When the bough breaks.
Chapter 1
By Leanna
It was nearly four am when the comms on the bedside softly beeped, "Tygra," Myra said groggily, "your being summoned again" she said gently shaking the tiger awake.
"Probably another false alarm," he sighed and slowly pulled the blanket off him and sat up.
"Want me to go with you just in case it's not?" Myra asked running her hand down Tygra's strong arm.
"No. you stay in bed," He smiled and leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her temple, "I won't be long".
Tygra got up and dressed and headed down towards the med bay, six months had passed since their last run in with Schwenk, even though they never heard anymore from him they were still keeping a careful watch.
Tygra yawned as he walked down the hall way, his was the second time just this week he was awaken in the middle of the night by a panicked panther, Leanna was nine weeks away from giving birth and every little twinge sent the panther into a panic. Last week it was three times he was called down to the med bay, and each time it turned out to be false labour. He suggested that perhaps Leanna stay in the med bay, carrying twins usually ran the risk of early labour, which made the panther worry even more, but Leanna was stubborn, she reassured both of them she'd be fine and wanted to stay in her own bed. Not that he blamed her; the med bay beds weren't exactly the most comfortable.
"I'm really considering having normal office hours," Tygra smirked walking into the med bay.
"I'm sorry Tygra," Leanna sighed sitting on the side of the med bed, "I would have waited until a decent hour…but worry wart here wouldn't let me"
Tygra looked at Panthro and smiled, the panther stood at the lioness beside with a half panicked look on his face, "it's quite alright Lea…if I didn't come down I know Panthro would be banging on my door and drag me out of bed".
"Yes. I would," The panther stated.
"OK…Let's see what's going on with these two," Tygra said helping the lioness lay back on the bed, he opened the drawer and took out a medical scanner and ran it over Leanna's bulging stomach, "you really need to stop eating apple jelly, you've put on fifteen extra pounds".
"Sorry can't help what I crave for," Leanna shrugged.
Tygra just looked at her and chuckled, "but you eat it with everything".
They say a pregnant woman has a certain glow about them; Leanna was no exception, her normally long straight ebony hair, now fell in thick waves around her shoulders. Her face had filled out at bit more; her complexion had taken on a slightly darker shade.
"What can I say, it's not my fault. I am eating for three," she smiled.
"Well by the looks of it…you'll still be eating for three for a bit longer," Tygra said putting the scanner away.
"See told you," Leanna said looking up at her mate, "don't know who's getting more anxious, him or me...personally I think him because he's not the one who has to push them out".
"Well hope he knows there is a no return policy," Tygra winked, "the two of you better catch up on what sleep you can get while you can…once these two make their presents known…you will get no more sleep".
"That's ok…I have a cot in the hanger," Panthro joked. The comment got him a sharp jab in the ribs.
"Ok you two…go back to bed and get some sleep before breakfast," Tygra nodded and helped the lioness sit up.
Panthro nodded and took Leanna's hands and helped her stand up. "I'm as fat as a house," she sighed straightening out her nightgown and robe.
"You're not fat," Panthro smiled placing his hands on either side of her face, "you are absolutely beautiful," he smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Hate to interrupt…but I think Leanna needs to stay in bed more and rest," Tygra nodded.
"I'm not saying in the med bay," Leanna said shaking her head.
"No. just stay in your room and rest…your time is getting close, but it's still too early for the twins to be born, Pumyra and I can come and check on you and I'm sure Lion-O would let Panthro take a bit of time off," Tygra said, "and when he's working I'm sure Myra and Cheetara can keep you company".
"Is there something you're not telling me," Leanna asked.
"I don't want you to worry," Tygra said, "but all these false alarms is your body's way of telling you to take it easy…I know you don't want to jeopardize the twins lives and right now, their lungs aren't fully matured yet, that will take place over the next few weeks".
"So you're putting me on complete bed rest?" the lioness asked.
"As of now…yes," Tygra nodded, "I would keep you here…but I know that would just stress you out. So I'll allow you to rest in your own bed, provided you actually stay there, you can only get up long enough to go to the bathroom…meals will be brought to you…and Panthro…you make sure she listens and stays in bed".
"Even if I have to tie her down...she will stay," Panthro nodded.
The lioness scowled at the two men. Panthro looked at her and winked and picked her up in his strong arms, "no more walking for you".
"For Jaga sakes, I'm not helpless," The lioness protested.
