Ties That Bind -- Chapter 12
Another update. Hope you like it. :)Chapter 12
Without waiting for any type of explanation or reasoning, the fuming panther left the room as fast as he could. Lion-O had another thing coming if he thought that as Lord of the ThunderCats he could do what he wanted. Cheetara was about to go after him as Tygra entered the room. Now sure that Pumyra would be able to handle the situation without her help, the cheetah took off, knowing exactly where Panthro was headed.
The irate cat arrived in the control room to find it empty but that’s when he heard the sound of someone retching. He left the room intent on finding the lion when Cheetara arrived.
“Panthro, stop! Before you do something you regret.” She hoped she’d gotten through to him but no such luck as an unsuspecting Lion-O walked out of the bathroom. The lion received a punch in the face that knocked him to the ground and that’s when Cheetara grabbed her bo-staff, extended it, and smacked Panthro upside the head.
“You just assaulted my husband. One more step and I bury this staff in your skull.” The tone in her voice assured the panther that she wasn’t joking around so instead he lashed out verbally.
“How could you do that? Just because you’re the Lord of the ThunderCats you think you can do whatever you want well you’re wrong. If you so much as get within five hundred feet of her, I’ll kill you.” With that Panthro turned and left a bewildered lion and his wife.
“What is he talking about? I spent the past twenty minutes in the bathroom throwing up.” Lion-O stood up and looked at Cheetara. The look that was on her face was one he couldn’t describe.
“What is it?” He asked, as he got closer to her.
“Leanna was attacked. She said you did it.” She responded. A look of disbelief crossed the Lord of the ThunderCats’ face.
“I would never do that. I told you I spent the past twenty minutes in the bathroom. Even if I hadn’t I would never do something that would jeopardize everything I have, especially you, Sahara, and Leo.” Lion-O said.
“I believe you but convincing Panthro and Leanna won’t be so easy.” Cheetara wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her head on his chest. He put his arms around her and gave her a loving squeeze.
“We’d better go see if the others need help.” Lion-O said when they parted a minute later.
“I’ll go. You stay in the control room. Let me speak to them and see if they got a full story out of Leanna.” The cheetah told him. He nodded and watched the love of his life walk away.
Down in the sick bay, Pumyra and Tygra finished tending to the wounded lioness. Luckily, no stitches were needed and they managed to grab some clothes so she wouldn’t be naked. Panthro had been told to stay away until they had finished and he hadn’t been happy about that. Ben-Gali was charged with the task of trying to calm the panther down to which he’d said ‘you have to be freaking kidding me’. Still the brave white tiger did as he had been asked and had taken Panthro to the kitchen to get some coffee or at least something that would calm him down. As Cheetara entered the room, she got a look from Pumyra, who indicated they should talk outside.
Out in the hallway, the puma turned to her friend and tried to explain the situation, as she understood it.
“I cleaned the bite mark on Leanna’s shoulder and tried to gauge the size of it.” Silence followed that statement, as she was unsure of how to continue.
“What did you find?” The cheetah wanted to know.
“I believe that it matches the mouth size of a fully grown lion.” Pumyra’s sentence hung in the air.
“No, it can’t. I refuse to believe my husband is a cheating attempted rapist.” Cheetara shook her head.
“It’s not a conclusive match, I’d have to make a mold and try to match it.” The puma tried to calm her down.
“When Panthro found Lion-O, he was coming out of the bathroom after throwing up. He said he’d been in there the past twenty minutes and I believe him.” Her friend said.
“Ok well we can prove that by looking at the security tapes. I’m sure that Ben-Gali could go through them and see if his story checks.” Pumyra told her reassuringly. Tygra’s exit from the infirmary interrupted their conversation.
“Leanna refuses to talk about what happened. She only tells me that he kissed her and then bit her. I’m willing to bet that that is as far as things got considering we all heard the roar.” He explained.
“Very good point. So what’s the next step?” Pumyra wanted to know.
“I should take temporary command of the ThunderCats until the issue can be resolved. In the meantime, Lion-O is confined to quarters. Where is he anyway?” The orange tiger asked.
“He’s in the control room on duty.” Cheetara answered.
“Good. I’ll head down there, inform him of my decision, and get his side of the story. Pumyra, we’ll need pictures of the inside of his mouth and we’ll need to look at the security tapes. Have Ben-Gali bring Panthro back up here so that he can take care of Leanna and we’ll have your husband handle the videotapes. Cheetara, I suggest you tend to your cubs. They don’t ever need to know about this especially if it turns out to not be true.” That being said, Tygra left the two women.
To Be Continued…
Another update. Hope you like it. :)