CHAPTER THREE
" Is Nadira giving you problems?" Zenka asked his mate when they were curled up together in the den. It was sleep time and their son was nestled against his grandparents. He alternates between sleeping with his parents/grandparents every night.
" What makes you ask that?" Alani replied sleepily as she tried to get in a comfortable position. Her bad leg was aching unbearably today.
The weather was getting colder and it doesn't seem to tolerate it. She must ask Rashid what she can do for it tomorrow.
" I can feel the tension between you two-it's getting worse." Zenka studied Alani, " You can tell me if she's giving you trouble and I can sort her out."
" She's nothing I can't handle." Alani assured him, " Believe me, she's a kitten compared to Annalina."
Zenka smiled at Alani's comment and dozed off.
Alani felt restless; she couldn't not fall asleep. She got up and limped out of the den quietly, s not to disturb the others.
Alani sat down near the den and stared up at the stars. She hated to admit it, but she was sort of missing her mother. Tamali had disappeared without a trace after Scar had banished her.
An idea suddenly formed in her mind. Why not look for her? There could be a chance Tamali might be still alive.
" What are you doing still up?" a deep voice asked making her jump. It was Hasani, her father-in-law.
" I could not sleep…what about you?"
" I saw you walk outside and decide to see what's wrong."
Alani sighed, " I might try and find my lost mother. She's out there somewhere Hasani."
" Wasn't your sister the last one to see her alive?"
Alani nodded, " Annalina didn't tell me where she saw her though."
" We can search for her tomorrow if you like. Nadira can look after Jahari."
" I'd like that." Alani smiled at Hasani, " It would be nice to tell Mom she has a grand-cub. I owe her that much."
" Alani, my dear, you don't owe her anything. She must have done something awful to get herself banished." Hasani pointed out.
" I think Father just turned on her, plain and simple." Alani argued, " he was the awful one or have you forgotten?"
" I haven't. He killed the Great King," Hasani paused, " I am sorry I said that about your mother."
" That's okay." Alani paused, " I'd like to start searching first thing in the morning."
" That's fine. Let's go back and get some sleep then." Hasani turned and walked back into the den. Alani looked up at the starry night.
Don't worry Mom…wherever you are, we will find you.
* * *
Annalina sat in the shade and watched Linka play. She didn't know where Kayla was, that wayward daughter was always going off somewhere.
Annalina couldn't survive in the Outlands forever. She knew what she must do…take her cubs and get herself back in the Pride Lands and confront king Simba about her secret. He had to know sooner or later.
" Is Nadira giving you problems?" Zenka asked his mate when they were curled up together in the den. It was sleep time and their son was nestled against his grandparents. He alternates between sleeping with his parents/grandparents every night.
" What makes you ask that?" Alani replied sleepily as she tried to get in a comfortable position. Her bad leg was aching unbearably today.
The weather was getting colder and it doesn't seem to tolerate it. She must ask Rashid what she can do for it tomorrow.
" I can feel the tension between you two-it's getting worse." Zenka studied Alani, " You can tell me if she's giving you trouble and I can sort her out."
" She's nothing I can't handle." Alani assured him, " Believe me, she's a kitten compared to Annalina."
Zenka smiled at Alani's comment and dozed off.
Alani felt restless; she couldn't not fall asleep. She got up and limped out of the den quietly, s not to disturb the others.
Alani sat down near the den and stared up at the stars. She hated to admit it, but she was sort of missing her mother. Tamali had disappeared without a trace after Scar had banished her.
An idea suddenly formed in her mind. Why not look for her? There could be a chance Tamali might be still alive.
" What are you doing still up?" a deep voice asked making her jump. It was Hasani, her father-in-law.
" I could not sleep…what about you?"
" I saw you walk outside and decide to see what's wrong."
Alani sighed, " I might try and find my lost mother. She's out there somewhere Hasani."
" Wasn't your sister the last one to see her alive?"
Alani nodded, " Annalina didn't tell me where she saw her though."
" We can search for her tomorrow if you like. Nadira can look after Jahari."
" I'd like that." Alani smiled at Hasani, " It would be nice to tell Mom she has a grand-cub. I owe her that much."
" Alani, my dear, you don't owe her anything. She must have done something awful to get herself banished." Hasani pointed out.
" I think Father just turned on her, plain and simple." Alani argued, " he was the awful one or have you forgotten?"
" I haven't. He killed the Great King," Hasani paused, " I am sorry I said that about your mother."
" That's okay." Alani paused, " I'd like to start searching first thing in the morning."
" That's fine. Let's go back and get some sleep then." Hasani turned and walked back into the den. Alani looked up at the starry night.
Don't worry Mom…wherever you are, we will find you.
* * *
Annalina sat in the shade and watched Linka play. She didn't know where Kayla was, that wayward daughter was always going off somewhere.
Annalina couldn't survive in the Outlands forever. She knew what she must do…take her cubs and get herself back in the Pride Lands and confront king Simba about her secret. He had to know sooner or later.