Animation Source Forums

For a while I have a holiday;) And seriously – for now I have some work before I apply on doctor’s studies (I’m intending to…) and rather a little time for writing projects. Then I’m thinking more about Polish-oriented project, that is: Cogitor’s translation. I mustn’t neglect my local fandom;)
However when I will be back in writing, I’ll give You know.

Thanks for the notice. Have a good holiday and yes it is important to remember your local fandom. I wish you luck in that!

Take care!

Hello, welcome back, all noble Felidae and Canidae who visit my topic;)
I’m in the middle of holiday right now, so I’m not writing any new stuff. However the revised and edited version of ViM is on the site now.

Soon I will make up for missed fanfics here (Claymore’s as the first).

Hey Taka, nice to see you. About my changing nickname, I needed a change. I figured this would do nicely. Hope you're having a good holiday

Ya, good to hear from you again.

Hello Everyone.
After Balto stuff and holidays, I’m going back to TLK for a while. First: maps.
After discussion with Cogitor about geography of Pridelands I decided to publish my technical maps of world in my stories. Please, don’t laugh – I just can’t draw and those are just drafts.
Maps of Prideland and its vicinity is scaled and oriented north. Map of near kingdoms is oriented north too, but isn’t scaled.
Because I lost blank maps, I remake version with Polish names. English names of places are in brackets next to.

Ok., Ladies and Gentlemen, Lionesses and Lions
Here comes the new story. Shorter and a bit unusual, I treat is as some kind of training before writing TPR [The previous Round (of the Circle of Life) – the final <although chronological earlier than TGQ and TNR> part of my tetralogy]

As I wrote, it’s a bit unusual stuff – with less epic tales (although are some) and additions to my plot-line (although are some, very important), more dark romance and psychological short novel. Because of some possible incoherencies with my main plot-line, reading of ToS isn’t necessary to understand earlier (well, it’s obvious) and later (I mean: TPR) stories. If You don’t like it, You may just skip it and wait for more classical and epic TPR.
Excuse me my stylistic experiments (i.e. more often than before using 1 p.o.v.. In story is indicated with italic) and a bit shattered chronology.

Cast is incomplete, so I won’t give it now.
The action is generally taking place in Golden Sands after Golden Pride under leadership of Kovu returned there.

Trails on Sand

Prologue

Kiara’s mind was burning. Young queen was trying to run and think in the same time, but it was hard, very hard. Lioness was exhausted, terrified and lost. Five months of living in the Golden Sands hadn’t taught her even basics of local topography. She saw the walls of Rumble Gorge, she knew that behind its mouth there is just two kilometres of desert and then safe rock of Golden Cave, but traits of her route were unknown to her. She was speeding at random, only thanks to enormous luck not falling to one of numerous cracks in gorge’s bottom. She was trying to chose the optimal way, to save every joule of energy, finding the shortest shortcut, but she just couldn’t regain any orientation in that crazy run. She knew that she was much slower and less enduring than her chase. In the same time she was no match in combat. Her only chance was to reach the safe home or at least close enough to call for help. The rules of game were clear, as clear as that Kiara was losing fast.
She tripped when her front paw fell into small rock crack. Lioness even didn’t felt that – just saw as her limb stuck in hole, then whole world turned upside-down. She made somersault and landed perfectly on her back. It would be funny, especially seen from aside, however Kiara felt no urge to laugh but to cry. The wave of pain from broken paw deluged her. No, it was not broken! Just a bit stretched… I must get up and run…
She opened her eyes to see perfectly blue sky above. Then she rolled on side, gently pulling her paw up. It hurt, but was still in one piece. There still was a chance. She stood up and carefully based on wounded limb. A pain returned and queen felt she had to make a break to overcome it. She looked around, but not to see for her pursuer. She needed just to calm her scared mind. She glimpsed on gorge around and just thought about its strange beauty.
The Golden Sands and its vicinity were so unlike to Prideland. But were also charming as well. It was a harsh kind of beauty – made of sharp rock and monumental walls of stone. And – of course – endless plains of golden sand. But the silent majesty of ancient land appealed to Kiara’s heart in different, however the same strong way than mild features of her home savannah. “I’m queen of that kingdom.” She thought, letting her first tears to flow. She was crying both because of burning pain in her paw and sudden understanding of her past errors. “And I don’t know my land. I was responsible for that soil but I didn’t care of knowing it and loving it as I should. And that doomed me now. If I only knew Rumble Gorge, I would have escaped…” But then she heard steps of running lion. Chase was near.
Kiara turned back to the deeper gorge. She was looking on north-west, just against the early afternoon sun. But in the deluge of golden rays, she felt where exactly were lioness chasing her. Fur of pursuer was sparkling with reflected light, however queen knew that in reality it was much darker, almost brown. When she got closed, Kiara was able to look on her persecutor once more. Young, well-built female of blue eyes and decisive stare seemed was coming slowly, carefully, ready to attack. “Does she really think I would defend myself?” sobbed queen in mind. “She is stronger, well trained and unhurt. There is no way I could stand against her.” Pursuer had some wild and erratic beauty, so alike to landscape around. Her sharp muzzle-features and decisive moves were expressing clear intend to kill.
“Stand and fight!” shouted adversary. “I will kill you.”
“I… I can’t!” sobbed Kiara, raising her scratched paw. “I just can’t.”
“There is no room for weakens here, my lady.” Said brown lioness. In her voice the irony was clearly heard. “Stand up and fight!”
“You are stronger. I can’t win with you.”
“So, you will let me just slaughter your?” asked attacked, slowly coming to paralysed with fear queen. “Is that what you were taught?”
“It hurts.” Cried Kiara, still raising her wounded paw.
“I know.” Nodded brown lioness and pounced on queen.
She did her best to shun. What she managed was to jump few feet aside, so claws of attacker pierced the air not her throat. But she was pushed with mass of warrioress and fell to the ground. When she raised her head against rays of sun she sensed that enemy was just behind her, putting her paw on queen’s neck.
“I’m sorry.” Whispered brown lioness. “There is no room for weakness here.”
Then Kiara felt cold touch of sharp claws on her throat.

