CHAPTER 26

It had been many months since the Prides had last seen the humans and Tanu and Kacela, and all the cubs were not cubs any more. They were all fully grown, and even Taka's mane had grown fully. Tiku's voice had matured and his black mane was grown. He had got more muscular and his eyes had gone a darker blue. Kiki, on the other hand, looked quite the same. Her fur was still white and she still had the red stripe from her nose going to her tail. She was a lot bigger and her voice had matured into an adult's voice. Kamania was still a blonde colour, and her blonde tuft had disappeared. She hadn't lost the black rims in her ears and she was still as nervous as ever. But she would try and make friends with the others some times. Maya was always happy to help out. Maya had got a lot bigger and her voice had changed too. In fact, she looked and even sounded like Nala but she still had her black nose. She was still really good friends with Bailey, who still remained a mute. He now had a very dark brown mane. His eyes were almond, but Maya still thought he was sweet, and Kiki was still a little over protective. But Bailey didn't seem to mind.

Eshma hadn't forgotten about what Kamania had said even after all those months. She would sometimes sneak out when nobody was looking to search for this Nearu. But she hadn't had any look. Eshma sat at the back of the cave remembering........

*******FLASHBACK********

'A mother's love can do great things," Eshma said. Kamania looked up at her in surprise.

"That other lioness said that," Eshma gave her a confused look.

"What other lioness?" she asked.

"Nearu, Kita's mom..."

'Kita's mother? Does she live around here?' Kamania shrugged.

'I don't know. She just came and talked to me when I was trapped in that cage...' she sighed.

'Why didn't she get you out?'

'I think she wanted me to believe in Kita.'

'Kamania, can you tell me exactly where you were when you were trapped in that cage?'

*****END OF FLASHBACK******

Eshma had gone straight out as soon as Kamania had told her, determinded to find Nearu. But she hadn't found any scent at all. Only the one of Kamania. She would go out at night sometimes and search everywhere, but she didn't find anything, but didn't understand why. Had Kamania been imagining things? She shook her head. No, she thought, she couldn't have been. But she still wanted to find Nearu, to ask her, to talk to her...

That night, when she was certain that everyone had fallen to sleep, she snuck out of the cave again. She was really tiered and the rest of the Pride had noticed it in the past few days. But she had insisted that she as fine, and just kept away from them. The only one she would really talk to at the minute was Kamania. Eshma shook her head and sprinted out of Pride Rock. She ran past the lake and to the spot where the humans had made their camp. She ran over and tripped over a rock. She stumbled down the edge of the small cliff and hit her head hard on the ground...

END OF CHAPTER 26

Ok, mega short and mega boring chapter, right? Oh well, reviews please, hope you like though Bambi! Can't wait for the next chapter! ^_~