then it will be done. Understand?”

Kota nodded her head and ran to arbiter. With radiant smile she laid down by lion’s side and nested to his fur. They joined in heavy hug and when indistinct shouts ceased, they called loud <yes>. Then Kota laid on rock, murmuring with joy.

“Stars! I’m so happy tonight!” she said finally.

“Me too...” agreed Taka. “I know I should tell it right now... But don’t expect that our happiness last too long.” She froze, still hugging him. “I’m blind, but my others senses are right. I know that storm is coming. Maybe Dhalimu has some chances to go down by path, but I have not.”

“Hush... I will fix something.” Assured him golden-furred, although she had no idea what she could do. “You’d better sleep.”

“And you?” asked lion.

“I’m guarding because Raia is guarding too.” She replied. “Our marriage haven’t finished that duel. Dhalimu would rather die that break his word. For him the law and custom are sacred, at least the letter of law. With spirit... there was various with spirit...” suddenly she looked in blind eyes of her mate and asked with hope. “Taka... would you want to have a cub with me? Let call him to this world here and now...”

“We will conceive an orphan...” murmured black-maned. “Kota, I would like to... want as nothing also on this world. But you know that...”

“Maybe, that is our last chance.” Interrupted him lioness. “I’m not afraid. And you also don’t have to be afraid.” She kissed him and whispered to his ear. “I want to give you one more reason to live.”

[Song: “Don’t be afraid”. Melody is merry and romantic.]

[Night, quite dark, small number of stars is seen through the veil of dust-clouds. Capture from the air on Golden Massif’s plateau. We see Raia and Dhalimu, lying in hug on south edge of rock in the middle of its width. Kota and Taka are on the western end, next to the path down. Zoom-in on golden-furred and arbiter.

They are lying still, clearly exhausted with love-caresses. On their faces an expression of joy is seen, although on Taka’s muzzle we may notice a tone of anxiety. Together with cruel wounds of his eyes it makes a strange contrast with smile. Kota licks arbiter’s cheek, carefully not to irritate his injuries. She sings.]

First verse, Kota:

Don’t be afraid about tomorrow, if today is still today

You will find a strength to manage, I will help you if I may

Let’s with hope we stand together and look further than sees fear

Believe there is a some forever better than the today’s here.

[She lays on back and looks on the sky. There, from behind clouds more and more stars start to shine. She points them to Taka, suddenly freezing, when she realize he is unable to see them. But lion turns his dead eyes up and smiles with her, as if he actually is seeing them.]

Don’t be afraid of clouds on the sky, because storm is also rain

 Water will quench our thirst and wash us, there’s no harm in little pain

To grow higher, to grow stronger, we must stand this endless test

Don’t be afraid and came to me, we’ll do what could we do the best

[Zoom-in on paws of the couple. Taka’s claws are extended as to fight, but under Kota’s touch it hides to pawpads. Lions are caressing each other paws.]

Chorus, Kota:

Don’t be afraid – because you’re still

Don’t be afraid – it’s just a life

Don’t be afraid – cause I am here

Although world fails, we will survive

[Again a zoom-in on the sky, we see the shooting star. Capture of Taka’s face – he opens his lips in amaze, as if he sees what happens. View from black-maned’s perspective: a dark space, but somehow few bright points lights. Of course this is not physical vision – but spiritual vision of his ancestors. Taka imagines Vitani, Tanabi and Zira, looking from the sky with pride.]

Don’t be afraid – fears matters not

Don’t be afraid – but faith is all

Don’t be afraid – there is no <but>

The love is loudest future’s call

[Camera goes to Raia and Dhalimu. They are lying on backs, side to side and also are looking in stars. On king’s face is seen delight and amaze, as if he has never seen that before. Paws of couple join in the air and caresses tenderly.]

Second verse, Raia:

Don’t be afraid about dead past, tomorrow it’ll be gone

Will be no sins, will be no fears if we realize how much we own

Don’t be afraid if you don’t see, your heart knows way in fact

Just throw away what now you shame to keep you pride intact

[Zoom-in on Dhalimu’s face. In his eyes we see memories from times of his rule – Niva’s funeral, scene when he sent pride to hunt in storm, exile of Taka, he, hitting Raia. Smile on his face fades, but seeing that, Raia licks his cheek (on words: <I may>). Joy returns to lion, visions are gone.]