My name is Tetesi and I’m subject of king Kovu. Or I’m not? It’s hard to say if I still could name myself that. If you hear my tale, you’ll probably judge me that I don’t deserve even to speak the name of my beloved king. But now I do, because there is no other way to tell you about tragedy in Golden Sands. I do not ask for sympathy nor forgiveness. You are not the ones whose forgiveness I would seek. And If Kovu knew about it all, he wouldn’t have forgiven me. But I hope that tale will never reach his ears. I just want your understanding. There is a lot of evens in history of my pride, or our allies that seemed to be very misunderstood by further generations. Reign of king Ahadi, argument of Scar and Mufasa or war of Golden Pride and Pridelanders. Of course, also last years of old Golden Kingdom, under rule of king Arista. All those tales look as reports of crimes at the first glance, but after longer examination turn to be not a chronicle of evil and wickedness but a testimonies of weakness and dramas. Of situations without solution and choices that none of you would like to take. I hope that my story become one of them – you will understand that what I did I had to do. I can’t tell it to Kovu – now it’s much to late to confess it all. So you will be a substitute of my king’s judgement. Hear it and decide: if I did wrong, or I did just what was necessary.
And you won’t know about that, Kovu. That’s good, only in your ignorance, while you don’t know how I hurt you, I could save what I have. So don’t listen to me.
My king.
My love.

Reading the prologue is even better the second time around. This lioness must have something against Kiara. But what? Knowing Kiara, even with her injured paw, she didn't even put up much of a fight but you must have a reason for putting that in. Not that I'm not pleased or anything because this is just as good as the two lionesses fighting. Something new, something different. Nicely done! I look forward to reading chapter 1

Thanks!
Now the real start of story – few month earlier Golden Pride is setting off in journey to ancient keep of Golden Ones. Kovu wants to fulfill his duty to Zira. However he is really scared about Kiara – if she manage to walk that trek and then – to become a real Golden One.

I. Return to the Future

[few months earlier]

