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III. Where Lions Dare

It’s hard to call two year old lion a mature one, but young Sparthi considered himself as mature enough to understand most of lion’s issues. He was training hard to please his father and he believed that one day he would follow his pawprints and replace him. Prince was independent lion. His actual cubhood finished soon and airy youth ceased with death of mother. Since that time he was partially raised by father, partially by uncle, but mostly by himself, wandering much around Home Grasses and in Rumble Range. He also participated actively in duties of pride. Keeping an eye on the youngest kitties weren’t of course his duty, but he did it because of Ghera.
Lightfurred lioness, prince’s contemporary, was always best his friends, sticking closest from all five of cubs of that year. She helped him most in hard time after Malkha’s death. Since that time young lions were almost inseparable, what resulted with Sparthi helping Ghera even with so tiring duties as guarding playing cubs. But prince made those surveillances not to tiring after all.
As we learned before, two guardians just let kitties to play in gorge, knowing that usual activities of charges didn’t require any further moves. Narrowing of creek was favourite place of Sparthi just year earlier, so he was almost sure what would his sister and her friends do. Trusting in cubs reason – or at least, laziness – he assumed that they wouldn’t go any further to any danger place. That way he persuade Ghera to stay in Mouth Oasis.
“Sparthi.” Started Ghera, lying on beach of lake. Lion just gently raised his head, still narrowing eyes, due to midday sun and looked on lioness. “I still think we should watch on Zira and others.”
“I know few others view worthy to watch.” Replied prince. “Just believe me, that nothing would happen. There was no older sibling to watch over us, when we were in their age, but – somehow – we survived.”
“That day at the start of rainy season I almost drowned you.” Reminded lightfurred and Sparthi burst in laughter.
“Yeah, but was an exception.” Finally uttered lions, still giggling. “My behaviour was so awful that I was asking for some batch.”
“I didn’t know there were quicksand.” Murmured Ghera. “Good that sir Dhalimu was near.” Then she narrowed her eyes and looked in direction of gorge. “We should watch if they don’t come to quicksand too and…”
“They are in gorge.” Interrupted Sparthi. “Just relax. Why are you so nervous. They have own play, we have our, aren’t we…” Lion moved closer to lioness and gently put this paw at her shoulder.
But Ghera reacted, moving away. Not that she didn’t want what lion hoped for, but her natural shyness and simple fear of mixing into she shouldn’t kept her uneasy and sceptical. She was confused about Sparthi. He was no longer a cub who needs just a helping paw. He became handsome male, very protective and responsible as for his age, but that was dream surprisingly beautiful for Ghera. She was looking for some catch.
“Sparthi… I don’t…”
“What’s wrong?” asked prince, backing with disappointed appearance. But just second later he smiled nervously and added. “I’m very sorry, Ghera. I wasn’t myself. Just… maybe we should look for Zira.” He stood up and turned to gorge.
“Sparthi, wait.” Called lightfurred with shy voice. “I meant… I didn’t want you to spoil something good for both of us.”
“Yeah, I know.” Murmured prince, not turning back. “We are friends, aren’t we? And crossing this line would destroy all good what is between us. Just… forgive me. You are so beautiful that I couldn’t resist to hope that you would one day consider me as someone more than a friend…”
“Really?” asked lightfurred, slowly loosing her own judge on whole situation. “Sparthi, I would love to become some special for you, but…”
“But?” asked lion with tensed voice. He turned back slowly, looking on lioness carefully.
“You are prince.” She said. “You can’t choose a girl simply like that. It has rather serious consequences. And I don’t want to start something I can’t finish…”
“Have you anything against being the queen?” asked Sparthi inquiring and coming closer to Ghera.
“No, it would be wonderful…”
“So, have you anything against being my queen?” asked smiling and regaining his self-assurance. He smiled so radiantly that Ghera replied automatically.
“Of course not!”
“So I don’t understand your scruples.” Said prince and slowly closed his lips to her muzzle.
“HELP!” sounded a cub’s yell. Sparthi and lightfurred jumped back, away from each other, then turned back to see what was happening. Epesi and Busara were standing on path to the gorge and screaming with all their might. “Help! Zira is drowning!”
Prince and lioness set off into desperate run. They passed by Epesi and Busara, who were lying on the grass, panting heavily. When two adolescents entered denser jungle, cubs ceased that show. From loud breaching they turned to loud laughter.
“Oh, Stars! Have you heard that?” giggled Busara. “Have you anything against being my queen? Ha! What a pathetic quote…”
“Yeah.” Nodded Epesi. “If I ever find a boy, I won’t allow him to flood me with such cheap talks…”
Meanwhile prince and lioness got almost to mouth of gorge. They met Msikizi and Wivu, who were waving their paws, calling saviours aloud. Then they got to sandy clearing when they noticed Zira, almost fully covered in sand. Only head of princess was over surface and some moves of light ground showed that she was desperately fighting with her paws. Sparthi kneeled down to pounce but Wivu screamed.
“No! Those are quicksands!”
“Get me a liana!” called prince and Ghera ran to forest’s brink, looking for proper rhizome. Meanwhile Sparthi started to carefully walking on the edge of sandy-square, to sense where dangerous area had its border. “Hold on, Zira, I will soon come for you.”
“Stay there!” called princess, coughing with dust. “It’s stiff!”
“Just don’t move!” called sandymaned. “Try to lay calm. I will be there soon.”
Meanwhile he was still carefully taking next steps to the centre of clearing, sensing ground under his paws and in the same time thinking how it was possible he never noticed that quicksand. But that wasn’t so strange – place didn’t look like quicksand at all. Sparthi was steeping farther and farther and with surprise he was discovering that he still had some solid ground.
“Don’t come any closer!” yelled Zira.
In that moment returned Ghera with several metres of liana. Prince jumped back on safe grass and grabbed in jaws a plant. Then jumped back, being careful to step only on checked ground and took a deep breath. Then crouched to gain impetus and rushed ahead to get as close to Zira as it was possible. He clenched jaws, pressing there liana and prepared himself to submerge into moving sand. But what happened then surprised him in every aspect.
In stead of soft plashing into dry swamp he hit the solid ground. That meant: his paws landed on soft, but still sand. Guided by impulse, Sparthi laid down and spread his paws wide, to make the biggest possible area of his body. But then he opened his eyes to see he was still on surface – and saying exactly – on ordinary sand, while cubs on “shore” and Zira herself were laughing aloud.
“Surprise!” called princess and lifted her paws above the ground.
Then Sparthi noticed as she was in earlier prepared hole (even of digging spoil was simply spread around without any special attempts to hide it) and then she exited it in few moves. Sandymaned was still lying on solid ground, holding liana in his mouth and thinking intensively what was going on.
“That is not a quicksand.” Concluded price, standing up.
“Right, ten points for you.” Laughed Zira and walked to friends. She left empty hole after her <drowning>.
“How could you!?” called Ghera with shocked voice and looking on Zira.
“That wasn’t so hard.” Replied princess. “After all, we all were digging.”
“That’s unacceptable! Your brother thought…” started lioness, but she was muffled by laughter of cubs and – what she discovered with surprise – also by laughter of Sparthi himself.
Sandymaned came after his sister to four of cubs and they all sat on grass, still looking on hope in sand, laughing. Ghera finally joined that, however she was in fact extremely angry on Zira.
“That was good!” judged lion. “I really thought that was a quicksand! Even that looked completely dry and I don’t recall any trap nearby.”
“The point is to sold the story properly.” Said Epesi. “HELP! Zira is drowning!” she called, faking terror.
“Shhh!” gasped Sparthi. “Someone hear that and would panic as I did.”
“Your sister was awful.” Said Ghera with stern voice. “She has no right to scare us so much.”
“Well… but it all ended good.” Noticed princess. “And moreover, look how brave my brother is.” She added with proud smile. “He rushed to rescue me… but wait.” She paused. “I thought you would just jump to me and then find that was not a swamp.”
“I think I did the optimal actions for that case.” Said Sparthi. “I knew nothing about quicksand and I need to make some recon. Moreover if I just jumped there, there was a serious probability the marsh was too stiff for me and I would drown as well. I sent Ghera for liana, because I didn’t want to tire myself before some serious effort with manoeuvring in sand. And it was safer that I was checking the ground than she…”
“Oh, yeah.” Nodded Wivu. “But we thought you would just jump for Zira instantly. That would be more heroic.”
“But surely not so smart.” Replied prince.
“I guess our idea of presenting by brother as fearless hero was not fully successful.” Whispered Zira to Epesi.
“But it was a fun anyway.” Replied golden cub.
“Right, come on.” Said Sparthi. “You have your fun today. Let’s back to Golden Cave.”
“Already!?” called all kitties.
“That’s not my fault you exhaust my temper so early.” Smiled prince. “So go to wash yourselves from this dirt and head home.”
Cubs obediently went to lake, then cleared themselves from heavy layer of dirt. Sparthi was watching it from the shore and Ghera came to sit down at his side. For moment they were silent, then lioness said with serious tone.
“I think that your sister deserves some solid punishment for that.”
“Perhaps.” Replied Sparthi. “But I won’t tell father. You know how soft-hearted I am in such things.”
“How could I know?” asked lioness.
“I never told him about your pranks.” Reminded sandymaned. “And I could say that your ideas were sometime even worse than Zira’s.” She smiled with embarrassed smile. “But I liked them all.”
“That your idea of liana and checking ground… You were very… reasonable today.” Said Ghera finally. “I think that is some higher form of bravery.”
“Not so impressive, I guess.” Replied lion.
“For me just fine.” Said Ghera. She took a look around, then came closer and licked his cheek. “My hero. My prince.”
“If you say so…” smiled Sparthi. Then seeing that Epesi was already coming out from water, he called to rest. “Right, enough. Let’s go back.”
Kitties walked to beach, then formed a line and followed two adolescent lions to Golden Massif. The procession was closed by Zira and Wivu. Those two cubs still wished to stay out of keepers attention, because of still visible cuts of their fight.
“So, the deal is simple.” Whispered Zira. “Don’t tell and I won’t.”
“Sure. We already set this.” Replied grey cub. “And Zira…” added after a while. “Please, forget what I said. I really like to have sister and I believe that mom loves us both.”
“I know that.” Replied princess. “But it’s high time for me to deserve for that.”
*
Hunt was very strange and game turned out to be even stranger. Lone buffalo seemed to ignore sneaking lionesses and when Masa gave sing to pursue it was too late for bovid. Ten lionesses pinned powerful creature down – but for twenty paws and eighty claws even most powerful animal was no match. Buffalo was dead quick after. Then Masa noticed another trophy of that hunt.
“He wasssss mine!” hissed young ball python, coiled around carcass’s neck.
Snake was golden, two metres lengthy, what meant he did managed to circle bovid’s neck even twice. His attempts to choke strong game were destined to fail – powerful muscles of herbivore could easily stop clench of reptile. But because buffalo was trying to rid off irritating boa, he simply failed to hear incoming lionesses. That was why it came so smoothly.
“No offence, but I think you had your chance to kill him. Then we had our.” Replied Masa.
“That issss not fair!” hissed snake. “It’s my kill. You haven’t given me a chance!” When he noticed that lionesses ignored him and started to slash game’s meat, in desperation he called. “Get off!” and he slid on Masa.
He coiled around her neck and clenched his body with all his might. Whatever strong he could be as for python, he was too weak to choke mature lioness, additionally prepared for that. Grey female tensed her muscles of neck and boa met a steel wall of flesh, that he was unable to squeeze.
“Have you finished?” asked Masa with indifferent voice.
“I will choke you!” called snake.
“Who knows.” Replied lioness. “I could die laughing. By the way…” she looked on buffalo. “How did you plan to eat so huge prey? I guess only proper part of it was a tail.”
“Ssssshut up!” hissed snake. “That issss mine kill.”
“Will he be good for a snack?” asked Rama, looking on neck of friend.
“Can you remove him, without slashing my neck?” asked Masa.
“You broke the lawsssss!” called boa. “I will make a complain to the king.”
