CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Annalina stayed away from the Pride Lands for two days. She had stumbled across a different land. It was as lush and beautiful as the Pride Lands. (before the Pride Lands were destroyed by the hyenas). She had found a lake and a waterfall and made it her temporary home. She found the lake pretty and the rushing sound of the waterfall soothing.
She had also found a cave behind the waterfall and decided this will be her secret. She would give birth to her cub inside this cave. Then she will give him up for adoption, return home and beg her father for forgiveness.
You have ceased being Queen the minute you told Father you were pregnant. She told herself he wont take you back as Queen. In fact, he wont take you back as his daughter.
She headed back to the cave. She tired easily these days. She lay down and curled into a ball when a shadow loomed over her.
Annalina looked up, afraid it was her father. Her eyes went wide, " Mom? Is that you?"
Tamali walked forward, " Annalina. What on earth are you doing here?"
Annalina sighed, " It's a long story mother. And I should be asking you that question. Where have you been?" I needed you. Annalina wanted to add but didn't.
" Your father banished me from the Pride Lands. This cave is actually my home. I went away for a couple of days to go hunting."
" It's mine now." Annalina said possessively, " Why did father banish you?"
" I'll tell you another time." Tamali assured her, " You musth tell me why aren't you home? Have you run away?"
" Yes." Annalina nodded, " And I can't go back there."
Tamali sensed something was wrong with Annalina, " My dear, tell me what's happened."
Annalina sighed and told her everything. She watched her mother's shocked expression, " You're pregnant?" she gasped.
" Yes and before you ask, I don't know the father's name. He took off once we-" she broke off, embarrassed at the awful predicament she was in.
" Scar banished you then?"
" No, not exactly. I ran off before he could." Annalina confessed.
" You have to go home you know." Tamali said, " You have to face up to your actions."
" I'm not going home." Annalina answered stubbornly, " And if Daddy wanted me home, he would have found me by now."
" I don't think so. This land is beyond the Outlands-its very isolated. Scar wouldn't go this far."
" What's this place called?" Annalina changed the subject.
" The Heartlands. I stumbled upon it like you did. Almost by accident." Tamali smiled to herself, " I feel very comfortable here."
" So do I. We can share this cave if you want." Annalina said generously.
" Thank you-but you should really go home. I'll support you and everything but-"
" I have to face up to my actions." Annalina groaned, " Okay, okay. I'll go home. But not without you."
Tamali shook her head, " That's not possible my dear. I'm not allowed to set a paw in the Pride Lands. If I did a hyena may very well eat me."
" Oh. Guess I better go alone then." Annalina stood up, " Thanks Mom. I can handle this-I think." She bounded out of the cave and Tamali watched her go.
I hope so Annalina. I sure hope so.
Annalina stayed away from the Pride Lands for two days. She had stumbled across a different land. It was as lush and beautiful as the Pride Lands. (before the Pride Lands were destroyed by the hyenas). She had found a lake and a waterfall and made it her temporary home. She found the lake pretty and the rushing sound of the waterfall soothing.
She had also found a cave behind the waterfall and decided this will be her secret. She would give birth to her cub inside this cave. Then she will give him up for adoption, return home and beg her father for forgiveness.
You have ceased being Queen the minute you told Father you were pregnant. She told herself he wont take you back as Queen. In fact, he wont take you back as his daughter.
She headed back to the cave. She tired easily these days. She lay down and curled into a ball when a shadow loomed over her.
Annalina looked up, afraid it was her father. Her eyes went wide, " Mom? Is that you?"
Tamali walked forward, " Annalina. What on earth are you doing here?"
Annalina sighed, " It's a long story mother. And I should be asking you that question. Where have you been?" I needed you. Annalina wanted to add but didn't.
" Your father banished me from the Pride Lands. This cave is actually my home. I went away for a couple of days to go hunting."
" It's mine now." Annalina said possessively, " Why did father banish you?"
" I'll tell you another time." Tamali assured her, " You musth tell me why aren't you home? Have you run away?"
" Yes." Annalina nodded, " And I can't go back there."
Tamali sensed something was wrong with Annalina, " My dear, tell me what's happened."
Annalina sighed and told her everything. She watched her mother's shocked expression, " You're pregnant?" she gasped.
" Yes and before you ask, I don't know the father's name. He took off once we-" she broke off, embarrassed at the awful predicament she was in.
" Scar banished you then?"
" No, not exactly. I ran off before he could." Annalina confessed.
" You have to go home you know." Tamali said, " You have to face up to your actions."
" I'm not going home." Annalina answered stubbornly, " And if Daddy wanted me home, he would have found me by now."
" I don't think so. This land is beyond the Outlands-its very isolated. Scar wouldn't go this far."
" What's this place called?" Annalina changed the subject.
" The Heartlands. I stumbled upon it like you did. Almost by accident." Tamali smiled to herself, " I feel very comfortable here."
" So do I. We can share this cave if you want." Annalina said generously.
" Thank you-but you should really go home. I'll support you and everything but-"
" I have to face up to my actions." Annalina groaned, " Okay, okay. I'll go home. But not without you."
Tamali shook her head, " That's not possible my dear. I'm not allowed to set a paw in the Pride Lands. If I did a hyena may very well eat me."
" Oh. Guess I better go alone then." Annalina stood up, " Thanks Mom. I can handle this-I think." She bounded out of the cave and Tamali watched her go.
I hope so Annalina. I sure hope so.