Valey. „But only because I want to get closer to those thugs.”

“I’m coming...” murmured Njaa. “I’m sick of standing on that blasted sand.”

Both lions got closer to each other and stopped on the distance of outstretched paw. But the first ice was broken – Taka, standing between them, sensed that they wanted to negotiate, to talk, or at least to spit few words to offend enemy. That was no too much, but good for a start. That why arbiter made few steps back and said aloud, trying to sound airily.
”Good. As I said already, before you will pounce on yourselves with claws, you have to kill me first. But I’m still wondering about one thing. Just imagine: I’m dead, you are fighting to glorious death... Somebody wins...” dreadful roars of both sides announced common certainness of triumph.“...somebody lost. Then all live long and prosper, of course except of those who died... But what then?” He looked with freeing stare on king. “We have pride of six survived lionesses, with crippled king or without him. Pride is raising ruler’s cubs...” Arbiter took a quick look on one of females in advanced pregnancy. “...hoping that no other group of rouges would come to Green Valley and finish what Njaa has started.” Hearing that Kijani shivered, looked on his queen and turned his stare into the ground. Taka continued. “Or a different situation: Rouges kill king, after long, glorious and bloody fight. They are probably hoping that pride would surrender after lost of ruler and efforts of dead companions won’t be taken in vain. But are they sure if lionesses of Green Valley would obey the murderers of their monarch? Or maybe they would defend the throne for Kijani’s cubs? Think, conqueror, if you wouldn’t be forced to kill each one of your new subjects to provide yourself safety.”

“I’m impressed, desert one.” Interrupted him Njaa. “But such a preaches won’t give us preys nor water us.”

“No.” agreed Taka. “That why you have to find yourselves some other place.” King of Green Valley smiled and please accept me and my friends as a guest on your land.”

“You don’t have to bother, black-maned.” Murmured Njaa. “We will get what we need by ourselves.”

“Maybe, but not here.” Replied arbiter, even not looking on elder. “This valley belongs to Green Pride.” And to king he said. “Sir, host us for one night, feed and water us. On tomorrow’s evening we will go on south.

“You will, comrade?” jeered one of rouges.

“Silence!” gasped black-maned. “When they rest, they will go with me on Sunny Plains, to seek for new waterholes and to learn how to live on savannah. I also wish that at least two lionesses of your pride go with me and learn the same. It will be helpful for your kingdom and a relief for your water-stock when king’s heir will be born.”

“But what for?” surprised Tanabi, looking carefully on son’s face.

“Nicely done!” judged Sparthi. “Young Taka wants actually to learn those lionesses of desert knowledge, but probably he hopes for something more. Do you see that two females?” he showed to Simba’s son two grey-furred, standing aside. “They are restless and tired of living in pride. Most likely Kijani will send them with your son and rouges. One of them could never return home. That younger one is named Kadiri. Matura, the tallest of rouges, since over a quarter is looking on her like on sun. Maybe they will became mates and left the pride? Less mouths to feed in those days means greater chances for cubs to survive. Really, Taka has brains!”

Meanwhile arbiter was guiding five of rouges among lionesses. He still was watching on Kijani and Njaa, ready to interfere if leader decided to change theirs minds about pack. But he felt that the worst is already gone. Another conflict was appeased and another pride was close to accept the alliance. Additionally, black-maned provided himself some company on incoming weeks of desert march. He was glad about it too, because loneliness started to became more and more annoying. More and more often he dreamed a merry, but in the same time sad dreams about his old home and Golden Sands. And of course, about Kota. He was comforting himself that he was about to return to his grandmother’s land. Golden Pride was a final part of his coalition.

“Thank you.” Whispered Kimeta to Taka’s ear. “For me, Kijani and our child. I hope, you will still look after our pride.”

“I hope so too.” Murmured arbiter. “I started to like this job.”

And he went with reconciled lions into valley. Silhouettes of satisfied Kings of the Past flew back to the sky.

*

Zira didn’t see that another triumph of Taka. Dead queen were looking from different part of firmament on different scene. That was: on her homeland. That night Golden Sands were stepped in darkness and almost perfect silence. Even the slightest wind wasn’t blowing and every creature seemed to sleep deeply and calmly. But in Golden Cave no one slept. And no one was calm.