“Go on, I will forward it.” Smiled Masa. “I’m carer of king’s daughter.”
“You have no right! I want make complain to the king!” repeated reptile.
“Great.” Grey lioness looked on kill. “Eat some, then divide it into portable portions. We are returning home.”
“With him?” asked surprised Rama.
“And what would you do?” murmured leaderless. “I simply can’t rid him off. He wants to complain on us and we are going back anyway. Just let Arista… I mean: king to solve that.”
“That is against the lawssss!” repeated snake.
“We heard that.” Replied Masa. “And now, would you be so kind and let looser a little. If feel so uncomfortable I will let Rama try to cut you off.
*
Hunting team returned to Golden Cave with meat and strange guest. Boa hadn’t moved an inch, still coiled around Masa’s neck. Arista was napping in the doorstep of cave, but he woke up instantly, hearing returning lionesses. He looked on his pride.
“It’s good to see you.” He said and then noticed snake on neck of grey lioness. “What is the meaning of this!? This is outrageous!”
“I told her ssssso, ssssir.” Said boa. “But sssshe didn’t lisssten and stole my kill.”
“Let her loose or I will cut you in more parts than you could count!” growled king.
“Yessss, sssir.” Said python shyly, although in his voice there was no actual fear of death. It seemed that he was rather surprised that king didn’t judge at his thought.
Golden reptile slid down from lioness’s neck and Arista came to Masa. He looked on her neck, looking for any injures, but – as we mentioned earlier – moderate snake was too small to endanger huntress in any way. Lion sighed with relief.
“Come on, sir. That’s just a snake. Weird one, but still does no harm.”
“I will sssshow you: no harm!” hissed python and moved to Masa again, but before he slid to her, he was grabbed by Arista’s paw and lifted up.
“Would you be so kind and tell me, why the heck you tried to choke my lioness?” asked king with calm, yet decisive voice.
“And how he wanted to devour our buffalo.” Threw Masa in.
“Sssshut up!” yelled boa. “That was my kill.”
Arista just raised his paws with snake and then waved it, so reptile’s head – driven by centrifuge force – hit the rock of massif. Not hard enough to kill, but surely to inflict serious pain.
“Watch your tongue!” growled Arista. “You are speaking to the lady.”
“Or to three…” gasped snake with weak voice, trying to focus his vision on blurred silhouetted of Masa.
“But what did you say about your kill?”
“Sir, it’s idiotic story.” Said Macheo, one of the youngest lionesses who joined the hunting team. “We found that snake on neck of our kill, as he was trying to choke it.”
“I would have done it, if not your pride!” yelled golden reptile. “I want make an official complain on your ssssubjects!”
“I should have cut him in pieces before we got here.” Murmured Rama.
“No, wait.” Said Arista. “He asked his king for arbitrage about the prey-controversy. I guess we have to hear what he has to say.” Ruler looked on python. “What is your name?”
“Kauli, sssir.” Replied reptile.
“Why wanted to kill that buffalo?” asked king.
“Just to eat him.”
“But you wouldn’t eat him whole!” noticed Arista. “I doubt even if you kill him…” but seeing angry look of Kauli, he added. “However we could assume you were able to do it. What would you do with carcass.”
“Most likely I would asssssk someone to help in dividing it.” Replied snake.
“Lionesses, for instance?”
“Maybe.”
“Just ask them?”
“I would propose them to take all the meat I left. That would be…” he looked on several parts of buffalo. “About ninth-tenth of body. Ten percent of his meat would feed me to summer solstice.” All lionesses grunted with irritation, but also with amusement.
“So… why don’t you – when lionesses killed that bovid – ask them for leftovers? I’m sure they would gave you enough.” Said Arista.
“But that issss my kill!” hissed Kauli. “I have right to eat.”
“Good… let me judge that problem.” Said king, smiling. “Kauli, the kill is your. Would you forgive my pride to steal it? Please, accept our compensation in nearest hunted game. All right?”
“Well… right.” Replied a bit confused snake. “Ssssso, you admit that buffalo is mine?”
“Yes, I do.” Nodded Arista. “Do you want to accuse any specified lioness for other damages she made to you?”
“Thank you ssssir. That is all what I want.” Interrupted Kauli. “If you admitted that kill was mine, I will eat my meal and leave rest for you.”
“That’s all?” snorted Rama. “You want us just to confirm it was your right?”
“It was my right.” Replied snake and crawled to meat of bovid. Because lionesses already started to portion it, he chose a long strand of muscles, opened his mouth and started to carefully swallow it.
“I like that guy.” Said Arista to Masa. “Didn’t he hurt you in any way?” she shook her head. “Would you have anything against I would keep him here? I wish to have someone so sensitive to basic legal matters and him. Hatibu would use some help.”
“Do as you wish my… lord.” Said Masa.
“Hey, Kauli.” Started king. „What do you know about laws of the Desert.”
“Enough to judge, when the prey isssss mine.” Replied snake, swallowing portion of meat.
“I have a proposition for you…”
*
Cubs returned to cave just after Arista persuaded ball python to stay and assist him in legal matters. Sparthi and Ghera just gave short report to Masa, while cubs went straight to the meat. All, except of Zira and Wivu. Those two quickly grabbed their portions of prey and entered cave, leaving pride on acacia alley. They tried to stay away from sight of king and Masa, so that’s why they were spotted easily. Grey lioness entered cave just after kitties and followed them to side chamber where they started their meal.
“Is there any particular reason, why you are hiding?” she asked with gentle voice. “Tell me, if it’s reasonable, I will leave you.” But then she noticed cut on Zira’s face. “Stars! What happened.”
“No, it’s nothing, mom!” called Wivu instantly.
“For you, it’s not, but let Zira speak herself.” Replied lioness. “So, my dear, what happened?”
“Just accident.” Said princess. But Masa catch kitty and pulled her closer, than looked in her eyes. “Really…” She wanted to finish <mom>, but some force inside her choke that word. She recalled what Wivu had said and tears came to her eyes.
“Zira, my child, tell me what happened.” Asked Masa. Wivu turned her stare down, sensing that her involvement would be revealed soon. “Did you fight with your sister.”
“No, no… that means… she has nothing to do with it.” Wanted to say Zira, but her voice shivered and in fact she sobbed that.
“What have you done to her?” asked grey lioness with stern voice, looking on her daughter.
“I was me!” cried Zira. “I ran away from Sparthi and was climbing on gorge wall… I fell and Wivu just helped me to get back to lake…”
Grey cub sighed with relief, hearing that princess was covering her up, but then another thought came to her mind, that was not so happy. She also had cuts and bruises, but mother was caring only about Zira. Not about her real child, but one who had killed own real mother. Wivu quickly repressed that thought she didn’t want to hear, but next events called it back.
“Does it hurt, my love?” asked lioness. Zira wanted to explain more, but she just sobbed again, what Masa took as <yes>. Greyfurred started to lick fresh cut on cub’s face. Wivu was looking at it without word.
But Zira caught her stare. Not directly, because grey cub was not gazing at princess, but on Masa. In her eyes was burning sorrow and envy for mother who seemed to care more about adoptive child than for her own. And Zira felt the pain, not of hurt cheek but of hurt sister. Thoughts that came to her then weren’t soothing.
“Wivu has right.” She thought. “Masa… I mean: mom, loves me more. But I didn’t deserve it! I killed my real mother and if not me, Wivu would have mom just for herself. I… I don’t know, what should I do.” Masa took Zira to sleeping chamber and put her on brush bedding, then laid just next to and hugged adoptive daughter. Wivu followed them to chamber, but seeing that mother was focused only on princess, she just went out to join other lions in feast. All were so wrapped up by newcomer Kauli – who, by the way, managed already to argue with Hatibu – that no one noticed trails of tears on cub’s face. And when Msikizi discovered that her friend had been crying, she simply thought that Masa disciplined her daughter for stupid acting that day and Zira was in progress of similar punishment.
Meanwhile princess was slowly falling asleep in Masa’s embrace. She calmed down, although it was hard – none of reason she was crying ceased. Finally she decided that something have to be done. She had to show Masa, she deserved her love. That somehow she is worthy of all that focus and care. Cub hadn’t idea what it would be in details, but decision was made.
*
Late at night Arista was returning to cave, but he met Masa on the doorstep. Lioness waged her tail, showing that she wanted to talk with king, outside the cavern. Ruler followed her to got just on the other side of acacia alley. They sat on sand, still warm after long and hot day.
“Is something wrong?” asked ruler. “Is Zira…”
“I still don’t know what it was about.” Replied Masa. “I guess she had just a fight with Wivu and got that cut. Strange thing is that Zira got beaten, not Wivu… but anyway. Neither she nor Wivu wants to say exactly what happened. I guess they reconciled already. Zira didn’t complain on sister.”
“That’s good.” Said king. “Even if that was Wivu’s fault, I’m glad that Zira didn’t tell about it. It’s important lesson for her that family always goes first. And this time…” Then he looked on Masa and added with quieter voice. “Family always goes first… Masa, don’t you think that raising Zira is hard for you? I mean – you are going excellent, but doesn’t your relation with Wivu suffer because of that.”
“Oh, my… lord.” Smiled lioness. She told it with so tender tone, that if sounded almost she said <my love>. “Family goes first… and Zira is my family. She is my daughter in every aspect except of blood. We are all one – Zira, Wivu… you, I hope.”
Arista smiled and came closer to Masa. She put her head on his shoulder and they stayed that way for longer. Finally king said with quiet voice.
“I still miss Malkha… but Stars blessed me with you. I just can’t imagine, what would be without your help.”
*
Next day seemed to be cooler. Some dusty clouds were dimming the sky, making walking outside more pleasant that usual in that season. Rains were about to come, but in desert even just before rainy season it was dry and hot as on savannah in heat of winter. But weather was still appropriate for journeys and Zira felt it in her spine. She was desert lioness after all.
“Hey, bro!” she came to Sparthi, who just woke up and was trying to stay fully awake. “I won’t go to Rumble Gorge today.”
“Are you grounded?” asked sandymaned.
“No, not that.” Replied his little sister. “I just want to go to Dried Oasis.”
“What is so interesting in Dry Oasis?” asked lion, but then added. “No way! You won’t go there alone. You must ask dad or wait as uncle Dhalimu returns.”
“…or I use new personnel on board.” Smiled Zira. “Hey, Kauli, come here?” When reptile was creeping to royal sibling, she explained. “He will come with me. That’s not too far and snake would be just fine for that trip.”
“Yessss, my princesssss?”
“Oh, you must work on your pronunciation.” Judged Zira. “I simply don’t know if you meant plural or feminine form.”
“Kauli, would you keep an eye on Zira?” asked sandymaned. “She wants to go to Dried Oasis.”
“Assss you wish, my prince.” Replied snake. “If you think I would be proper carer…”
“So, it’s settled then.” Smiled Zira. “Tell dad I’m going.”
“Will you be back on lunch?”
“Of course!” replied Zira. “But I’m not sure if today’s lunch.” They both burst with laughter – that was their old joke. But in fact Zira was deadly serious about that.
She waited as Sparthi went with Ghera and other cubs (that morning Zira didn’t speak with Wivu, but she decided not to anyway; first she wanted to show few things, also to adoptive sister) and when they disappeared behind corner of Golden Massif, she grabbed Kauli up and put him on her neck.
“Choking or masssssage?” asked confused python. And then he gasped with pain. “Ugh!” Zira coiled snake around her neck and tied him in simple knot. “Are you mad!?” hissed Kauli. “On the contrary to common beliefssssss, my backbone hassss some threshold of flexibility!”
“Don’t complain!” smiled Zira and finished her knot. “That way you have the most comfortable position for our trip.”
“I guess I could crawl to Dried Oasis by mysssself.” Noticed reptile.
“Who said we are going to Dried Oasis?” asked Zira.
“Hm… you?”
“Well… we are going to Dried Oasis and a bit further. I always wanted to know that is south-east from here. And you – as skilled desert creature – will help me survive on the desert.”
“Wait, princessss!” yelled Kauli. “I was meant to be a lawyer! Desert trekking wassssn’t in my contract.” Seeing that Zira was marching straight south-east (what wasn’t so easy – after all snake was a solid weight for cub), he added with desperate voice. “Your father wouldn’t allow on this.”
“You could go and search for him.” Smiled Zira, not slowing down. “But you still have to keep an eye on me. Sparthi said nothing that you can’t be carried.”
“I don’t like thissssss job!” hissed python.

