lion came to him.

“Move and die!” gasped Horen. “Answer only to my questions and I will let you live. Are you ready?”

“YES!” called friends in panic.

“First question: where is Shakisa and her cub?”

“Not here!” yelled Timon.

“Great.” Smiled Horen. He turned to his companions. “Let’s go!”

“But boss!” protested Daki. “Don’t believe him!”

“We must interrogate him!” added Laki.

Twins came to scared creatures, Daki grabbed Pumbaa in strong grip and Laki caught Timon in paw. He raised paralysed merkaat and got him over his mouth.

“If you don’t answer or we judge, you lie, my bro will eat him. Do you understand?” Pumbaa nodded. “So, where is Shakisa.”

“I don’t know!” yelled warthog and Laki lowered Timon to mouth. “Simba exiled her! Stop!” Laki stopped to closing his jaws. “It was just after Scar’s death! Whole pride took Shakisa and her cub and escort them... I guess, to border... I don’t know which one.”

“Let him go!” said Horen. “Pigs don’t lie.”

Timon was released and landed awkwardly on the rock floor. But he instantly stood and ran to Pumbaa’s corner. Meanwhile, Horen was finishing search of cave.

“No one is here!” he judged. “Those preys have right. There even no place to imprison a lion! Our mission is over.” Finished with relief and ran out from cave. Twins followed him leaving shaking Timon and Pumbaa without a word.

“Are they gone?” whispered warthog.

“I guess...” replied Timon. “Carnivores, oy!”

*

Two divisions were standing against themselves in silence, waiting for first move of enemy.

Zira wasn’t in hurry, first - because she was leading just decoy team, second - Simba was hidden behind rank of lionesses and Nala was standing right in ut not totally abandoned. Timon and Pumbaa were laying in corner of main chamber, shaking on all body.

“Those are those <hostages>?” asked Horen with anger. “There are just preys! Warthog and mongoose...”

“He is actually a merkaat, sir!” interrupted Pumbaa.

“Shout up, we are playing dead!” yelled Timon.

“I was just defending you honour...” replied warthog, but he froze in silence, when redmaned lion came to him.

“Move and die!” gasped Horen. “Answer only to my questions and I will let you live. Are you ready?”

“YES!” called friends in panic.

“First question: where is Shakisa and her cub?”

“Not here!” yelled Timon.

“Great.” Smiled Horen. He turned to his companions. “Let’s go!”

“But boss!” protested Daki. “Don’t believe him!”

“We must interrogate him!” added Laki.

Twins came to scared creatures, Daki grabbed Pumbaa in strong grip and Laki caught Timon in paw. He raised paralysed merkaat and got him over his mouth.

“If you don’t answer or we judge, you lie, my bro will eat him. Do you understand?” Pumbaa nodded. “So, where is Shakisa.”

“I don’t know!” yelled warthog and Laki lowered Timon to mouth. “Simba a middle of row, well guarded. But she was about to be main target. Golden queen was preparing herself in spirit.

Her small army was formed in optimal formation: she with Amini in middle, Rama and Doria on left, Vii and Theli on right. But anyway they looked pathetic in front of eleven lionesses and one lion. Zira knew, that fight was unavoidable, but she was hoping, that rouges in any moment report of accomplishing their mission.

“You are not welcome here!” growled Simba. In that moment moon was covered by heavy, rainy clouds.

“You aren’t person, who could welcome me here.” Replied Zira. “This is land of king Scar and his heir.” She looked on Pridelanderesses. “Bow to king Scar and give away this usurper.” She pointed on Simba. “Then I’ll let you live.”

Zira noticed few disturbing things. All lionesses from Simba’s pride were self-confident and determined. Also, they are looking on Golden Ones with scorn and hostility. So, there were no chances for mutiny against usurper. Only Sakia, grey-fured and blue-eyed lioness wasn’t so enraged on attackers. She was looking rather like lost and scared. Her stare for one second met with Zira’s. lioness called in silence just one word <Sorry!>, but she was still standing in foe’s rank.

“Release Shakisa and Yakta!” gasped golden queen, but she noticed just empty stare of Simba. “Let the cub out! He has nothing to do with our fight.” Added, and threat turned almost to plead.

“There is no Shakisa here, as well as her cub.” Answered usurper. “We exiled her. Haven’t she joined your pride?” asked with some doubts in  his voice.

“Stars, he is probably telling truth!” thought Zira with fear. “So if Shakisa haven’t found us...”

“MURDERER!” roared queen. “You have killed both your king and innocent cub! You are damned!”

Simba narrowed his eyes and ice bolt hit his heart. Something came terribly wrong, he didn’t want to kill anybody. For sure, not mother and child. Felt very uncertain, but Nala replied instead of him.

