toasted!” Then he added in mind. “So Mshauri, I trust you will do your part of deal and do it quick!”

*

“Mshauri!” growled with muffled roar Keme. “Where have you been!?”

“Around, boss.” Replied adjutant. “I know where they are heading. Let’s go to the river.” Leader wanted to scold his soldier, but he suppressed his rage, seeing that all rouges are following Mshauri. He also followed, feeling like something was sliding away from his paws. But he ignored it, in order to fuel his fury towards Greenlanders.

“Wait!” said adjutant after few minutes of marching in bushes. “Boss, stay here, when I made a reconnaissance.” Keme nodded his head. “Kiunda! Fumo! Cover me!” Three lions disappeared in forest.

“Pal, what is going on?” whispered Fumo, when they went a bit from Keme.

“We are changing plans...” replied Mshauri. “WE are changing HIS plans.”

“What!?” gasped Kiunda. “Are you lost your mind?”

“Sadly to say, but Keme lost his.” Said adjutant with firm voice. “As a second-in-command it’s my duty to secure the vital interests of pack. I know what we all owe to Keme... But we must depose him, if we are going to survive.”

“This is a treachery!” yelled Fumo.

“I won’t kill him!” gasped Mshauri. “I will just execute my plan. We will get this pride and establish here. With Keme, even if I have to make him do agree. I have a deal with Horen. He will surrender pride if we let him and his family flee.”

“Will we?” asked rouge. In his voice was no longer resistance, just curiosity. He was ready to support Mshauri.

“We will.” Murmured adjutant. “We have some others troubles on mind.”

“But he killed Masafa...” noticed Kiunda.

“Dou you want to avenge him!?” called Mshauri with desperate voice. Then he suddenly quieted his tone, scared that chief could her him. “So get back to Keme and die with him. Cub, this is matter of life and death. We won’t fight if we could get it for free!”

“And young ones?” asked Kiunda.

“Won’t they follow us? You see how they were close to disobey Keme, when he ordered them to kill every lioness.”

“So your reconnaissance is over?” smiled Fumo with bitter smile.

“Right. I had to scout if you are with me.”

*

About hour before sunset, Green Pride reached the river bank. Procession marched to beach with terrible slow tempo, but it was hard for them as the fastest run. Carriers almost threw down wounded ones and guards burst with cry of joy that they no longer have to watch every leaf in forest.

“Do not lay down.” Called Horen, who had been just put from Jino’s and Spotty’s backs. “Form line on the narrowest place of that cape!” he pointed a sandbank on bend of river. It was the only place where weaken pride had some chances for longer defence. “Go on!” he – wanting to give an example – crawled to pointed area. “Spotty, order them in some formation...”

His daughter was barely standing, but she tried to form a defence. With help of Danti and Ostasi, in a quarter they turned that sandbank into improvised fortification. In first rank of pride were lying (definitely too tired to guard standing) unwounded lionesses. Nine of Greenlandresses were standing for three unconsciousness companions and barely aware Horen. On the end of cape there was a quick war-deliberation.

“The plan is simple.” Said Horen. “To take out Keme – I bet he will be in first line -  then surrender to Mshauri. He won’t hurt us.”

Chanua looked on regent with sadness in her eyes but she said. “If you are sure there is no other way, we will do what you tell us.”

“No, mom... we could win...” whispered Jino, but then his stare turned to unconsciousness sister. He fell silent, unable to say more.

“I won’t leave this pride, doesn’t matter how.” Said Spotty with decisive voice.

“Maybe we will swim to the other bank when night falls, march on the second side, return on our bank and strike them from both sides?” proposed Jino but with limited hope that is idea would be executed.

“Is that river is safe?” asked Danti.

“For next five kilometres – perfectly safe.” Said prince. “But then we have a waterfall.”

“We can’t cross the river with whole pride.” Murmured Ostasi. “That would see this and attack those who stayed on bank...”

“No, wait!” said suddenly Horen with tensed voice, as if somebody else was talking through him. “Jino has right. Only combined attack would work... according we haven’t wounded in your ranks and we kill Keme in first place.”

“I could do it.” Said Yakta. He was lying next to Kwini, who were sleeping with her uneasy sleep. Wounded princess was cuddled in lion’s side, but in that situation, when all etiquette got waxed, no one had anything against. Even Yakta. “In night he won’t have any superiority over me. He is skilled and experienced, but he do not see in darkness. And if blind exchange of blows I should take out him quickly. I think the sudden attack is good idea. But what we will do with wounded ones?” He looked on Kwini.