Golden Pride contained ten lioness plus royal couple. Spotty left Prideland and went to the Green Valley where she was meant to became queen of that land, by side of king Jino. Yakta also was gone and – what was even more funny – also had gone to royal duties. With princess Kwili he decided to found a new kingdom in Mighty Jungle. So the Golden Pride suddenly became probably the best connected pride in recent history – had on friendly thrones own former princess, former pridelioness and pridelion. Strange alliance among four lands was surely cause of pride, but not necessary cause of joy. Subjects of Kovu were weakened by those losses. It was especially hard before the task that pride had to do.
It was the day of departure. Although it was a middle of dry season, on that particular day sky was covered with dusty clouds, hiding dried soil from scorching heat. But Kovu knew that the weather is always fragile thing. Just day after… who knows, maybe just in few hours that pleasant morning would turn to hell. Golden King actually knew nothing real about the desert. And he had to cross it with all his pride. The weight of responsibility was pressing his head like a heavy stone. Blackmaned wanted to stay, give up the idea of journey, but he couldn’t. “I’ll do it, mother!” whispered in mind. “But help me, I beg you, help me!”
His pride was ready, lying in shade of Border River’s reeds. They were in random group, but king knew that if he give order, they would stand and form marching line in just several seconds. They knew the drill, taught by Zira. Mother had known that some day her son and her pride would need the knowledge required to return to Golden Sands. That why lionesses were training not only combat, sheath scouting and normal survival skills, but also ancient lore of Golden Pride. It was deposit that Zira received from her father and gave it to her children and charges. Kovu never was too patient student on those lessons, because he was tired of trainings in general and he thought that was useless. He once hoped to be Prideland king, like his spiritual father, Scar. But life made a surprise to all lions in that land and history put Kovu in charge of desert pride, heading its ancient keep. Lion hoped that his lionesses were better Zira’s students than he was. It was dangerous assumption, but should work. As Yakta had taught him how to be king, his subject had to teach him how to be Golden Lion.
“Watch your steps, sir!” hissed Sorphi to Simba. Hearing that Kovu shook his head to dispel troubling thoughts and looked again on scene in front of him. And once again he wondered, how the heck it come to that.
Golden Pride was resting, taking the last break before way on desert. Pridelandresses were standing near, looking on departing pride with curiosity and discrete dose relief. Both groups never merged in one community and if even any hostility between former Outlanders and hosts ceased, some mistrust remained. It wasn’t really surprisingly after events of rainy season when war of prides and Outlanders coup d’etat happened just in period of just two months. But some lionesses of Prideland were looking on Golden Ones with tone of genuine compassion, probably being sure that journey to Golden Sands was something like sophisticated mass-suicide. “Well, if I fail as a leader, it would be.” Thought Kovu.
But then king looked on other actors of that scene. Nala and Simba were standing in half-dried bed of Border River, accompanied by Sorphi, who was carefully looking on ex-rulers steps. The sentence of exile, that Vitani cast on father-in-law and mother-in-law was strictly observed, at least in letter. In fact Tanabi twisted queen’s decision in extreme weird way – ex-royal couple were living in Green Den, that was specially recognised as not being part of kingdom (however there was no natural border between savannah and keep’s area). Also Tanabi said that Border River is a border, not a prideland-teritory, so Nala and Simba were free to walk in bed of river without restrains. But just in case, he asked Sorphi to watch if his parents obeyed that order. It was extremely embarrassing for him to ask for that, but he also knew that it would be even more hard for Vitani to secure this. And keeping the given word was the sacred duty of ruler. This was one of the most important rules that Tanabi learned from father.
“I haven’t moved an inch!” snorted Simba with irritation. “Have you seen that my paw…”
“Do you accuse him of violating the law?” asked Nala with freezing voice. Young pridelandress lowered her stare in shame.
“Sorry, sir!” yelled Ostasi. “I’m terribly…” If keeping the exile-sentence was hard to Vitani and Tanabi, executing that was a real hell for lioness. She was scolding her own former monarch, what seemed to her unthinkable. After Nala’s words she felt like a criminal.
“Ow, never mind.” interrupted Simba. Then he whispered to mate’s ear. “Darling, don’t be so hard on her… She’s doing her job, that’s all.”
“I hope she soon be relieved from that duty.” Murmured ex-queen.