Tygra just chuckled as the panther carried his mate out of the med bay; he finished putting everything away and went back to his room.
"Let me guess another false alarm," Myra asked as Tygra crawled back into bed.
"Yes. I had to put her on complete bed rest," Tygra said drawing the tigress into his arms, "she wasn't too happy about it"
"I'm sure her big blue, over protective, watch dog will make sure she obeys that order," Myra chuckled.
"Oh yes. No worries there," Tygra laughed.
Panthro had every reason to worry; he looked over at his sleeping mate for the tenth time in half an hour. This was the love of his life and his first born children. Leanna was the other half of his heart and soul, his reason to get up in the morning, his reason to laugh and to smile. He knew she loved him whole heartily, even when he did get into one of his cantankerous moods, she would always find away to make him smile, or she would just simply give him a sound smack up side the head and tell him to stop. Not many would dare to do that to the moody martial arts master, he would usually just snarl back at her and she'd just dismiss him with a wave of her hand or give him a look that would make an errant child stop dead in their tracks. With one touch, or a quiet word she could calm his temper and quiet his soul. With the lioness by his side he felt he could take on the whole world with one hand tied behind his back.
"I'm not going to move," Leanna said without opening her eyes, "and your staring at me is starting to get irritating".
"Sorry, the twins kicking me in the side kept me awake," he smiled.
"Be thankful it's not your bladder," She smirked and slowly opened her eyes and stretched lazily.
"Need some help getting up," Panthro chuckled.
"Soon going to need a power winch or a block and tackle in here just to get me out of bed," Leanna smiled and her mate got up and walked over to the other side of the bed and helped her to the feet.
"Not as long as I have strength in my arms we won't," he winked and flexed his muscles.
"Pan love…flexing like that is what got me in this predicament in the first place," she teased and slapped his rump as she walked passed him to the bathroom.
The panther let out a hearty laugh, "I'll go get us some breakfast"
"Don't forget the apple jelly," Leanna called through the door.
"Oh heaven for bid if I did," he snorted and went down to the kitchen.
"So did you get any sleep at all?" Lion-O asked when he saw Panthro enter the kitchen.
"Not much," the panther shrugged and picked up the coffee pot and poured the steaming hot liquid into his favourite mug, he turned and joined the lion at the table.
"Ok…as of now. No more night shifts. We'll cover for you. You need to sleep and be with your wife," Lion-O smiled, "you can also take shorter shifts during the day if you need too"
"Thanks, Tygra has put her on complete bed rest as of today," Panthro said staring into his mug.
"I know. He was in a few minutes ago," Lion-O nodded.
"Still drinking your morning coffee in the kitchen," Cheetara winked walking in and taking a seat beside Lion-O.
"Yeah the smell makes Lea sick," Panthro nodded.
"Funny how that happens," The cheetah shrugged and picked up a piece of ripe berbil fruit, "she still craving apple jelly?"
"Oh yes," Panthro smirked, "woke me up at two am the other night to go get her a jar".
"You're a good man," the cheetah winked reaching over and patting the panther's arm.
"I'll be a dead man if I don't get her breakfast down to her," Panthro smirked and downed the rest of the content of the mug.
"Here you are Panthro," Snarf replied carrying a large covered tray, "breakfast for four".
"Never thought I'd see the day anyone could out eat you," Lion-O teased.
"I know," Panthro chuckled, "if I try and take anything off her plate I'm liable to be pulling back stubs".
The lioness came out of the bathroom after taking a quick shower, she padded barefoot across the floor and picked up her hair brush and sat on the side of the bed brushing out her long wet hair. Setting her brush down after she was done, she went to her dresser and pulled out a fresh night gown. Letting her robe slip from her body, she laid it over the back of a chair and slid the nightgown down over her head, as it fell down over her belly and settled to her knees she suddenly froze, the hackles on the back of her neck stood on end. She wasn't alone in the room. She spun around but didn't see anyone or anything.
"Wow…I'm getting way too jumpy," she said to herself and ran her hand protectively over her belly.
"Motherhood suits you my pet," an all too familiar voice said from behind her.
"Please…..Just leave me alone," Leanna said slowly turning around.
"Packed on a few pounds I see," Schwenk smirked stepping out from behind the opened bathroom door.
"I'm in no position to fight you Schwenk, "Leanna said slightly backing away from him.