Dhalimu:

Don’t be afraid, cause all my faults are as dark as this night

But night is only day’s prelude, my wrongs will turn to right

With every day I will repair all what I did to you

If you help me then I may to make a world a new

[Again a capture of Taka. Carefully he stands up and sits next to mate. He blindly searches for her with his paw than gently puts it on her belly. She laughs. Music fades out a little, but still is in the background, paying a tune of verse.]

„I feel that will be the son.” Announces Kota. “Brave and handsome as his father. Future king of Golden Sands.”<

Don’t be afraid – there is no <but>

The love is loudest future’s call

[Camera goes to Raia and Dhalimu. They are lying on backs, side to side and also are looking in stars. On king’s face is seen delight and amaze, as if he has never seen that before. Paws of couple join in the air and caresses tenderly.]

Second verse, Raia:

Don’t be afraid about dead past, tomorrow it’ll be gone

Will be no sins, will be no fears if we realize how much we own

Don’t be afraid if you don’t see, your heart knows way in fact

Just throw away what now you shame to keep you pride intact

[Zoom-in on Dhalimu’s face. In his eyes we see memories from times of his rule – Niva’s funeral, scene when he sent pride to hunt in storm, exile of Taka, he, hitting Raia. Smile on his face fades, but seeing that, Raia licks his cheek (on words: <I may>). Joy returns to lion, visions are gone.]

Dhalimu:

Don’t be afraid, cause all my faults are as dark as this night

But night is only day’s prelude, my wrongs will turn to right

With every day I will repair all what I did to you

If you help me then I may to make a world a new

/span>

“A descendant worthy of my beautiful queen.” Replies proud Taka.

[Music fades in to normal volume – louder tune of verse.]

[Taka stands firmly on his paws and looks with dead stare down, on Acacia Alley. He imagines as if a whole rank of Old Rulers of that land stands there. On the end he sees himself and further a tiny cub, reassembling him and Kota.]

Taka:

Don’t be afraid, the fear is fool, we’re wise enough to go

Although the darkness before me I sense the brightness so

If God allow I’ll make my way wherever we want to

To reach our aim, to reach our fame – there’s nothing we can’t do

[Camera raised up to the sky, finally we see all four of heroes. Then cut to mixed capture of faces of Kota and Raia, lying next to theirs mates. Lionesses have similar expressions of joy and relief.]

Chorus, Kota and Raia together:

Don’t be afraid – because you’re still

Don’t be afraid – it’s just a life

 Don’t be afraid – cause I am here

Although world fails, we will survive

[They sing; <Don’t be afraid> - Raia, the rest of line with a little thinner voice – Kota. In background another stars fails.]

Don’t be afraid – fears matters not

Don’t be afraid – faith lights the dark

Don’t be afraid – there is no <but>

The love is brightest future’s mark

[Music stops, and camera goes up. It’s directed down and oriented to south. That why in some moment – when all massif is seen - we see the shape of heart.]

 

XIV. To die, but to die hard

 

There is a place on the sky that no living one could see. Scar was waiting there for Zira and Vitani. He knew they were about to come, as well he knew about many others matters of sky and earth. As the sky-arbiter he had to be well-informed.

“You already know...” he greeted mate and daughter. “I’m so sorry...”

Chorus, Kota and Raia together:

Don’t be afraid – because you’re still

Don’t be afraid – it’s just a life

 Don’t be afraid – cause I am here

Although world fails, we will survive

[They sing; <Don’t be afraid> - Raia, the rest of line with a little thinner voice – Kota. In background another stars fails.]

Don’t be afraid – fears matters not

Don’t be afraid – faith lights the dark

Don’t be afraid – there is no <but>

>“Dad... You knew?” asked crying Vitani. Although Ancient Ones rarely show earthly emotions, dead queen of Prideland was sobbing. Scar came to her and gentle nestled to her side.

“No, but I sensed that.” He replied. “Taka is the one who will fulfil the round of Circle. As Tanabi said: for every good we must pay dearly.”

”Mom?” whispered blue-eyed Ancient. Golden-furred went to daughter and stood between her and sky-arbiter.

“I didn’t know, but I also sensed what could came from this.” Confessed Zira. “Forgive me.”

“I asked you for help myself.” Sobbed Vitani. “And what I would tell him, when he come to us? That he died because of incompetence of own mother?”

“Your son is still alive.” Noticed Scar, looking on wounded Taka, who was lying on Golden Massif’s plateau.

“Is there still some chance for him?” asked at once both Zara and Vitani.

“Everybody dies, sooner or later.” Said sky-arbiter. “But he has to fulfil his duties before that. Duties to the pride... to his

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