Simba pretended he didn’t hear, however he shivered inside. Nala was expecting that after departure of Golden Ones many things would go back to state from before Vitani’s coronation. Ex-queen was still thinking in categories of winning and losing and was sure that her last defeat (deposing of Simba) would be soon undone with withdraw of enemies. Then the last Outlander (Vitani) would be neutralised and taken aside from rule. Of course her son Tanabi should be still a king, but she hoped he would find some new and more reasonable mate. That way what queen was thinking. She ignored some obvious facts like that her “enemies” were then led by her daughter Kiara and Tanabi was far from full of bitterness views of his mother. And what was maybe most important even Simba wasn’t avid to break the order that came to Prideland. Ex-king already had reconciled to that some changes just can’t be undone. And shouldn’t be.
“Darling, just calm down.” Whispered Simba. “Don’t talk about it.”
“I know, I just…” Then Nala noticed that Kiara was coming to them. “Oh, Kiara…” she sobbed. She wanted to rush in daughter direction, but froze when she raised her paw. After all she couldn’t enter the beach, enter the Prideland. Not yet.
“Mommy.” Called gold furred and ran to mother. They hugged themselves and stayed in that way by over minute. Simba slowly came to them and licked daughter’s forehead. Then new Golden Queen stepped back, returning on prideland-soil. “I will be missing you.”
“I know, my dear, I know.” Replied Nala with breaking voice.
“I’m sure that Tanabi offered you that.” Said Simba with tensed voice. “But if you find your new land too hard… You can always return here… to us.” In fact he was repeating his old pled: Don’t go! Stay with us! Do not risk!
“I know, daddy.” Said Kiara. “I’ll will visit you as soon as we establish our keep. I will be fine, I’m sure that…” her voice broke and she started to sob. Her parents again hugged their daughter, craning carefully not to cross border of beach.
“Ow, *****!” murmured Vitani to Kovu. “Should we do similar scenes?” they were standing on hill over Border River’s bank and looking on farewell of Kiara.
“Just believe me that fact I’m not crying doesn’t mean it’s easy for me to leave.” Replied Kovu.
“I know, I know… just… Ow, never mind. I shouldn’t worry you.”
“What?” asked surprised blackmaned.
“You know…” replied Vitani, looking on Tanabi who was saying goodbye to Golden Ones. It was a real phenomenon, but one-eyed king of Prideland had earned a real likeness among former Outlandresses. It was obvious that lionesses would miss Vitani (what they showed night earlier on official farewell of their pridesister), but warm feeling about Tanabi wasn’t so obvious. However Prideland king was high-esteemed among departing pride. It was because of gratefulness for what he did about Zara’s and Scar’s memory? Partially yes, but it surely wasn’t all. With bolt of absurd humour Vitani thought that Golden Ones should leave Prideland before they make her jealous.
“No, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking.” Said Kovu hastening his sister.
“Since day when Tanabi lost his eye… He somehow sees more. I know it sounds stupid, but he has dreams about future, a strong hunches… It happened that some of them came true.”
“He dreamed we all died on the desert?” asked Kovu, trying to turn it into joke.
“No, but he sensed some problem around you and – especially – Kiara.”
“What’s that?” asked a bit uneasy Golden King.
“He didn’t tell. He doesn’t know or don’t want to say it. But I think it’s not a particular danger. Just… general problem.”
“You don’t have to be a prophet to foresee that Kiara would never be real Golden One.” Said Kovu with shocking honesty. “As well as her fur fits to desert, her mind does not. She… isn’t as tough as we are, Vitani. But I love her as she is.”
“I know that. Just keep your eye on her.” Said queen. “But you have to try teach her how to be the Golden One. And that would be a real hard task.”
“***** it!” hissed Kovu. “It’s not good I won’t have you nor Yakta by side. Without you two I’m helpless as a cub.”
“So first of all, your girls should teach you how to be Golden One.” Noticed Vitani. “Just try to do your lessons, right?”
“I have no other choice.” Said Kovu.
*
They finally gathered on Border River’s beach (all, except of Nala and Simba, who were technically standing in river’s bed). It was time to go. Kiara was quickly saying goodbye with Pridelandresses (or better to say: sobbing goodbye), while Golden Ones were forming a marching line. Timon and Pumbaa were standing with ex-royal couple looking with sad stares on departing Golden Queen. Finally even she got her position in rank, just after Kovu. She for the last time turned back to Prideland to catch the glimpse of Tanabi face. One-eyed saw an expression of fear on his sister’s face. He just whispered, hoping she would read from his lips.
“Go ahead! You will do it, I believe in you!” Then whole columns started on north-west, accompanied by roars of Pridelanders. All who stayed were looking for long minutes in formation disappearing behind one of dunes.
“So, they are gone.” Said finally Tanabi. Vitani came to him and cuddled to his side.
“Finally.” She said. “Let’s thank Stars they found their own way.”