Well, Sparthi came out of his meeting with Ghera rather reasonable. He used brain instead of muscles. I don't think Kauli would manage to kill the buffalo and then eat it whole, and, if he tried to ask anyone, there was the risk that someone would steal it while he wasn't looking. Fortunately, he managed to solve the problem properly. It seems that Wivu is getting more and more jealous of Zira... I wonder what will happen next. Something tells me that Zira's walking in the desert will turn out badly... Well, a very interesting chapter. I wait for more.

All right, so let’s see how Zira could cope with what she feels.
And I’m afraid that We will meet more well know muzzles

IV. Last Oasis

Zira left Kauli no choice. Snake could creep back to Golden Sands – but because of tempo of that movement it would take too much time to find some help, stay I Dried Oasis or go with princess. Hoping that flying Hatibu would find them quickly, he decided to stay with cub. So he was carried to most distant waterhole in Golden Sands and then - after short stop and watering – took farther.
Idea of Zira wasn’t clear. She simply wanted to go somewhere far, outside the kingdom. She knew that her uncle Dhalimu was often wandering on desert, visiting outside lands. Straight north from home was wide and seemingly endless, but somewhere there had to be some fertile land, because from there once came Golden Pride. West from cave desert turned to more rocky plain. Rumble Range was also one of many mountain ranges there, but due to still dry terrain no interesting region there. East from Golden Sands was desert too, but Dhalimu claimed that he once got to long and high maintain range and behind it there was a fertile jungle. But in fact no one from lions living on desert never wandered south.
Zira decided to be the first one. It was very bold assumption that one year old cub would walk the desert with skills of experienced lion like Dhalimu was. But princess hoped that endless sands let her survive… if she was worthy of it.
Her decision was mostly subliminal one. She was not fully aware what drove her out of her home, but there was force hasting her to leave her place. Those voices started with her fight with Wivu. Shocking discovery about her old guilt (in spite, or maybe even because Wivu assured Zira that she can’t blame herself for queen’s death) possessed kitty’s mind. On evening before her setting of she was avoiding stares of father and brother. But when she incidentally met one of those, she read them in most suspicious way. Arista and Sparthi were sad – of course sad because lost of Malkha. Zira was sure that they blamed her for queen’s death and only fact she was Malkha’s daughter stopped some kind of ultimate punishment.
The second issue was Wivu and Masa. Grey kitty hated Zira for stealing Masa’s attention. Of course she assured Zira she loved her and had nothing against her being raised by Masa as well, but already obsessed by guilt mind of princess was reading those words in reverse. Both – expression of sadness and expression of fondness – Zira took as Wivu’s signs of envy. Those two impressions made cub thinking she wasn’t welcomed in Golden Sands.
That was a melancholy part. But young nature would be incomplete without forces of life and curiosity. To pangs of conscience, Zira added simple cubbish crave for adventure. She was going away from home, partially to atone some wrong, but also to discover something new. To experience an adventure, to be free and independent as uncle Dhalimu and – what was even more important – to show what great desert traveller she was. In all stories about Malkha, that Dhalimu told, late queen turned out to be skilful and tough wanderer – moreover in times of her cubhood and youth, before accident in Rumble Gorge and matehood with Arista. So, if Zira was about to at least partially substitute her biological mother, she couldn’t be worse in simple walking on sand.
Of course all those reasons weren’t clear for kitty. She was walking south-east, thinking about nothing in particular for most of way, or feeling inflow of her melancholic mood. Just in short moments after she stopped to think about herself as murdered, but still wasn’t appeased by easy pace of road, she had moments of clarity, when she was asking herself, why the heck she just had gone away from home, saying nothing to father and brother, who were - most likely – dying from fear about her disappearance.
The interesting thing was also how she survived. Due to her light mass she had no problems with walking on loose sand. But her paws were short and in spite she was walking with tempo of mature lion, he got exhausted much faster. When first night of her march came, she made about thirty kilometres of straight way (although she – if she was able to think about so huge distances – thought it was three times more). Fortunately for most of way she was walking on lime alley of rocky ground, not tiring herself with walking on sand.
About midnight she just sat down and decided that was enough. She laid her head on cool rock (after long and hot day that coolness was still nice, but soon it was to turn into very unpleasant cold) and cowed her tired paws. That position seemed to be very comfortable for her.
“Hey, your sssssslepynesssss!” hissed Kauli. “You must find some water and better shelter.”
“Mhmm…” murmured cub, clearly suggesting with tone of her voice that she was unable to make any move.
“That isssssss not funny!” snorted snake. “Wake up!”
Reptile was tired with instructing and disciplining his charge. For first hour of march he was trying to persuade Zira quick return, but when he noticed that she wasn’t listening to him, he just coiled around her neck in more comfortable position and stayed silent for most of day, just from time to time correcting lioness’s steps.
“Tomorrow.” Said princess and covered her head with paw. Kauli slapped her cheek with tip of his tail. “Leave me alone, or I eat you.”
“And you sssshould!” hissed snake. “Don’t fall asssssleep or you will be dead!” Zira opened her eyes with heavy effort. “Listen to me. Now you know that travelling on desert issss dangerous and not so nice. We will return tomorrow. But for now you have to take care about ssssome basics. Find a rock crack to collect dew on morning.”
“I’ll do it tomorrow.” Replied cub.
“No!” gasped snake. “If you don’t prepare it now, there will be no water tomorrow. Sssstand up!”
It took him about quarter to force Zira to take some actions. They both walked on alley father south, to finally find some bigger boulders and proper shelter among them. Then Kauli made princess to gather some smaller rocks and make a pile of them over small pan. Zira knew that actions were requited to gather dew at night. She was taught that very early in her cubhood, but without constant advices and scolds of Kauli she wouldn’t apply that theory to practise. Finally, about two hours after midnight, python decided that desert shelter was ready to use.
Zira fell between rocks and instantly was asleep. For her it was just a second between last evening memory and hissing wake up of Kauli. Reptile alarmed her precisely on dawn, hissing, calling and in desperate strangling his charge.
“What!?” snorted cub. “Sparthi, I want to sleep!”
“Do you know, where you are, princessssss?” asked Kauli.
“It’s not funny anymore.” Replied kitty, at random hitting with paw. Python shunned her claws by inch.
“Indeed!” he snorted. “Missssss, you are on desert. Now get up, or your breakfassssst drink will vaporize.”
Morning preparations passed with another Kauli’s instruction. He told Zira how to get water from wet stones and then he tried massage her swollen paws. Then cub announced she was hungry.
“That’sssss excellent!” smiled snake. “So you want go home, right?”
“I’m hungry! Now!” cried Zira.
“Ssssorry, misssss.” Replied reptile. “But I have no power to feed you. We must go back to Golden Sands and…”
“There must be a way to get some food here.” Said kitty, but then – maybe for the very first time in her trip – she shivered and asked herself if she would save her soul out of that venture. “I’m golden lioness, I’m living on desert. I must know, how to find some game!”
“I guessss you are right.” Nodded snake. “Ssssso, if you are so wise…”
“Ekhm… help me.” Whispered kitty, as if she was ashamed to admit she had no idea about hunting, especially hunting on desert.
“Stars!” murmured python. “Won’t you sssstand way back?” she shook her head. “Sssso we must find some area inhabited. We ssssshouldn’t go any further… but I think back from here there isssss nothing to hunt.”
They set off south-east again. That was completely against Kauli’s plan, because he wanted to return to Golden Sands that day, or maybe at night. But searching for food they marched away from home. That was not a problem for a snake – he was satisfied and as most of reptiles he was able to stay long weeks without solid meal. But cub was different – she needed energy, much water and there were countless reasons she shouldn’t be on the desert at all. But she was and Kauli had to solve that problem somehow.
They went few more kilometres on Lime Alley to find something that optimist could call <grove>. That was a cluster of desert bushes and cactuses, covering area big enough to keep some animal life there. There was no plan for hunting – techniques of lion cub and python were so different that their experience said nothing about eventual cooperation. So Kauli just entered some rock crack, resting and hiding from sunrays, while Zira started her tracking.
Inhabitants of that grove were short in number. No bigger game of course, just some birds-nest and smaller mammals. Birds were out of range for Zira and nest turned out to be cleared from any eggs. Finally kitty tracked colony of desert rats. Irritated with such poor trophy she simply ran to rodents to discover they hid in den. She stopped before the hole, thinking how she was supposed to get any of creatures out, but then she noticed in corner of her vision a red silhouette of fenec.
That was a decent prey for Zira. Desert fox was small and lean, but for a cub it was fine enough. But then princess learned that fenecs are in some aspects much better prepared to life there than lions. Before she even started her chase, fox was already speeding away. Zira ran after him, but soon found out that she was no match for tempo of smaller predator. Fenec left the grove, entered lime alley and… was stopped in place.
Kauli grabbed a paw of runaway and coiled around it. It was pure coincidence that animal chose his way just next to reptile’s hideout, but python decided to use it. He was strong enough to squash fenec’s bone. Although creature freed itself from coil of boa, it was running and hobbling on three limbs. Zira got to runaway easily and killed him with single blow. Then she looked on snake.
“Oh… thanks. I guess I wouldn’t catch him without your help.”
“Nice to hear that.” Replied Kauli. “Sssso you understand that you can’t survive on the desert alone?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Nodded Zira and turned her stare down.
“And we could go back?”
“No!” said kitty instantly. “Maybe I still can’t manage at my own, but I will with your help!”
*
She wanted to go back, but she couldn’t. She didn’t tell it to Kauli, but her sleep was uneasy one. Her dreams were scary and haunting. She dreamed about Wivu fighting her and slashing her painfully, then about whole pride, looking on her with despise. She heard again Wivu’s words about her mother and only those accusing, without recalling later consolations. When she woke up she knew that there was no way back – only road ahead. Hard morning, problems with food and water shook her faith in possibility of further march, but thanks to Kauli’s assistance she got what she needed in the end.
“We have to go.” She said and let python slide on her neck.
Then they set off further. Kauli made no more reproaches, knowing it was beyond his power to stop kitty. And he was right – Zira was not in mood to discuss about return. In fact she was silent and perfectly focused on dark thoughts of previous day. Even python – rather unaware of most of lion’s psychology’s nuances – felt that something was wrong.
“If there isssss something you want talk about, I will lissssten.” Said finally Kauli. “In fact I have no choice due to my possssition.”
“Thanks.” Replied Zira. “But I guess that is not your problem.”
“Perhaps it is.” Murmured snake. “And for ssssure it is, if because of that you started that sssstupid trip.”
Zira stopped, surprised by his words. “Is this… so clear?” she asked with shivering voice.
“What? That you have a bad day and you decided to sssshow it to the world? Yessss, it’s quite obvious.”
“Bad day!” snorted Zira. But then her throat was squeezed by steel grip and boa had nothing to do with that. It was sudden wave of cry. “I have a bad life!”
“Don’t worry, next time will be better.” Replied snake, but then he felt as cub laid down on the sand and started to cry. “Oh, no…. just stand up… and don’t cry! Don’t cry, Stars dammit! You know what a waste of moisture it issss?”
She actually stoop up and even set off to further march, but she was sobbing still. Kauli was carried on her neck, feeling awkwardly as never before. He didn’t understand what was the problem and he had no mean to comfort his charge. After all snake couldn’t hug her, stroke her nor take any action he knew that mammals used for consoling their kind.
“Tell me, what issss the problem.” He asked.
“You won’t understand… You are not me.”
“But for now I’m closssssest creature to you…” he took a look around. “In about radius of twenty kilometresssss.”
“I killed my mom.” Sobbed Zira.
“You took her on a walk too?” asked instinctively, thinking about his own lot, but then added. “Look, I don’t know history of your family too well, but I could bet my mealsssss of incoming season you misunderstood ssssomething.”
“Yes, I knew you wouldn’t understand.” Replied Zira with sobbing voice. “My mother died giving birth to me. My litter sister died as well. If not me, they could be still alive.”
“Maybe I don’t understand.” Replied snake. “For insssstance, I had no idea how could you fix that, getting yourssself killed in the desert.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about.” Zira replied with calmer tone, when cry turned to just silent sobs. “I doesn’t matter what I would do. The point is what is already done and that I can fix it in anyway… I guess.”

[Song “Just me to blame; pt. I”. It not singed in screen. Vocals come from off-screen, maybe from Zira’s mind. Tune is sad, song mostly a cappella. Voice of Zira – shivering on the edge of cry.
Shot of cub (with snake on her neck and back), walking on Lime Alley – from the air, wider perspective of endless desert around. Wind is blowing from north, with march of kitty, as if even nature pushes her out of home.]
I could walk still miles away
I could climb the highest peak
I could take the hardest way
But I won’t find what I seek
[Zira stops and looks ahead, to see nothing but endless desert. Then wind blows stronger, some wave of dust is blow to rock-crack and it turns back, blowing in cub’s face.]
Even run around this earth
Is just running from myself
[Zira shakes her head and moves on. There are tear in her eyes, those earlier due to sorrow and newer because of dust.]
I could laugh the death in face
I could take the bravest dare
I could win the longest race
But I won’t reach what I care
[She wakes ahead, suddenly her eyes narrows due to pain. She lifts her left rear paw to see she has stomped n some sharp stone. She sits down and removes shard with her mouth. Then goes on, lightly hobbling.]
After all of that to came
There left only me to blame
[Flash back – memories of princess from Golden Cave. Dhalimu is talking to lionesses about Malkha. Another flashback – this time Dhalimu’s. Queen is walking the desert, hobbling and uncertainly stepping with hind legs. Then image is changing – fading grey and transforming to Zira walking on desert with a bit similar pose, caused by pain in paw.]
[Tune is changing to chorus-like bridge, although there is no actual chorus in this song.]
I can’t change that, but I try
Running against winds of past
Marching with all strength that last
[Zira stops, seeing deeper crack in rocks. She bends down, hoping to find some water. She digs down, damaging den of desert mice. Several rodents escape from danger, leaving destroyed shelter. In fact there is a small pool of water, once shielded from sun. Moisture was collected on layer of thick gravel. But when Zira touches it, small pool starts to leak and all water is lost before cub manage to drink.]
Marching to the sun alone
But with no change to reach my home
Not before the day I die
[Mice are looking on it from safe distance, looking on Zira not with ordinary fear of predator but stares of rage and hatred for destroying their dew collector. Zira sights and moves on.]
After all of that to came
There left only me to blame
[Again shot of Zira marching on Lime Alley. This time wind blows even harder, partially covering kitty with dust clouds.]

Kauli made no comments on lioness’s silence. He just hoped that something would change mind of his charge, before they both get killed. But in spite of his experience as desert creature, snake was still thinking in categories of own kind. He was just ignoring many dangers that could easily kill Zira but were rather indifferent towards python. For example – sandstorm. Kauli recalled that possibility when it was much too late.
“Misssss?” asked, looked from her shoulder back, where sandy clouds were gathering on north. “I wonder how you could dig in ssssssand and cover yoursssself there.”
“For what I would do that?” asked Zira, still walking ahead.
“Well… just in cassssse that some ssssssandstorm is coming.” Explained snake. “You know… on the ssssurface you won’t sssstand a chance.”
“No, we will find some shelter when storm is about to strike.” Said Zira. “Tell me when you see clouds gathering.”
“I’m telling.” Said snake. Zira was marching indifferent for some time, then asked.
“You are joking, right?”
“I’m afraid, not!” gasped reptile. “Ssssstorm heading from north. It will be here in about an hour.”
“Any suggestion?” asked Zira.
“We must find ssssssome shelter for you.” Said python. “Speed up, there must be some den on that blasssssted alley.”
It was easy to do, especially that soon after wind started to blow from north. Steps of princess were boosted by power of element, but it was dreadful announcement what would be there soon after. Zira turned from easy pace to fast march and when sand started to be blown by wind, she entered running mode. She didn’t look back, but Kauli was watching all the time, nervously coiling tighter around his carrier’s neck. Finally he felt that Zira was on the edge of being winded.
“Stars! That’ssss no use!” he hissed. “It will be here sssssoon.”
“Kauli… will you manage to dig here?” panted Zira.
“Yesssss, but I can’t leave you, misssss!” replied snake with decisive.
“But I must leave you!” she snorted with irritation. “I have no strength to carry you any further.”
“Stars dammit!” hissed reptile. “Right, put me down here… But you mussssst take some cover. Jussssst run ahead until you find any ssssolid shelter.”
“I’ll try.” Said Zira, letting python slide down on the ground.
Then she started to run. All factors were against her. She was tired and thirsty and even solid meal – but meal accompanied by not satisfying amount of water – didn’t helped. Wind was blowing up more and more dust, slowly reducing vision to sight of dusty cumuluses. Maybe wind was making run easier and directing kitty in right (she hoped) direction, but Zira had to put serious effort in staying on her paws. Finally she lost her orientation and was just speeding with wind on route the nature chose. All her strains were put to maintain balance and not fall down. She barely heard a thing, but howls of storm suggested clearly that staying in place meant death. Zira heard many tales about sandstorms clearing lion’s bodies to the bones in seconds and she imagined herself being torn to pieces. “But maybe that is show it should be?” she thought and first wave of actual storm hit her back.
Elemental rage pushed Zira to even further moves. Suddenly she sensed that she actually didn’t touch the ground just waving her paws in the air, sometimes hitting ground, with no actual effect. She couldn’t do anything to spot her body from falling down and rolling in random rush ahead. She wanted to scream, but no shout could be louder than howling of storm and when she opened her mouth, waves of dust entered it with brutal decisiveness. Zira closed her eyes and when she slowly stopped to feel anything, she concluded that she simply died.
It was a huge surprise for her, when she hit something hard with back and fell down. She was too scared to open her eyes, but she sensed she landed on something soft, furry and smelling like lion (at least according to her nose, partially disabled due to sand abrasions). But she was too exhausted to check it, so she just nestled into that living bedding and fell asleep.
*
“Hey, you!” sounded a voice.
Zira was thinking heavily what was going on and why there was so dark outside. In case of darkness she quickly concluded that was because she had closed her eyes. She did it, scared of sand damaging her sight, but then – when she sensed no wind – it seemed that she could open her lids. But it was still dark after that.
However not totally. Cub learned that she was lying in some kind of pan, surrounded by dwarf trees and some desert bushes. All was covered with dust and partially buried and included lion cub, or about year and half adolescent of sandy-brown fur and mane that was in place where Zira landed. She hit him, without knowing about it and brownmaned himself hadn’t bothered with making any complain to newcomer. But most likely he just had awoke from being knocked out by storm-hit.
“What me?” replied Zira with weary voice.
“You are alive?” asked lion with excitement.
“Yeah, I could say so.” Replied golden cub. Then looked carefully on new companion. “Who are you… where are we?”
She stood up, shaking sand off. Soon after brown adolescent stood up too. Princess noticed that he was in much worse shape than she. As Zira had – except of few abrasions – no serious injure, his paws and left side was covered with numerous cuts.
“I don’t know… I guess the wind dragged me here. I was going with my coalition, but then storm burst out and… I actually don’t remembered how I got here. And who are you?”
“My name is Zira. But you didn’t tell me your name.”
“Sukari, nice to meet you.” Said lion. “But how have you…” Then his eyes narrowed in pain, as he based on wounded paw. He fell on the ground and sighed. “***** it!”
Zira came to lion and bended down to his bruised paw. He gently licked the deepest cut, removing dirt from wound. Sukari was looking on that with surprised stare, finally – when she finished and stepped back – he said.
“Oh… thanks.” His tone was surprised, as that was something special, not expected for desert traveller in need.
“That looks bad.” Judged Zira. “You can’t walk like this alone. Is there any water here?”
“No, there isn’t any.” Replied brownmaned automatically. But then he looked on princess once again and said. “Well… actually there must be some pool, somewhere in bottom of pan. At least Keme always says that.”
“So, what we are waiting for? Let’s dig.” Ordered Zira. „I hope that your paws are right?”
“I hope it too.” Replied lion.
They started their work. Fresh dust was loose but that was why also easy to dig. Two felines quickly made hole to bottom of rock pan where indeed dirt was wet. That was no reservoir of pure water but mud was easy to get water from. Both lions turned out to be skilled of getting moisture from mud. Zira never suffered thirst heavy enough to do it as normal way of drinking but Masa showed her how to do it, just in case.
“So… from where are you?” asked Sukari, when they finished their <drink>. “How it happened that you found yourself in the middle of Great Desert?”
“That is the middle?” asked golden cub and added quieter. “So I had just second part of way to go.”
“More or less.” Replied lion. “It’s about in middle between that High Range and Dried Forest and in middle between land called Pridelands and that mysterious kingdom on north of here, Golden Sands. But where have come from?”
“From far away.” She replied. “I don’t want to speak about it.”
“All right, as you wish. But you will have to decide where are you going now. After all, storm is over and…”
“Kauli!” yelled Zira, standing up and climbing to the edge of the pan.
“Sukari. Remember that name.” Corrected her bronwmaned.
“I meant Kuali! I was travelling with ball python and…”
“Python?” asked Sukari. “You’re weird! But wait… He is a snake, so he managed to dig himself down of he is done anyway. And there is night out there… how would you find him?”
“I don’t know!” cried Zira. “He might be dead because of me. Another creature I have…”
“Shhh!” gasped Sukari. “Don’t cry…” seeing that kitty was still sobbing, he shouted with nervous voice. “Shut up! My buddies are going here!”
“Who? Your pride?”
“My coalition. Rouges… I’m not sure if they would be friendly for you…”
“So what should I do?” asked confused Zira.
“Hide here!” ordered Sukari and pushed cub into den where he had been buried earlier. Then he took some acacia branches and put on surprised Zira. After few more portions of brush, golden kitty was almost invisible. “Stay there… I must check out if I could show you to them.” Zira wanted to protest, but seeing that on Sukari’s face rose expression of real fear, she decided to be silent.
“Hey, over here!” called brownmaned adolescent.
“Where?” sounded a voice from outside. “Oh, I see. We are coming, lad.”
Zira was seeing a little through the brushes and she saw several rouges entering pan-oasis. Leader of that group was older male of reddish fur and almost pitch black mane. On his face there were three parallel scars, one coming thought blind and ripped out left eye. That eye was burning red and Zira felt she was glad that old rouge was looking on Sukari.
“So, you have survived.” Smiled leader. “Keme, your favourite is alive.” He looked on yellowmaned young companion. “What a surprise.” Added with indifferent voice.
“I’m glad to see you too, Shababu.” Said Sukari.

