CHAPTER 34

The sun was now setting. The stars were coming out. Kita walked back to Pride Rock and growled to herself slightly. Why did she always start to cry? Why? She shook her head and stopped any more tears from coming. She looked up at the King and Queen standing on the edge of Pride Rock. Then she remembered about Eshma. She would be all alone by now. All alone in the deserted Spirit Lands...Kita hesitated for a moment but then made her way to the two lions. Mohatu turned and smiled. 'Hey Kita.' He said. Kita smiled slightly as she walked to the tip, joining them.

'Something wrong?' Kicku asked as she tipped her head back slightly. Kita shrugged and then sighed. She looked out over the view of the Pride lands and further out into the Out Lands. Even further past that was the Spirit Lands. She squinted, but it would be impossible for her to see where Eshma was now. She turned to Mohatu.

'Mohatu, do you err...what did you feel like when your aunt nearly let herself fall?' she blurted out. Mohatu pinned his ears.

'Well, err...it was surprising...why, what's the fuss about anyway?' Kita sighed and glanced at the Spirit lands again.

'Sh-she's gone back to the Spirit lands. She told me it's because she's lonely...' Kita stopped, not wanting to say any more incase Eshma didn't want them knowing. Mohatu blinked and then looked to the land that was in the distance. He turned to look at Kicku, but she had already backed away and was now sprinting away to the Spirit Lands...

'Kita, will you go and get my mother and uncle? They'd want to know about this.' Mohatu said. Kita nodded and went for the den.

Kicku ran, her heart racing as her golden paws thudded against the ground. She looked to the sky and could she the sun getting further down and more stars coming out. As she ran, Kamania gasped at her as she was walking past. 'What's wrong?' she called to the Queen. Kicku, who was still running, turned her head.

'There's something wrong with Eshma!' she called back as she ran.

'Eshma?' Kamania said to herself. Without hesitation, she ran off, following the Queen.

As lonely as the Spirit Lands were, Eshma now felt home. After all, she was a lonely lioness, why not be a lonely place? She shook her head and paced the ground again. But she slowed down and eventually stopped. She sighed. Perhaps Kita was right. Eshma knew that she wanted to have Kamania, but she wouldn't. She wouldn't because Kita was Kamania's mother, and she thought that Kita deserved a chance. Eshma wanted Kamania to be with her real parents, as Eshma never was, and never will be again. She looked up to the stars that were now in the sky. She felt rage building up inside her again.

'Why aren't you here?!' she yelled to the stars. 'I've needed you for years! Where are you when I need you?!' she felt her heart sink. 'I need you now...' the wind swept passed her. She continued to look at the stars for a moment. She heard something behind her and Kicku and Kamania appeared from behind a pile of rocks. Eshma quickly turned away from them.

'Aunt Eshma, please come back! If you feel lonely, then-'

'You don't know half of it...' Eshma growled. 'And besides, I LIKE to be alone.' She said as she pinned her ears and started pacing again. Kamania stepped forwards.

'Do you know something? A loving caring lioness told me once that it is better to have friends then to be alone all the time. And I believed her. And do you know why?' she asked. Eshma looked over at her through her blue eyes. She gave a small laugh and continued pacing faster. But Kamania carried on. 'Because I trusted her. And I loved her. And I still do.' Eshma stopped pacing. She shook her head.

'No, you don't, you love your foster mother...' she said firmly as she walked up to her.

'Aunt Eshma, please listen! You know Kamania is right!' Kicku said. Eshma looked Kamania in the eye.

'I've had enough of this.' Eshma said coldly. She turned to leave.

'Eshma.' Kamania said. Eshma turned around again and Kamania lifted her paw and whacked across her face. She had kept her claws in, but it had still hurt. But Kamania stood there, hoping it had knocked some sense into the older lioness.

END OF CHAPTER 34

Not sure if I like the ending to this chapter...or the middle...or the beginning...well all of it, but I hope you all do! Hope you do too Bambi! Reviews please people!

~:.C.a.b.:~