TMNTTLK lover; Completely agree. Unfortunately her troubles are yet to be over with.

Enjoy chapter nineteen!

Close to midnight, Jessica and Heidi snuck out and quickly dashed towards the northeast border. Where Kovu and Jezebel stood waiting, along with her and Vladimir's son, Kano.

"Well?" Kovu snarled. "What's the verdict?"

Heidi took a step forward. "Kiara plans on telling Sherise the truth tomorrow."

"The little brat is supposed to be leaving with Kion and his son sometime before noon." the tawny-white lioness snarled. "Those sons of mine, Amell and Javion can't stop talking about it."

Kovu grinned. "Don't worry everyone. I have the perfect plan for their lost princess."

...

After the sun finishing rising and the morning hunting party set out. Queen Kiara went to search for her daughter once again. This time with Desta tagging along.

The dark cream preteen yawned before looking at his mother with tired green eyes. "Is there a reason why you woke me so early?"

Kiara smiled before focusing on the path ahead. "Yes. I need to speak to you and your sister about something before she leaves."

Desta's green eyes widened as he tried to process what he heard. "Wait, what? Sherise's leaving? Why?"

Kiara went to respond when her brown eyes fell on her daughter who laid under a tree. With a deep breath, Kiara walked over with a still confused Desta following.

As the queen and prince got closer, Sherise sat up and greeted her mother and brother with a smile for it to fall once the dark brown teen saw the expression on her mother's face.

"Mother? Is something wrong?" Sherise's ear flickered as she looked at her mother with concerned dark purple eyes.

Kiara lowered her head and pinned her ears. "This isn't easy for me," with a heavy sigh Kiara went on. "But you and Desta are adopted."

A few moments went by in silence before Desta spoke after finding his voice.

"Adopted?"

Kiara nodded briefly. "I can't conceive. I... I was attacked a little bit before I found Sherise. The attack left me with a bit of memory loss but now I remember. I was also pregnant but the attack also took my cub as well as made me unable to conceive anymore."

Desta shook his head before growling, baring his teeth. "Who would do such a thing!"

Kiara glanced at Sherise before replying. "Jezebel. Jesùs' mother."

"Jesùs' mother?" Sherise gasped. Surprised and shocked were written on her face.

Kiara placed a paw on her Sherise's shoulder. "Yes, but Jesùs nor his brother or Julia had anything to do with what happened."

Sherise turned her head and scoffed. "Desta died because of-"

"Desta?" the dark cream prince looked between his mother and sister. "I'm named after someone?"

Kiara nodded. "Yes. I never told you because it was difficult. But now you need to know." Kiara turned to Desta. "I found you on the river bank of Maputo. I named you after a lion, Jesùs' brother who died saving me and your sister. I couldn't leave you, so I took you in."

With a intake of breath, Kiara turned to Sherise. "You were no more than a few days old. I found your mother in the Zuberi river. Queen Yennefer of Acude. You have your mother's eyes..."

Sherise's dark purple eyes widened as a memory came to her.

She was on her back, smaller and looking up at a large golden orange pelted figure who looked down with loving brown eyes.

'Dear Sherise, what to say to you?

You have your mother's eyes

When you came into my life, you cried and it broke my heart'

Tears began to fall, with a sob Sherise ran off. Kiara sighed heavily before standing.

"Come Desta." the golden orange lioness stood and began to head back. "I must let your grandparents and uncle know I remember."

Desta wanted to protest but knew that his sister needed to deal with everything on her own. So he stood and followed after his mother. Even though he's adopted, Kiara will always be his mother.

...

Sherise waited at the border for her uncle and cousin. If she could call them that anymore. She was eager to get away and clear her head.

These feelings, being that they are confusing and dark because every time she sees Jesùs and Jessica together she wants to push the tawny-white lioness in a stampede and watch. And it's taking it's toll, perhaps she'll go to this alliance kingdom and find someone that will make her forget about the handsome lion that has been there for her ever since.

Then she has to deal with the information that she's adopted. She now has a bunch of questions. Like who is she? Where do she belong?

"Sherise," came the voice of Kion. "Kiara told me about earlier. How are you holding up?"

Sherise sighed and lowered her head. "I don't know,"

While Kion turned to speak with Zawadi. Sherise scanned the gathered lions to frown to see that the only males were Kion, Kiran and Josh. "I'm ready to go."

"Sherise, wait." Josh stepped in the princess' path. "Who is this lion that is causing you to run away?"

Sherise sadly shook her head before turning to follow Kion and Zawadi across the border. Leaving Josh standing behind with hurt in his eyes.

After traveling for awhile, the group of three was blindsided.

Sherise looked around in fear before she was tackled. Sherise seen a pair of forest green eyes before everything went dark.