I knew it! Zira's trip on the desert would turn out bad! Oh... with Keme here... has she any chances of survival. How idiot... she must survive, because she can't die before meeting Scar! But, coming close to Keme, I can't imagine how... Well, I wait for more.

All right, here is more of our favourite villain – Keme. In this role he is in fact quite nice guy;)

V. Siblings Pact

Pan entered five lions - Zira saw them from behind her brushy-cover. Sukaru seemed to be relieved by that arrival, but he gave several scared looks on cub’s hideout. Princess couldn’t understand why that was. All signs suggested that brownmaned didn’t want his companions to find her.
“All right.” Said leader of that group, older lion that Sukari addresses as Shababu. “I hope there will be some use of you, Sukari. Have you found any water here?”
“Yes.” Adolescent smiled and pointed on centre of pan, but then his smile died. “But… we… but I drank it all.”
“What!?” growled one-eyes and jumped to youngster with raised paw.
“Leave him, Shababu.” Gasped young, yellowmanned lion. “How he could knew we are going here? Besides, there in no use that he drank all the water alone.”
Leader stopped his paw just over Sukari’s head and turned angry stare to companion. “Only because of you we took him in… I guess that you will be drinking as a last.”
“If not Sukari, we would even missed that oasis.” Noticed greyfurred. “But as you wish… I will drink as the last one.” And added quieter. “Just for a change…” Then he came to scared Sukari. “Stand up… let’s see if you are intact.”
When rouges – Zira was sure those lions weren’t from any pride – were drinking then sucking the mud of dried oasis, Keme was examining Sukari. Most likely as only from coalition he cared about condition of the younger member. It looked strange – after all yellowmaned was not so older than youngster – he was not more than four years while Sukari about two. Brownfurred seemed to be generally scared, but he trusted young rouge most. Princess preferred not to think about the relations in that strange group.
“It seems all right.” Said finally Keme. “You are lucky as hell you found that shelter before real storm hit.”
“So, what would we do now?” asked adolescent.
“Get out of here as soon as it’s possible.” Replied yellowmaned. “We won’t find any preys in vicinity after such a disaster. I think we should get back to mountains.”
“Oh, I hear that Keme is planning.” Said Shababu with angry voice. He just had finished his drink and left muddy hole to his companions. “So what it would be, Keme? You want to be leader of our coalition?” asked younger companion, coming in his direction and extending claws in threat.
“I will be.” Replied greyfurred without fear in his voice. “Someday.”
“Under condition I won’t kill you today.” Noticed chief.
“Yes, I must assume that.” Admitted Keme. “But is that so unlike assumption? After all you won’t be able to conquer the High Range without my help.”
“I could recruit dozens of such pathetic fools like you.” Said Shababu, standing behind Keme.
“I doubt that.” Said yellowfurred. “Especially after they hear how you treat such <pathetic fools like me>.”
“Don’t pull the string!” gasped one-eyed. “Someday you’ll break it.”
“Or someday I’ll became the leader of our gerge.” Smiled Keme. “Leave me alone, chief. I still haven’t drunk.” And lion walked to waterhole, ignoring his leader. But there he found only half-dried mud.
“Will we stay here?” asked sandymaned rouge.
“No, we will come, Mhamiji” replied Shababu. “We won’t find any prey here, so it’s high time to move east.” He actually repeated Keme’s thought, but after it came out of his lips, it became rational and wise. “After such a storm I don’t expect any in few days.”
“I would take a nap.” Said another lion, with brown mane and golden fur. He came to heap of brush and prepared to lay down when…
“No!” called Sukari and pushed lion aside.
“What the heck?” asked tired rouge.
“I mean… that Keme always says that we shouldn’t lay after such an effort… because…” he was thinking a second about explanation.
“Because we could get an onset muscle soreness.” Said yellowmaned. “First you must wave your paws, let your blood clean muscles from lactic acid and then.”
“Gnu’s dropping.” Snorted Shababu and sat down on sand. “We will go, but in half an hour. Rest, Tariki, at your discretion.”
“That’s my place!” yelled Sukari and sat on heap. Zira restrained her sigh.
“Back off!” growled Tariki and raised his paw on youngster.
Keme intercepted companion’s blow just before it reached Sukari’s head. He also pushed brownmaned aside, overturning him. Tariki growled and stood up, ready for a brawl. It almost started, but then Shababu gave a loud roar.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he called. “Why weren’t you so militant, when we were approaching the Sahel Plains?”
“No comfortable bedding at all.” Laughed redmaned rouge, previously silent.
“Sukari, just let him take that brush.” Murmured Keme to his charge.
“I… can’t.” replied young lion with half-crying voice.
“What…”
But then it was too late. Zira’s and Tariki’s stares met and if earlier rouge could think that golden shape under the brush is just a pile of sand, then he noticed that pile had four paws, head and tail. It was silent, but observing newcomers carefully.
“And who is that?” asked rouge and with two moves pushed branches aside.
“Crap!” gasped Sukari.
Stared of four remaining rouges came to Zira, still laying in den, coiled and silent, but involuntary extending her claws out of her pawpads. Keme bended down to brownmaned adolescent and whispered with angry tone.
“If you expect me to somehow explain that, I need some tip.”
“Acquaintance of yours?” asked surprised Shababu, looking on Sukari.
“She… was here, when I came.” Said youngster with uncertain voice. “She is… like a host, so we should be nice to her… I guess.”
“She drank our water.” Growled Mhamiji, coming to den.
Zira instantly jumped out from hole and backed to slope of pan. It was too steep to run away and too high to simply jump up. Only exit available for cub’s fast escape was ascend going on north, but Shababu was blocking the way. Princess was analysing few possible outcomes, but she was rather already sure that rouges would be hostile and even friendly attitude of Sukari and neutral of Keme wouldn’t change that.
“Who are you?” asked leader, coming closer. “I suggest you to express your answer fast and clear, because I see that Mhamiji wishes to make you unable to speak.”
“My name is Zira.” Said kitty, with all her might trying to let her voice to shiver. She accomplished that, but her paws disobeyed, shaking uncontrollably.
“How the heck you came here? It’s a middle of desert.”
“I got lost.” She replied, estimating chances of passing leader by and running to ascend.
“Are your pride is near?” asked Shababu, sounding almost friendly.
“There is no pride nearby.” Noticed Tariki. “Just Golden Pride on north and Pridelanders on south.”
“She starts her own.” Murmured redmaned rouge.
“So, tell us, girl. Whom where are you?”
Zira looked on Sukari to notice he was looking on Keme. Meanwhile Keme was observing Shababu’s moves with full concentration and nervous appearance. Whatever was about to happen, kitty decided to act at her own, unable to rely on anyone.
“Leave me alone!” called with decisive voice. “I’m warning you – I’m a daughter of king Arista.” Added, and then some malicious voice whispered in her mind. “And murdered of queen Malkha.” Rouge lions gasped with surprise.
“What a surprise.” Smiled gerge-leader. “I always wanted to meet a princess… without a pride to look over her. Keme, if you insist, I could leave her to you.”
“That wasn’t smart?” Zira asked Sukari quietly.
“Not at all.” Replied youngster.
“So, Keme, don’t want you finish her?” snorted Shababu.
“What!?” yelled Zira and Sukari at once.
“Oh, sad story of the past.” Smiled leader. “Out Keme has some kind of natural anti-royal instinct. After king Adili killed his mate and son…”
“Shut up!” growled yellowfurred. “Just… stop it.”
“Oh, I pulled a painful string.” Said leader, faking repentance. “I didn’t mean to… But anyway, she’s yours.” He grabbed Zira and pressed her to the sand. Cub retaliated with instant slash of hostile paw. Of course her small claws could do nothing against giant lion. “But be quick.” Continued chief, showing no sign of pain. “One more such a prank and I will finish her myself.”
“No wait!” yelled Sukari.
“Stop, Shababu.” Said Keme with hollow tone. “Just let this cub go. She did me nothing wrong.”
“So it’s better wait as she will?” asked leader.
But then yellowmaned came to chief and took kitty out of his paws. He returned at his bedding and put Zira on sand, just in front of Sukari. Brownmaned wanted to stand between Zira and Shababu, but Keme stopped him in place.
“One stupid move and even I won’t save her.” Whispered to be heard only by his charge. Then called to other rouges. “I won’t kill that child and you won’t too. Just let leave her where we found her. We have nothing to do with her.”
“But wait!” called Gebali with malicious smile. “Maybe we take her in?” Others looked on him with surprise, only Sukari smiled with hope. “She is cute and even she is now no good for us, in year or two…”
“Disgusting.” Snorted Keme and Sukari steeped ahead, standing between Zira and Gebali.
“No, you won’t!” called youngster with decisiveness. Shababu burst with laughter.
“What an inflow of heroism and gallantry!” then added quieter. “I hate to say it, boy, but rather a suicidal one.” And bared his teeth.
The miracle chose a impeccable timing to happen. Hatibu dove on Gebali, painfully hitting his forehead with his bill and Sparthi pounced on Shababu. Rama and Saada stopped on ascend, roaring with all might and catching attention of all rouges. It partially worked.
Sparthi jumped from overturned leader to Zira and grabbed neck. She was much too heavy to be carried that way, so he waged her to put on his back. Then he crouched down, preparing to attack Keme. But yellowmaned reacted in surprising way. He just shook his head and sat on sand.
“On my back!” he called.
Prince of Golden Sands had just a blink of an eye to make a decision, but he chose to trust yellowmaned lion and his younger companion. He jumped ahead, still with Zira on his back and supported on Keme’s back. He took spring with all his might and miraculously got to the edge of rock-pan. Yellowmaned stood on hind paws and put his front limbs on runaways. The situation was clear – by pulling he could stop them easily, but he pushed, letting prince get his balance and stand up.
“Retreat!” called sandymaned to Golden Lionesses.
Rouges were so surprised that none of them managed to engage unexpected enemy. Rama and Saada backed out without problem and Hatibu sprang in last moment before being squashed by Gebali’s paw. Zira saw it in corner on her eye. She also noticed Sukari, laughing as he saw cub’s escape.
Sparthi was agile lion, but he was still youngster (most likely just few months older than was Sukari) and strength wasn’t his best trait. He let Zira fell down on sand of desert and stopped, panting and waiting for eventual chase.
“Sir! Get out of here!” called Rama, running at full speed in his direction. Saada was just behind her.
“Zira?!” called prince, but seeing that cub was already at her paws, turned north too and shouted. “GO!”
They ran with all their might, even without looking back. Only Hatibu was calling from the air that no chase was after them. but anyway prince wanted to be as far from aggressive rouges as it was possible. They stopped in rock crack where they had left Kauli.
Meanwhile in pan silence was chilling Keme to the bone. Sukari ceased his laughter, seeing as Shababu was looking on yellowmaned with freezing stare and clear anger. Other rouges finally regained basic orientation and looked on Keme too.
“Acquaintances of yours?” asked one-eyed with hateful voice.
“No idea who that was.” Replied Keme calmly. “Most likely pride of that cub. But I guess no one got hurt so…”
“You are obeying my orders!” roared leader with trembling voice.
“You failed to give any.” Said yellowfurred, looking also on other rouges. Shababu was silent for longer while, he was just panting heavily. Finally he murmured.
“Let’s go. I want get to some sleeping place before dusk.”
Six lions exited the oasis pan and in silence set off west. Retinue was closed by Keme and Sukari. Being sure that no one would hear them, mature male whispered to younger charge.
“You are obeying me, if you want to live. I can’t save your back each time you get into some troubles. From now on, you are listening to any order I give.”
“You failed to give any.” Noticed Sukari and laughed nervously. He expected to be hit, because Keme was on the edge of his temper. But older lion just sighed and looked in charge’s eyes.
“That was close. He could killed you.”
“Sorry, Keme.” Said youngster quietly.
*
After reaching the crack, Goldlanders just fell on the rock, panting heavily. Only Hatibu was still in air, circling over and looking for eventual pursue. But his appeasing croaks of bird assured lion that eventual danger was not so close. Kauli was creeping among felines, looking for eventual injuries, but saying no word.
