stay on your paws…” I noticed a solid bruise on her front-right paw. “And if you can’t you must learn how to fall. Stand up.”

“It’s not what I expected…” she said, standing up. On the third time she broke down – she burst with loud cry, hitting the hard rock surface.

And it lasted until dusk. Both lionesses were standing (or lying) on plateau, repeating the basic exercises of close combat. After being heavy bruised and letting all of her tears free, Kiara somehow managed to stand to the end. When at sunset Tetesi decided to stop, queen was all swollen with numerous bumps, standing barely. Apart of balance training, brownfurred started a first exercise of paw-to-paw fight. But then she decided that queen was too tired to do that.

“All right, we are finished for today.” Said finally Tetesi. She came closer to Kiara (goldenfurred jumped in bolt of fear – she thought it was some next torture) and bended down to her knees. “You could take you share, ma’am.” She said with hollow voice.

“What… what do you mean?” asked Kiara with shivering voice.

“I offended you, my lady.” Explained Tetesi. “I hit you numerous times and made fun of you. I deserved for a punishment.”

“But… we were training, right?” asked exhausted and clearly confused goldenfurred.

“Yes, but I violated you queen’s majesty, ma’am.” Said Tetesi, thinking about Zira. Dead Golden Queen was always monarchess, don’t matter what. Beaten, wounded, cover with mud she had more power and majesty than Kiara ever had. At least that lioness was thinking. “It’s not good when subject threat own ruler.”

“I won’t beat you.” Said Kiara. “I don’t want it, even if I was able.” Added with a tone of irony. Tetesi was amazed that <Pridelandress> managed to express some auto-irony. “I’m really grateful for your lessons. Please, stand up and go home.”

“As you wish, my lady.” Said brownfurred. She stood up and… suddenly pushed Kiara’s side. It was light shove, Tetesi was careful to push easy enough for queen to resist. And Kiara stood in place. Then both lionesses burst in laughter.

I really couldn’t resist. In that moment I felt genuine fondness for my student. My laughter was honest – I was really glad that Kiara learned at least something. And then my heart split in two. One Tetesi was laughing and friendly chatting with bruised queen, the second was looking on eventual victim, glad that I get closer to my aim. Somewhere in-between strings of remorse were sprouting. I felt really false, coming down by side of lioness I wanted dead. But in that evening I discovered that Kiara wasn’t just a lifeless ghost haunting my life. She had some emotions, virtues (few), faults (many, but that was making her more <real> and closer) and she was actually a person. I figures out that whatever I was intending it might be much harder than I initially thought.

We got to the cave, where all pride was waiting for us. Girls had returned from hunting and then were looking for their queen with curiosity. Most of them were expecting the result that I made – queen perfectly beaten and exhausted. They all knew how hard were Zira’s trainings and expected how hard would be lessons from her student. Kovu also knew it well and that why he was waiting with heavier concern.

“Kiara…” he panted, seeing tired and bruised mate.

“I’m all right.” Said queen with shivering voice. “It’s nothing…”

“Kiara…” repeated Kovu, looking on bumps on queen’s head.

“It’s all right.” She assured. “Just… I must go to sleep.”

“Danthi, Ostasi!” ordered king. “Take her to our chamber. Bring her water and meat…”

Meanwhile I came to ruler and stopped before him. When Kiara was taken away I asked with uncertain voice. I was really scared how he would react on that.

“My king, could we talk in side?”

“Yes, let’s go.” Said Kovu instantly.

We exited cave and stopped on main ledge. I bended my head down before king.

“Forgive me, sir, I…”

“Do you mean that is so bad?” asked Kovu with concern in his voice. But I didn’t hear any anger in him. That why I decided to play, hoping for some greater prize.

“My king… punish me for what I’ve done!” I cried. “I hit my queen and…”

“Tetesi!” interrupted me Kovu with shocked voice. “It was a training! I wanted you to do it. Just tell me, how bad it went.”

“It was balance exercise.” I replied. “If it was really bad, she wouldn’t have gone here at her own.”

