and make some plan. The negotiations. Then not with enemy but with his friends. To convince them to give up. To make Chanua and kids escape with him... And then? “I’m not leaving them.” Thought regent desperately. “I just can’t solve problem alone. I will go to some lion land and help local pride for help...” And then he realised that in only two prides he know well he was probably the most hated lion ever. “Who will help me?” yelled in mind. “Pride of Kovu? Kovu would help murderer of his father? Or maybe that Pridelanders? I killed just Kilia, but they probably don’t know about it... is that possible that one error in past could escalate to such a stalemate?” And Spotty. What she would think about him, when he confess her they have to leave. What he hadn’t said it was he hadn’t been completely unconscious then on clearing when lioness was first talking to him. Barely but he remembered her words and that sad song. “Again I have to be a trickster.” He concluded. “No one will die, Chanua, Kwini, Jino, Spotty and I will temporally withdraw and return when time will be right... I will convince them. I can be very convincing.” Finished his plans, almost believing he was actually good guy then.

VI. Facing the enemy...

It sounded paradoxically, but Keme’s mad plan to kill Green Pride was easier to apply than just a plain conquer. All what rouges needed to do was to hunt down lionesses, one by one until they were all gone. Of course, many of gerge noticed serious lacks of that idea. For example, if they were Greenlanders they would have ran away finding what meant rage of Keme. But this was just a secondary, technical matter. Mshauri was thinking about something else – mainly about: WHY THE HELL THEY WERE GOING TO MURDER WHOLE PRIDE!?

“Stars!” thought rouge. “Keme is mad! I don’t want to participate in his sick vendetta. Masafa was a cool guy, but it doesn’t mean we should celebrate him with such a mess!”

Leader’s adjutant couldn’t be described as too noble or too kind-hearted, however he knew some boundaries – slaughtering of lionesses, most likely innocent (Masafa was the attacker and whoever killed him, did it in self-defence) was not his cup of tea. But how tell it to Keme? In such state of mind chief was ready to tear every rebel to pieces. Mshauri knew that rouges were too scared to disobeyed Keme and if leader ordered to kill his advisor for betrayal, they would have done it. For the very first time the idea of deflecting aroused in Mshauri’s mind. It sounded funny, almost ridiculous, but somehow it was chance to survive without spotting his paws in blood... too much. But how could he? He was with gerge for three years and pack saved his life. Even if adjutant chose to leave his chief, he still had some duties to companions.

“Ow, I just can’t! I couldn’t imagine myself , fighting against boys... I don’t know what we will do, but we have to do it together.”

But then he left dismal thoughts and focused on his hunting quest. He was waiting for Kiunda and Fumo to bait him a warthog. So he turned his head in direction of expected chase and heard a sounds of run. He was observing a moves of leaves and bushed and when target came on right distance, he jumped out from his hiding behind a fallen trunk. Easily he pinned prey to the ground and killed it with single bite.

“Good shot!” smiled tired Fumo. “That one will be plenty for us, even if boss and guys found nothing more.”

“So go for them.” Ordered Mshauri. „We will divide the meat.”

*

In second group were – apart from Keme – two younger rouges: Epesi and Hahiri. They were new recruits, obedient and trusting their leader. So they didn’t asked any question when chief ordered them something very far from classic hunting. They were beating up the game but not for Mshauri. For Greenlanders.

“Excellent.” Smiled Keme seeing that by roars and loud run they had scared most of creatures east. “It will provide them some fun. Now, let find...”

“Boss!” called amazed Fumo, who just found the second group. “What are you doing?”

“Right thing.” Replied leader. “Do you have something to eat? We have to gather our strengths...”

Rouge came to his superior and whispered on ear, for young recruits not to hear.

“Did you beat all game to them?” Keme just smiled. “But why! It’s madness!”

“It’s a bait.” Murmured Keme. Fumo instantly understood whole plan of lion.

“But... but...”

“Do you have food or not?” asked Keme harshly.

“Yes... Follow me.” Replied scout. Leader turned to younger underlings.

“We will feast and then follow the game. We have a chance to took out lionesses one by one while they are scattered in finding food.”

“But boss, how do you know they won’t recognise our trap?” asked Mahiri.

“They are thinking rationally and that why they want to gather as many food as they could to prepare for siege.”

“Listen to the chief.” Murmured Fumo with tensed voice. “He is absolutely right.”

