could be suspicious.”

*

The presentation was short, but very important ceremony. For animals around it was the very first chance to see not only prince, but also royal couple. Earlier almost no one had seen Kovu and Kiara, except of some unfortunate creatures who had become theirs preys. But on day of presentation king announced the Sacred Peace, so on one was allowed to hunt until sunset.

“Not so many, as I thought.” Noticed Kovu, who was looking on crowd before Golden Massif. Kauli was rolled around his neck and following his stare.

“Indeed, my lord.” Agreed. “But it wassss always like that. Golden Sands are vast kingdom, but most of itssssss soil is the desert. We have no as much animals as others kingdomsssss. But also Golden Lions are only predatorssss here, except of smaller carnivoressss like fenecs or lykaons. And additionally it’sssss already a host, comparing with timesss of the Great Drought.”

“But in time, there will be more of them?” asked king.

“I’m sssssure of that, ssssir.” Nodded reptile. “They are breeding and growing in number… just like your pride doesssssss. But now, it’s time.”

Kovu stepped back to Kiara, who was holding Dhalimu. Then Dotty and Tetesi came to them. It was desert custom that the oldest lioness in pride was showing newborn prince or princess. So Dotty was to do that job. Her daughter had to assist her.

“All right… let me take him.” Smiled old Outlandress and carefully grabbed cub’s neck in her jaws. Then stepped towards edge of rock and desert. Tetesi called with all her might.

“Dhalimu – the future king of this land!”

In response she heard the collective call of animals. Roars, rumbles and moos merged in one, happy voice. It wasn’t just a hollow and fake pretence, but genuine call of relief. Many creatures just then believed that drought was over. With king back in his kingdom, with heir to secure the future whole world was back on old, safe way.

Both Kiara and Kovu – in spite that officially the hero of day was Dhalimu – couldn’t resist a bolt of pride and delight. They finally felt like rulers. Not as loved, but a bit disrupting guest in kingdom of Vitani and Tanabi. They were on their own.

Dotty and Tetesi returned to royal couple. Old lioness gave queen the cub and with daughter bowed before rulers. Standing up from bow, Tetesi caught Kovu’s confused stare. She smiled, trying to tell that all was all right. It wasn’t, however she didn’t want to destroy so great day for her love. So nudging mother in side, she walked back to rest of the pride. When they were going to entrance of cave in still loud calls of commons, Tetesi heard mother’s whisper.

“She should have stood there… She would be ten times queen…” then lioness stopped, probably scared to be heard.

Tetesi’s heart stopped for second. “Even mother!” she thought. “Even mother feels that! I’m sure that whole pride wants too… I’m no longer doing it for myself. I’m doing it for Kovu… and them all. Golden Sands will have proper queen!”

The decision was made – Tetesi saw blurred spectres of Hawaa and Ghibu. Lioness was looking on her with fear, lion was smiling. Imaginary advisor nodded his head, parodying homage to queen. Roars of gathered animals were still sounding when Goilden Pride entered cave.

And that way it came. I decided to kill Kiara. In next few days my ears became more sharp for any words about queen. How could had I been so stupid earlier? They all were avid to rid off Kiara. That meant: no one wanted to kill her, but if an accident happen, no one would be sorry. Pride was liking Kiara but as a lioness, not a queen.

So then I had to find some way to fn Massif. Kauli was rolled around his neck and following his stare.

Dotty and Tetesi returned to royal couple. Old lioness gave queen the cub and with daughter bowed before rulers. Standing up from bow, Tetesi caught Kovu’s confused stare. She smiled, trying ulfil my quest in secret. But I already had a way to do that. The plainness of that idea hit me just two days after presentation. So I just came to queen and asked with innocent voice.

“Ma’am… how are doing?”

“Good, I’m better with every day.” Replied she. She was holding sleeping Dhalimu and for short moment I almost felt sorry that cub was going to become an orphan. But no! I was about to become his mother. Stronger and better. For him, but in the first place better mate for cub’s father.

“It’s good.” I replied. “You know that due to your pregnancy you neglected your trainings.”

“Hm?” surprised queen. “I mean, I would really like to start it again… but you still have a patience to do that?” I nodded. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.” I smiled. “Deadly serious.”

VII. Trails on Sand

I hadn’t expected anything before it actually happened. We were extremely lucky, that’s all. There is little of my merit in that, I was just in place.

Angaa appeared from nowhere. We were in Dried Oasis on a trip with cubs. Mother, Kiara, Danti, Kauta and I were leading pride’s kitties on their first walk outside Golden Cave. The weather was perfect and nothing would announce the attack. In half a way, I propose that I could go faster and uncover the source for us to drink, when we all are there. Kiara – of course – wanted to go with me. Since the day of Dhalimu’s birth, or maybe even earlier, since day of my and Kovu’s talk on plateau, she sensed that something was wrong. Funny, she wanted to keep an eye or me, or she really sought my friendship – even today I’m, not sure. Personally I prefer to assume the second option, so alike to her simple-hearted nature. Maybe she just wanted to become like me, to regain Kovu’s love.

In the moment of attack it didn’t matter anyway. Angaa jumped most likely from oasis’s pan, instantly overturning Kiara and then pounced on me. How clever, somehow he was sure I wouldn’t run. He pressed me to the grou Outlandress and carefully grabbed cub’s neck in her jaws. Then stepped towards edge of rock and desert. Tetesi called with all her might.

Dotty and Tetesi returned to royal couple. Old lioness gave queen the cub and with daughter bowed before rulers. Standing up from bow, Tetesi caught Kovu’s confused stare. She smiled, trying nd and started to wrestle – a competition that I had no chances to win. He wasn’t especially muscular, but anyway for stronger than me.

“Run!” I called to Kiara. “Call help!”

As you probably already know I wasn’t so scared about queen. That was a trick and I got what I wanted. Angaa, alarmed that she could bring so help let me loose (in last moment, he almost choked me) and jumped on her. I stood up instantly and estimated my chances.

In theory, the best thing I could to was to wait for lion to kill Kiara. It would be perfect, because I would got my goal without spotting my paws in blood. But then eventual victory with him was hard and dangerous.

That’s why I attack his back. Whatever I seemed, fair or not, I saved queen’s live. Lion was just about to bite her throat, when I slashed his back with extended claws. He was surely surprised that I rise so fast. He just kicked me with rear leg and…

…and that was enough! I would never expected for such inconspicuous lion a strength like that. His single blow sent me three metres away almost senseless. It took me over ten seconds to regain basic orientation and when I did it, I was given with another hit. In that time Angaa managed to knock Kiara out (but loser – he didn’t kill her!) and jump to me. All I could do was to shun his attacks and wait for reinforcements. That was a <fun>, even in higher than Outlander’s standards.

Angaa was