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[White Tiger]_______________________Bengali arose during the middle of the night. He walked to his window to take a gaze outside. He looked at the purple-black sky. He stared at the stars as they began to fade away. He knew soon that it would be dawn. He scratched his head as he looked towards his bed. There sleep was his wife, Pumyra. Her figure had become fuller. He knew soon his cub would be born. Ever since he found out that she was with child he has been by her side. He looked back to that day. It was an early morning and Bengali had just awaken. He turned to look at Pumyra. She was at the other side of the bed. She had huddled up and seemed to be crying. He touched her shoulder but she did not turn to him. It had been a late night when he came to his room last night. By the time he got to bed she was sleep. He wondered what was bothering her. He tapped her shoulder again and this time she turned to him. "What is it Pumyra?". She didn't answer him but he saw tears forming in her eyes. He pulled her towards him and hugged her. She began to cry on his shoulder. He caressed her hair. She had stopped crying by now. He gently kissed her on her head and looked into her eyes. "What is bothering you my love?". She glanced into his eyes and then looked down. "I think I might be pregnant". She began to cry again. He was shocked by his wife's words. He decided that if she is he was going to be happy. He touched her cheek. She looked at him. Her tears falling like rain drops. He kissed her and got out of bed. He put his blue robe on and walked to the window. She covered herself up. Bengali looked back to her. She had closed her eyes and stopped crying. "Well I have always wanted a child". "But Bengali we have only been wed six months. What will the others think?". "What does it matter what they think". Pumyra gazed at him and chose her words wisely. "It will be the first of a puma and a tiger". "I love you Pumyra. I think our child will be beautiful. Let's just see if you have actually conceived". "I don't want anyone to know". "We'll have Tygra check you out. I promise you he won't tell a soul". Bengali walked to the bed and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Go down to sickbay in ten minutes". Bengali slipped on his uniform and walked out the door. Pumyra got out of her bed and slipped on her robe. She sat in a wooded chair next to the window. She stared out the window thinking of how great it will be to raise a child with Bengali. Bengali proceeded down the quite halls of Cat's Lair. He came upon Tygra's room. He knocked on the door with no reply. He knocked again. Tygra tossed in his sleep as he heard the knocking. He awoke from his slumber and put his robe on. He opened the door. There Bengali stood nervously. "Well hello Bengali. What do you want?". Bengali didn't answer but just walked in Tygra's room. He sat down in a chair next to the bed. Tygra plopped down on the bed and looked at Bengali. Bengali had his head in his hands. Tygra tapped him on the shoulder and Bengali looked up. Tygra saw confussion in Bengali's eyes. "Is something wrong Bengali?". Bengali put his head in his hands again. Tygra got up and walked to the window. Bengali raised his head and thought what his next words would be. Tygra pondered what he would say as he looked into the morning's sky. 'I hope he doesn't tell me that he doesn't love Pumyra anymore'. "Me and Pumyra have a slight problem, Tygra". Tygra didn't respond. He gazed deeper into the morning's sky. He gazed into the pink of the clouds. The sun shimering over the blue. Bengali raised from the chair and walked towards the door. "So quick to leave, eh young tiger". "Well I just thought you would respond". "So what is the problem, Bengali?". "I think" Bengali thought again while he paused. "I think Pumyra has conceived a child". Tygra grabbed his head and sat in the chair Bengali was just sitting in. Bengali leaned up against the door. "Well we need your help. I need to know if she is pregnant". Tygra put his head in his hands as Bengali was doing. He lifted his head and looked at Bengali. He didn't see confussion anymore, he saw fear. Tygra stood up and walked to Bengali. He knelt down to where Bengali was sitting. "Let's go". They walked down to sickbay. The halls were still quiet. They entered sickbay. Tygra walked into the back and slipped on a medical uniform. Bengali went to the sink and looked into the mirror. He decided that he had to get over the initial shock. He had to