Although it was a middle of dry season, on that particular day sky was covered with dusty clouds, hiding dried soil from scorching heat. But Kovu knew that the weather is always fragile thing. Just day after… who knows, maybe just in few hours that pleasant morning would turn to hell. Golden King actually knew nothing real about the desert. And he had to cross it with all his pride. The weight of responsibility was pressing his head like a heavy stone. Blackmaned wanted to stay, give up the idea of journey, but he couldn’t. “I’ll do it, mother!” whispered in mind. “But help me, I beg you, help me!”

His pride was ready, lying in shade of Border River’s reeds. They were in random group, but king knew that if he give order, they would stand and form marching line in just several seconds. They knew the drill, taught by Zira. Mother had known that some day her son and her pride would need the knowledge required to return to Golden Sands. That why lionesses were training not only combat, sheath scouting and normal survival skills, but also ancient lore of Golden Pride. It was deposit that Zira received from her father and gave it to her children and charges. Kovu never was too patient student on those lessons, because he was tired of trainings in general and he thought that was useless. He once hoped to be Prideland king, like his spiritual father, Scar. But life made a surprise to all lions in that land and history put Kovu in charge of desert pride, heading its ancient keep. Lion hoped that his lionesses were better Zira’s students than he was. It was dangerous assumption, but should work. As Yakta had taught him how to be king, his subject had to teach him how to be Golden Lion.

“Watch your steps, sir!” hissed Sorphi to Simba. Hearing that Kovu shook his head to dispel troubling thoughts and looked again on scene in front of him. And once again he wondered, how the heck it come to that.

Golden Pride was resting, taking the last break before way on desert. Pridelandresses were standing near, looking on departing pride with curiosity and discrete dose relief. Both groups never merged in one community and if even any hostility between former Outlanders and hosts ceased, some mistrust remained. It wasn’t really surprisingly after events of rainy season when war of prides and Outlanders coup d’etat happened just in period of just two months. But some lionesses of Prideland were looking on Golden Ones with tone of genuine compassion, probably being sure that journey to Golden Sands was something like sophisticated mass-suicide. “Well, if I fail as a leader, it would be.” Thought Kovu.

But then king looked on other actors of that scene. Nala and Simba were standing in half-dried bed of Border River, accompanied by Sorphi, who was carefully looking on ex-rulers steps. The sentence of exile, that Vitani cast on father-in-law and mother-in-law was strictly observed, at least in letter. In fact Tanabi twisted queen’s decision in extreme weird way – ex-royal couple were living in Green Den, that was specially recognised as not being part of kingdom (however there was no natural border between savannah and keep’s area). Also Tanabi said that Border River is a border, not a prideland-teritory, so Nala and Simba were free to walk in bed of river without restrains. But just in case, he asked Sorphi to watch if his parents obeyed that order. It was extremely embarrassing for him to ask for that, but he also knew that it would be even more hard for Vitani to secure this. And keeping the given word was the sacred duty of ruler. This was one of the most important rules that Tanabi learned from father.

“I haven’t moved an inch!” snorted Simba with irritation. “Have you seen that my paw…”

“Do you accuse him of violating the law?” asked Nala with freezing voice. Young pridelandress lowered her stare in shame.

“Sorry, sir!” yelled Ostasi. “I’m terribly…” If keeping the exile-sentence was hard to Vitani and Tanabi, executing that was a real hell for lioness. She was scolding her own former monarch, what seemed to her unthinkable. After Nala’s words she felt like a criminal.

“Ow, never mind.” interrupted Simba. Then he whispered to mate’s ear. “Darling, don’t be so hard on her… She’s doing her job, that’s all.”

“I hope she soon be relieved from that duty.” Murmured ex-queen.

Simba pretended he didn’t hear, however he shivered inside. Nala was expectireturn to Golden Sands. That why lionesses were training not only combat, sheath scouting and normal survival skills, but also ancient lore of Golden Pride. It was deposit that Zira received from her father and gave it to her children and charges. Kovu never was too patient student on those lessons, because he was tired of trainings in general and he thought that was useless. He once hoped to be Prideland king, like his spiritual father, Scar. But life made a surprise to all lions in that land and history put Kovu in charge of desert pride, heading its ancient keep. Lion hoped that his lionesses were better Zira’s students than he was. It was dangerous assumption, but should work. As Yakta had taught him how to be king, his subject had to teach him how to be Golden Lion.