“We will cross river with them.”

“We?” amazed Chanua. “My dear... are you sure that you’ll make it?” Spotty felt some wave of nauseating press in her throat, however she had no idea why. Regent replied instantly.

“Yes. I swim good enough to take this rive on three paws.”

“But in one try?” asked Yakta. “Ow, sorry, bad joke.”

“Let’s do it.” Said Chanua. “I trust Horen in everything.”

“I’m for.” agreed Jino.

“I don’t know...” murmured Spotty, looking in her father’s eyes. “Are you honest, dad?” she thought. “Or it’s just another trick?”

“Come one, Spotty, that’s is the only chance to spot them.” Said Danti and Ostasi nodded her head. Lioness know that her friends had made theirs decisions and nothing would change it. They were determined to stand for Green Pride and atone for guilt of theirs fathers whatever it would take. She would have strongly agreed with that plan... but something was bothering her.

“Who will swim?” she asked.

“I first, to check the current.” Said Horen. Then queen Chanua, secured by Spotty, then Jino and with one of wounded. Then you, girls” he looked on Golden Ones. “If You are able, with the second wounded. Then Yakta with Kwini.”

“If we fail, those who stay would be squashed.” Noticed Yakta.

“That why queen will give them order to surrender, if we are unable to attack and take out Keme.” Chanua narrowed her eyes, but nodded her head. “Any questions?”

“Dad will you...” started Spotty.

“I changed, my girl. I’ve changed a lot!” interrupted her Horen. “Yes.” He added in mind. “I’ve changed. I’m older, weaker and more vulnerable than I was once. And if then, on Prideland, I could afford for some bravery, now I definitely could not. The only weakness I could afford is you, my girl. I want you to live!” But aloud he added just. “So if there is no questions, let’s move!”

*

Rouges came to cape just after sunset. They just took positions before line of lionesses and laid down to wait for instructions. Only Keme and Mshauri were walking restlessly. Leader was still burned by flames of his anger, adjutant was still and still waiting for Horen’s sign. Fortunately for sieged lions, rouges were so concerned with nerves or sleep, that sound of splashing water went away unnoticed.

“What for we are waiting?” asked Keme with mad voice.

“Easy, boss. Let became a pitch-black night. Then they will be defenceless.”

Leader wanted to reply that he also would be defenceless, because he was seeing bad in darkness, but he didn’t open his mouth. Even in that situation, he still remembered not to show his weakness.

“But for what I’m doing it?” asked himself in mind. “For what I’m keeping my leadership I have no one to pass it after me... Masafa... you should be my successor. If you are not here, nothing has its purpose...”

“I heard something.” Said suddenly young Mahiri. „As if someone is swimming.”

“No, it’s nothing.” Replied Mshauri, playing firm voice. “Just water splash in tree-roots on bend.” But he smiled in mind, knowing that Horen started to do his part – to run away.

*

Cool water of river was appeasing regent and even soothing pain in his paw. It helped also with muffling his minds, because redmaned wasn’t able to thing more about his plan and consequences of it. So he didn’t think about betrayal, he was just listening to easy sound of water.

But then some others memories haunted him. Border River three years earlier. He, swimming with Vitani. Logs... And Amini coming with help.

“Amini!” whispered rouge in darkness of night. Vision of old charge stood before him as if it was real. But regent closed his eyes and opened them again to hind it was just an illusion. Right in time – he just touched the sand on the other bank.

He exited water and sat on sand, panting heavily. He waited, until two other silhouettes appeared from darkness. He sighed with relief: Chanua and Spotty made it easily. Lionesses went on beach and laid down on sand, cuddling in sides of regent. Without word, both of them expressed once again their love and trust, that Horen felt chocking grasp on his throat. Once again – however it was impossible – fur on his neck was strangling him. “But I have to!” whispered in mind.

Next swam Jino and still unconsciousness Kisima. Then joined Danti with Pili and Ostasi with Theluji. Silhouette of Yakta and Kwini was more and more clear in darkness.

“Listen...” said Horen with tensed voice. “I must tell you something.” All eyes turned to him and lion felt his neck was burning. “I didn’t tell you everything about our situation.” In silence of beach sounded murmurs of fear and disbelief. “Don’t worry about lionesses on the other bank. I dealt with Mshauri, second-in-command in gerge, he will depose Keme and take his place. He won’t hurt them... if they surrender.”

“But... but...” yelled Spotty. “We are going to strike on them!”

“We are going to die, doing this.” Replied Horen. “How you could fight, after