support Pumyra. Tygra walked back into the sickbay area. He went to the sink and washed his hands. Just then Pumyra walked in. She was dressed in her uniform and seemed very calm. She sat down on one of the beds. Bengali stared at her and then looked at the ground. Tygra walked over to where she was sitting. She stared at the ground in shame. "How are we doing today Pumyra?". She gave him no response. She touched her on the shoulder as an effort to calm her. She looked up shyly. "There is nothing to worry about Pumyra. If you are with child, you two will make great parents". That brought confidence to Bengali and he walked over to the bed. He took Pumyra's hand in his. She calmed down and Tygra began the procedure. He ran several normal tests and other special tests. Tygra walked out of the room to look over the final results. Bengali looked into his wife's eyes. "There is no need for fear Pumyra". She just looked at him with no answer. Tygra walked back into sickbay. "So what is Tygra?". Tygra smiled at Pumyra and then gave Bengali a slap on the back. "Well congratulations you two. You're going to make proud parents". Bengali stood in shock. Pumyra gleamed with happiness. She hugged Bengali around the neck and then gave Tygra a kiss on the cheek. She walked out of sickbay quietly. "Aren't you happy" Tygra words were cut of by the intercom. "There will be a council meeting in ten minutes". Lion-o's words echoed troughout Cat's Lair but had no effect on Bengali. Tygra pushed Bengali towards the council room. Bengali sat in a chair and tried to get over the shock. He curiusly wondered what it would be like to raise a child. He wasn't sure how he could make such an error but he knew that things were going to be okay. Tygra sat down next to Cheetara and lightly tapped her shoulder. She turned to him and he whispered into her ear. She giggled a little and then looked at Bengali. Catlani walked in and sat next to Bengali. She could since something was troubling him. "Is something wrong Bengali?". Her words were just another thing that floated among his troubles. Pumyra walked in and sat next to Tygra. She studied her Siberian mate's face. She knew this would trouble him for awhile. Lion-o walked in with the rest of the Thundercats. They all sat in the other available chairs. "We are having problems with our transmitters in the Alt'rian sector. I need two of you to check it out. I was wondering would Bengali and Pumyra be able to do it?". Pumyra looked towards her estranged mate. He gave no answer. "We would be happy to, Lion-o". Lion-o shook his head. "Then this meeting is closed". "We will need the ThunderClaw Panthro". "Ok, but do you think that Bengali will be up to it?". The old panther pointed towards Bengali who was still sitting in his chair. "He will be fine". Snarf approached Pumyra. "Will you need some food for the trip?". "That would be great. Thanks Snarf". Pumyra walked towards Bengali. She stared at his ivory body. With his blue stripes in his hair. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "We have to talk Bengali". He stood to his feet and turned to her. "When we return Pumyra". He walked out of the room. She followed him. They approached their room. When Bengali got to the door he turned to Pumyra. She ignored him and walked in the room. She walked to the bed and got her sling. Ever since their wedding, Pumyra has been staying in Bengali's room. She hasn't moved her stuff in because the room is much too small for both of their things. She gazed around the room. She knew it would be much too small to raise a child in. She looked towards the door where Bengali was standing. He walked in. He steped cautiously towards her. He reached out towards her but she walked away. She put some of her marbles into her puch and walked out. Bengali knew why she was angry with him. He grabbed his hammer and their overnight gear. He walked out of their room and locked the door. He proceeded outside where Pumyra was talking to Snarf. "This should last you until you come back". "Thanks Snarf". She walked towards the ThunderClaw. Tygra ran towards her. "Here is some medicine to ease the sickness Pumyra". She kissed him on the cheek and countiued to load her stuff onto the ThunderClaw. Tygra walked towards Bengali. "Care for her Bengali". Tygra just kept walking and didn't give Bengali a chance to speak. Bengali walked towards the ThunderClaw and began loading his stuff. He got on the ThunderClaw followed by Pumyra. Cheetara waved at them as they took off. "So do you think that they'll