of coronation. Most of knowledge about that dead land he had from earlier times of his youth. From... "No, that isn't even worthy to remind." muttered silently, throwing away aching memories. shapes of termites mound ê³êóassociated in his mind with days before Zira, before his reign, death of Mufasa, even before exile. "But one day, I came here for her." added with anger. "That was pathetic!"

That took place over three years earlier. Afrer some argument with his father, Taka was banished for a week outside the borders of kingdom and was airy wandering on northern bank of the Border River. Because Sarabi wasn't able to ê³êóaccompany him all the time (due to her duties in the pride), for most of his exile, prince was spending alone, discovering secrets of his homeland's ê³êóvicinity. "Just few more such expeditions..." though Taka someday with irony. "...and I'll became better guy for shaman's place than Rastarian, because I know lot more about our country than him!" He actually knew many mysteries of cursed plateau. He remembered day, when he had been waiting for Sarabi's coming. Usually, he tried to find something for her, just a symbolic gift. Sometimes it was some delicious prey (say it straight - it was rather odd, because Taka in that times before hard school of his year-exile, was a poor hunter), sometimes kind of special ê³êókeepsake. But then the Outlands seemed to be washed of from any delicious creature or treasure. In desperation Taka tried to climb on one from high rock-massif. He was swayed by some blue  shadow, that was noticeable on the top. A spot of raw colour was clearly seen on grey rock.

After almost half an hour of that unusual climbing (although Taka was skilled in trips like that, but that rock was really hard to take) he got to the highest ledge of massif. There he noticed with amaze a tuft of fresh grass and a single beautiful blue flower inside of it.

“Well, well, well...” he murmured. “And how did you sprouted here, my weed?”

He gentle grabbed its stem with teethes and pull it out. The way back was shorter – much shorter, mainly because Taka had already known the route and also because he few times slipped with uncontrolled slide. So he stood on the solid ground just ten minutes after he started to return. And Sarabi was already waiting.

“You have a strange hobby.” Purred lioness with both amusement and anxiety, seeing exhausted beloved. “I don’t think if that is safe.”

“Most likely is not, but worthy of prize.” Panted Taka, coming to her. He bowed his head and giving her blue plant.

“It’s for me?” asked lioness with surprise. “You climbed there for me?”

She licked prince’s forehead and stick the flower over ear.

Three years later Scar was stubbornly marching to the same rock, hoping for similar prize. “If then that weed was able to grow with almost no water, why it shouldn’t be some other plant today?” he thought with expectancy. When Prideland was dying and it was extremely hard to find some flower (or even any other fresh weed) on it, grey rock from the Outlands seemed to be an oasis of life, at lest in king’s eyes.

Scar went to rock-wall and carefully touched the crag. It passed few years since he had been climbing for the last time. And then he was younger and (what was even more important) well fed. That day he felt some dizziness because of hunger (he hadn’t eaten a solid meat since day before) and dryness was soaring his throat. In spite of that he extended his claws and hit the wall. At least he could count on his nails – they were sharp and tough the same as in old times. “Maybe the blood has strengthen them.” Added in mind and started to climb.

He was going carefully and slowly, watching every step he took. He knew that he had to remain extreme caution due to hunger and thirst. He made few breaks to calm his fastened breathing, using every ledge he could. On that night sky was clear so both stars and fullmoon were illuminating his way.

Only one time he got into serious trouble and not his body failed him but rock itself. He grabbed some stone heavily tucking claws in it but eroded limestone broke. Lion found himself hanging on just two paws (left foreleg and right rear leg) just over twenty meters of abyss – much too high to thinking about fall.

“Calm down!” he ordered himself. He took a deep breath and tucked right foreleg into limestone. For next minute he was hanging in that way to regain breath and then he lifted his body on nearest ledge. “It’s high time to rest a little.” He thought.

On the top, or at lest on the highest ledge he could, he got at midnight. He laid on the rock to prevail dizziness and exhaustion, then after several minutes he woke up and looked around... to find nothing.

