Woot! FINALLY got another chapter up! And it's a LONG one! Whoo. Been busy! But yeah. I sure hope you all enjoy this chapter and I PROMISE to get new chapters up for, Journey to China soon. PROMISE!

Chapter eleven: A sleepless night!

I slowly forced my eyes open the next morning, to see the sun shining through the entrance of the cave.

I slowly sat up and stretched out. I looked to the front of the cave and saw Kasaru sitting there.

I smiled and got up from my pallet. I quietly walked across the cave floor and up to her.

"Good morning!" I said cheerfully.

I heard her let out a sigh, as I plopped down beside her. I opened my mouth and yawned big. Then I just sat there and stared down at the small village, that lay spread before us.

Then I looked up at Kasaru and asked quietly, "What do you think is going to happen?"

She sighed and rested her head in her paws and looked out into the forest. Then she said quietly, "I don't know. I wish I did, but I really don't know."

I nodded slowly and sadly, then I looked down at my lap. I felt hot tears, start to fall down my face. Then after a moment, I heard Kasaru sniffling too.

I sniffled and rubbed my nose with my paw. Then whispered, "I don't want to lose you, Kasaru. What if Tanis comes for us?"

I stared at her fearfully. I was so afraid to lose my best friend. I had already lost one. I couldn't lose another.

She turned to face me. Tears in her eyes. She hiccupped quietly and replied, "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. We have to stick together; we'll get through this together."

I smiled lightly and moved closer to her. Kasaru bent down and hugged me. I clung to her nervously. I was still scared that I would lose her.

I could feel myself trembling. I looked up at Kasaru, hesitantly and then asked softly, "Are you sure you don't have another brother?"

Kasaru nodded her head quickly. I broke away from her nervously. I was terrified at the thought of two evil Lions, roaming about. My lip's trembled as I asked, "Y-you're not lying, are you?"

Kasaru gasped and said indignantly, "Of course not, Shadow!"

I tore my eyes away from her and mumbled quietly, "I-I'm sorry, I just want to make sure."

I sat there for a moment, then remembered something. I stood up quickly and said, "Well, I think I better get to work. Shawn will be wondering about me. Are you gonna come?"

I watched Kasaru. She was stiff as a board. I saw her sway slightly. I watched her nervously.

"K-Kasaru? Are you okay?" I asked.

She turned her head to face me. Shock written on her face. Then she managed to utter, "Sh-Shawn."

I narrowed my eyes and cocked my head. I stared at her. Very confused. Then I realized what she meant. My eyes widened and I gasped.

"Shawn!" I cried out.

Then I dropped down to all fours and took off running towards the village. I looked back and saw Kasaru running after me. We both ran towards the village, as fast as we possibly could.

We passed many of the villagers. They all shrieked as we sped past them. We flew past Mikey and his gang, and we were both, already around the corner when he yelled, "What the?"

I smirked and we kept running towards Shawn's shop.

We pulled to a stop, both of us out of breath, as Kato stepped out of their house, with a crate of supplies. He looked up at us in surprise. He smiled at us and said, "Hey Shadow! What's up?"

He set down the crate he was carrying, when I stood up and almost fell back down again. I leaned on him a little and tried to catch my breath. After a moment, I had regained my composure.

I looked up at him, still panting heavily and said, "We n-need to t-talk to Sh-Shawn!"

Kasaru and I were both still panting, as Kato picked up the crate again and then set it down behind the stand. Then, with a smile on his face, said, "He isn't here, so mama and I are running the shop today!"

My eyes went wide and I gasped. Then I turned and stared at Kasaru in horror.

Kasaru turned to Kato and asked nervously, "Wh-where did he go?"

Kato replied, with a wide smile upon his face, "A Lion named Ajani came and said he had some urgent business. Dad just left with him, he told me to run the shop for today! Isn't that great?"

I wasn't sure what to say to Kato. I turned and stared at Kasaru. I felt my lips trembling, as I tried not to brake out in tears.

Then I whispered to Kasaru, "What do we do?"

I watched as Kasaru opened her mouth to say something, but instead, she fell to the ground, crying. "Wh-what does it mean? Is it true?"

I hurried over to her and picked her up in my arms. I hugged her tightly and turned to Kato.

I quietly stuttered, "I-I'm sorry Kato, we have to go!"

I helped Kasaru to her feet and we both took off running, back to the cave. Kato stood there watching us, then shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and went back to work, getting the shop set up.

We both sped through the village as fast as we could; I was in the lead, but Kasaru wasn't far behind me.