“I know that it was how it should to be.” Said king, carefully touching mate’s belly. Her pregnancy still wasn’t visible, however shaman assured royal couple that they are already parents. Funny, when Tanabi’s paw stroked Vitani’s fur, they both thought the same thought: “If boy: we’ll name him Dahabu. If girl: Amali”. But then king continued. “But that dream is still haunting me.” He looked on mate. “You said about it Kovu, didn’t you?”
“I did.” Replied lioness. “But I still think it just a dream. If you really were scared about it, you would warn your sister.”
“It’s not so easy.” Said king carefully. “Sometimes the knowledge of coming danger is making it even more serious. I decided that she must face it alone. But I’m scared anyway.”
“Pridelanders!” murmured queen, faking distain. “Just shivering over own shadow. She is the Golden One now and she just can’t fear.” Then she once again looked on horizon over the desert and whispered. “Girls, I will miss you.”
Meanwhile column of Golden Ones came deep in desert, where no sign of green savannah was seen. Kiara was going just after Kovu, feeling end of his tail in her mouth. It wasn’t really necessary in normal march, but king decided to train his lionesses in oldest way of his pride to keep the formation in storm. If sand blizzard had broken out, physical contact between members of expedition was vital to survival. Who was lost on desert was most likely dead. So Kiara was keeping Kovu’s tail, gently grabbing him by teethes. Her tail was secured by Tetesi’s mouth. Then was going Tetesi’s mother – Dotty, farther sisters: Ukungu and Kauta. Queen didn’t remember who was in center and on back.
Just a for someone’s wish, a gentle wind started, turning first part of journey into desert drill. Blows of hot air started to cause small clouds of dust. For real Golden Lioness it should be just funny view, however journeying pride was terrified at first.
“Come on!” called Kovu from lead. “A little breeze didn’t hurt anyone!” In fact he was scared as well, but his assurance worked – lionesses silenced their uneasy murmurs and just were marching, still keeping progresses tails in jaws. Only Kovu was still afraid, because there was no one to comfort him.
“That should be, my nephew.” Whispered unseen ghost of sandymaned lion. “I summoned that wind just to try your will. You have to stand this, it’s only beginning. From now on you must act like desert lion.” Sparthi marched next to column, looking with curiosity on his successor. “I wish to tell you I’m and your mother are close. But we can’t interfere. You must do it at your own.”
Wind grew a bit, making any talk in rank very hard. Because of tails in mouths no one talked anyway, but thanks to howls of sand-blows somehow appeased Kovu. He didn’t need to tall to his lionesses, didn’t have to soothe their fears.
Kiara was barely repressing herself from chewing her mate’s tail. She didn’t know that was actual problem for many generations of desert lions – when one is marching on desert without vision or firmness where one is going – it is natural nervous tick to chew what one has in mouth. So when Pridelander was saying: “bite my tail!” it meant: “leave me alone” or “no way!”. But when Golden One said that, it was like he or she was saying: “Trust me! I won’t let you down and get out from this storm”.
So unaware of that all Kiara was walking and silently crying. She had been going just for few hours but she was thinking she was dying. Her paws seemed kicking with constant pain and throat burning with fire. Queen felt she was at the edge of her endurance. She tried to convince herself that it can’t be, it was just a start, a tiny fraction of whole way. But when she understood she had maybe thirty times more to go, she almost tripped. Almost. Kovu didn’t notice, but Tetesi did.
“My queen!” said lioness. She probably shouted that, but to goldenfurred it came as a quiet whisper. “It’s no time… We will stop, when we could. Be strong… You have to find the strength inside.”
“I can’t!” sobbed queen. “My paws are burning.”
“Mine too.” Replied Tetesi. Kiara wasn’t sure if lioness behind her had heard her answer, or just guessed her complains. “But I’m going.”
“You are stronger, you are desert lioness.”
“Since you became Kovu’s mate, you are desert one much more than I.” Said brownfurred. Because of wind Kiara didn’t hear that in her voice sounded some sudden and aggressive tone. “Do it for him, do it for your king. Be strong.”
“But I just can’t.” called queen. Because they were marching against the wind, she was sure that Kovu couldn’t hear her words. “Tetesi?” Asked Kiara, when lioness was silent for a longer while. “Help me, please!”
She didn’t see the face of brownfurred. If she did, she might have wondered about it – lioness seemed to fight something inside, narrowing her eyes and tensing her lips. Finally she replied with a bit hollow voice.
“Right. Tell him I got a scratch and I ask for a stop.”
Queen sighed with yelp of joy and bit Kovu’s tail. She didn’t see how Tetesi quickly raised her left paw and scratch the left one. Tough Outlandress didn’t show any pain on her face.

