be there.” Said Raia on last stop, lying down next to Kota. “Sir, awake us before the dawn. We will collect a dew...”

“In that den dew will stay to the dawn.” Murmured surprised Taka, pointing on pan in rock. “There is no need to wake up so early. We will drink anyway...”

“But I prefer to see how you are collecting moisture from as small stones as those ones.” She looked on pile of limestone pieces nearby their bedding. “Please.”

“Yes, of course.” Agreed a bit ashamed arbiter. “Kota?”

“Thank you, but I prefer to sleep a little longer...”

*

Sahel Plains never were a fertile land. Once it was placed partially on swamps and main prey of local lions were either giant and extremely hard to kill cape buffalos or small game from marsh. When the Second Drought came, swamps dried up, turning into weird-looking plains of sallow lumps. Only swamp that remained was a bed of Muddy Torrent, one of the Border River’s tributary. Rest of territory was covered with dried savannah, on north slowly turning into a desert. But in spite of that... or maybe: thanks to that, the crisis hadn’t destroyed Sahel Plains. There was little preys, but there always was little. There was too less water, as well as earlier was too much. King and ten of his lionesses were living peacefully in their land, quite nicely enduring trials of the Circle of Life. Without hesitation they joined Taka’s alliance, surrendering to requests and restrictions in hunting preys, demanded by arbiter. Additionally old, hoary-maned monarch, welcomed guest warmly.

“We haven’t many goods to share, but what we have is yours as well.” Announced ruler with conviction.

Sahel Cave was in cliff of Muddy Torrent. Entrance was directed north, but from midday sun, keep was shielded by high wall of the other bank of river. It was a calm and secluded place where our trio could rest from constant wind of desert and omnipresent sand. Hodari led his guests to his keep, still talking with proud voice.

“I’m afraid that you may find my cave a bit narrow, because we already hosting few additional manes. But those are nice guests so I believe you will live on goods term with them.”

“Who...” started lion, but in that moment he noticed on doorstep of cave well known silhouette.

“Taka?” amazed Amali. „Brother...”

„Yes, it’s me again.” Replied black-maned, carefully hiding a sigh of relief, seeing her sister. “It happened that Circle of Life guided me here.”

“Mtanga!” called Pridelandress to cave. “Look who is here!”

“Come in, come in!” invited Horadi. “I will introduce you to my lionesses and my queen.”

Inside they found ten females, including one, lying on special prepared bedding. Taka quickly figured out that was ruler’s mate, expecting a child. Moreover in Hodari’s cave were living four additional lions: Taka’s brother-in-law, Mtanga and three rouges, met by arbiter’s sister and her mate during their way from South Forest.

“Baridi, Hofu, Udole.” Introduced them Mtanga. In voice of male Taka sensed a carefully hidden irritation, however black-maned wasn’t able to find the reason. “We are here thanks to Horadi’s hospitality. But if he has now eighteen mouths to feed we must reconsider further way. Especially that lady Kivuli could deliver any moment...” added with clear annoyance and pointed on queen.

“There is no hurry, my friend.” Replied ruler with merry voice. “Until we could feed you we will host you. But Taka, my dear, tell us what with yours? In Prideland, in Golden Sands...”

So arbiter sat down inside of circle of lionesses and started to tell news from others Lions Lands. Finally he told a brief report from his grandmother’s kingdom. Those news interested both Sahel Ones and, unexpectedly, Mtanga. Wanderer inquired about detail on Dhabau’s reign, making Raia very suspicious.

“I don’t like him.” Whispered to Kota. “He is trying to put Taka on to criticise our lord.”

“Taka said nothing untrue about Dhalimu.” Replied golden-furred, although she also was a bit confused by interest of lion.

“He refuse to participate in alliance...” murmured Hodari. “That’s bad, but we can’t help it. He is king after all.”

“If he exercises his power in bad way, he should to be deposed.” Threw Mtanga en passant. Hearing this Raia gasped. “That’s a fact, miss. Rulers have theirs duties to their subjects.”

“Indeed.” Agreed sandy-furred. „For example: to defend kingdom from strays...”

But that reply missed of attention of gathered lions. Instead of that king, lionesses and guests laid down to sleep in deeper chamber. For a while Taka was talking with sister, but soon those two fell asleep too. The only awaken creatures in Sahel Plains were four of lions: Mtanga and his companions.

