dad is furious!” yelled prince. “You disappeared without a word... They’re searching you!”

Kiara regained her sobriety at once and ran out from den.

“Yes, we must go. We must go to Outlands and...”

“WHAT?!” screamed Timon and Pumbaa at once. Meerkat jump of the warthog back and came to lioness. “Tell me one thing, miss... How could you get a sunstroke in hole like this?! Outlands?”

Kiara stopped in place, dramatically trying to remind words from her dream. But she failed.

“Ow... sorry. It was just a dream.” She said. Then, she turned to Tanabi with scared stare. “Is dad really mad?”

“Yes.” Nodded her brother. “I strongly suggest, to back home. Uncles will find dad or Zazu and tell them, you are there. We will ask grandmas and Sakia to tell, you got back right after they went.”

“Yes, let’s do this!” agreed Kiara, nice surprised, her brother was on her side. “Let’s go.”

“Timon, Pumbaa...” ordered Tanabi. “Find the king and tell him...” he wondered for a while. “That you just have been on Priderock and Kiara returned on her own.” Then he turned to south and ran after sister.

“Wow!” sighed Timon. “Firsts, we are forced to participate in hunt. Now, we will perjure! How we got so far?”

But he climbed on friend’s back and pointed on west.

*

“Now, tell me about that.” Asked Kiara. They were speeding through savannah in Priderock’s direction.

“I have not too much to tell.” Confessed Tanabi. “We just discovered at morning, that meat from yesterday’s hunt is gone. Mom led lioness on hunt and dad went to search for you. So grandmas, aunt Sakia and I tried to find out, what is going on. Wait!” panted lion. “If I have to speak, you must slow down. It’s exhausting.”

“Ow, sorry” said lioness and waited for brother. But then she again started with full speed.

“I saw a bloody marks on track down and followed it with uncles. We lost track next to the river, near Elephant Graveyard Ford. I said: wait!” he caught up her sister, when she slowed down a little. “Now your turn. You said about some dream.”

In short time, they made almost half of distance, but every minute was precious. Simba or Zazu could have returned from searching and not find princess on Priderock, what would made sibling’s version doubtful.

“Yes.” Confirmed Kiara. “It was at night. I was dreaming about something... strange... Wait!” she called to brother, who overtook her. “I can’t run so fast and speak with you!”

“Right.” Panted Tanabi. “Let make some break.” They stopped in shade of acacia tree and sat down, stocked out, because of run.

“So... I dreamed about desert... And from the desert came some lion that I have never seen before. He had sandy mane and very wise, blue eyes. He said something I can’t remind... But then I woke up and felt that I must go on north.”

“Because of dream?” surprised Tanabi.

“It wasn’t just a dream.” Replied lioness. “It was like... real meeting, but I can’t recall what that lion told me. And I guess, I wasn’t fully awaken, when I went on savannah.”

Tanabi narrowed his eyes and said with irritation.

“Save it for dad. You can tell me truth.”

“No, I swear!” yelled Kiara. “I have made just few step to north and the I found myself in that strange den. I can’t explain it.”

Prince wasn’t fully convinced, but he nodded. Lioness continued.

“And then I felt in the other dream. But... no, there were two dreams in the same time. In first, quite normal, I guess, I was small and I was playing with dad. But in second, the was the same sandymaned lion and someone more... A very handsome lion with dark fur and black mane. He had some scars on his chest.”

“Scars? Black mane?” amazed Tanabi. “Do you remember tales about dad’s uncle, Scar? Maybe his ghost came to your sleep?”

“No!” disagreed Kiara. “That lion was friendly. I’m sure of that.”

“So, what he said?” asked lion with curiosity.

“I... I don’t remembered.” Said Kiara with shame. “Something about Outlands and... No. I can’t recall a word. I just remembered, that he was so handsome...”

Tanabi sighed loud and scratched his ear with paw.

“Nice tale.” He said. “But for dad, you must find another one.”

“But it was true!”

“It doesn’t matter. We’d better go.” Advised Tanabi.

Siblings started to Priderock and two shady silhouettes of lions stayed next to acacia.

“Not bad.” Said Sparthi. “Even as dead, you are in demand in lionesses.”

“Nice to hear that.” Replied Amini. “But we haven’t accomplished anything. We must find some other way.”

*

In the same moment, Sakia awoke. She felt sudden touch of know presence, but when she raised her head, she saw no one in sleeping chamber. She recalled her dream, to discover, that she had in mind a memory of... Sparthi. Yes, brother of queen Zira was named Sparthi. He was the king of Golden Pride...