work this out Tygra". "I hope so Cheetara. I hope so". The ThunderClaw crossed over many areas of New Thundera. Pumyra wrapped her hands around Bengali. The winds flew through her hair. She gazed out to the open feilds. Bengali saw the area they were supposed to land in. He carefully slowed the ThunderClaw. They landed in a rocky area. Bengali hoped off the ThunderClaw. He carefully walked over the area. He surveyed the area closely. Pumyra stepped off the ThunderClaw. She walked towards Bengali. He stepped foward as to step out of her way. A hint of light dazed his vision and he stepped off the cliff. Pumyra noticed Bengali's slip. She blitzed over to the edge. He was hanging by his shirt on a sharp rock. "BENGALI!" she called. She got no respsonse. She pulled her sling from her side. She threw it onto a nearby tree. She gripped her sling and lowered herself towards him. She tried to grab his belt but couldn't reach. The rock which held him began to break. She had to move quickly. She reached out towards him but once again missed. His shirt tore and he tumbled to the ground. She leaped from rock to rock to where he fell. She was in complete fear of what condition he was in. She tohought for a breif moment before deciding what to do. She raced up the cliffside back to the ThunderClaw. She flew it down to the rocky area where Bengali's body lay. She took the medical kit out and raced to his side. She lifted his head in her hands. She gently placed his head on her knees. She took a cloth from the kit. She then wet it with some water that Snarf had packed for them. She placed it on his head. Then she got some bandages from the medical kit. She wrapped his head with the bandage. She took some more bandages and wrapped his other injuries. She removed his torn shirt from his body. She took a blanket from her bag and covered him up. She laid next to him. Her eyes began to droop as she laid there. She dozed off to sleep. The day fell into evening as Pumyra woke up. Bengali had not awaken yet. She gently kissed him on the forehead and went looking for wood. She raced through the forrest picking up peices of wood. She came back with a few peices of wood. She proceeded to the ThunderClaw. She wanted to move Bengali to a more stable area. She tried to start the engine with no avail. She looked inside and saw that the gas seemed to be extremely low. She took their stuff over to where Bengali was lying. She started a fire and took a book out of her bag. She had went to the Libary of Omens before leaving Cat's Lair. She looked at the cover. She read the words 'How To Raise Thunderian Children'. She knew she had better learn about raising a child now before it was too late. She never really knew her parents or how to raise a kid. Her wedding night was her first experience in true love. They both loved each other dearly so she knew that raising a child wouldn't be too hard. She touched her stomach. She couldn't imagine a life growing inside of her. Cheetara had once told her about what it would be like to have a child. She never imagined that it would be so soon. Most Thunderian couples wait a year of marriage before bearing their first child. That is what troubled all morning. She didn't want to be looked down upon because she conceived at six months. She heard a slight moan. She looked towards Bengali. He was waking up. She walked towards him and lightly touch his head. "What happened?". Pumyra ran her fingers through his hair. "You fell off the cliff". He gazed around. "I feel real dizzy". "Shhh. You might have a concusion". She covered him up and contiued running her white fingers through his hair. Pumyra began to feel sick and got up. She went to her bag and took out the pills Tygra gave her. She took two and layed against a rock. Bengali stood to his feet. He had a slight headache. He carefully walked towards Pumyra. He sat down next to her. He gently put his hand on her neck. He wrapped his other hand around her stomach. "So I guess we'll need a bigger room for our new cub". She laid back against his body. He kissed her on her head. "Do you really think we should do this? I mean, are we ready for this?". "Well I was raised to stick by the one I love". She turned to him. She looked deep into his blue eyes. She kissed him and he kissed her. They laid in each other's arms. They were awaken by morning's light. A cold wind blew over them. Bengali stood to his feet and helped Pumyra up. "We should go check out the transmitter". "Are you up to it?" Pumyra said as she touched his head. "I should