“King punished a rebel. He showed her mercy, sparing life. Say one word more and you won’t get such a luck.”

“One word more!” gasped Zira. “Where have you left her?”

“None of your...” started Nala, but Simba said.

“At the border with Mighty Jungle.” His voice was expressing almost regret. Simba came before rank of lioness, although scared Nala wanted to stop him. But he just stepped between she and Parani and stood just two meters before Zira.

“Go away.” Said firmly. “I don’t want any more killing.”

“Yes... you have killed enough!” replied Zira with freezing voice.

“You do not stand a chance.” Continued Simba, hiding again behind his pride. “Don’t make me to do what I’m don’t want to. But my father’s law orders me...”

“Your father’s law is dead!” gasped queen. “This is Scar’s land and his law is ruling it. Accept it or die.”

In this moment, she noticed three silhouettes, walking trough savannah on north-east. Yes, rouges were going, but not in battlefield direction. Lioness heard gulp of Amini, who probably saw them too. So, they were abandoned, standing against stronger enemy. Zira understood, that they were no chances. There were only two ways: to retreat or to fight to death. Other lionesses understood it too.

“My queen.” Whispered Rama. “We are with you and we will be with you... But think about your cubs... Scar’s cubs.”

“I will hold them.” Said Amini. Zira looked on him with uncertain stare. “It’s my fault, I let them go.” Added with breaking voice. “Forgive, my queen, I failed. Tell you cubs, that I’m sorry. I love you!”

“Amini, NO!” called Zira, but lion pounced on lionesses rank.

Blackmaned jumped on back of surprised Nala and bounced further, to Simba. He felt on him with extended paws and instantly grabbed his neck. King felt to the ground trying to pin adversary with all his mass. Amini gasped in pain, but he didn’t get Simba’s neck loose. They were rolling on the ground, behind surprised lionesses.

“Zira, run!” called blackmaned, but in next second he roared in pain, when king inflicted him first blow. They stopped in plain’s basin, wrestling in merciless fight.

“Retreat!” ordered Zira. “NOW! Rama, help me!” she started to rank of Pridelanderesses.

Although three lioness drew back, to help Simba, eight remained in tight formation, waiting for enemy.

“I’m sorry, my friend.” Whispered queen, when she saw, that her lionesses were speeding north and Rama stayed at her back. “But we can’t leave him. And we must get time for ours pridesisters.”

“I love you, my lady.” Muttered old lioness. “And I won’t let them get you... too easy!”

Two friends pounced on row of foes.

“NO! back!” called Amini, pinned down by Simba and three Pridelanderesses. He was fighting desperately to free his paws, but them were blocked by king’s body. Meanwhile, lionesses were trying to get to his neck. In last attempt, blackmaned extended his claws and started to cut Simba’s body, that was pressing his limbs. King roared from unexpected pain and jumped up. Amini, freed for just moment, used this opportunity, to stand on foot. He started to run in north direction, hitting one of Prideland’s lioness with his body. Lighter, weaker and surprised female felt on the ground, but two of her friends were preparing to pounce.

“ZIRA! RUN!” screamed Amini.

Zira and Rama were in centre of tight ring of lionesses. Touching with back, they were covering themselves, hitting every foe, that tried to attack. It was perfect way of defence, unfortunately, too tiring to keep it long. Nala entered the ring and called.

“Give up and plead for mercy!”

In next second she was hit in head by Amini’s paws. Lion jumped into the circle, trampling from body of stunned Simba and stuck it from inside. He pushed away two lionesses, making a gap between. Zira and Rama noticed this chance at once and run to free space. All three made to savannah, followed by chaotic chase. Even Simba barely stood on foot and it took few seconds to recognize the situation.

“Get them!” ordered stunned king and started with uncertain walk. He was running like drunk, with zigzag route – the hit of Amini made him dizziness.

Trio of runners was speeding through the plain. Zira looked on companions with fear.

“Hurt?” asked briefly.

“A little.” Replied Amini.

“No, but...” panted Rama.

Queen knew, what she had on mind. Older lioness was unable to maintain such a speed for long. In that rate, they wouldn’t get to the river. And they also couldn’t – they had to slow pursuit enough for rest of lioness to get on other bank.

“Rama, don’t do that!” begged queen.

“I... must!” panted old lioness. “I can’t... slow you down...” she had to made few breaths to speak further. “I won’t make it anyway... I will stop them, when...” again, she made pause. “...I feel, I can’t go further.” She looked on Amini, running at her side. “When will come... your turn... try to hit in tendons... slow them!”

Queen understood, what they were talking about: How to cripple as many persecutors, as they

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