for sure not here...” he said. “But don’t stop. I’m sure it won’t hurt me!”

Both lions burst in merry laughter. Nuka stood and hugged young lioness. Although she was heavier built and stronger that lion, she immediately felt like helpless cub. Nuka was her caretaker and nothing would changed it.

“Sorry... I just wanted to get some dessert for us.”

“And you did.” Replied Nuka. “A decent portion of adrenaline!” and laughed once again.

She, at first angry on herself for what she had done, seeing smiling Nuka burst in laughter too.

“All right... shall we consume the prize?” she asked. “You deserved for it, by saving me.”

“It was a prize itself.” Said Nuka with gallant smile. “But, of course, such a delicious can’t be wasted.”

They went to mound’s foot, where Hawaa left eggs and shared the trophy. In Outlands even such a small piece of food was a treasure. But they ate it not to satisfy, but just for joy of common eating. “We are like small pride now.” Noticed Hawaa. “I get the food and you protect me in danger. I would say, that is nice deal...”

Nuka smiled and then he added seriously.

“Hawaa... I must ask you about that. Do you really plan to be with me?”

She just smiled and looked in his eyes.

“Of course I do!” replied with playful voice. “Who would be catch when I will fall?” but she added with sober and determined voice. “I love, Nuka. And I see I can make you happy. So what is the problem – I decided it long time ago... Of course, if you don’t change your mind.”

Nuka sighed and looked in starlit sky.

“Yes, I know... But I ask myself, if I can make you happy.” She came closer and hugged lion. He continued. “I’m Scar’s son... But I haven’t inherited most of his... gifts... I will never be a king. Mother decided it for good – Kovu will avenge my father.”

She licked his forehead and stayed silent for a while. They often talked about it and she every time was talking the same.

“Let Kovu be king or whoever your mother want him to be. I want you... not a throne. I know, you would be better leader that Kovu... I’m sure of that. But as a king you wouldn’t have so much time for me. And I want you as my private king, not to share you... with any other lioness.” They both smiled. “When this war will be over, I hope that you take me as your mate.”

“I hope it too.” Replied Nuka. “I just wish, that I could make you queen, as you deserve.”

“I am queen, already.” Said lioness. “In our small pride.” She gentle pushed him in river direction. “Come to have some bath, you are whole in dirt, my lord.”

“I’ve hope, that you would clean my in... more lionish way.” Muttered Nuka with smile.

“Well, later I will.” Laughed Hawaa. “But now go to the river. Some swimming after meal... maybe is not very healthy, but quite fun.”

“Thank for excellent supper, my dear.” Said Nuka and followed lioness. But in the same time he was thinking intensively. “And what if I make you a Queen? What if I show mother, I’m worthy of the throne? You will get what you deserve, my lady!”

Lions came to Border River and started to fool around in shallow water of almost dried seasonal torrent. They were so alike – almost adult at first sight, but still cubs in hearts. Even hard years in Outland haven’t changed it. Living in such a hell would be burden for most of creatures in world. But this son of Outlands and daughter of Prideland were as happy, as they could be, with hungry bellies and satisfied hearts.

*

Vitani saw it from termite mound nearby. She had went to look on stars, but she was looking on her brother and her friend instead. She felt mixed feeling in her heart. For sure she was happy, that Nuka found someone. She always worried, that he would stay alone. Young lion was handsome with original comeliness, but vulnerability of his body made a serious flaw in his attractiveness. Vitani was glad, that was not a problem for Hawaa, strong and independent lioness. But this meant something other, a envy for his luck. Life of Vitani was just a participation in Zira’s plan. Endless trainings with Kovu, where she was just a sparring-partner, never praised, never paid with attention. She was sharing her mother dream with all heart... but she envied, that Nuka was not and even he found some life aside war of the prides. She wished to know, that was her destiny. That why she so often asked stars for help. But stars were silent.

Even when she felt some soothing presence of some unknown, but also well known spirit, she heard nothing.

“Maybe this is point of life.” She muttered, looking on Nuka and Hawaa. “I must find my place by myself.” She slowly started to descend from mound. Whatever Nuka was intending to do in night, she had to get some sleep.

02 – Gloria victis

So Scar was dead.

Night had came to the Prideland and when rainy clouds disappeared, sky lit with thousands of stars. Zira was running through wet savannah in desperate attempt to find lionesses from Golden Pride. But it was almost useless try – they all were on far reconnaissance, west from Priderock. Sarabi had chosen well time for her coup d’etat – king was cut out from any reinforcements and allies. Zira had to search a vast area of plains, where golden lionesses could be. She chose to trust in own instinct. She closed her eyes and speeded ahead.

