Isuara had been so focused on plants lately. It never bothered her until recently. She realized that her passion had become an obsession, to the point she felt that she was driving away those around her. Her free time was spent searching for all sorts of flowers and herbs to study them and figure out their use. For her it was much more then just research. It was the one thing that connected her to her mother.

Her mother, Sendatu had left her at Tokakinji when she was a cub. Once she was able to find a suitable mother to take care of her, Sendatu left her. Her foster mother told her that Sendatu had been a famous healer in the rogue lands. Rumor had it that she disappeared to a land of snow, bent to destroy the pride. From Isuara's point of view, her mother was vastly different from her, yet she could see the similarities.

As much as Isuara hated the thought of being similar to someone to, cruel, she also couldn't be upset over their similarities. She had her mother's talent of understanding herbs. There was no way she would ever be as talented as her mother. There were other things that sparked her interest. However right now her main focus was plants and herbs.

Most of her young life, she spend her time avoiding learning about herbs, not wanting to be overshadowed by her mother. In Tokakinji most members did not know of her mother, which was a blessing. But those who lived in the rogue lands and met her would always compare her to her mothers. They had similar looks, but different colors. Isuara did her best to stand apart from her mother but it didn't always work. Eventually she gave in and started to learn about plants and realized how interesting it really was.

Sendatu was on the outskirts of Tokainji. She was hidden by the bushes. Her red eyes were the only thing that stood out. Those red eyes were watching the young lioness walk, lost in thought. Sendatu knew that expression very well. She had spent so long patrolling the out skirts of Tokainji hoping she would run across her daughter. After spending days watching, she finally came across the lioness she was looking for.

Isuara had grown up to become a lovely lioness, Sendatu thought as she watched her. She couldn't help but wonder what she was like, and how different she would probably if she raised her. If she had raised Isuara she was she the lioness would not have been so peaceful looking. Instead she probably would have been the reflection of Sendatu. The thought of having someone like her, sent a chill down her spine.

When she decided to see her daughter, it had been such a compulsive idea. She had no idea what she wanted to tell her daughter. Was there anything for her to even say at this point? Sendatu knew that Isuara probably wanted nothing to do with her.

Even as they were only feet apart, Sendatu could only wish Isuara would stumble across her. Then a thought crossed her mind. If she was really her daughter, she would be interested in plants. Of course that wasn't genetic, but Sendatu felt that those of her blood who had a talent in herbs were truly her kin. “That flower over there is rather interesting.” she said, referring to a red flower with white spots on it.

When Isuara heard the voice she jumped. However, she listened to the voice. Her eyes went from the bush to the flower. She had noticed the red eyes staring at her from the bush, however the plant was more interesting at the moment. She went close to the plant and examined it. “Interesting. I have this one at my den. However it is little use to me. I made the mistake of testing it on myself and I found it caused me to become stick when I ate the leaf.” She had been stuck in her den for a while after that. After that she vowed never to test herbs on herself. Of course the following week she was back doing it.

She carefully plucked the flower and put it in her pouch. Her attention then went to the bush. “And who may I ask are you? A talented bush? With red eyes.” Red eyes much like herself. It wasn't till now that she actually looked at the eyes. She stepped closer to the eyes.

Isuara really was her daughter. Not only did she look like her, but she also had her herb knowledge, or at least a little of it. The young lioness had much to learn, but who better to teach her then her own mother. She stepped forward, so her daughter could see her clearly. “Hello Isuara. It has been a while hasn't it.” Sendatu said with a smile. She was interested in taking Isuara with her to train her. The poor thing had been stuck without a family for so long. Sendatu felt that it was her duty to bring her family together.

She knew she couldn't expect them to come with her, after she had abandoned them. But she hoped they would decide to go with her regardless of what she had done, doing it so they could become a proper family. If she could convince Isuara to join her, she felt that she could track down her other cubs and convince them to return to her.

Since this last bunch of cubs, she had regretted giving them away. For once had the urge to be a mother. She realized that she would not be alive forever. The way she could be immortal was by having her offspring tell her story. She also wanted to be around to see her grandcubs and even great-grandcubs. It was selfish of her, but it was her one wish.

“For the record, the petals are pretty good at healing most cuts. You just have to combine it with the leafs and some water.” She gave her daughter a smile, hoping she would be accepted.

In front of her was her mother. Isuara couldn't believe it. She watched her mother come out from the bush. She did her best to not react, but she guessed her eyes went became larger. “Sendatu.” She said. It was all she could think of saying. How come her mother was there? She wondered. Not once in her whole life did she ever show up and now suddenly out of the blue she decides to come into.

“What are you doing here?” Isuara asked, watching her mother carefully. She didn't want anything to do with her mother.

Sendatu let out a laugh. “Is that really anyway to speak to your mother?” She hoped her comment wouldn't upset Isuara too much. Isuara already showed signs that she did not want anything to do with her. It hurt a little bit, not being wanted. If Isuara didn't want her, she was sure that she could convince her other litter that they needed her. She didn't want to give up on Isuara though. Her daughter was talented, and with her help she could become a greater healer.

“I am sorry that I was not there for you.” She said as honestly as she could. “I wasn't ready to raise a cub. I think that you were better raised where you were then by me.” It was the truth. She was always traveling. It was no life for a young cub. She had stumbled across this pride and dropped Isuara off because it looked like a good place to raise a cub.

“Would it be alright for me to talk to you for a little bit?” She asked.

Isuara wondered what her mother would ever have to say to her after all this time. “You can talk to me. But make it quick. I have duties for the pride.” She said. The sooner she was able to get away from her mother, the better in her opinion. Her mother was like venom in her eyes, slowly destroying everything around her.

“If you don't mind me asking though, why are you even here? Why are you suddenly interested in my now and not when I was younger. You weren't ready then, but you are now?” It was completely frustrating.

“You ask pretty good questions.” Sendatu stated. “I am not a motherly type, and I probably will never be. However lately my own mortality has become an issue for me. I would be interested in sharing my knowledge with you and your siblings.” It was her best bet, saying Isuara had siblings. It was a risky move of course, making herself look even worse.

“I just want to share what I know with you so you can share it with your cubs. I do not want to be forgotten in time. I want to be remembered. It is as simple as that. Being forgotten is my greatest fear. Could you imagine, being gone and no one even realizing you existed. Those of us who are great should not suffer such consequences.

Isuara couldn't believe her mother. But she couldn't help but be more curious. She had siblings that she never had a chance to meet. What if she never got to meet them? This was her one shot to learn about them. “I will listen to you, but only because I want to know more about my siblings. The idea that you want to use your own kin as a tool to be remembered is sickening though.”

She would give her mother one shot to redeem herself. If it went well, she thought she might not hate being around her mother. However if she felt like she was being used, she would get away from her mother as quickly as she could. She would not be a tool for her mother's needs and she would do her best to find her siblings and protect them from their mother.

It was.... a start. “Your words sting Isuara. I see you weren't taught manners. However manners get you no where. Talent is what can help you. Tomorrow meet me here and I will tell you about your siblings, but before I do that I will teach you a little bit about the plant life here and what you should know. Think of it as my gift to you. I have never shared my secret with anyone, so you should feel honored.”

She gave her daughter a nod before walking away. The conversation didn't go as smoothly as she wanted it to go, but that didn't matter. Soon she would have her daughter back and then she could move on and find the rest of her cubs.

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