if cubs would change my attitude towards king.” Replied Tetesi. “But I can’t say it for sure. My mother said she loved my father, but in the same way that you could love summer rain that comes and disappears soon after. And king stays.”

“I see.” Said Kiara, however the expression of her face showed that she didn’t fully understand. “So we both love Kovu.”

“Yes.” Nodded Tetesi. “And nether you, nor I nor we both can’t claim our monopole on that. He belongs to whole pride.”

“Tetesi…” whispered Kiara. Her voice sounded weary, probably due to progressing carbon dioxide intoxication. “If I’m going to die… and you somehow survive this… Take care about Kovu. Prove you were honest today. I would be glad if he chooses you as mate after me.”

“Of course, Kiara.” Replied Tetesi. Only because queen’s dimmed sensed she didn’t notice shivering voice of brownfurred. “But don’t talk like that before you are dead.”

“After I’m dead it would be a bit difficult for me to talk in any way.” Said Kiara and they both burst in laughter, wasting many of precious oxygen.

But it was necessary – two lioness in that short moment felt they were so different, but in the same time very similar. Bond of love to the same lion joined them hard and Tetesi thought that if it happened she had to kill goldenfurred it would be harder that she had ever thought. She just liked that lioness. Weak, naïve, but then so close and well-known. Her queen, her friend. “Funny.” She thought. “I wonder if there would be still so many murders if murderers had an opportunity to really know his or her victim.” But then she heard something that raised fun on her neck.

“Kiara! Do you read this?” whispered with fading voice. Somewhere up from them was sounding noise of digging.

*

Over Rumble Gorge shone first rays of coming day.

“Change!” ordered Kovu. In fact he just repeat suggestion of Kauli, but it had to came out from royal mouth to become and order.

Four lionesses and one lion (Chungu), stepped back and made space for four another lionesses and Angaa. Kovu was avid to join the work, but python forbade him, that means: suggested that would be bad idea. They all need a reserve. It was probably that buried lionesses were severely wounded and taking them to Golden Cave would be primary need. So Kovu and Jamaa – the strongest members of rescue team – were waiting aside, not tiring themselves. They were ready to take survivors on backs and run home. There was Lipizi and Dotty with prepared gourds of water. The group was doing like clockwork – the only factor required to fill that perfect system was that buried lionesses would be dig out alive.

Second team started a shift (third – they were working for almost six hours), while the first laid down, completely exhausted. They moved over tonne of gravel, what – at least for ten lions paws – was amazing achievement. They couldn’t work altogether, because they would have disturbed themselves and over ten lions on pile meant danger of squashing lionesses lying under. Anyway, they all were doing their best.

“Stop!” Called Angaa. “I feel the freespace!”

“Faster!” ordered king.

“NO!” shouted sandymaned and stopped other lioness with raised paw. “Sir, now we must be extremely careful. We can’t risk collapse of their cavern!” Actually he hoped that it already had collapsed, but decided to play hero till the last act. “Now, get back, we will finish it with Chungu. Right?”

“Right.” Nodded Kovu. He was extremely nervous, on the edge of nervous breakdown. He gladly gave decision in some others paws.

So Chungu joined his friend and they started to dig in last layer of gravel. After few minutes they got to crack in stonewall and uncovered some gap. Angaa wanted to see inside, but suddenly Kovu lost his temper, run on pile and threw sandyfurred aside. Then he put his head in hole.

“Sir, don’t block the air!” called Jamaa.

Chungu looked on Angaa with freezing stare. It was saying: “You are murder! And I’m involved too.” But he said nothing aloud. He knew that confessing his guilt wouldn’t resurrect lionesses if they were dead. And after all he had to be loyal to his best friend. That cost him dear, but friendship has its cost.

“KIARA! TETESI!” called Kovu into crack. Lionesses were barely consciousness and only brownfurred managed to reply.

“Here… Get us out… quick!”

All lions ran to gravel pile and started to dig at random just to extract survivors faster. Fortunately it was no longer so dangerous, because Kiara and Tetesi had no more so much sand above them and eventual collapse would have just dust them a bit. After next quarter they get outside coughing lionesses.

Kovu hugged half-awake Kiara, but instantly let her loose, afraid not to harm her. Queen just coughed once again showing she was weak, but definitely alive. Tetesi had numerous abrasions, due to fall of rubble and being half covered with it for almost fourteen hours, but had no serious injure, that would endanger her life.

“I’m alive too.” She whispered, spitting with sand. “I can be hugged too.”

