior!” “Honey, I know it seems as if love is passing you by, but really it’s not. You just haven’t found the right person yet. Give it time.” “I don’t know how much time I have left. I’m not getting any younger.” Linda began to laugh loudly. “You’re kidding me right?!” she said between laughs. When she saw Kit’s confused face she said, “Girl, look at me. I’m almost 40 years old and about to give birth to my first natural child. Please don’t talk to me about time running out. Things will happen when you least expect it.” Kit felt abashed as she realized how right the human woman was and a little ashamed at how selfish she had seemed. When she saw the pregnant woman yawning, she knew it was time to go. She helped Linda get comfortable then gathered up the tea things and prepared to leave. Before she stepped out the door, she turned back and said, “Thanks for listening to me. I know I was a bit shallow and I’m sorry about that.” Linda smiled sleepily. “You weren’t shallow; you had a real concern and I’m honored that you could share with me. I’m always happy to listen.” She said this last part then snuggled down into the bed and fell asleep. Kit quietly walked out of the room and returned the tea tray to the kitchen before going to the control center to check the monitors. She noticed one light blinking, indicating that an audio transmission was taking place. She pressed the proper buttons to access the transmission and heard a frantic Bengali calling for help. “…I repeat, medical emergency! I have a man down, massive dehydration. We need to get him to the med lab quick!”