Rama and Saada were lying motionlessly, slowly returning their breathing to norm. Sparthi just crawled to Zira, grabbed her and embrace to his side, saying nothing, just panting still. Then princess burst with tears. She just understood what she did. Sparthi and two pridememebers (only? Most likely that was just one unit!) had gone into search for her. She endangered lives of all who participated in rescue (“Stars!” she thought. “That sandstorm! They were looking for me in the storm!”) and apart of that mayor damage, she disturbed hunts of pride for few days. To say nothing about worries of father and Masa…
“Sparthi!” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry!”
“Shhh!” murmured lion. “Just… rest… I must rest. We are all alive.”
Zira wanted to return into her crying state, but some voice inside her head suggested that if she was responsible for that mess, she also must try to fix it in every way that was possible. She could start with some basic issues.
“Are there other teams?” she asked with shivering voice.
“Dad with two lionesses going more east. Masa with two, going more west.”
“Send them back… ask Hatibu to call them off!”
“Oh, right.” Said Sparthi and called secretary bird. He was too tired to do it by roar, so he waged his tail. “Hat, fly to them… and…”
“Yes, sir!” replied bird and flew up to turn east.
“Done.” Whispered Sparthi.
“I… I’m so sorry…” sobbed Zira. After that matter was secured, she could simply cry. “Bro… what should I do? I can’t believe what happened.”
“Just thank Stars we found you.” Replied Sparthi. Then looked on his sister. “All right, don’t cry. We must think together about some story to explain your trip to father.”
“You aren’t angry on me?” she asked.
“Of course I am!” prince tried to fake a stern growl, but only weak grunt left his tired throat. “But it’s no match for relief we found you.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Let’s think about some nice sounding story.” Said sandymaned. “I promise not to say about it to father, but I would be helpful if you tell me what was the real reason of that tour…”
“Sparthi… I…” she was crying already, but then she turned to even more sorrowful sobbing. “Mom… I killed mom and…”
Lion was intelligent creature and moreover – it was about his sister. He sensed even more that he understood. He put his paw on kitty’s mount, lifted his head and looked on Rama and Saada, lying near.
“That isn’t an order, but an ask. If you can’t, if you are too tired, just tell me.” Two lionesses raised their heads. “Could you make some dew-traps in nearby rock cracks? We need lots of water. Or maybe check some further places. I will prepare those here.”
“Sure thing, sir. We will.” Said Rama, standing up. “But don’t bother with it, my prince. After all we are to help you, not the opposite.”
“Thanks.” Said sandymaned. And when Goldenlanderesses went away, he looked on his sister, taking back his paw. “What did you say!?”
“I… killed her.” Sobbed kitty. “I murdered our mother and sister.”
“Who told you that?!” asked Sparthi, a bit harsher than he planned.
“For the first time… Wivu. But she didn’t want it, it happened in anger. But anyway, she was right. If not me, mother would be still alive.”
Prince sighed, thinking heavily. For year that passed from death of Malkha he was often asking why it happened, why then and if there was any mean to avoid the worse. But in any silent question – even that most rebellious – he didn’t blame his sister. On that moment he connected many things that he had missed earlier – Dhahabu’s indifference towards niece and his own attitude, after all far from sincere brotherly love. Even if none of lioness said about Zira’s guilt of queen’s death, cub could get such impression by his own. Whatever had said Wivu, it was just a spark on dried brush.
“No. No one claims that, because it’s simply not true.” Said finally Sparthi. “Mom died… but such a things happen in Circle of Life. Did happen and will. I blamed myself for that too… but I understood that I couldn’t change it.”
“But… she died, giving birth to me!” cried Zira.
“I bet if you died, mother would blame for that in similar way.” Replied prince. “Just believe me – it has no sense at all.”
“But she’s still dead…” sobbed Zira. “I can’t believe that you don’t see it. You see me, endlessly thinking what if I died not her. How it would be, if she was with you. And if I were someone worthy to replace her… good cub, good sister… perhaps you might accept it. But now? I endangered your and girls lives in that search. Mother would never…”
“She would be scared about you… Most likely she would let dad punish you. But as far I could judge her character, she would not just hug you and comfort, until you feel all right. She was wonderful lioness… a perfect mother.”
“And that’s why I can’t stand taking her from you.” Replied Zira.
[Song “Just me to blame; pt. II”. This time it’s singed by characters, Zira and Sparthi in particular. Vocals are accompanied by melody; strings mostly, delicate orchestral ensemble. Tune is the same as in previous chapter – only instruments make a change. Voice of Zira – shivering on the edge of cry.
She is lying on the rock, next Sparthi. It’s late afternoon, just before the dusk. Landscape looks a bit scary – it’s just after sandstorm, so even those few plants living on desert are covered with sand and dust. All seems to be lifeless.]
Zira:
I could walk still miles away
I could climb the highest peak
I could take the hardest way
But I won’t find what I seek
[She looks on her paws – bruised and swollen. Long way she has done is clearly seen. Then notices similar injuries on Sparthi’s paws.]
Even run around this earth
Is just running from myself
[She stands up and walks few steps ahead, to trips on some loose gravel and fells down, hitting with muzzle into soft sand of desert.]
I could laugh the death in face
I could take the bravest dare
I could win the longest race
But I won’t reach what I care
[Sparthi stands up, wanting to help her, but she recovers on her own, in the same time noticing that under pile of gravel she moved is a dwarf bush. She bends down to it, carefully touching his dried branches.]
After all of that to came
There left only me to blame
[When she presses a bit harder, part of branch is torn apart. Bush seems to be completely dead, killed by sandstorm.]
Chorus, still Zira:
I can’t change that, but I try
Running against winds past
Marching with all strength that last
[She raises her stare and looks on setting sun. Just sings, while tears are slowly flowing from her eyes. Light of sun is painting the desert golden-red. Looking against the rays Zira sees in some gleams strange shapes. One of it becomes more and more similar to lioness. Kitty walks ahead (with clear effort – both tiredness and strains are seen).]
Marching to the sun alone
But with no change to reach home
Not before the day I die
[After few seconds, when more of sun-shield is gone, those impression turns out to be just illusion. Zira sighs heavily.]
After all of that to came
There left only me to blame
[She just looks at disappearing sun, finishing her part.]
*
[Pt.2. (or second verse, whatever You wish to call it) Sparthi starts singing. He stands up comes to Zira and puts his paw on her shoulder.]
You could say what wish to say
You could do what wish to do
You could run from us away
But we’ll still be loving you
[He pulls her back, making her turn back. Then he points something on the rocks.]
And whenever wish to stay
You will return here some day
[That plant Zira unintentionally uncovered isn’t dead. Sparthi bends down and blows to show more of branches. Freed from burden, plant raises again. Even some flower shows itself.]
You think it’s all your fault
You could think we took offence
You could feel it all is lost
But we still want give you chance
[Zira comes there, kneels down next to brother and helps him clear rest of plant. When more and more of bush is free and looks still strong and livery, she smiles in spite of tears.]
And whatever storm you cope
There’s no wrong in little hope
[Although sun already has set, when Spathi removes dust of one branch, a bud opens. The other flower, bigger and even more colorful – mixing gold and blue – opens it’s flakes.]
Chorus, still Sparthi:
We are one, and we will be
Doesn’t matter what is now
What was or would be somehow
[Another blow of wind starts – Sparthi and Zira at once shields newly discovered flower. But after few seconds prince looses his paws, letting wind press the flower. However plant seems to be resistant for that. Zira let loose too.]
You are still deep in my heart
No storm could tear us apart
No drought could make dry this see
[They leave the bush. Sparthi nudges sister in side, then point up tot the sky. It’s almost all dark then and at that moment stars star to show. Lion points on some particular star.]
Even if that happened too
We just can’t stop loving you
[Zira looks into skies. Tears have already dried, she is observing in awe. Cut to kitty’s view – image of starlit sky. Suddenly Zira looks on some stellar cluster. It resembles lioness’s muzzle, smiling. It slowly transforms to Malkha’s appearance. Stellar face looks on cub with loving and forgiving expression. Zira lifts her paw, but the image disappears. However cub is still smiling.
Music stops.]
They stayed looking in stars for a longer while. Rama found them in that way and laid down in rock crack, saying nothing. But just after that Sparthi shook his head, ending that spell. He looked on Zira.
“No more talking nonsense?”
“She is there.” Whispered kitty. “I felt as she was looking on us… and longing. But she is not sad… just…”
“And we shouldn’t be too.” Replied Sparthi. “Just let’s rest and tomorrow were will set off home.
“Right.” Murmured kitty, walking to rock crack in lime alley. “Just… Sparthi… I’m very sorry I misunderstood it all and make you all so worried.”
“I guess that painful lessons are those best remembered.” Said lion. “Don’t worry, I think I could appease father. Just…” He looked on sister. “I want you to remember, that we are siblings, doesn’t matter what. I’m at your side. You got it?” she nodded her head.
“Sure…” she smiled. “I believe you will be a great king one day. You are just proper person for that…”
And she said what she thought. In that moment she promised herself she would never envy brother’s privilege of being heir. For short moment she imagined as if she was to be a heir and next king of Golden Sands would be her mate. That was quite scary vision, as Zira wondered how could she possibly run a kingdom and care about her subjects, if she was unable to behave properly, for not to hurt ones that cared for her.
*
Group of rouges was going as far as weakest member could go. Of course – once again – it was Sukari. He tried to stay silent, but when each step became a torment, he came closer to Keme and looked in his eyes.
“Right. Let’s make a stop.” Said yellowmaned.
“No one hastens you.” Replied Shababu indifferently. “You may stay here and even die here if you wish. If you take your weepy lad with you, I have no objections.”
“We are stopping.” Said Keme and sat down. Sukari followed him, or better to say – just fell in more or less controlled way. “And just let it go already. That’s not his fault he has shorter paws than you.” Then added with quieter voice that even brownmaned didn’t hear him. “And I feel that what happened today might pay off in future. In the least expected way…”
*
Way back wasn’t easy, but it passed without any serious incident. No storm harassed lions group and since Hatibu rejoined them, they had easier route thanks to sharp sight of secretary bird who found each possible shortcut. They were going for whole next day and didn’t stop when sun set. Sparthi guided his sister and lionesses to home about midnight.
Whole pride was waiting for returning princess. Zira shivered, seeing Arista and Masa standing at the end of alley, but Sparthi was going easily and surely. And he promised he would fix things up. Goldenfurred trusted him – after all he was her brother. So she followed, although she pointed her stare into the sand. Without word they came to kings and brownfurred lioness.
“You are back…” said Masa with voice shivering from emotions.
“Welcome back, my darling.” Said Arista, but in his voice she didn’t hear any irony nor anger.
“Dad, I’m so sorry…” she sobbed, but king - before even Sparthi managed to say anything - just hugged his daughter and embraced her tightly.
“Hush… don’t talk about it today. You are back. It’s all I need to know.” And then added quieter, stroking his daughter’s head. “I thought… I lost you all.”
Pride entered the cave, leaving just Hatibu and Kauli in acacia alley. Snake looked on bird and said with irritated voice.
“Perhapsssss that’s not my duty to give advices in issues of princess’sss upbrinding, but still I thing sssssome discipline should be applied.”
“I suggest you don’t tell it to lord Arista.” Replied majordomo. “When it comes to punishing, he might ask you what the heck you were doing when she was going south!” finished with angry voice.
“Hanging around.” Hissed reptile. “Her neck, to be exact.”

Well, Keme has deffinetly surprised me here. Looks like his friendship with Sukari is good for both. Fortunately Sparthi and the lionesses got Zira on time. It's also good that Zira and Sparthi talked about their problem... facing a problem is a good beginning. But speaking about problems... it seems Keme and Sukari will have a lot of them. Very good! I wait for more!

All right – here is more
Time shift one year further – so it’s about nine months before reaching Pridelands by Golden Pride.
(sorry for song, but this one I rate as not as bad as usual;)