Just after end of arbiter’s tale, they sneaked out the cave and went on savannah, about half a mile away from royal keep. All they were marching in silence, as if dead plain could eavesdrop their talks. Night was dark, moonless and even stars seemed to shine not as bright as usual, partially shaded over dusty clouds. It was an ideal time for plotters and secret deliberations.

“Hunt me down!” thought enraged Mtanga. “Everything was going so well... Old Hodari hadn’t children apart of deceased Asta. What came over him to take a young mate and conceive a cub? He got like Amali so much, that he was treating her almost as a daughter. I thought that I would get the throne thanks to that, but he had to complicate all things!” He stopped that angrily thoughts to recall Taka’s words. “But maybe it’s time to search for another chance. That Dhalimu must be a real rascal. Even crippled zebra won’t shed a tear after him, if we depose him. It could be arranged, if guys help. And they will help if I... convince them to our sacred cause... That is: crown for me!”

They stopped under a lone acacia, then Mtanga took a look around, checking if somebody is watching them. Finally, clearly appeased, he climbed on some low branch of tree and looked on his friends. He smiled in mind.

“Listen to me... I know where we should go.” Started with fiery tone. “You heard about dreadful Dhalimu and his bloody reign. That is our aim: to get know more about him and then make all what will be necessary to depose him!”

“Hm...” interrupted Baridi. “But what if we are wrong? One of those lionesses told many good things about that king.”

“But he is a king!” replied wandered. “Everyone of them is evil. And that one especially...”

“But, but...” threw Hofu. “...when we were trying to liberate Prideland from Dahabu, it turned out that all lionesses came to help him! He was defended not only by a queen but also others females. We had to run, because that so called <oppressed subjects> were ready to stand for tyrant...”

“No!” gasped Mtanga. “The time will come for Prideland.” He added. “I’m too weak to prevail Dahabu by my own and guys failed that time. Maybe Golden Sands would be easier pray for us.” He thought and said. “Those lionesses were so oppressed that they even were unable to feel the taste of freedom. That why they were defending their own persecutor. But in Golden Sands will be different. There the pride is ready to live without a king.” Finished with firm voice and added in mind. “...but it would be even better if I were a king! We must just make a reconnaissance... Or even we will be able to convince noble Taka to do the dirty job.” Then he said aloud. “We will make sure of that. Who are we?”

“Tyrannocides!” called three lions.

“With whom we fight?”

“With wicked monarchs!”

“What for we seek?” asked wanderer with passion in his voice and chocking laughter in his soul.

“Freedom for all!” cried rouges.

“Exactly!” whispered with grave voice Mtanga. “We will depose that king and some day: every king. The time of monarchs passed. We are the future! The freedom will prevail!”

[Song “The rain to come”. Melody is mysterious and ominous with a tune of pathos.]

[Mtanga jumps down from branch among rouges – they jump aside. Lion turns to acacia and hit with all might in branch he was sitting earlier. It breaks to pieces – it was rotten.]

Like drought is turning wood into the dried, dead rot

The same our old world is rotten, falling on the spot

[In his paws remain a portion of touchwood. He slowly spills it on the ground.]

So let from its pathetic rest

Create the new, create the best

A brave new world proper just for a brave new day

[Small heap he created, he treads into ground, then he returns to trunk of tree.]

After old pictures left so many hollow frames

It’s time for change and burn the thrashes that remain

[He extends his claws and scratches on acacia’s bark.]

In the era of bared teethes

The strength is what we do believe

And with the claws we’ll punish tyrants of today

[He pulls out a piece of bark and smash it into smaller pieces.]

Chorus:

Because old world is dried and we are rain to come

We burn all weeds and pull out roots that they are from

[He pull the sprout that sticks out from ground. He discovers he is holding a solid root of tree, so he cuts it with claw and throws away.]

On scorched soil it's time to sow

 Bring ashes fruit, bring dust to grow

That just because we are the promised rain to come

[He tosses up a pawful of sand. Sand falls on three rouges. They, a bit irritated, shook it off.]

Second verse:

The throne is past and finally came a time to change

There is a king in every one, the reign’s in range

[He extends his claws and scratches on acacia’s bark.]

t;">[Mtanga comes to rouges and bends down to Baridi’s ear. Sings.]

Let every one be oneself king

The freedom’s call is what we sing

And the shine of equality what we arrange

[Than he stands between Hofu and Udole, points on a ground below theirs feet.]

Ow, kingship

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