All gathered there burst in laughter, finally believing that crisis was gone. Kovu followed survivor’s suggestion, bended down to her and tenderly nuzzled her muzzle. Meanwhile Jamaa came closer to queen and said.

“Sir, we should go now. They are surely thirsty.”

“Right!” called Kiara and Tetesi in the same time. They smiled hearing that. “Let’s go home.” Added queen.

“Sir, will you take her majesty?” asked Jamma. He was addressing king as if he was his subject – with the same respect than any lioness.

“I guess…” murmured Kovu, but then looked on Tetesi. “But will you take her carefully enough? She is rubbed a lot.” All lionesses turned they stares on brownfurred. Only Kiara called with playful voice.

“Maybe, but she’s pretty anyway.” She and Tetesi giggled.

“Sir…” murmured a bit uncertain Jamaa.

“I will help him.” Said Chungu instantly.

“You are weak as cub.” Noticed – or actually panted – Angaa. “You wasn’t meant to carry.”

“Darling, maybe you will try?” asked Kiara. “I bet you are agile enough to take her safe. Jamaa could take me. It’s all right, I’m unhurt.”

“Yet.” Murmured Angaa, looking on clumsy brownmaned.

“Sir, there is no need to make any problem because of that.” Threw Tetesi, but Kovu just looked on Jamaa.

“All right, you will go with Kiara. But remember, you are carrying the queen.” Lion nodded his head. “So let’s go.”

Survivors were placed on lions backs. They had a little problem with Tetesi, to put her on Kovu in position safe for her injuries. But after few tries they found a way to locate her without scratching her abrasives. Of course everybody was concerned about it more than patient herself.

“Mom, I will be all right.” Said lioness to Dotty, who was still licking her side. “It’s just a scratch… or few.”

“Don’t worry, king will do it smoothly.” Assured Dotty, as if she didn’t hear daughter’s words.”

“If you are ready, we go.” Said Kovu. Tetesi murmured agreeably. “All right? Kiara? Jamaa?”

“We are ready.” Said queen, after her carrier nodded.

So they set off down to mouth of gorge and further to Golden Cave. On tail of group were marching Angaa and Chungu. After they stayed a bit behind, redmaned asked with poisonous voice.

“I see you are really disappointed you failed to be murderer.”

“Yes, I am.” Replied lion with calm voice.

“What’s wrong with you!” hissed Chungu. “It was miracle they survived. A sign from Stars! You have a chance to reconsider your acting.”

“I already reconsidered it.” Said Angaa, still with calm tone, but there were some anger sounded too.”

“And what?
”And I understood I was wrong.” Said sandymaned. “I see now I should have waited at least hour longer.”

With every new breath awareness was returning to me. Senses became more and more clear and I was more and more savouring with my new situation. I was so close to him… I was touching his skin and feeling warmth of his body. And Kovu was concerned about me, as when I got hurt. Maybe he split this concern between me and Kiara, but having half of that treasure was a wonderful experience anyway. I was lying still (as still as it was possible while being carried) and just wishing that moment lasted forever. But some thing was keeping me uneasy.

Kiara.

The events of that night changed much. Previously I thought I would had scruples with hurting Kiara because she was my queen. Well, it was serious reason indeed, but not solely. What sprouted there on massif plateau – thread of fondness and understanding, grew stronger that night. Queen wasn’t just ruler as before. She even became someone more than student. A friend, sharing the same emotions and feelings. Additionally talk with her taught me a simple truth – I had to be extremely careful with my plans. Earlier attempts were stupid and could have finished with tragedy… I mean tragedy not only for Kiara. I was unable to kill Kovu’s child. In any situation, under any circumstances it wasn’t able to take out cub’s child. Born or unborn yet – it didn’t matter. She told me about her problems. Yes, it was hope for me, but just temporally postponing of what was unavoidable.

“Sir?” I asked my king. He just asked “what?” with gentle move of his shoulders. “Are you angry on me?”

“Do you think I could be angry on you, because you can’t predict avalanche? The answer is: no. Right now I’m just extremely happy, you survived. And…” he giggle quietly. “What doesn’t kill you, strengthens you. I bet that Kiara had a solid lesson today.”

“I had too, my lord.” I thought and answered aloud. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”

“I tell you something.” Said Kovu with a bit playfully voice. I think that stress of previous hours and sudden relief made him really uneasy, what he tried to vent it on talking to anyone. “I’m tired about your constant <sorrys>. You are doing the best of us since we got here. Your mother