VI. Same Old Song

That year was strange. Perhaps habitants of other lands failed to see any threat in the air, but in desert every drought was seen clearly. Golden Sands were desert kingdom, living only thanks to few fertile oasis in area. Golden Massif, Dried Oasis and Malkha’s Waterhole (place named after late queen) had their own sources, independent and yearlong ones, but main reservoir of humidity was Mouth Grove, placed – as name suggested – in mouth of Rumble Gorge. Although Rumble Range itself seemed waterless, those little potions of liquid that rock were gathering sooner of later floated down to grove. There – thanks to rock plate under sand – was a life-giving lake.
But that year came dry season and desert attacked green grove. It did that every year, but then succeeded as never before. Bring of jungle forest backed more than thirty metres, while year earlier just not more than ten. Kauli noticed that, because old Hatibu was already rarely leaving Golden Cave, taking his retirement, being fed and looked be the pride. And soon after first disturbing news reached Arista, first refugees started to seek Golden Sands.
Animals of many kinds – some of them never living on desert before – came to Home Grasses and asked king for place to stay. Although Arista gave his permission in almost every case, he was already scared by process that seemed to be much wider that some expected. The drought was coming – not an ordinary one, as on desert water was always a problem – but a special one, that could endanger existence of whole kingdom.
In second month of dry season, when jungle in Mouth Grove shrank to never recorded level, Arista asked Dhalimu, Sparthi, Masa and Rama to come with him and speak freely about suggestions. They came to lake and sat on beach.
“What’s wrong, dad?” asked prince. It was almost midday, a part of day that sun was scorching the ground, making all creatures who were able, stay in some shelter. Even on the shore of lake (that shrank to relatively small pool too) hotness was very irritating.
“I could say: almost everything.” Replied king. “That dry season is strange… In legends of our pride we have stories about the Great Drought that made our forefathers leave out Homeland in North and came here. I’m afraid this trail could be similar.” Seeing amazed and shocked stares of others, he added. “Of course I don’t mean leaving Golden Sands… We just must be prepared for real disaster coming from this drought. Dhalimu… tell me about fertile lands that could feed our pride, or its part, for limited time of worse seasons.”
“You want to leave Golden Sands?” asked white lion.
“For some time.” Replied king. “Letting soil and animals rest. Even sending part of pride outside our land would help a lot, leading herds to multiply. And that would reduce our, lions problem with water.”
“Leaving home in hard times like that is always dangerous.” Said Dhalimu. “Weakened pride will be much easier target of attack for rouge coalitions or even some other despaired pride.”
“That’s why I told it is our last resort.” Explained Arista. “But speak: where we could find our sanctuary?”
“Well…” white lion was thinking a while, before he gave any answer. “I heard that on south of here is fertile kingdom, called Pridelands. But a numerous pride lives there. West from here desert is going thousands miles and except of some mountain ranges there is no life. North… your ancestors came from north. Perhaps that’s only reasonable direction to turn, but first I wish to check mountain range I discovered on east. Not more that fifty kilometres from here there are mountains, high and flourishing with life. Staying there is not an easy task, but I guess if real drought come, there we would survive much easier.”
“Why you are thinking about it?” asked Masa. “Why so sudden?” Others looked on king with inquiring stares.
Those five lions were running the Golden Pride. King himself – what was quite obvious – was consulting almost every decision with his brother-in-law (if he was at paw) and, more and more often with his almost mature son. Masa acted like queen of Golden Sands – she always was close to Arista, ready to help him in whatever he was intending. That was valid also with such kingdom issues. Rama was best huntress in pride, teaching Zira predator’s skills and simply one of wisest lionesses there, often asked to express her opinion in matters of Golden Sands. That four were looking on their monarch with curious stares.
“I have… dreams.” Replied Aristra after a while of silence. “Strange, but profound ones. I sense those are talking about future… or possible future.”
“No that I have any doubt in your judgement…” started Dhalimu, but king interrupted him.
“I know that our decisions can’t be make, based on unclear prophecies and obscure impressions. I just following the main intuition, not caring too much about dreams as a whole.”
“But what is in those dreams, dad?” asked Sparthi.
“To say shortly: death.” Replied Arista. “End of Golden Pride and destruction of our home.”
“Yeah, that is a good reason for not following dreams.” Murmured Rama.
“Listen to me!” said ruler decisively. “I told I don’t believe in those visions. Or at least I don’t believe they could come true. That is one of reasons I want you to thing about reconnaissance in outer lands. Just in case.”
“Simply – you want me to lead the group?” asked Dhalimu.
“I like your straightforwardness.” Smiled king. “Yes, I hoped you volunteer.”
“Well… with all due respect, sir…” said Rama carefully. “You are not so unbreakable, as you were once. I think you shouldn’t go alone.”
“King is here to judge that.” Said queen’s brother. In his voice was no irritation, but a tone of disappointment that he was seen as not fully independent. But that was fact – whitefurred was nine – he was year older than king and he hadn’t full strength of juvenile.
“I wanted to send someone with you anyway.” Said Arista. “I think that Rama will enlist willingly.”
“That wasn’t a hard guess.” Smiled light-greyfurred lioness. “I’m always first into every trouble.”
“I know that perfectly.” Arista returned smile.
Rama was two years younger than king, but thanks to that in times of king Ananias, young prince had to suffer kitty’s pranks countless times. It could be said that greyfurred was Arista’s cubhood friend, almost like sister. But in that family, of course lion was the big and caring brother.
“But I think that such a trip would be good for Sparthi. Son, do you want go with your uncle?” Asked monarch and prince smiled. Rama looked on him with suspicious stare. “And I’m sending you also to make sure he will be all right.” added Arista.
“He is three already.” Said Dhalimu. “If he wants go, I see no reason he shouldn’t.” After short consideration Masa nodded her head and agreement. But then Dhalimu added. “In fact taking Zira with us also is not bad idea…”
“What?” gasped Masa in amazement.
“Just what I said.” Replied Dhalimu. “I’m sure she will manage.”
“But… why?” asked greyfurred lioness.
“And what do you think, Rama?” king looked on his friend.
“If you are not opposing that idea at current status, I suspect you consider it too, my lord.” Said Rama. “But speaking for me… I think that’s not a bad thing.”
“She has a talent to walking the desert.” Added Dhalimu. “What happened year ago…”
“Almost killed her!” exclaimed Masa. “I don’t let my child…” she instantly corrected. “Child given to my care to risk her life in such unnecessary venture. Arista… tell them!”
“I’m closer to Dhalimu’s thinking.” Confessed king. “Zira is almost grown up too… and if we are ready to send prince in that journey, why not princess?”
“She is two, she is lioness and she is not…”
“…ready?” smiled Dhalimu. “I guess she is readiest lioness in her age to do that. Decision is not mine, but I see no reason to leave her here.”
“I don’t know, dad.” Said Sparthi. “But if you let her go, I’m sure she will manage.”
“There is nothing to fear.” Added Dhalimu. “She is daughter of Malkha. She has sand in her blood.” But saying that he smiled in odd way and careful watcher could noticed a discrete shadow on his muzzle, as well as claws slightly extending from his pawpads.
“But you even haven’t asked her!” yelled Masa. “How do you know, she would like it?”
“Your uneasy tone stays for the answer.” Smiled Rama.
*
Zira decided to take that wall all alone. She had a bet with Wivu and although – or maybe because of that – they failed the dare both, not climbing on appointed ascend, Zira hadn’t let it go. Alone, when no one watched, she went to Rumble Gorge and started to clamber in nearly vertical slope.
It was a midday and sunrays were coming down parallel to slope, partially blinding climber. But that wasn’t a problem – Zira was even glad that she couldn’t see how much left her to go. She was moving on wall of middle part of Rumble Gorge, where from bottom to first solid ledge was a space of about fifteen metres. Of course wind and water eroded wall was cracked and rough, giving many places where agile creature could find a place to put its paws, but lions aren’t mountain animals. Way up was real challenge for princess. And that the point – after all she didn’t use to bet with Wivu about easy things.
For first ten metres all went smoothly – ascend was already sloppy (nearly vertical), but princess easily found many crack to base her limbs. Zira was two years old adolescent lioness, just in beginning of her prime. For year that passed since trek to Last Oasis she changed drastically, but it wasn’t strange for growing lion. From agile and strong, yet clumsy cub she turned to almost mature lioness, already shapely, vigilant and radiating with strong aura of desert beauty. Her lean silhouette was hiding strong muscles but also nerves of sharpest reflex. Her red eyes were full of decisiveness – especially then, when she was trying to beat her step sister in that uncomplicated, yet surely hard dare.
She made another ten metres, firmly basing on rock cracks. She was going fast, perhaps too fast to always maintain proper balance, but in her moved was more rational analysis that one might think. She knew that such a long way would exhaust her quickly, if she were watching every step and looking for perfect basis. Overall quick rush ahead was safer than slow climb – from point she was, return was not an option. From two possible way one led up, the second down and that was quick fall to rock ground.
But from about half of distance lioness felt tired. She sensed that her grabs became less firm and few times she accidentally caught a loose rock. But still she didn’t decide to make any stop. Wivu said she wanted get the wall in one approach – princess couldn’t be worse at any length. But with each move upper, she felt less certain. Sun started to blind her and she felt terrible thirst in her mouth.
Finally it came – she grabbed loose rock and sensed that her basis broke. Her right paw waved helplessly in the air, but with desperate rush of three remaining limbs. Just there she felt pain of almost broken claw and scratched paw. In normal condition that would be nothing to worry about, but thirty metres above the ground that pain was an omen of some real trouble.
She made a deeper breath and ignoring the cut, she rushed up. Just extended her claws and in most painful way she stared to use it to attach herself into rock. She ignored cracks and ledges, just aiming to make distance in quicker possible time. That was good idea, or would be good on shorter distance. She didn’t measure altitude left, but after not more that hundred heartbeats she sensed that her paws were burning with unbearable pain. She clenched jaws and narrowed her eyes, knowing she was at the edge of cry. But she couldn’t cry – first of all she was daughter of great Malkha, and showing her weakness would be clearly putting name of mother in shade. The second thing was possible fall after such a disturbance, but princess didn’t think about it at moment. She was moving her burning paws like in a trance, slowly stopping to look ahead, into blinding sun. She realised that she failed.
Grab on her neck wasn’t strong, but it allowed her to stand one second more. She used that time to reach edge of gorge ledge. Driven by her climbing haze, she pushed her body on the bluff, ignoring Kauli’s help.
Python, just after that grab quickly let lioness loose and crept away. Then he rolled on ledge, looking on Zira, who was lying on rock and panting heavily. Seeing and hearing that no praise was going to be said, he demanded about it himself.
“Don’t thank me.” He hissed. “I like to lift lionessesssss in sssspare time.”
“I was… going just… fine…” panted Zira. “You didn’t… have to…”
“Hopelesssss.” Murmured snake. “I should demand a rise in return for such outragesssss.”
Princess finally opened her eyes and slowly stood up. Feeling a pain in her paws, she looked down to see blood-spotted limbs and two broken claws. “But I did it!” she smiled in mind and pulled a face in grimace of new wave of pain.
“Very nice!” murmured python. “But are you ready for more?” he asked and pointed with tail ahead. Because they were on ledge, a path up to actual bluff of gorge was narrow and step, coming ten metres higher.
“Sure…” replied Zira and hobbled in that direction.
Fortunately she made that last part of way without any accident. When she stopped on solid rock, she waited on Kauli and let him take his favourite place at her neck. Since long way south year earlier, king’s advisor became in some degree also Zira’s right paw, if that term could be used with creature with no paw at all. Arista kept no grudge towards snake for letting princess run away. In fact he was aware how little snake could do to stop Zira in her trip and his care and advices most likely saved cub on desert. So after a role of chamberlain, Kauli became a tutor and confidant of princess.
They went down from Rumble Range to Mouth Grove. Royal Council was already gone, just silent and empty forest remained. Other lionesses of pride were resting in cave, only bored Zira sought some – as we could see, sometimes dangerous – entertainments. But weather made princess also to look for some shelter. She left Kauli on shore and entered the lake. Water of that pool was warm, but in comparison to heated air it was a cooling pleasure anyway.
“I ssssugest you to restrain your tendency for luxury.” Hissed python from beach.
“What?” called Zira from middle of lake.
“Your swimming scared other animalssssss from drinking here.” Explained snake.
“Come on.” Laughed princess back. “Everyone knows me and knows that dad ordered sanctuary zone on the lake. They could come here at will.”
“I guess that no one isssss persuaded.” Murmured Kauli.
“Right, I’m going out.” Said princess and swan to the shore.
She exited water and shook her fur, of course not hard enough to rid off all moisture. Cool wetness of coat was very pleasant in weather like that. She came to python and he climbed on her neck without word.
“Let’ssss go home.” Said chamberlain.
“Home…” murmured Zira. “Our sweet, cosy cave… Kauli, I’m sick of it all.”
“Sssssunstroke?”
“I mean that dad is treating me like a child!” exclaimed princess with irritated voice.
“Perhapsssss he missed to notice you are already two!” replied reptile with irony.
“Cease it! You know what I mean.” Snorted Zira. “Since the day of my journey… dad even didn’t let me accompany uncle Dhalimu in nearest trip. I’m sitting in the cave and…”
“For now your are ssssstanding on the Rumble Range.” Noticed python.
“Well… yes, but I was speaking figuratively. He didn’t let me join hunting team and…”
“I guess you have no lessssss free paw than Sparthi in you age.” Said chamberlain.
“But it’s not enough for me.” Said Zira.

[“Same old song” song. Tune in middle tempo, rather seriously sounding, strings in melody and military sounding drum to rhythm.
Zira is walking on shore of Mouth Lake. Suddenly she steps on swampy spot and her front right paw submerges to knee into sticky and dense mud.]
Stuck just right here and now
By inert, sacred vow
In place I didn’t choose and I cannot change
[She bases on solid ground and with heavy effort gets her limb out of mud. Looks on dirty paw and with disgusted stare comes to water to wash it.]
Surrounded by the see
Of all old things in me
I cannot use to way, too still to be strange
[She enters the water and looks at her reflection. Then dives. Kauli is looking on that with confusion.]
Since day that I was born
I feel this stopping torn
That hurts my foot and stopping my every step
[She emerges and then starts to sing: Since day…; Then she goes away from water, hobbling. Her paw – that front right is bleeding slightly. We don’t know if that was some torn she stuck on in water or just earlier cut from event in gorge.]
Perhaps it’s way I’m fine
Unable crossing line
But that’s a kind of freedom I don’t accept
[She sits on beach and tries to remove some shard from her pawpad. Kauli creeps closer and with his jaws helps her to take away the rock-fragment. Then Zira licks bleeding pad.]
Chorus:
Is that required
To stay in place
To stay in line
To stay on base?
[She wants to go ahead, but she freezes just before putting cut paw on sand. Pawpad is still bleeding and basing on it would make an abrasion dirty. With irritation of her face, princess jumps on three paws.]
What keeps me down
That makes me strong?
Some things never change - it's the same old song!
The same old song!
[She gets to line of grass and sits on green carpet. Meanwhile Kauli comes to her, with big leaf in his mouth. While Zira is singing, paying no serious attention on her paw anymore, just letting the blood to clot, snake puts her paw on leaf and coils around edges of leaf, making a “bandage shoe”. Lioness sees it, smiles and gets dome grass-stem to tie it.]
Second verse:
No steps on own require
Always the march in line
With all who died and all who would came someday
[As she walk again, she goes, up with dried bed of seasonal torrent, to gorge. She quickly enters part where bed becomes a narrow ravine – place where princess and her friends used to play in <queen of gorge> year earlier. Kauli is hanging on her neck.]
My life is not a way
But gorge where I can’t stray
But also I can’t choose to take my own lane
[She strokes wall of ravine (that northern – with right, bandaged paw), making some smaller rock shards fall down.]
Chorus:
Is that required
To stay in home
To stay in line
In crowd alone?
[She turns back to see her way as straight line and turns again ahead to see even longer route as perfect line. Walks ahead again, rubbing with side against wall of ravine. Finally jump up, to reach upper edge of ravine.]
What keeps me right
It seems so wrong
Some things never change - it's the same old song!
The same old song!
[She gets there, but with little help of Kauli – after all with partially disabled paw she isn’t agile as usual. However she stands over the brink. Zoon in on her face – she seems to recognize – just before her – place where year earlier she had a fight with Wivu.]
[Song bridge, Zira sings, or better to say: melodically declaims four next lines:]
Always do what mother would did in your place
Always keep your father out of disgrace
Always watch steps, cause others see
But just never thing what’s good for me
[Retrospection: Zira recalls what was year earlier. Arista and Masa ordered as a punishment for a fight that Zira has ten times carry Wivu on her back from mouth of gorge to that place and greyfurred does the same with princess. Shot of tired Zira with her step-sister on back.]
Chorus:
Is that required
To stay in spot
To stay in line
And slowly rot?
[Zira shook her head, retrospection ends. She looks back down, on mouth and farther on Golden Massif. But then in fast few jumps she climbs up to one of minor peaks of Rumble Range, that was just next to. She looks on south.]
I’ll never get
What for I long
That thing’ll never change - it's the same old song!
The same old song!
[She sees desert, dusty clouds on horizon, but fata morgana is showing some shapes on distant south. Zira narrows her eyes and those shapes became aerie looking rock and fertile jungle. Then Kauli – most likely trying to watch as well – lift his head just in front of princess’s face, breaking that illusion and ending vision.
Zira stops to sing, music stops.]