Scout thought Keme was indeed right, especially about one thing – Greenlanders were acting rationally, and gerge was not. Although gang was about to fulfil its quest, Fumo had more and more doubts if that could be described as a victory.

*

Jino left Horen and quickly joined the setting off hunting team. So only wounded regent left in cave, but queen ordered him not to engage intruders at any cost – redmaned was told to hide in escaping tunnel in case of attack. With hunting group were going also Golden Ones and Yakta, whom Horen ordered to be constant guard of pride.

Spotty left his father with some anxiety but she trusted in his wit and carefulness. “In fact, it’s the best thing what could happened – I’m worried about dad if he is too courageous. But ant by roars and loud run they had scared most of creatures east. “It will provide them some fun. Now, let find...”

“Boss!” called amazed Fumo, who just found the second group. “What are you doing?”

“Right yway I hope that some of his cold reason stayed with him and he won’t do something stupid.”
”Something is wrong, ma’am?” asked Jino, marching next to her.

“Eee?” Spotty seemed to awoke from daydream of her thoughts. “Ow, sorry, I was thinking about recent events.”

“Are you really going to stay with us, during we will be defending from those rouges?” asked prince with esteeming voice.

“It’s obvious.” Replied Golden One. “I’m Horen’s daughter and  - as far I as figured – he is responsible for your safety and sovereignty.”

“He is doing it also just by his own will...”

“Prince, tell me one thing.” Interrupted Spotty. “I mean if that is too personal...”

“Ask what you want. I hope I could answer.”

“Who is my father to you, your mother, sister and pride?” asked with uncertain voice. “You know... I wish to understand him and I have to make up for few years...” Jino sighed, took a look around as if he was checking if nobody listen to them. Then answered with serious voice.

“There is no secret that my mother loves Horen. He stays here as her... not an official mate, but person as close to that status as it’s possible. And he actually raised Kwini and me... so he is our carer and tutor in the best meaning of that word.”

“Do you remember Daki and Laki?” inquired lioness.

“Hardly.” Confesses Jino. “They came here and died shortly after when I was just year-old. But I know they were heroes, as your father is.” Spotty narrowed her eyes, but instantly then appeased her face, not to show any emotion.

“He didn’t tell them!” she thought. “They know nothing about his past... Well, not surprisingly, because they were quite amazed about my existence. It’s bad, very bad that dad said them nothing. But if he is going make up for leaving us by defending this pride, I have no right to tell Greenlanders about his past.”

“Ma’am?” asked Jino.

“Again I went away?” smiled Spotty, returning to reality. “I’m sorry... by the way, why do you address me <ma’am>?”

“Shouldn’t I? You look like a princes.” Said Jino, who prepared that compliment few hours earlier and was trying to say it since some time. It sounded a bit rigidly, but Spotty’s fur on neck raised a little what was sing of pleasant embarrassment.

“Nice to hear that, but I’m just lioness of pride. And you are prince.” Jino wanted to say something, but she added. “And for know I’m not thinking about titles, prides nor such a stuff, but I – and we all – have some serious work to do: secure your people.”

“Ow, how touching!” murmured Keme, laying in bushes in hill over them. He was observing marching column of Greenlanders, waiting as lionesses start to scatter in search for preys. Epesi and Mahiri were at his side, ready to fulfil leader’s orders. In second division Keme sent Mshauri, Kiunda and Fumo to follow the pride on its path. On given signal they had to attack on random likeness, kill or cripple her and withdraw from scene. And then repeat it until final victory...

“Good. They are splitting” Murmured leader and raised his tail in fixed sign. “I give the free paw for Mshauri to do his part.”

“Damn!” yelled Fumo, about two hundred meters away in valley. “Keme gives orders.”

“We will fulfil them.” Murmured Kiunda. „What’s a big deal?“

“He will find there is no Mshauri here!”

“We will... avoid boss as we are avoiding lionesses now.” Replied scout. “Come on, trust in Mshauri. He will take us out from that swamp.”

“I hope he will do it quickly.” Murmured Fume. “Boss tells us to engage...”

*

Gerge’s adjutant was about five kilometres away, in front of Green Cave. He knew that his mission was risky and he was revealing his presence to eventual defenders of keep. But according to his expectations, cave was guarded by none but one creature.

“Horen?” called darkmaned lion. “I know you are there.”

“Have we been introduced?” asked voice from main chamber of complex.

“You could remember me, my name is Mshauri.” Said adjutant. When no