"Oh I know," Schwenk winked and reached out his hand towards the lioness's bump, he could feel the life within her body. "Don't hurt them…please" The lioness said half begging
"I'm not a total monster," he snorted, "I had a family once," He said touching her stomach. Leanna seen his expression soften a bit, "Had?" she questioned.
"They were murdered by a clan of rogue thunderian tiger's," he said with sadness in his voice
"Oh...I am sorry," Leanna said quietly.
"Are you…are you really?" He suddenly snapped, "Just because I'm human does that give your kind the right to hunt us down and kill us," He barked.
"No. but, "she started to say.
"BUT. But what. You wouldn't so something like that," he said cocking a brow.
"Please I don't want to fight or argue with you," She said cringing slightly as a sharp pain shot through her lower back.
"You're truly frightened …are you?" Schwenk said moving closer.
The lioness turned and tried to run for the door, with a movement of his hand the lioness stopped dead in her tracks and fell backwards as if she had hit an invisible wall. She groaned and rolled onto her side, "Please leave me alone," she moaned holding on to her belly.
"Hmm, are you in pain?" He smirked looking down at the pregnant lioness.
"No," she lied.
"Good," Schwenk smirked and grabbed her by her hair and pulled her to her feet.
The lioness scream as the pain in her head matched the pain in her back and lower abdomen.
Panthro was walking down the hall carrying the large breakfast try, as he got close to his room he heard his mate scream, " Lea," he gasped and dropped the tray and ran, the tray clattered to the floor along with the contents within. Plates, silverware and food flew in every direction.
The panther reached his door and ran inside "Lea?" he called going into the bathroom, nothing, he came back out and seen her robe hanging over the back of the chair, he picked up her hair brush, the bristles were wet. He tossed th4e brush on the bed and searched the room, he ran over to the bedside comms and called up to the control room, "scan the lair…lea is missing," Came the panthers panicked voice over the comms.
"Missing? Isn't she supposed to be in bed?" Myra asked looking at Cheetara.
"That's what I thought," The cheetah shrugged, "Sorry Panthro, there's no sign of her in the lair," she said as Myra did a quick scan.
"What the hell," Panthro growled then noticed something on the floor, he walked over and crouched down, he touched what looked like a small puddle of water, "Odd," he thought to himself, "have Tygra come to my room…now" the panther bellowed.
A few minutes later Tygra arrived with Lion-O in tow, "Tygra what's that," Panthro pointed to the floor.
Tygra crouched down and did a scan then looked up at the panther, "It's Amniotic fluid".
"Amniotic. What?" Lion-O asked.
"Her water broke. Lea is in labour," Tygra said, "but where is she?"
"That's what I want to know. I heard her scream, came running in and she was gone," Panthro said.
"I'll get the Sword," Lion-O nodded and ran for the sword chamber, "this isn't a good sign," the lion said hearing the mighty sword growl in warning.
The three reached the sword chamber, the eye of thundera glowed and growled, the lion quickly picked the mystic weapon up and held it before his eyes, "Sword of omens…give me sight beyond sight," he commanded, the sword instantly obeyed, the crossbars curled.
"Dear Jaga," Lion-O gasped, "the unicorn forest "
Panthro was already out the door when Lion-O lowered the sword, "Tygra grab medical equipment," The lion ordered and headed for the hanger, by the time Lion-O reached the hanger, Panthro had the Thundertank started and the paw half raised, the lion jumped in the back as Panthro pulled out, Tygra came running down the front steps of the lair with medical bag in hand, Myra close behind with a pack on her back, the two tigers jumped in the tank as it headed towards the draw bridge.
"It's Schwenk, is it?" Panthro asked through clenched teeth as they speed towards the unicorn forest.
"Yes," Lion-O nodded and looked back as Tygra and Myra readied the medical equipment, the looked ahead, "over there," he pointed to a small grove of pine trees and ferns.
The group started searching, "I don't see her," Panthro shouted, panic rose in the big grey cat as he picked up the scent of fresh blood, but that wasn't all. There was something else mixed in with the smell. He slowly walked forward, he could see where something had been in the ferns, he crouched and moved some of the broken stems out of the way. The big panther froze, the blood scent was strong. Fear gripped him as he seen something small under one of the large fern leaves. He leaned forward and gasped at the sight of a tiny foot.
Preparing himself for the sight of what he feared, Panthro knelt down on both knees and gingerly moved the fern. "TYGRA!!" he shouted. As Tygra ran to see what the panther had found he heard the cries of a newborn.