be". Pumyra shook her head and they began their walk. Hand and hand they walked towards the transmitter. Bengali could see the transmitter. "It seems to be sabotaged". Pumyra agreed with him. The air turn cold again. Pumyra got a eary feeling. Pumyra looked behind her. There stood Chilla and Red Eye of the Lunatacs. "You got that right Thundercats. It was sabotaged by us" Chilla hissed. Chilla blew a cold sheath of ice at Pumyra. She leaped through the air with several turns and flips. The ice froze some nearby plant life. Bengali drew his hammer and fired a blast on Red Eye. Red Eye dodged the laser and drew his Side Winder. He adjusted his eyes to get a clear veiw of Bengali's form. He hurled the disc in the direction Bengali was standing. Bengali dodged the disc and pulled a pellet from the handle of his hammer. He threw it to the air. With one motion he cracked the pellet and smoke filled the air. Bengali swiftly fired three more blasts on Red Eye. Red Eye fell to the ground. Pumyra made her move and threw a marble at Chilla. It exploded and sent Chilla to the ground. Bengali went to fix the transmitter while Pumyra kept her eye on the two grounded Lunatacs. Bengali twisted some wires and repaired some pecies. Bengali successfully repaired the transmitter and they transporterd the Lunatacs back to Skytomb. They returned to Cat's Lair later that evening. Bengali held his wife through the night. When they dropped the news of their wedding, the Thundercats were in idol shock. When they finally decided to tell them about Pumyra's pregnancy, that threw the others completely off balnce. The nine months were spent working. The Thunderkittens helped Pumyra all the time. Cheetara and Catlani covered her work details. Tygra became Pumyra's personal physcian. He also drew up the plans for their new room. Bengali and Panthro bulit the room by extending Bengali's room. Bengali drifted back into reality. He moved towards his pregnant mate. She slept quietly in bed. Her fulled form shimmered in the moonlight. Bengali removed the covers from her body. He put his hand on her stomach. He knew it would be soon that there would be a cub born to them. Bengali smiled at the thoguht of raising his first child. Lynx-o quietly tapped on the door. Bengali slipped on his robe and opened the door. "We must get her to sickbay now Bengali". Bengali shook his head as Lynx-o walked into their room. Bengali shook Pumyra and she awoke. "It's time Pumyra". She stood from the bed and slipped on her robe. Bengali took her hand as they walked down the sleeping halls of Cat's Lair. Lynx-o opened the doors of the sickbay. Cheetara, Tygra and Lion-o were awaiting them. Pumyra sat on the bed. Tygra injected her with a needle. She flinched to the pain. "This is to relieve you of any pain. It will work soon". Cheetara and Tygra both got ready for what they knew was soon to come. Lynx-o placed a hand on Bengali's shoulder. "We must leave now Bengali. They will take care of her". Bengali shook his head and they both left sickbay. Bengali paced inpatiently outside of sickbay. "How long is this going to take?". The stubburn tiger grunted. "You must be patient Bengali. It will take time". "I am just so nervous Lynx-o. This will be my first child and I don't know what to do". Lynx-o asured Bengali that it will be fine. Cheetara then walked out of the sickbay. "You can come in now". Bengali walked into the room. Lion-o patted him on the back as he approached the bed. "Well you're a father now" Tygra said as he injected Pumyra with pain relievers. "What is it?". Bengali blamed himself for waiting till the birth to find out whether it would be a boy or a girl. Pumyra said "Come and see". Bengali cautiously approached the bed. He looked at Pumyra. She glowed with happiness. He looked into her brown eyes as she held the cub. She caressed it's head. "Come and see your new son Bengali". Bengali stood next to the bed. Pumyra removed the blanket covering the cub's head. Bengali looked at the peach toned cub. It's body had already begun to devolpe ivory stripes. The white stripes resembled the pattern of Bengali. Lion-o said "So what will you name him?". Bengali thought for a moment and then replied "His name should be White". Bengali placed his hand on Pumyra's shoulder and kissed her on her lips. She gently lifted the cub for Bengali to hold. Bengali cautiously took the cub into his arms. He looked into it's sea blue eyes. All the Thundercats gleemed as the looked at the new born cub. Bengali smiled as he looked at his newborn White tiger. |