“I ssssee nothing wrong in our Golden Sands.” Said finally snake, looking on south. “I don’t argue – there alssssso could be some nice place, but we already have nice place on our own.”
“I don’t tell me, you didn’t enjoyed our trip last year.” Murmured Zira, slowly coming down from slope. Descending with aching paw turned out to be mush harder than ascending, but princess wasn’t in hurry. She finally got to the mouth and turned in home direction. Sun was slowly setting on western side of the sky.
Arista and Masa waited on acacia alley. Sparthi was there too and Zira read from his excitation that something important happened. She came closer to parents and gave a lick to father and adoptive mother. Kauli – two times squeezed between lions felt a bit embarrassed.
“What happened my dear?” asked Masa with concern in her voice, looking on leaf on Zira’s paw.
“Just a scratch.” She replied. “Tomorrow it will be all right.”
“Are you sure that yet tomorrow?” asked king.
“I guess…” murmured princess. “Is that so important?”
“If you want to, you may accompany your uncle and your brother in recon to mountains on east.” Said Arista with seemingly indifferent voice. “They want to set off tomorrow.”
“Wow… you’re sure?” asked Zira, sensing some catch in that.
“I have different opinion.” Said Masa. “But your father already made his choice.”
“Thanks, dad.” Smiled princess and hugged to father’s side. “Sure, I will be ready tomorrow. Sparthi…” she looked on her brother. “Tell me, what is going on here.”
Siblings entered the cave, while king and grey lioness stayed on valley. They were looking after princes and finally Arista said with quiet voice.
“I know that all your doubts come from simple fact you care about her so much, but I think that would be good for her. Look, how she is glad of that.”
“That’s the point.” Replied Masa. “That is another challenge for her… just like year ago.”
“This time she is under good care.” Said king. “Dhalimu, Rama… and Sparthi of course. He is responsible lion.”
“Yes, I know…I just… have some bad feeling about this.”
“Good mother always has.” Said Arista and rubbed his muzzle against her cheek. “And good father always appeases that. At least I think that.” And then they returned to cave too.
But there was another witness of that talk. Wivu didn’t try to eavesdrop – she wanted to speak with mother and incidentally heard step-sister’s, mother’s and king’s words. She came out from behind the acacia and slowly stopped where Zira had stood just moment before. She looked down to see her pawprint in sand.
“Again…” she thought with grooving anger. “Again you are at my place… instead of me. I wonder, if king asked me to go, would mother be so anxious about me…”
“Hey, Wivu.” Sounded a voice just after grey lioness. She almost jumped up in place, turned back and saw Rama, returning to cave. “Oh, sorry…”
“Never mind.” replied grey lioness angrily. “I’m a bit restless due to sleep problems.”
“But nothing serious, I hope…”
“Don’t worry.” Replied Wivu. “I will be able to join hunting team tomorrow.”
“Good… good.” Smiled lioness. “Because most likely I will be away for some time. At least one of my students should show those lazy bones how to hunt.”
“I’ll try to substitute Zira, as good I can.” Snorted Wivu and walked back to cave, leaving surprised Rama on the alley.
*
“I think you could go.” Said Dhalimu, looking on his niece’s paw.
It was on morning next day, when recon team was preparing to go. Rama, Sparthi, Zira and golden lion himself stood up earlier, drank and eat decent portions and just waited as their bodies rest a little after meal and were ready for serious effort. Weather was cloudy, as countless dusty cumuluses were blown on the sky. It was perfect for marching in short distances, making way easy and pleasant. But it also could mean coning sandstorm, so Dhalimu hoped they could make their way fast.
“I’m feeling all right, uncle.” Replied Zira.
“I’m sure they would wait for you, if that wasn’t true.” Said Wivu, passing by the main chamber.
“Hi, Wivu.” Smiled princess. She was in so good mood that she failed to see angry stare of step-sister. “So we are going today. Won’t you give your sis goodbye-hug?”
“I’m afraid it would bring some badluck.” Replied greyfurred and walked away, leaving Zira laughing at her joke.
“All right, if you are ready, we go.” Said Dhalimu. Then he looked on his niece and added. “Tell honestly – are you ready? I won’t accept any complains on route.”
“There will be no complains, uncle.” Replied Zira. “I promise.”
“We will see.” Murmured gold lion with indifferent voice. In fact he was looking on lioness with examining stare.
“So… it will be the real trail.” He thought, watching as Sparthi was saying goodbye to Ghera and his niece to other lionesses. “Zira has her change to show what stuff she is made. If she is even half the lioness her mother was.” But he said nothing aloud just came to wake up Arista, before setting off.
About ten minutes later four lions of Golden Sands exited cave and turned due east. Sun was shinning against them, but due to cloud layer, not blinding, but just inviting to make another step. Wivu was watching disappearing silhouettes and listening to other lions. Of course, she heard talk of king and her mother.
“She will be all right.” Assured Arista.
“I hope you are right.” Replied Masa. “And I’m proud of her too.”
In that moment Wivu felt scared of own thought. But still – she hoped that clouds on north would bring storm that bury her step-sister forever.

Well, Wivu is getting more and more jealous as the time passes! Hoping that Zira becomes killed... yet, I don't know if I can actually blame her, at least completely. So, Zira, Sparthi, Rama and Dhalimu are going to the mountains on the east? Well, let's hope they don't find Keme and the other rogues in the way. I think that's the only thing that can be done now... to have hope!

Ograndebatata – your guesses more and more often become spoilers <lol2>!

And just completely off-top.
I wish You happy Easter. Let Christ resurrect in your heart and may your time with family be peaceful and blessed.