“Kings of the Past... help me!” she whispered in minds. “Scar, my love, help me!”

She had luck, because she missed a patrol of Pridelanderesses, that was banishing Shakisa. Shakisa had bad luck, because she was exiled without even knowing of Zira’s search. When she was pushed to north by enraged Prideland’s lionesses, Zira went to west, hoping to find any of her friends there. But even when rain ceased and night sky became clear, stars weren’t able to show queen’s her way. Until dawn, Zira was wandering through savannah, with no success in her quest. Because of that, she was still attacked by heavy and mournful thoughts.

“He is dead, he is DEAD! HE IS DEAD!” she was repeating with breaking voice. In one day her all life had collapsed. It turned from hard, but glorious duty of queen to fate of outsider. But even such a burden didn’t disrupt clear Zira’s logic.

“I must find any of my pridemates, tell her what has happened and return to Nuka and Vitani... as soon as possible!” she thought with fear. She already lost her mate. Lose of children was not an option for her. She had to do something, she...

“RAMA!” called Zira with hope and relief, seeing old friend from Golden Pride. Lioness was moving slowly, with merry smile on her face. When she noticed her queen, she jumped with joy, like cub.

“Zira!” she exclaimed. “My lady! Rain! We are saved.” Zira ran to old lioness, just to be hugged by her. “Look! We are saved! Scar saved us all! Rain, life... we are alive!” she burst in crazy laughter.

“Scar... is dead!” yelled queen with breaking voice. Rama froze in place, looking on her queen with terrified eyes.

“What? What?” she was repeating in shock. “What you’re talking about?!”

“Stop!” shouted Zira. “Calm down and listen to me... please!” she finished with sobbing. “There was a mutiny on Priderock. Simba returned from exile and killed Scar. Hyenas turned against king too. They want to kill us!” Rama sat on the ground, shaking with all body. She tried to say something, but Zira interrupted her. “My dear, you must do what I say. Find all our lionesses and tell them to go to our cub’s sanctuary. There are Nuka Vitani and Yakta. I must go... as soon as possible!”

“Yes ma’am!” replied Rama, recovering her sobriety. She had no idea, who those <Simba> was, but she knew, that then was a poor moment to ask for explanations.

“Go, now!” called Zira. “Find Golden Ones and tell them to avoid Pridelanders. Then, go to cub’s sanctuary!”

Before lioness could ask her queen single question, she found herself alone in wet savannah. Zira already was speeding back to her cubs. So Rama turned back to west and started to run.

“What happened?” she asked herself. “It seemed to be all right, rain came... We were saved. Scar is dead? Ow, Stars, help us!”

*

Nuka was crying, like he already known, what had happened.

“I’m sorry, mom!” he sobbed, when Zira came to their small den. “I told you too late... Forgive me!”

Lioness didn’t ask for nothing, she just hugged her son and sleeping daughter and remained that way for long hours, until Nuka felt asleep. Presence of her cubs calmed her down and forced to logical thinking. Although she was in shock, she realized, that she was responsible for life of pride and her children. This thought wiped out any sing of mourn or panic from her mind. In those hours of uneasy sleep with Nuka and Vitani, she threw away all doubts and hesitate. She was for once again “Steel Zira”, lioness who guided Golden Pride through desert. Now, desert turned to be a rage of Pridelanders, but she had to got through anyway.

“No tears from now!” she whispered in cold night. “You’ve got a job to do!”

When first ray of sun shone, she gentle awoke Nuka.

“My dear...” she whispered quietly, carefully not to disturb Vitani’s sleep. “I must go on hunting.”

“Sarabi will bring us food.” Said cub, but suddenly he realized, what had happened. “Ow, yes... you must.”

“Nuka, stay quiet and try not to be seen... There might come some bad lionesses from Priderock.”

“Those who killed daddy?” asked cub with sleepy voice.

Zira opened her jaw with amaze. How he could guesses that? But she just said to him with calm and gentle voice.

“Yes, beware of Pridelanders. Our lionesses will be here soon. Then you will be safe.”

“Mommy!” yelled Nuka, who seemed to be already fully awaken. “You must be careful... they will hunt on you first!”

“Hush! I know that!” she replied. “But I must get something to eat. Be brave, Nuka. You are the son of Scar, remember that!”

She licked his son’s face,