then Taka extended his claws. He even didn’t realise what he was doing because wave of anger washed his mind. Dahabu wanted to proclaim himself as a king before his brother left the land. This not what was fixed in their unwritten agreement. Just like Amali, Taka was about to leave Prideland before coronation and that why he hadn’t had to pay a iliate him in front of Pridelanders and force to homage. For few heart-beats Taka wanted to pounce on brother and finish it for good. But he restrained his rage and just growled.

“You start your reign with betrayal! Godspeed, brother!” and instantly, without any other word of farewell, he started to run due north.

Golden-maned was looking on speeding lion for long minutes, chewing in silence last curse of Taka. He hadn’t wanted to finish in that way. But what other choice he had? He had to assume a throne after his father, for common good of kingdom and pride. For keeping the peace and order in Prideland in times of the Second Drought. Land couldn’t afford for war, even just cold war of two claimants. In spite Dahabu loved Taka (or least he was convinced about it), that love couldn’t disrupt his reason and ability to judge the things as they were. Especially state-matters. Younger of Tanabi’s sons had to go away and any of bitter reproaches could change it. When black-maned disappeared behind the hill, Dahabu whispered to northern wind.

“Good luck, Taka. Let the Kings of the Past guide you, wherever you want to go.” And then he went back into Priderock’s direction. Dawn was coming and he had to be ready for announcing his new subjects a good news.

Meanwhile younger lion was quickly passing the kilometres of savannah to the border. Actually he understood perfectly motives of his brother and just after few minutes he regretted so cold and furious farewell. But he had no time to stop and get back. Dawn was nearing mercilessly and he had to get outside his homeland before Dahabu’s proclamation. That wasn’t too long distance but exhausted and thirsty lion, who was deeply sinking in dust of savannah, was not just running but marching to the desert. He was a hard male but he was also forced to effort much above his limits. After about hour he felt dizziness and soaring in throat. Brother even hadn’t let him to drink before the journey. Only fully safe and clean source in kingdom was nearby Priderock and Dahabu was responsible to distribute the precious liquid. Taka hadn’t quenched his thirst before burial, too touched by whole situation to think about body’s needs. But before he reached border he had understood his error. He knew that he was trying something crazy – march through the desert in the middle of drought, additionally during dry season. He was hungry, thirsty and sleepy. But he also had no choice – he had to leave his home. Even for short moment he didn’t presume that his brother was wishing him death, but whole this pitiful situation could ended in that way. “I must drink from slime of Border River.” Thought disgusted lion. “Or I won’t last long.”

To almost dried backwater of river he got few minutes before dawn. He submerge a thirsty lips into mud and tried to suck every gram of water from it. Liquid was salty and lion knew what salt could do with dehydrated organism. But he trusted in his luck and strength of his body. He drank till he was full and his stomach refuse to receive more poisoned water. Then he got through the streak of mud and fell motionless on sand of the Great Desert. He did it – escaped from own home.

And a moment later a distant roar of lion sounded. Taka barely heard a proclamation of brother. In that moment he was lying, shrunken on dry sand, fighting the overwhelming weakness of body. He knew that it wasn’t time for sleep. He had to go ahead, for good or bad, but do everything for not to fall asleep under scorching rays of sun. When calls of animals announced common joy on Prideland, Taka stood up and made a first sn: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">“You start your reign with betrayal! Godspeed, brother!” and instantly, without any other word of farewell, he started to run due north.

Golden-maned was looking on speeding lion for long minutes, chewing in silence last curse of Taka. He hadn’t wanted to finish in that way. But what other choice he had? He had to assume a throne after his father, for common good of kingdom and pride. For keeping the peace and order in Prideland in times of the Second Drought. Land couldn’t afford for war, even just cold war of two claimants. In spite Dahabu loved Taka (or least he was convinced about it), that love couldn’t disrupt his reason and ability to judge the things as they were. Especially state-matters. Younger of Tanabi’s sons had to go away and any of bitter reproaches could change it. When black-maned disappeared behind the hill, Dahabu whispered to northern wind.