Sakia sighed with pain. It started again, conscience got her. She felt, that it was about to repeat – dreams of old times, memories of betrayal she made. For whole month after Scar’s death, she was haunting by nightly pictures of the fallen king and his companions. Then she lied to Rafiki, that she had insomnia, so shaman gave her herbs for better sleep. After some time nightmares fade, leaving lioness with serious question: If only she was disturbing by conscience, or it was whole pride, hiding it strictly. All they were guilty, so all they deserved for a punishment. For time to time, Sakia was convinced, that past is aching Sarabi and Sarafina too. And in that moment, she was almost sure of that, because she noticed, that Sarafina, in the same time, awoke in second chamber. She came to old friend and asked.

“Did you feel... something unusual?”

Sarafina froze in place. She was dreaming about Hawaa and her dream was cut by someone other’s presence. Like someone was trying to say her something, but he failed. “How much she knows?” asked herself Sarafina. “Are my regret is so clear?”

“I had a bad dream, my dear.” Replied old lioness. “Common in our age.”

“Especially, after what we have done.” Wanted to add Sakia, but she just asked. “But now all is right?”

“Scars? Black mane?” amazed Tanabi. “Do you remember tales about dad’s uncle, Scar? Maybe his ghost came to your sleep?”

“No!” disagreed Kiara. “That lion was friendly. I’m sure of that.”

“So, what he said?” asked lion with curiosity.

“I... I don’t remembered.” Said Kiara with shame. “Something about Outlands and... No. I can’t recall a word. I just remembered, that he was so handsome...”

"MsoNormal">“Yes, it was just a dream.” Lied Sarafina. It wasn’t just a dream, because Hawaa was still in Outlands, loathing her old family.

Sakia noticed that pain in friend’s eyes and was sure that Sarafina felt guilty of her betrayal too. She whispered carefully.

“Yes, that is all our fault. But now, it’s too late, to change it.”

She went out from cave, before Sarafina could asked her about anything.

*

“Grandma, we are back!” called Kiara and ran to Sarabi. When she noticed serious face of lioness, she turned her stare to the ground with shame.

“Please, don’t be angry, grandma.” Asked Tanabi. “She needs your help.”

Lioness looked on her grandchildren with surprise. They seldom weren’t in argument, so if Tanabi was defending his sister that had to be something important.

“Your father was so worried!” she muttered, but seeing tears in Kiara’s eyes, she added. “But it’s done. What did you say, Tanabi?”

“Well... if you and grandma Sarafina and aunt Sakia too, say, that she returned just after dad went out, maybe parents won’t be so angry...”

Sarabi smiled, watching this. Maybe, this was not the best way to show sibling’s love, but lioness was anyway happy, that Tanabi was trying to help his sister.

“Right, I tell it Sarafina and Sakia. But you’d, young lady...” she pointed on Kiara. “...better he find some good explanation on this. I hope it won’t happened again!”

“It won’t, grandma.” Whispered princess and Sarabi went into cave.

“So, what should I say father?” asked lion. “I guess, he is going here.” He pointed a silhouette on savannah.

“Well...” wondered Kiara. If even her brother hadn’t believed her, how she could hope, others would. She had only one way to avoid questions and too much of reproaches. Confess everything, or even more, that really happened. “I’ll tell him, that... I just went out in the morning on walk and I’m very sorry.”

“As you wish.” Said surprised Tanabi. “But don’t say, I haven’t tried to help you.”

*

Simba returned shortly after, full of both anger and relief. He disciplined Kiara with bitter speech, but intercession of Sarabi and Tanabi prevented other forms of punishment. Just both king’s children were ban to leave Priderock without company of some other lion.

“Sorry, you are not safe even with Timon and Pumbaa.” Said Simba. “We failed to find this scavenger, so we don’t know, who is he.”

“I tried, father.” Muttered Tanabi.”

“I know and thank you.” Replied king. “If this thief or thefts really came from Elephant Graveyard, it might means, that hyenas are back. We will check this later, with all our pride.”

In this moment, Sarafina came to king’s chamber.

“Rest, Sarafina.” Said Simba. “Zazu have already flown for Rafiki. They will be here soon.”

“I’m all right, at least now.” Replied old lioness. “I was just wondering, about this night quest. “Maybe, my insomnia would be helpful. I can guard on ledge this night...”

“No, just speak with Rafiki.” Ordered king. “We will handle it ourselves.”

*

Shaman came to Priderock just before return of hunting team. He took Sarafina to back cave and started to examine her with his strange and amusing methods. He was singing some incomprehensible chant and touching lioness’s head with fresh coconut’s shells. After some time, he judged.

“Strange... You seem to be perfectly healthy.”

“Is that not because of my age?” she asked. Rafiki smiled and replied.

“No,

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