When we got back to the cave, we both ran in and fell down to the cold floor. Panting heavily. I looked over at Kasaru. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. I felt bad for her. She was scared. So was I! I got up and walked over to her. And then I sat down in front of her and watched her.

I sighed and said quietly, "I-I know this looks bad, b-but I promise to stay with you through all of this."

Then I crawled to Kasaru and hugged her tight. She hugged me back and cried onto my shoulder. I felt myself starting to tremble. I was scared, but I knew I had to be strong for her.

I looked up at her and she smiled down at me and said quietly, "Thank you, Shadow."

I smiled at her, then broke away from her and stood up. I ran over and grabbed some food from one of the baskets and then walked back to Kasaru. I smiled as I handed her a loaf of bread. She took it and I sat down and began to munch on my own piece of bread.

We both ate our food in silence, but after we had finished, an awkward silence hung in the air, between us.

I looked up at Kasaru and stared at her. I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes, as I watched her.

Kasaru let out a nervous chuckle and asked quietly, "What is it?"

I jumped when she spoke. I had been so deep in thought. Then I looked her in the eyes and said thoughtfully, "Oh, um, it's just that, if you can shape shift, is that what you really look like? I mean, have you done it before?"

Kasaru looked at me in curiosity and said quietly, "Oh! I actually didn't even think of that."

Kasaru turned away from me. I smiled sadly at her and said, "Aw, it's going to be fine. Aniu will come back and tell us all about our powers!"

Tears fell down her face again and she cried, "B-but, what if she doesn't? And what if it's all just a lie? Or, or what if something happens? I couldn't b-bear to lose you Shadow! Y-you're all I have!"

I felt tears pricking my eyes and my lips trembled. I knew what she meant. She meant so much to me too. I looked up at her and said, "I promise, I won't let Tanis take you! We just have each other, I'm not sure if we can trust Aniu yet. But we have to figure things out for ourselves, and we will."

I smiled at her and rose to my feet. Kasaru looked up at me. I stuck my paw out, to help her up. She wiped her face and grasped my paw. I helped her to her feet and she forced a smile at me.

I watched her as tears began to roll down her cheeks again. And then she dropped to her knees and hung her head sadly. I walked over to her and hugged her. She threw her arms around me and cried into my shoulder again.

I held Kasaru and stroked her back. Trying to calm her down. Then I whispered in her ear softly, as she continued to sob, "It's going to be fine. I'm not leaving you, we'll figure this out."

I closed my eyes and quietly began to cry. And I could feel myself trembling as well. I opened my eyes and looked to Kasaru. I tried to smile at her. But I was so scared, that I was going to lose her. I just started sobbing.

We both sat there, holding each other. Both of us were crying. We were both scared and couldn't take it anymore. We were just kids. Both of us had lost our parents. The ones that we had loved; were stolen away from us. The ones we thought we could trust; betrayed us. Tanis had betrayed Kasaru. And Leon had betrayed me.

I heard Kasaru beginning to calm down. I looked out the front of the cave. It was beginning to get dark. And I was very worried about, Shawn. Kato didn't even know that his dad might not be coming back.

'Come on, Shadow! Don't think like that! He'll come back. He has too!' I thought.

Pretty soon, Kasaru began to get heavy in my arms. I knew how tired she must be. I helped her to her feet and led her over to her pallet. She laid down and I pulled her blanket up and tucked it around her shoulders.

Her face was still tear stained. I bent down and gently wiped them away.

"Sleep well, Kasaru. I promise, I won't let anyone hurt you!" I whispered.

She snuggled down and fell into a deep sleep. I started to go back my pallet. When a crash at the front of the cave startled me. I spun around to see what it was. Then I felt a cold breeze blow in. I wrapped my arms around me. Kasaru started to shiver. I looked up and saw what had happened.

The wind had knocked down the rock wall, that I had made so long ago.

My heart was still racing from the scare it had given me. But I knew I needed to get that fixed. I grabbed my blanket and placed it on top of Kasaru, hoping she wouldn't get so cold now. Then I got to work, re-building the wall. It took me most of the night. But I finally got it done. And it was even better then before. There was a lot less wind coming in.

'Pretty good, Shadow!' I thought, as I stepped back to admire my handy work.

Then for whatever reason. My thoughts drifted to Leon.

'Why did he leave us? Why did he believe what Tanis told him? I thought he was my friend. I thought, he thought, I was his friend!' I thought sadly.

