Ties That Bind -- Chapter 20
This week's installment is here. Only a few more chapters to go. :) Chapter 20 Lion-O and Cheetara found their quarry still lying up against the wall. That last punch by the Lord of the ThunderCats had worked quite well as a sedative. The cheetah bent down to check Gorlock’s vitals to make sure he was still alive. “He’s still breathing but his pulse isn’t as strong as it should be.” She said. “Well he did attack us not long after he sustained those from our first encounter.” Lion-O shrugged. “So what do we do with him? How do you keep a shape shifter from shape shifting?” Cheetara wondered. “Let’s get him down to the sick bay and we’ll have Tygra and Pumyra look him over when they’re done helping Panthro.” The lion suggested. His mate nodded and the two picked up the large creature. Lion-O had Gorlock by the shoulders and Cheetara had him by his feet. Despite how heavy Mumm-Ra’s slave was the two managed to get him down to the sick bay. When they entered the infirmary, the tiger and puma were still working on their fallen comrade. Dumping Gorlock’s body on the nearest empty bed the two headed for the control room. “We’d better call Mandora and get her over here right away.” Lion-O said. “Good idea. I’m going to stay with Lea.” Cheetara told him. The lion gave a nod before placing a quick kiss on her lips. They parted and the cheetah turned back to aid her new friend. Leanna could sense someone standing next to her but she didn’t let on. Her eyes were glued to watching Tygra and Pumyra’s movements through the window that allowed viewing into the infirmary. “What exactly does this Extractor do?” She asked, hoping Cheetara’s answer would help her calm down. “It removes any foreign objects from the body and then repairs any affected organs. Right now Tygra and Pumyra are checking to make sure the bleeding has been stopped and then they will sow up the wound.” Her friend explained. “Why is it taking so long?” Lea questioned. The answer she got didn’t give her a warm fuzzy. “I don’t know but Tygra and Pumyra will make sure that Panthro is ok. He’s a strong cat; he’ll make it.” Cheetara gave her a smile and the lioness smiled slightly back. All they could do now was wait and hope. Inside the infirmary, Tygra and Pumyra struggled to get Panthro’s bleeding under control. The Extractor had closed up the wound in his back and the organs but it had missed something that continued to bleed. “We need another pint of blood, how many do we have left?” Tygra asked Ben-Gali who quickly went to the refrigerated storage unit to grab some more of the supply. “He’s only got one left after this, then we’ll have to start draining the others.” The white tiger responded. Both Tygra and Pumyra cursed under their breath. “Where the heck is that bleeder?” Pumyra continue to feel around inside Panthro’s open body cavity. “If we don’t find it soon he’ll need more than blood to help him through this.” The orange tiger told her. Pumyra refused to listen. She’d already lost Lynx-O; she wasn’t about to let Panthro go with Leanna standing out in the hallway. The puma continued to search until she found what she was looking for. “There his pancreas. The Extractor got his stomach but missed his pancreas.” She said as she quickly worked to sow up the hole. “Understandable considering the pancreas is behind the stomach.” Tygra said as he reached into help her. Within fifteen minutes, they had the wound sowed up and they moved to the large hole in his skin where Gorlock’s sword entered his body. Soon they were done and they checked the machines that the panther was hooked up to. “All right, he seems stable for now. We’ll need more than just one pint of blood just in case. Call up the Thunder Guard. Have them send panthers down to donate blood. In the meantime I’ll take a look at our captive.” The orange tiger said as he stripped off his surgery garb. Pumyra nodded and pulled off her blood soaked clothes as well. Then she stepped out into the hallway. “How is he?” Leanna asked at the puma’s emergence. “Stable. We stopped the bleeding and have stitched him up but he lost a lot of blood. We’re calling up the Thunder Guard for donors in case he needs more.” Pumyra explained. “When can I see him?” The lioness wanted to know. “As soon as Ben-Gali gets him cleaned up.” The puma smiled. That’s when they heard a commotion in the infirmary. To Be Continued…