And it was that way during all the journey. You probably can’t imagine what I was through. I was nursing the big kid, almost four-year kitty, that Kiara actually was. She wasn’t prepared to desert life at all. I had to convince Kovu to change our plan of march to adjust to queen’s abilities. I had to share my water with her, because portions of cactus-pulp we were eating as water-supply were too small for her. I had to massage her swollen paws and stretched muscles. And doing it all in so discrete way, that Kovu couldn’t see. Later I learned that he knew from the start. So after all I didn’t lose anything on that. But that afternoon, when I was asking for stop, for Kiara but on behalf of myself, I was thinking that I’m making an idiot and weakling from myself, just to cover Kiara’s inabilities.
You could ask why I did it? Honestly I don’t know. Maybe I was trying already to gain some power over her? Get close, observe and look for opportunity to act in my quest. But I doubt – even if I did it completely subconsciously. It might sounds funny, but I rather think I did it because of duty. After all Kiara was my queen. I am just a subject, I have no right to judge on my rulers. That is my part to serve them and their to guide me. Whatever Kiara was doing her queen’s duties I wanted to do my job well.
But maybe it was the third reason. I love now and I loved Kovu then with so firm and fierce love that any way to support him, serve and protect I took as my sacred duty. And if Kovu’s shine was reflecting in his mate, I was bound to watch over her, whatever was the cost. Then I was still able to restrain my will and even fool myself about my real wants. But maybe it failed even on that evening when we were resting after my “accident”.
Let’s go back to that time. Kovu instantly stopped the column and ran to me with fest beating heart (his fear and concern was clear). When he noticed my wound – small, however making a possibility of infection – he called to pride about need of stopover. Then he – although I protested – just ordered to put me on his back and carried me to nearest oasis. We sidetracked from route to get there and we probably lost totally about eight hours of march, including the break and way astray. But he didn’t say a word about it.
When we get to that cluster (I called it <oasis> giving it much more credit that it deserved) he put me on bushes bedding and carefully examined my paw. “We are camping here tonight.” Said, however it was about hour before the dusk. “Just lay yourself to sleep.” Then he took my paw, looked it with concerned stare and sighed. That sigh was the drop that broke the dame. Since that moment I confessed inside that I loved him and I want him to be with me, whatever it would took. It wasn’t (yet) direct idea to rid off (all right, I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite. To kill.) Kiara, but if one step was made, another seemed to be unavoidable.
Then he cleaned my wound. Just bended down and started to lick my pawpad. I know, it could be just an ordinary concern of ruler about his subject. Perhaps it was, but I read it as a chance, a spark of hope.
“Does it hurt?” asked finally, when finished.
“After such a treatment it just can’t.” I replied with smile. Then I felt genuine regret for all that mess. “Sir, I’m so sorry for that. We lost so much time… I promise it won’t happen aga…”
“Hush.” He interrupted me. “It definitely isn’t your fault.” Then he lowered his muzzle to my ear and whispered. “You are doing great, Tetesi. Keep it going. With you help we’ll do it!”
Pain in my paw in one second turned to be delighting caress. Even when he stood up and went aside to sleep by Kiara, I was holding my paw as a stigma of hope of glorious future. I dreamed a great dreams that night. Some of them came true today, however definitely not in the way I planned.
But it doesn’t matter. Let me say few more words about way to the Golden Sands. It took us nine more days. We got lost two times and I must boast of simple fact that one time it was me who corrected the navigation error. My nursing over Kiara grew even more irritating. I discovered that she was eating also Kovu’s meat and fruits and apart of my asks for stopovers, she asked king many time on her behalf. But what was most intriguing – maybe because of that, I – year younger – felt myself as someone like older queen’s sister. Those ten days on desert forced me to treat helping her as my duty. It was always my duty, but became even more serious after that. And when we got to the Golden Sands… oh, how odd it looks from perspective of those few months!

Good chapter!

I guess Tetesi isn't such a bad lioness. She respects her leaders even though Kiara, has she said in the prologue, is weak. She admires Kovu because of his caring for his pride and isn't so busy getting them to the Golden Sands. This is a already good qualitie in a King. Kiara is gonna have to learn to adapt or she's not gonna survive. There was something about the part in the Pridelands as the prides were saying goodbye that struck me.

Nicely done!

I guess she will have to… In SP it was showed what problems had Kovu with accustoming to Kiara’s world. In my story the roles somehow are opposite. Now she is learning.

BTW. For all Kiara-fans here. Do not be angry on me for portraying you favourite character in that way. Remember that most of Kiara descriptions are made thought Tetesi’s eyes. And she – however she tries to restrain herself – is biased against her queen.

And now We are entering Golden Sands. Apart of other attraction We will meet some old friend, however a bit younger than in the other story;)