Dhalimu was marching through royal chamber, over and over, from one wall to the other, passing before a tight rank of his subjects. Although queen could accompany her mate in inspection, she had instinctively stood next to pride-mates at the end of the line. She lowered her head, just as her companions and seemed to be ashamed and scared as well. King was furious and furious on everybody.

“Whole day! And whole team was hunting, weather was good! You retuned with nothing! Nothing!” repeated lion with powerful voice and stood in front of his mate. White-furred bended her head even lower. “I’m sure you will yell about drought, cursed and that other prides steal our preys. But it doesn’t justify your incompetence.”

“Justify.” Murmured Zira, heard by no one. Ghost of lioness descended to cave and stood exactly behind her grandson. As Dhalimu was furious on his pride, Zira was furious on him. “They finished hunting when firsts signs of incoming storm came. If wind burst then and they were still hunting, sand would have killed them. You know it, Dhalimu.” Dhalimu didn’t know, or at least he wasn’t able to ask his reason. So he just raised his front-right paw and extended his claws. He took his limb before Niva’s face and froze in place.

“This is the king’s paw. You see? Strong and healthy, ready to defend our home. But if we are going to starve, I – the ruler - will leave the cave that I have to guard and go with you on tomorrow’s hunt.” He put his paws on the ground and started to next end of row. When he made few steps, white-furred, gathering all her courage, said with quiet and uncertain voice.

“My lord, that storm will surely come tomorrow.”

“WHO SAID THAT?!” growled ruler, turning his stare on the rank. Before queen managed to react, she heard a voice of her sister, standing next to her.

“I did!” Dhalimu with paw inflicted a blow in her occiput, so sandy-furred hit with muzzle on to the ground. Apart of hollow smack of blow, she made no sound. Instantly she added. “Forgive me, my lord. I’m wrong.”

“You are.” Agreed monarch. Raia’s voice was so similar to voice of her sister, that Dhalimu was convinced that sandy-furred had objected his rebukes. Satisfied that he had punished a rebel, he started again to next end of row. “So, tomorrow I will lead you on hunt. I’ll show you how you should fulfil your duties.”

Kota was desperately thinking about that. Dhalimu couldn’t hunt – he was mighty and strong lion, but a lion, not lioness. Nature fitted him with all skills needed in fight and defence of pride, but hadn’t made him hunter neither in body nor in spirit. Golden-furred understood that to successful chase a patience, calmness and ability to repress own pride (to work in team) were required. And king had none of those gifts. Probably next hunting was about to finish as a catastrophe – if even storm wouldn’t come to Golden Sands, Dhalimu wouldn’t be able to lead a successful chase. And for his failure he would surely blame his subjects. Kota looked discretely on Raia and decided that a risk was necessary.

“There is no need, sir!” exclaimed, putting as much humility in that, as she could. “Next time we will bring a decent prey. I promise!” “Now hiin inspection, she had instinctively stood next to pride-mates at the end of the line. She lowered her head, just as her companions and seemed to be ashamed and scared as well. King was furious and furious on everybody.

“Whole day! And whole team was hunting, weather was good! You retuned with nothing! Nothing!” repeated lion with powerful voice and stood in front of his mate. White-furred bended her head even lower. “I’m sure you will yell about drought, cursed and that other prides steal our preys. But it doesn’t justify your incompetence.”

“Justify.” Murmured Zira, heard by no one. Ghost of lioness descended to cave and stood exactly behind her grandson. As Dhalimu was furious on his pride, Zira was furious on him. “They finished hunting when firsts signs of incoming storm came. If wind burst then and they were still hunting, sand would have killed them. You know it, Dhalimu.” Dhalimu didn’t know, or at least he wasn’t able to ask his reason. So he just raised his front-right paw and extended his claws. He took his limb before Niva’s face and froze in place.

“This is the king’s paw. You see? Strong and healthy, ready to defend our home. But if we are going to starve, I – the ruler - will leave the cave that I have to guard and go with you on tomorrow’s hunt.” He put his paws on the ground and started to next end of row. When he made few steps, white-furred, gathering all her courage, said with quiet and uncertain voice.

“My lord, that storm will surely come tomorrow.”

“WHO SAID THAT?!” growled ruler, turning his stare on the rank. Before queen managed to react, she heard a voice of her sister, standing next to her.

“I did!” Dhalimu with paw inflicted a blow in her occiput, so sandy-furred hit with muzzle