“Good luck, Taka. Let the Kings of the Past guide you, wherever you want to go.” And then he went back into Priderock’s direction. Dawn was coming and he had to be ready for announcing his new subjects a good news.

Meanwhile younger lion was quickly passing the kilometres of savannah to the border. Actually he understood perfectly motives of his brother and just after few minutes he regretted so cold and furious farewell. But he had no time to stop and get back. Dawn was nearing mercilessly and he had to get outside his homeland before Dahabu’s proclamation. That wasn’t too long distance but exhausted and thirsty lion, who was deeply sinking in dust of savannah, was not just running but marching to the desert. He was a hard male but he was also forced to effort much above his limits. After about hour he felt dizziness and soaring in throat. Brother even hadn’t let him to drink before the journey. Only fully safe and clean source in kingdom was nearby Priderock and Dahabu was responsible to distribute the precious liquid. Taka hadn’t quenched his thirst before burial, too touched by whole situation to think about body’s needs. But before he reached border he had understood his error. He knew that he was trying something crazy – march through the desert in the middle of drought, additionally during dry season. He was hungry, thirsty and sleepy. But he also had no choice – he had to leave his home. Even for short moment he didn’t presume that his brother was wishing him death, but whole this pitiful situation could ended in that way. “I must drink from slime of Border River.” Thought disgusted lion. “Or I won’t last long.”

To almost dried backwater of river he got few minutes before dawn. He submerge a thirsty lips into mud and tried to suck every gram of water from it. Liquid was salty and lion knew what salt could do with dehydrated organism. But he trusted in his luck and strength of his body. He drank till he was full and his stomach refuse to receive more poisoned water. Then he got through the streak of mud and fell motionless on sand of the Great Desert. He did it – escaped from own home.

And a moment later a distant roar of lion sounded. Taka barely heard a proclamation of brother. In that moment he was lying, shrunken on dry sand, fighting the overwhelming weakness of body. He tep north. When sounds fell silent, lion was already thirty steps away from home. He was ignoring the celebration behind him – he had only one task. To go ahead and ahead. “Maybe... somewhere there a new home and a new home is waiting for me?” Thought but then even his thoughts he hid deeply. He couldn’t afford constant disruption of  uneasy mind. He had at least five days of way before him. Or less, if he would died on route, what after few hours of marching turned to him as a tempting perspective.

Sun raised up from east and quickly climbed on the sky, going to northern part of firmament. Wind was blowing weakly, however it was causing a clouds of dusk that was soaring his nose and mouth. Taka had eyes shut – he was guided by burning sun from above and saw it through eyelids. But also he was led by ancient instinct of desert wanderer. And additionally he was guided by someone else, however he didn’t know that.

“Just great!” was murmuring Sparthi, walking next to grand-nephew. “You have a quarter of golden lion’s blood in your veins, but won’t help too much if you have no water in your stomach.”

Even if black-maned took a look aside, he wouldn’t saw dead Golden King. King from the Past was calmly staring on his kin, didn’t try to establish any contact – as a patron of desert wanderers he had many duties and was limited by numerous prohibitions. He couldn’t even help Taka with his heavenly might, because it would be transgressing the laws of Circle. So he was just looking, but it’s good to remember that sight of Ancient Ones is much sharper than ours. Sparthi saw not only weary and hobbling silhouette of Zira’s grandson but he was able to look inside dehydrated organism. Living lion was marching with remnants of his strength and dehydration and impossibility of removal of toxin from his tired body was pushing lion to the edge of consciousness. Until dusk there were still three long hours that Taka had to walk through or at least to stay in shelter, without falling in deadly sleep.

Sparthi was unable to do anything. With the wind he was just whispering the words of encouragement but lion, focused on his slow march was ignoring them. “And good.” Thought desert patron. „Let him go. If he survive this way it means that he is strong. He will survive! He is grandson of Zira! This will be a sign that the Circle of Life has chosen him to important quest.” And Golden King was right – in spite of dizziness, burning cuts on paw-pads and body, boiling with its own toxins, about an hour before sunset Taka got to Far Oasis.

“That means...” thought Sparthi with bitterness. “This was once <The Last Oasis>, a part of Golden Sands.