VII. Good, Old Foes

Dhalimu claimed that distance between Golden Sands and High Range was not larger than hundred kilometres. However that was way much harder than marching on Lime Alley. Four lions were forced to walk the loose sand and made water supply desperately difficult. When white lion noticed first rock-island at that ocean of sand, he decided to make a stop, although there was about two hour to dusk.
“We have a problem now.” Said old wanderer. “Let’s stop here and I will think a while.”
Place for a stay wasn’t too comfortable – just a rock emerging from fine sand. It was almost round, measuring about fifty metres in widest place. Just few crack on stone-plate made mouting dew-collectors difficult. Rock was covered just with few clumps of dried thistle. Lions judged that no animal would survive there.
“We could stay here or go further.” Said Dhalimu. “And personally I would sugest that second option. Let’s try to go at night, what will be easier.”
“But what if we don’t find any shelter for sleep?” asked Rama. “We can’t make a rest during the day, without any cover.”
“There is always a risk.” Replied white lion. “But living on desert is risky itself.”
“You are commanding here, uncle.” Said Sparthi. “Whatever you decide, I will recognise it as reasonable.”
“But I can’t feel your tiredness and weakness.” Explained lion. “I would go further…” then he looked on Zira. Princess narrowed her eyes and replied instantly.
“Why are looking at me? I could go twice that distance!” She assured with angry voice, although she actually wanted just lay down and sleep.
But she couldn’t. In stare of her uncle there was something cold… A daring question: Are you ready? And clear suggestion that princess was too tired to make any step further. “He thinks I’m weaker than mother.” Thought Zira. “And actually – he is right. But still, I can’t give up now.” She clenched her jaws, turning her appearance to stern and decisive look. But in fact she wanted just to cover expression of pain and sleepiness.
“I guess you should ask about the same.” Murmured Rama, smiling. “But as for me, it’s all right. I could go further.”
“So, Zira, lead.” Ordered Dhalimu.
Princess gathered all he strength to make those few step in front of others with light and sure pace. She exited the plate and entered sand. Then turned back to brother.
“So… can we go?”
Dusk came about two hours later. Princess was still on lead, sensing on her own back stare of uncle. He was measuring her every step and looking for a sing of weakness. Zira was glad that sun set – thanks to that her tiredness wasn’t seen so clearly. Walking in front had also another disadvantage – she had to look for some shelter, what in darkness of night was simply hard. For long hours, Zira was tensing her all body in try to maintain speed and proper pose and in the same time carefully observing dull landscape of desert. Finally about three hours after midnight, she noticed shapes of some rocks. She turned there, guiding her group closer. Object happened to be not only a rock, but brink of small ravine.
“That’s it.” Called Zira to others. “We will stay here.”
“Are you tired?” asked Dhalimu with concerned voice, however princess sensed some poisonous triumph in that.
“No, but we must halt anyway.” She replied decively. “It’s a great cover, proper to gather dew tomorrow. Most likely we won’t see anything like that in next day.” And not waiting for reply, she entered the crack.
Tired lions quickly prepared place to sleep. Stone pans were covered with brush, that could collect moisture before the sunrise. Then Goldlanders entered a deepest crak that would surely shield them from sun of raising day. Rama and Sparthi fell asleep instantly, due to extreme exhaustion. Zira stayed awake, because she was even too tired to sleep. Dhalimu seemed to be unmoved by almost twenty hours of march.
It was rather cloudy day, but at night came wind that moved clouds away. Moon and countless stars were shining from the sky, painting rocks of ravine in odd silver colour. Zira was looking on that changed stones with half-sleeping stare.
“Try to relax in every possible way.” Said Dhalimu, quiet enough for not to wake to Rama and Sparthi. “Straighten your paws, try not to move. I guess that sleep will come soon.”
“And what will be tomorrow?” asked princess with inquiring voice. “More of testing me.”
“I’m not the one who testing. You are.” Replied Dhalimu.
“Do you hate me, uncle?” asked Zira, instantly reading perfectly white lion’s heart. He was silent for longer while, before he answered.
“No, I can’t say that. But still, I regret that your mother died.”
“And what will be, if I turn out to be like her?”
“I will be seriously confused.” Replied white lion. “Good night, Zira.”
*
They set off on morning. Dhalimu awoke them at sunrise, so they could drink before nightly moisture dried. Then they rested an hour more to walk away when sun was already high on sky. That day wasn’t cloudy – on morning wind was cooling wanderers a bit, but from midday heat became unbearable.
In spite of weakness of previous day, Zira was going smoothly, maybe even better than Rama. Lioness was in middle age, but yet out of her prime. She endured the way, but it clearly weakened her strength. Sparthi was going at his pace, not staying in back, but not speeding too fast – just using strengths of his youth to keep tempo dictated by Dhalimu.
Zira was leading, but she marched with speed that white lion judged as proper. Dhalimu itself was biggest enigma of trip – he was in age that could explain some condition problems, but he looked as if that was just a walk around the Golden Cave.
“Don’t you ever tire, uncle?” asked Sparthi.
“I have no time for that.” Replied lion with indifferent voice.
“If we are lucky, today we will see our aim.” Added Zira.
And she was right – about midday they noticed silhouettes of mountains ahead. The distance was unable to estimate, especially that hot air often makes optical tricks with such measures. But when destination was visible, march became easier – there was no use to get lost and everyone saw that High Range actually existed.
“I think we should make stop before entering it.” Said Sparthi with careful voice.
“You could simply say, you are tired.” Smiled Zira.
“No, I meant that we could be forced to… leave out in hurry.” Explained prince. “If we get to mountains with our last breach, we won’t be able to run away.”
“Optimist, as usual.” Snorted his sister. “From whom would we escape?”
“Realist as usual.” Said Rama. “I guess that we should be prepared for anything there.”
They made a halt in small cluster of acacias in about one kilometre from mountains. They got there right on sunset, to find even small pool of water, hidden among trees. Place was inviting and swaying to camp there.
“I have no strength for guarding.” Said Dhamilu. “Just let’s sleep… carefully.”
Night passed without any unexpected events. Zira woke up with first rays of sun, taught that who stands up early, drinks more. She wanted to check the pool, but then she took a look on desert and froze in amazement.
Desert was alive. Countless animals of various kind from all directions were heading to High Range. Princess was never aware that sandy lands could be inhabited by so many species of creatures and that all population could be so numerous. Herds of herbivores were marching in tight columns, at least partially protecting each others from hungry stares of predators. But leopards, cheetahs and hyenas looked on antelopes, bovids and addaxes, staying calm. The main reason that drove them to mountains was actually not a lack of preys but insufficiency of water. Over that giant, scattered retinue many vultures were flying and looking for a meal.
“It’s hard to expect we are only ones for free lunch.” Said Dhalimu from behind Zira.
“They all…”
“…came here because of drought.” Said old lion. “I guess that in other regions that disaster is already a deadly threat.”
“There are so many…” whispered Zira, looking on countless herds. “But uncle…” she added with nervous voice. “If so many preys came here it’s nearly impossible that it hasn’t swayed any lions.”
“I bet this place is crowded also with our kind.” Replied white lion, looking on peaks of mountain range. Most of pikes were relatively low, but in some cases even snow-cape could be seen. Zira followed that stare and smiled. She never had seen a snow, but she sensed that was somehow connected with water.
“I think that some pride normally lives here.” Added white lion. “But I bet they already had some visitors.” He pointed on brink of desert, where skeleton of feline was reflecting rays of sun. “Easy, that’s a rouge.” Continued old wanderer. “I bet that local pride had some problems with unwelcome guests and that one is the result. It’s male, outsider, I guess. No one would leave king’s remains like that.”
“We should quickly find that pride and tell them, we have no hostile intentions.” Said Zira.
“Right.” Nodded Dhalimu. “But now wake up others. We could make an easy hunt now.”
*
It actually didn’t take much time for four lions to get their prey and feast on it. Because pool in grove was still containing some water, they even drank to that meal. But then Dhalimu ordered his charges to set off. Idea of fining local pride was very reasonable, and much better than waiting for pride to find visitors. Skeleton of rouge suggested that original inhabitants of High Range knew how to defend themselves.
Just when desert ended, widdringtonia trees belt started, slowly becoming slope to higher hills. After about kilometre of that border zone, mountain relief and flora could be found. First, moderate peaks were sprouting from light ascend and numerous caverns covered the area. Dhalimu stopped his group on the edge of widdringtonia forest.
“We have to say <hello>.” He explained and called with all his might. “HELLO!” echo returned that voice from caves and slopes of nearest mountains. “Anyone there?”
They waited about five minutes in complete silence, standing at brink of the grove. Finally Zira saw as Dhalimu took a deep breath to call one time more, but in next second lioness was pulled down and pressed to the ground. Before she managed to understand what was happening, she found herself on the grass, with claws put on her neck. Greyfurred lioness in middle age was standing above her and keeping her steel grip.
“Make a move and watch her die!” gasped lioness. Rama and Sparthi froze in place.
“Lips movement counts too?” asked Dhalimu, seemingly not feeling threaten at all.
“Back off!” gasped attacker. “And be quiet. If you call for any help, I will kill her.”
“Have we wronged you in any way?” asked white lion and ignoring given ultimatum, steeped ahead to newcomer.
“I said: stay there!” cried lioness, pointing with front-right paw on wanderer.
Zira used that opportunity. On her throat was just one paw and she grabbed with her limb. Then she rolled aside, with hind legs tripping enemy and causing her fall down. On that moment seemed to wait Dhalimu, who pounced on grey lioness and immobilize her, pinning with all his mass. Zira stood up uncertainly.
“Sis!” Sparthi ran to her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m afraid: yes.” Replied princess. “Hold her tight.”
“You rascals!” growled aggressive lioness. “You won’t have this land!”
“Shhh!” hissed Dhalimu. “You said it: be quiet. So be quiet, right?”
“Uncle! What the hell possessed you!” called Sparthi, ignoring previous advise. “She might have killed Zira!”
“Why you are so irritated she failed?” smiled white lion, still pressing grey lioness to the grass.
“It’s all right, Sparthi.” Replied princess. “Uncle did a right thing. I would do the same at his place.” She smiled, looking on Dhalimu. They stares met and old wandered also narrowed his lips in some kind of smile. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s get some information on her.”
“I will tell you nothing!” growled prisoner.
“Your perkiness is admirable.” Said Dhalimu. “But I think we will get some agreement. Tell us, why the heck you attacked us?”
“That’s our land! You are trespassers!” hissed greyfurred. It was clear that however she tried to sound firmly and brave, she was at the edge of cry. She wasn’t scared – she was simply despaired.
“Yes and no.” replied Sparthi instantly. “That means: we believe that land belong to your pride. But no: we aren’t trespassers. We wanted to find king and…”
“I don’t believe you.” Interrupted prisoner.
“How sad.” Snorted Dhalimu. “Drop this. We have just two options – you will tell us where your king is, or we will look for him by our own. To do that, we must knock you out, was could be very unpleasant.”
“Uncle…” murmured amazed Sparthi. “You don’t mean you want…”
“And how else you could do it, my prince?” asked old lion. “She will be good or she will be still.”
“Your idea of making her <good> could be not so appealing.” Replied sandymaned. He came closed to Dhalimu and captured lioness, kneeled down in front of them and asked, trying to sound gently and softly. “What is your name, ma’am?”
“And what do you care, intruder?”
“You are talking to prince of Golden Sands!” growled Dhalimu and pressed lioness lower to the ground, as she made a painful moan. “Correct yourself!”
“Uncle, don’t hurt her!” called Zira and Sparthi in unison.
“Right… I’m repeating.” Said prisoner, with weak voice and white lion loosen his grab a little. “So: what do you care, sir trespasser…”
Dhalimu wanted to hit her, but his paw was stopped by Sparthi. “No!” said prince with decisive voice. “Uncle, let her go.”
“What!?”
“I said: let her go.” Ordered Sparthi with demanding tone.
“Listen to Golden Sands heir.” Said Rama quietly. Wandered loosen his grip and jumped back, shielding from eventual attack of lioness.
But that didn’t came. Greyfurred was too weak to attack again. She coughed and Sparthi came to her and helped her to stand up. Then he stepped back too, leaving prisoner completely free.
“Do you think you gained my trust by that?” asked she finally.
“I’m Sparthi of Golden Sands, son of Arista and Malkha.” Said prince, bowing his head. “I terribly sorry for what has happened and I promise that won’t happen again. I humbly ask you to lead us to your king.”
“I can’t call it <aggressive negotiations tactic>” murmured Dhalimu.
“But you could see it works.” Replied Rama.
“My name is Bonde of High Pride.” Replied greyfurred. “I’m terribly sorry, but we are all scared of intruders in our land.”
“Your king ordered you to attack every guest?” asked while lion with irony.
“My king is still unconscious.” Replied Bonde. “Currently I’m commanding the defence of High Range.”
“Defence?” asked Zira. “We saw a skeleton… that was male… rouge or someone siding with your pride?”
“And why do you want to know it, girl?” growled lioness with distrust.
“She is Zira, princess of Golden Sands.” Said Sparthi calmly. “Please, treat her with the same respect as if you were speaking with our father.”
“Sorry, sir…” said Bonde and burst with tears.
They were standing for longer while, surprised and confused, unable to make a move. Finally prince came to lioness and awkwardly stroked her head, then embraced her gently. She looked on older, much more experienced than him, but still – at that moment young sandymaned was comforting Bonde.
“Please, calm down.” Said Sparthi. “I promise, we will help as we are able.”
“We will?” asked Dhalimu, surprised.
“We are able to?” added Rama in the same confusion.
“What’s the strength of enemy?” asked Zira, but seeing that Bonde was a moment unable to give any detail, just sighed with irritation.
“Oh, I see you are so avid for action…” murmured Dhalimu, than again looked on Sparthi. “Boy, look. I will follow every thing you decide, as for you are my prince. But as your uncle, I must make sure you made your choices rationally and not in affect. Why do you want stand for that pride.”
“It’s just… proper.” Said Zira. “We should help any…”
“Sorry, girl, but I’m talking with your brother.” Interrupted white lion. “Soon I will ask my princess for her opinion too.”
“Sorry…” said Zira and stayed silent. For Dhalimu it was a normal behaviour. He put much attention both to ranks and to politeness in any talk. But golden lioness knew that was something behind this. Her uncle was testing her… and she wanted to prove him wrong in every his bias.
“Uncle, that’s my responsibility as a king…”
“Your pride is not here.” Noticed wanderer. “You even endanger Golden Sands, by risking your life… life of heir.”
“If something happens to me, Zira will take over the Golden Sands and her future mate will be king.”
“She is here too.” Said Dhalimu with calm, but inquiring voice. “You endanger her as well.”
“She won’t be fighting.” Replied Sparthi.
“He is wrong.” Countered Zira.
“That questions are pointless.” Called prince with decisive voice. “I decided to help this pride in range we are able to and this conversation is over. I want that, period.”
“Good.” Smiled Dhalimu. “I was checking decisiveness of future king and that test you passed easily. But…” he looked on Zira and smiled even wider. Princess – maybe for the very first time – felt a fondness towards her in that smile. “…your sister passed the reason test. First of all, she asked how many enemies we could be confronted with.”
“And what is the strength of pride.” Added Zira automatically.
“Yes. And what is the strength of pride.” Repeated Dhalimu. “Bonde, led us to your keep and try to tell us – in short – what we should know.”
*
It wasn’t a long story. High Pride was once proud and strong pride of twelve lionesses, king Kilele, his son Theluji and queen Poromoko. The land was peaceful one, not disturbed by any outer threats, because mountain region was considered as rather poor and unfertile. But it all changed in times of drought – mountain creeks and lakes became a desirable price for many, including aggressive groups of rouges. One of such groups – sometime called gerges – approached to High Range two weeks earlier. They came and attacked without warning, breaking every rule and law of hospitality in Circle of Life. Perhaps that was why they failed – seven rouges were stopped and forced to retreat and three of them had been killed – one of skeletons Goldlanders had already seen.
But price of that stand was terrible - three lioness were dead, three other severely wounded and queen herself and young price were killed by leader of rouges, who charged in suicide attack, seeing that his attempt of killing king failed. King survived, but his wounds were infected, still keeping him at the edge of life and death. That was what Bonde managed to tell newcomers, before they got to High Cave.
Keep of pride was a den in slope of range, just above the forest of widdringtonia trees. Just a small part of cavern system was used for living, while long and unexplored corridors seemed to go miles ahead. Lions lair had its exit directed on small clearing of mountain grasses and bushes on quite wide ledge of slope. But in spite of that width, slope looked as a graveyard.
Five bodies were buried just next to slope, under piles of boulders. But hen, on centre of clearing were lying three more lionesses, wounded and covered with scabs, just as if they were waiting for their turn to be buried. But they were still alive and when Goldlanders entered pride’s keep, they reacted with fear and despise on their faces. Dhalimu and Sparthi were mistaken as rouges claiming their easy prey – but just initially. Perhaps that was something in appearance of prince, but hostile stares quickly turned to silent begs for help. Sandymaned was seen as a helper, not a threat.
“Uncle… could you help them?” asked prince, looking on wounded lionesses. Dhalimu, apart of being considered as experienced wanderer, was known about his medicine knowledge.
“I guess they were provided with best care that lions could give… but of course I’ll take a look.” Replied whitefutted.
“Sir…” asked one of wounded, extending her paw in Sparthi’s direction. She had terrible wound on muzzle, most likely damaged eye. “Will you defend us?”
“I can’t give you a promise I’m not sure if I could fulfil.” Replied sandymaned. “But for sure we will stay here for a while with any help we could give.”
“Good…” murmured Dhalimu, looking on nephew, talking with lionesses – those wounded and healthy, but frightened ones. He and Zira stayed next to unconscious female of light-brown fur. Wanderer was looking her wound, searching for any infected area. Only Zira heard his quiet voice. “It’s great that Sparthi is learning how to talk as a king with subjects… Not his subject yet… but it’s even better for practise.”
“And I won’t learn anything, uncle?” asked Zira.
“Not about that in particular.” Replied white lion. “But maybe something about medicine. Find some wide leaves… clear one, to use as bondage, after I remove the scab.”
Meanwhile Sparthi entered the cave to see king Kilele in person. Lion was lying on brushy bedding, unconscious and breathing hard. On his chest one could see deeps wounds, one most likely severe enough to damage the lung. From mouth of monarch dripped drops of saliva.
“Stars…” gasped Sparthi. “How long it lasts?”
“It happened ten days ago.” Said Bonde. “He wakes up, one… maybe twice a day. We feed him and water him. But he still has fever…”
“My uncle should be able to help him.” Said prince. He noticed that in chest of ruler was some shape, in centre of oedema. That could be rock shard, piece of wood, even maybe broken claw. Removing it should fix general state of patient… But if operation was done with unskilled paw it could have killed Kilele.
“So, my uncle will watch over him. But now… gather all lionesses.” Ordered Sparthi, who already considered himself as obliged and to take care about pride. “I want hear all details about possible threats from everybody. Then you will show me vicinity…”
*
Evening of that day and whole next day (at night guests slept hard – they were so tired with way on desert that Dhalimu make his companions to rest) they spent on preparations. They heard about current situation. Although that old gerge was prevailed and driven away (for that great cost), few lionesses noticed another group of rouges, scouting the area. One of females, called Mdoea even eavesdropped talk of two wanderers, who talked about soon invasion, killing wounded king and taking pride over. That meant two awful things – rouges were serious and they had some solid data about Highlanders. Perhaps they had met remnants of that previous gerge. Perhaps they had excellent scout. Whatever was the souse of their knowledge, it meant troubles.
“Right.” Said Dhalimu, when they were gathered in front of cave at evening on next day, talking about coming fight. “I removed that shard from king’s chest. He survived operation and I believe that worst is already behind him. But still, it could take even month before he recover to his old strength and readiness to king duties. That’s why we can’t play on time – we must confront attackers now. But it’s prince’s duty.”
“Thanks, uncle.” Said Sparthi. “As you already know, we will try provoke enemies to foray here and we will wound or eliminate as many of them as it’s possible. Then I believe – rest will leave the idea of harassing pride. We must get some solution, because hunting in that condition, when we must constantly watch our backs is highly ineffective. But detail of you plan will tell you my uncle.”
“Thank you, sir.” Said Dhalimu. In fact he was a mastermind of all preparation, but he wanted to present those as effort of Sparthi. So white lion was obeying every command of nephew, but he also cared those commands were reasonable. “According to Zira’s and mine recon, we expect they are camping on slope of mountain you call <White Peak>, in widdringtonia forest…”
Although rest sentence was clear for Highlanders, other listeners had problems with perception. And that was highly fortunate for besieged pride, because eavesdroppers were two rouges of aggressive gerge.
“You heard anything?” asked Keme.
“Sorry… just something about us… they know were we sleep… but then nothing. I didn’t understand.” Replied Sukari.
“Anyway, we know enough to attack the cave.” Judged yellowmaned. “Let’s back to Shababu and boys. Next night would be fine for strike.”
“Yeah, right.” Nodded Sukari and stood up from grasses.
For that year since event on desert he grown to be strong and almost mature lion, well trained in fight and survival skills by his carer, Keme. His fur bore marks of many fights, also with other rouges of gerge, but lion survived, under protection of yellowmaned and thanks to own luck. Keme would never say it loud, or even admit in mind, but he was proud of his adoptive son.
“So, let’s go.” Said yellomaned, but then Sukari stopped.
“Wait.” He said. “Look on that young lioness… golden one. Doesn’t she remind you someone?”
“No…” Keme shook his head. “Fine chick I guess… She could be yours, when we take this pride over.”
“Yeah, it would be nice.” Murmured Sukari with a bit embarrassed smile on his lips. “But I swear, I saw her once.” However then he followed his carer.
Two lions disappeared in hot night, carrying news to their companions. Although evening was peacefully and calm, night-birds somehow sensed coming trouble and didn’t sing at all.

Well, Dhalimu is deffinetly testing Zira. And those tests seem hard. It seems Zira is passing them, but for how long? So now there is a pride almost conquered by a gerge, whose queen, heir and three lioness were killed? Well, that's bad.
So Keme and his gerge come to finish the job. Sukari seems to remind Zira... I wonder if Keme actually doesn't remember her, or is just pretending. Well, now Zira, Sparthi, Rama, Dhalimu and the pride that they met are in big trouble. With Keme close, big even seems a word too weak to describe it. Like I said, the only thing left is to have hope! I wait for more.

Well, this is off-topic, Happy Easter to you too!

Thanks for best wishes.
But for now I’m back online and at work. Here it new chapter – and confrontation between Zira’s companions and our favourite villain – Keme;)