Thunder Kittens

By Robin Gurl

Chapter 7

"Thank you Panthro for helping us move back into the Nobility Housing." Tygra said as he walked beside the other cat arms full of boxes.

"Not a problem. It got too quiet here after you moved out. Not only that but the other orphan has moved in with us and lets just say his nursemaid is a handful."

"Orphan? Oh you mean Lion-O?" Tygra chuckled as they sat the boxes down turning to go get more. "I wasn't aware he had a nursemaid."

"Would you two please be more quiet. Lion-O has studies to attend to and you two aren't helping!"

Tygra looked down and had to side step before he stepped on the creature. "Well hello there and who are you?"

"Snarf. I'm in charge of Lion-O's well being and I don't appreciate your racket!" The red and yellow creature growled trying to act mean.

"Nice to meet you Snarf. I'm sorry for the interruption but we have to get things moved in before the storm hits tonight. After that I promise no more interruptions." He saluted playfully.

Snarf only shook his head. "It's all up to ol' Snarf but no one ever listens to me.." He turns to head back in to Lion-O when the twins came running down the hallway chasing each other. "What the dag dern-!"

Tygra caught Snarf as he was pushed backwards. "Wily Kit. Wily Kat. Stop running in the halls. You know the rules."

"Whose kittens are these? They should be in lessons at this time of day." Snarf pulled away from Tygra glaring at the kittens.

"Guilty again." Tygra responded. "We just moved here so I haven't found them a tutor yet."

"That just won't do. You two in here with Lion-O."

"Snarf, I can't just ask you to-"

"Nonsense. If Lion-O hasn't killed me yet with all of his shinnegans then these two won't be a bit of trouble." Snarf stood up on two legs and pushed the twins towards the lesson room.

"H-Hey but wait …what's going on?"

"Tygra who is this?"

"Meet Snarf, your new uh… tutor for the time being. Behave and listen to him." The tiger explained as best he could. Before he could say anything else the door slammed shut. "Well I'll be.."

Panthro just laughed, "I told you he was a handful. Come on we've only got a couple of hours left to unload all of this."

"He doesn't seem too bad."

"Just wait until bed time.."

"So you and Cheetara, are you two going to get hitched?" The panther asked as they put the twins beds back together.

Tygra looked up from screwing a piece in. "Why do you ask?"

"I assumed it would be the next logical step? But then logical would mean you have kittens after the mating ceremony. Since you've gone backwards I thought getting hitched was the last step."

"She doesn't want to be chained down."

Panthro raised his eye brows. "You don't seem like the chaining type."

"Of course I'm not. I think she's scared to commit to anything."

"But what about the kittens? They need a stable home."

"Yes, we're both aware. We've been trying our hardest to make it work and I think as of late, we've finally started to get somewhere. We aren't fighting like we used to and we're figuring things out together. Having kittens certainly helps with that."

"Yeah, having two beings that depend on you both for everything can definitely change things."

"Are you and Lorena still seeing one another?" Tygra asked trying to change the subject.

Panthro shrugged, "I haven't seen her much since that first quake. We weren't on speaking terms prior to all of this because of something I said or did. I still love her but there isn't much I can do."

"Have you told her you love her?"

"Tried. Many times. I think it's up to her now." The panther looked sad but only pushed forward. He stood up and sat the bed he had been working on up right. "I'm beginning to think it's just not meant to be."

"Speaking of the Quakes have you heard anything else as to what's causing them?" The tiger quickly changed subjects knowing better than to dig any deeper. The panther barely told anyone about his personal life and if you pressed too hard he'd stop talking all together.

"I haven't. We're waiting on the geological team to come back with some sort of results today as to what is going on with the core of the planet." Panthro knelt down helping Tygra finish the other one. "But I can say, Jaga is worried. He's already discussing evacuation if it keeps up."

"Evacuation?! That is serious."

"Those ships you are drawing plans for – they are the ones that are going to take us off this planet if things don't calm down."

Tygra glanced over to his bag full of sketches and plans. "Really. I was wondering what they were for and why they were so big. Does anyone know about this?"

"Only the council and you." Panthro lifted one of the mattresses putting it on the bed watching as Tygra put the other down. "You can't tell anyone else, it may not even happen. Jaga doesn't want to panic anyone."

"O-Of course, your secret is safe with me." Tygra smiled but on the inside he had a million questions going at once.

"Hey don't worry about it."

"Worry? Me?"

"Tygra, we grew up together. I know when you are thinking and over thinking. I can see the questions swirling around. You will get the answers to all them once Jaga is ready to explain it. Until then, enjoy your new home with your family." Panthro clapped the tiger on the back.