Alright, like I said on Beginning's and Endings. I am SO sorry about taking so long! My BFFL was over and we just played for, four days straight! So yeah. Oh well. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy it!

Chapter Four: A New Friend!

The next morning, I woke up, quickly ate some of the food that was left over from the night before, then I grabbed my new ribbon and ran out of the cave.

I headed towards town. And pretty soon, I made it there.

I was very fast. So I could get to place's quickly. I walked through town. I saw those kid's that had laughed at me. Well, all but the Lion cub. But then again. He hadn't laughed! But either way, he wasn't there. I frowned.

'Why do I have to be different from everyone else?' I thought sadly, as I continued on, to Shawn's stand.

Pretty soon, he and his stand came into view. He was setting boxes of ribbons down, and was beginning to set them out. Then he looked up at me and smiled.

"Hey Shadow! Glad to see you made it back." he called cheerfully.

I smiled at him. He had the kindest smile. And with all I've been through. I could do with something to make me happy! I walked over to him and bowed politely.

"I'm ready to get to work, Shawn!" I said, holding out my ribbon.

He laughed and smiled. "I'm glad to see you're ready. But there's someone that I want you to meet! Well, two someone's actually; my wife and my son!" he said, smiling proudly.

I looked up and saw two lions walk out of a near by house. The taller one, I assumed was Shawn's wife. And the shorter one, his son. Then I looked to the cub. I stopped short. I gasped. He was the lion cub from yesterday. He looked up at me and must have thought the same thing.

"You!" he cried out in alarm.

"You!" I growled angrily.

Shawn looked down at us funny and asked, "Do you kid's know each other already?"
"Sorta..." I replied quietly, not taking my eyes from the cub.

He had laughed at me! Well. Sorta. But either way. It meant, for the moment, he was on my bad list.

Then he stepped forward and said, "Look. I'm really sorry about yesterday. I really didn't want to laugh at you. But I was afraid that my friend's would be mad at me. It's taken me so long to get them, to let me hang with them! I guess, that I didn't want to lose that. I don't have any other friends. Because I'm different."

I sighed. I understood how bad he must have wanted to have friends. I had wanted the same thing. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Ok! I forgive you. But only if you'll let me tell you something!" I told him.

He smiled and asked, "You will? What is it?"

I smiled. "If those are really yourfriends. Then they won't care if you laugh or not. Real friend's don't judge you, just because you don't do what everyone else does!" I explained to him.

He thought for a moment. Then he nodded his head. I smiled at him.

"My name's Shadow. It's nice to meet you!" I said, sticking out my paw. He grasped it and shook it.

He flashed a smile at me. "My name's Kato. It's nice to meet you too!" he said.

Shawn smiled as well. "And this, is my wife, Lily!" Shawn said, wrapping his arm around her waist.

She smiled down at me. "Shawn told us what a wonderful dancer you are!" she said.

I blushed slightly. I wasn't used to all this praise.

"Thank you, ma'am!" I managed to say.

"Perhaps you could give us a demonstration!" she said cheerfully.

I wasn't to sure about that. But I agreed. I unwound my ribbon and whipped it around in the air. It swirled and twirled. A few minute's later, I finished my dance. They clapped, happily. I took a bow. And out of the corner of my eye. I saw Kato staring at me. I felt my cheek's turn hot. I ducked my head down, not wanting him to see me blushing.

"You are just amazing, Shadow!" Lily said sweetly.

I smiled up at her. Then we began to talk. Then it came to the subject, of how I became an orphan.

I knew how much it would hurt. But they did need to know what had happened to me. So I told them my story; I told them how I lost my parents to that awful Lion; how I had to say good bye to one of my only friends in the world.; how I had lost it all. They were very sorry for me.

"You do know, that your welcome to stay with us, at any time!" Lily said, after I had finished my story.

I shook my head and said, "I could never do that! You don't need another kid to look after!"
"Well. The offer still stands, if you ever need it!" Shawn said.

I smiled up at him. "Thank you, for your kindness!" I said, bowing.

Pretty soon, people were coming into town to shop and look around. Lily went back inside the house. But Kato stayed behind. He sat by his dad, on one of the crates, helping him. But as I danced, I could see him watching me.

I would danced around, drawing people towards Shawn's shop. It seemed that I got praise for my dancing, every five minutes. Pretty soon, Kato left to go play with his 'friends'. I smiled and continued to dance around. About an hour later, Shawn said that it was time for lunch.

He gave me some money and told me to go get myself something to eat.

"Shawn! I can't take this! I haven't earned it!" I protested.

"So? I want you to go and enjoy yourself. End of story!" Shawn said sternly.

I rolled my eyes and nodded. He smiled, and walked back to his stand. Then I turned, walked away and went in search of some place nice to eat.

On the way to find someplace, I passed the kids who had laughed at me. I saw Kato was with them.

He saw me and smiled at me. I smiled back at him and started to walk away. But the kids had seen me. They ran over and surrounded me. They wouldn't let me pass by them.

"Whaddya got there, kitty cat?" the pig, who had teased me yesterday, asked.

I growled under my breath. I knew this wasn't going to turn out pretty.

"Come on, dude! Let's leave her alone and just hang out somewhere else!" Kato said.

I smiled. I knew he was trying to keep me outta trouble. Even if he was going to get himself into trouble.

"No way! She's got some money! And I think I feel hungry all of a sudden!" the Pig said, an evil grin on his face.

I growled louder. "I just want to pass!" I said, trying to keep my temper in check.

"Ha! I don't think so. If you wanna pass. You gotta pay!" one of the Goat's said.

I looked around at all of them. There was no way out of this mess. Not without a fight.

Then Kato walked up and spoke to the Pig, "Leave her alone, Mikey! She just want's to pass!"

I couldn't believe it. Kato was defending me. Even if these were his 'friend's'.

"What do you care if we take her money or not? I thought you wanted to hang with the cool kids!" Mikey said.

Kato just growled and bared his teeth at the Pig. "A good friend told me, that real friend's don't judge. I don't think you guys are cool. You're just bullies!" Kato growled, pushing past all of them and leading me away from the group..

"Would you care for some company, Shadow?" Kato asked sweetly, as he walked me away from them.

When he said that. He said it loudly, to make sure they heard what he said. They scowled at us, as we walked away from them.

"You're through, Kato! You'll never have any friend's in this town again!" Mikey yelled.

Kato looked back and said, "That's where you're wrong, Mikey. I have a friend. The greatest friend of all. I have Shadow!"

Then we turned and walked away. When we rounded the corner, I looked at Kato and smiled.

"I'm sorry." Kato said quietly.

I looked at him, shocked and exclaimed. "What for? You just got me out of a lot of trouble! I should be thanking you! Not forgiving you!"

He smiled wide. "Alright. So, are you hungry? Because I know a great place to eat!" Kato said.

I smiled. "Yeah! I could do with some food!"

He grinned at me. Then he held out his arm. I stuck mine through his and we walked through town.

Kato lead me towards a small shack, that was being run by a chicken. It was a seafood place. We ordered our food and sat down. I looked up at Kato and smiled.

I knew that we were going to be good friends...

OK, there's the next part! Hope you all liked it! And it would seem that Shadow has found herself a friend! But is this her only friend? Find out soon! And please, don't forget to REVIEW!