“Nothing.” He whispered with disappointment.

On the ledge still was growing that tuft of grass – fresh and green, unlike to any other weed in times of drought. Although that there was no flower inside. Scar bended over the tuft. “So much effort in vain... And what I’m supposed to give to Zira?” He looked from the top due south where shape of Priderock was clearly visible on he horizon. There was sleeping his queen, his son and his whole pride.

“Pride” thought king. “How hard to love you all. You don’t respect me and don’t want me. Still you’re crying for Mufasa, for his brute strength and ignorant pride. But it won’t change anything – I am your king, doesn’t matter you don’t trust me. I must guide you in time of drought. And I must love you all, although I don’t like some of you.” He growled silently, like he was claiming his rights even to that deal land. Then he moved to path downhill and started to going back.

Just for coincidence he took some other route. It wasn’t easier or shorter but king wanted to watch his home even during his way. He was sliding down on eroded limestone, painfully scratching his belly with sharp stones. And suddenly he stood on small ledge.

“O!” he amazed, sensing soft grass under his rear paws. Tired, he wanted to laid himself on the ledge, but he restrained in list moment. He noticed unexpected blue spot in tuft of weeds. Gentle he draw bushes to see the flower in all its beauty just the same like had found three years earlier. “Here you are!” he smiled. “On southern slope, shielded from rays of midday sun.” It was small, barely growing over the grass, but its strong roots made some unexpected resistance against jaws of the king. Scar, who usually not likely subjects to aesthetic sentiments, had to admit that it was beautiful. “It has grown here, although it shouldn’t. I found it, although I haven’t deserved it. It will be perfect gift for Zira because it is like Zira itself.” He grabbed plant in jaws with pride. Then he continued his way down.

And Sarabi was waiting on the rock’s foot, just like in old days. Lion was so surprised that in first impulse he extended his claws and pounced on mysterious shadow. He froze with paw next to old beloved neck.

“You...” he whispered.

“Me.” She nodded with calm but sorrowful voice. “It’s for her?”

“For her.” Confirmed king. He released plant from jaws and avoiding Sarabi’s stare he examined his prey. It was intact.

“I knew... Just I wanted to be sure.” Added lioness uncertainly.

“Let go back home.” Said Scar. “Tomorrow will be a hot day.

Without a word he started to river’s cliff. He only one took a look behind to check if Sarabi was following. They were marching in silence until they reached edge of bluff. When steps ceased, Scar heard that she was crying silently.

“Believe me, I wish we could go separately. But it’s too dangerous.” Explained or excused of that situation.

“Are you saying that my safety is still bothering you?” she asked. In spite of shivering voice, some tune of irony was heard.

“Yes, of course.” Replied ruler, looking on lioness with serious stare. “I’m responsible for you like for any other subject.” After longer while of silence he added so gentle as he was able. “Understand me, Sarabi – some things cannot be undone. This is a flower from Scar for Zira, not from Taka for Sarabi. I can’t help it.”

“I know...” said former queen. “But it’s so hard! You have her, but I’m all alone.”

“Well... Not all I think.” Replied blackmaned carefully. He went to lioness and sat just before her. “Look there, on the sky.” She raised her stare.

Firmament was still clear and lighten by the moon and countless stars. Bright points of sky seemed that night much closed to the earth than anytime. Scar knew that was caused by an optical illusion – air-made lens which made some kind of vertical <fata morgana> but he didn’t want to explain this to Sarabi and kill that magic atmosphere. He said, trying to sound like old Taka:

“Somewhere upthere there are... all of them. Those whom we love and those whom we love not, but we are still bound with them. When I felt bad I used to gaze on and speak with Stars. Many times I felt that my mother was looking on me... And sometimes king Ahadi too. I know that such a view can’t change anything from our troubles here, but it’s helping much. Brings serious relief. And...” He hesitated for few seconds but then continued with profound