Then my thoughts drifted to my parents. They had given up everything for me!

I closed my eyes. I felt tears begin to stream down my face again. I quickly and quietly tiptoed out of the cave. I didn't want to wake up Kasaru. She's been through so much lately, as it is. She needed her rest.

I wiped the tears away and walked out into the forest and stared up at the sky. There was no moon out. The clouds were blocking it. What with all these emotions coming to surface. I didn't really know how to feel. So I expressed it in the only way I knew how. I sang!

"Come out moon. Come out wishing star. Come out, come out. Where ever you are! Come out here in the dark. All alone and wide awake! Come and find me. For I'm empty and I'm cold. And my hearts about to brake. Come and find me. I need you to come here and find me. Cause without you I'm totally lost! Upon a wish. On every star. It hasn't done much good so far! I can only dream of you. Where ever you are. I'll hear you laugh. I'll see your smile. I will be with you. But just for a while. For when the morning comes. And the sun begins to rise. I will lose you. For it's only just a dream. When I open up my eyes I will lose you. I used to believe in forever. But forever's to good to be true! Upon a wish. On every star! It hasn't done much good so far! I don't know what else to do. Except to try and dream on you. And I wonder. If you're dreaming too! Where ever you are... where ever... you are!"

As my song came to a close, I felt tears pricking my eyes again. I tried to hold them back. But it was no use. They came. And they didn't stop!

I crumbled to the ground and cried. I couldn't stop. I just cried and cried. Until I had no more tears to cry. Then as I calmed myself down. I looked up at the night sky. The clouds began to part. And the moon shone through on me. As if I was in the spot light.

I smiled and mouthed, 'Thank you' to the moon. Then I rose to my feet. And walked back to the cave.

I was only about ten feet away from the cave. When all of a sudden, a Lion jumped out in front of me. Even though it was dark. I could see him. And he looked like Tanis!

I felt my heart stop. I just stood there; frozen in fear. Then I did what any kid would do. I made a run for it.

I tried to make a brake for the cave. But as I did that. He reached down and grabbed me around my waist and lifted me off the ground. Then I did the next best thing.; scream.

"KASARU!" I screamed as loudly as I could.

I heard the Lion mumble something, as he covered my mouth with his paw. I tried to scratch him with my claws. But he pinned my arms down to my sides. I kept fighting him as he dragged me deeper into the bushes. Then he whispered in my ear.

"Shh! It's ok, Shadow. It's just me. Shawn!" he said.

I stopped fighting when he said that. I could feel my heart racing and I breathing quickly through my nose, since he had his paw over my mouth.

Then he continued, "I'm so sorry that I had to scare you like this. But I had to talk to you. Alone!"

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. He slowly loosened his grip on me.

"Now you have to promise me you won't scream!" he whispered.

I gulped and nodded my head. Then removed his paw from my mouth and set me down in front of him. I turned around and stared at him. Fear in my eyes.

"I truly am sorry for scaring you! But we have to talk. Earlier. A Lion named Ajani came to me. He wanted to talk to me about my shop. And how I could make it better. Of course, with his help! Well, really. It was all a trap! After we got further away from town, he started asking different things about you. I'm afraid he's after you as well, Shadow! He might be working with Tanis. Tomorrow morning, if you can, come by the house. We can talk safely there. But please. Be careful! I don't know who is working for him and who isn't! And also, Kato told me that Mikey and those friends of his are looking for you as well. You and Kasaru both! Now I must go home. Lily and Kato are probably worried to death about me. Again; I am very sorry for frightening you. But it was the only way! Now be safe. And I'll hopefully see you two tomorrow!" he said.

Then he dropped down to all fours and sped off through the trees.

I felt my heart pounding in my chest, as I watched him leave. I felt like it was going 90 miles an hour! I just stood there. Panting quickly. I was still scared from him grabbing me like that.

Then the bushes started to rustle. I felt my fur stand up on end. Fear shot through me. My eyes widened with every sound. Then I saw someone step through the bushes.

It was Kasaru! She had a look of worry and fear mixed into her face.

"Sh-Shadow?" she asked slowly.

I just stared at her. My eyes wide in fear. I'm sure I looked as white as a ghost. Even with my white fur. I just stood there, staring at her and trembling badly.

Then I crumbled to the ground. Passing out the moment I hit the hard forest floor...

Ok. Talk about a long chapter! Hope you all liked it! I don't know why, but I liked this chapter a lot! And please don't forget to REVIEW! And be sure to check back soon for more!