“Watch your steps, sir!” hissed Sorphi to Simba. Hearing that Kovu shook his head to dispel ng that after departure of Golden Ones many things would go back to state from before Vitani’s coronation. Ex-queen was still thinking in categories of winning and losing and was sure that her last defeat (deposing of Simba) would be soon undone with withdraw of enemies. Then the last Outlander (Vitani) would be neutralised and taken aside from rule. Of course her son Tanabi should be still a king, but she hoped he would find some new and more reasonable mate. That way what queen was thinking. She ignored some obvious facts like that her “enemies” were then led by her daughter Kiara and Tanabi was far from full of bitterness views of his mother. And what was maybe most important even Simba wasn’t avid to break the order that came to Prideland. Ex-king already had reconciled to that some changes just can’t be undone. And shouldn’t be.

“Darling, just calm down.” Whispered Simba. “Don’t talk about it.”

“I know, I just…” Then Nala noticed that Kiara was coming to them. “Oh, Kiara…” she sobbed. She wanted to rush in daughter direction, but froze when she raised her paw. After all she couldn’t enter the beach, enter the Prideland. Not yet.

“Mommy.” Called gold furred and ran to mother. They hugged themselves and stayed in that way by over minute. Simba slowly came to them and licked daughter’s forehead. Then new Golden Queen stepped back, returning on prideland-soil. “I will be missing you.”

“I know, my dear, I know.” Replied Nala with breaking voice.

“I’m sure that Tanabi offered you that.” Said Simba with tensed voice. “But if you find your new land too hard… You can always return here… to us.” In fact he was repeating his old pled: Don’t go! Stay with us! Do not risk!

“I know, daddy.” Said Kiara. “I’ll will visit you as soon as we establish our keep. I will be fine, I’m sure that…” her voice broke and she started to sob. Her parents again hugged their daughter, craning carefully not to cross border of beach.

“Ow, damn!” murmured Vitani to Kovu. “Should we do similar scenes?” they were standing on hill over Border River’s bank and looking on farewell of Kiara.

“Just believe me that fact I’m not crying doesn’t mean it’s easy for me to leave.” Replied Kovu.

“I know, I know… just… Ow, never mind. I shouldn’t worry you.”

“What?” asked surprised blackmaned.

“You know…” replied Vitani, looking on Tanabi who was saying goodbye to Golden Ones. It was a real phenomenon, but one-eyed king of Prideland had earned a real likeness among former Outlandresses. It was obvious that lionesses would miss Vitani (what they showed night earlier on official farewell of their pridesister), but warm feeling about Tanabi wasn’t so obvious. However Prideland king was high-esteemed among departing pride. It was because of gratefulness for what he did about Zara’s and Scar’s memory? Partially yes, but it surely wasn’t all. With bolt of absurd humour Vitani thought that Golden Ones should leave Prideland before they make her jealous.

“No, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking.” Said Kovu hastening his sister.

“Since day when Tanabi lost his eye… He somehow sees more. I know it sounds stupid, but he has dreams about future, a strong hunches… It happened that some of them came true.”

“He dreamed we all died on the desert?” asked Kovu, trying to turn it into joke.

“No, but he sensed some problem around you and – especially – Kiara.”

“What’s that?” asked a bit uneasy Golden King.

“He didn’t tell. He doesn’t know or don’t want to say it. But I think it’s not a particular danger. Just… general problem.”

“You don’t have to be a prophet to foresee that Kiara would never be real Golden One.” Said Kovu with shocking honesty. “As well as her fur fits to desert, her mind does not. She… isn’t as tough as we are, Vitani. But I love her as she is.”

“I know that. Just keep your eye on her.” Said queen. “But you have to try teach her how to be the Golden One. And that would be a real hard task.”

“Damn it!” hissed Kovu. “It’s not good I won’t have you nor Yakta by side. Without you two I’m helpless as a cub.”

“So first of all, your girls should teach you how to be Golden One.” Noticed Vitani. “Just try to do your lessons, right?”

“I have no other choice.” Said Kovu.

*

They finally gathered on Border River’s beach (all, except of Nala and Simba, who were technically standing in river’s bed). It was time to go. Kiara was quickly saying goodbye with Pridelandresses (or better to say: sobbing goodbye), while Golden Ones were forming a marching line. Timon and Pumbaa were standing with ex-royal couple looking with sad stares on departing Golden