Suddenly Kovu burst in laughter. I sensed as he touched my side with his muzzle. “Tetesi… I can’t how to thank you…” he said and licked my forehead. For that moment it was worth to waste whole day on Kiara’s lessons. I got my reward and even more.

“So, aren’t you angry I went so hard on her?”

“I authorize you do use any means required to make her Golden One, Tetesi.” Be to her like Zira was to us.”

“I’m far from being so efficient.” I answered honestly.

“Thank you.” Said king, as he didn’t hear my last word. “You promised to help me and you are doing it better I could imagine.”

“All pleasure is mine, Kovu.” I replied.

IV. Hunter and Game

Two lionesses were climbing up ascending bed of Rumble Gorge. On lead was brownfurred and heavy–built, walking firmly and fast. But she had to stop often and wait on her companion – goldenfurred, delicate lioness, marching carefully on narrow path. If she was focused only on going further, the first one was carefully looking the scene around, most likely looking for possible dangers. What why lions had to take cover. It was hot day of late dry season and afternoon sun was hitting hard. Maybe because of that two silhouettes on gorge’s wall were almost invisible to ones below them.

“You saw them?” asked Angaa to his companion, redmaned lion called Chungu. “It was queen and her friend.”

“Who is who?” asked Chungu.

“That golden one is queen. But first we focus on that fighter. She killed Ghibu.”

“You want me to get them now?” asked shocked redmaned. “Angaa, you went too far. I know that Ghibu was your brother and… I know that you really want to comfort Lipizi. But I won’t attack two females in ambush, when one have done nothing against us and additionally is a queen!” Angaa just smiled and replied.

“Calm down, I won’t kill anybody… today. Just have a look. Lipizi said something very interesting about that pride.” And he jumped down, coming deeper in gorge. He was agile lion and his steps were silent as falling feathers. Chungu snorted with irritations and took longer but easier way to go. They still had to remain unseen.

When we get to the end of gorge I took a final look around to make sure it was clear. Something in that place I found suspicious, however I wasn’t able to show any possible threat. So I gave Kiara few minutes to rest and I started our training. The tenth day of lessons.

“It’s time, my lady.” I said.

“This is strange place for combat practise.” Noticed queen.

“I guess your enemies won’t choose place to fight driven by aesthetical needs.” I replied.

“Yes, I know.” Nodded Kiara. “So we wrestle here?” she pointed on small ring among loose rocks. It was actually only place where we could have any space.

“No, there will be no wrestling. We play tag today.” I said and noticed surprised stare of my student. “Rules are simple: I count to hundred, then I start to chase you. You may stay and fight.” I said, sounding a bit mocking. “You may hide and if I won’t find you until sunset, you win. You could also run to Golden Cave. If you get at range of kilometre from our home, I will assume I failed as an assassin. Do you understand?”

“Nice.” Smiled Kiara. “So we play you are going to kill me.” I smiled too, even wider, to cover my emotions.

“Exactly.” I nodded. “And you can use any means to stop me or run from me. Do not hesitate. Just imagine that your life is depending on that.”

“Sweet.” Laughed queen. “I used to play that way with Tanabi.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I added and started. “One… two…”

“No, wait a second!” called Kiara. “What if…”

“Three… four… five…”

“Should I run already?” asked asked.

“Six… seven…” I got already wrapped up by that game. I have never had time to play with brother (I haven’t any, according to my knowledge) nor with anyone else. The closest to <play> definition we were doing on Outlands were just similar combat role-plays. But those were usually tiring and painful. And I guess that Kiara understood that quickly. She turned back and started to run in gorge mouth direction.

“Twenty one… twenty two…” I was calling into silence of mountains. I had already entered predator mode and was treating queen as game I needed to get. I know w I was running on the edge. After all I was just playing what I really wanted to do – to kill Kiara. For ten previous days I was fighting with that want, pushing it away, but it always returned. I was slowly accustoming to consider myself as murderer. Of course most noble part of me was still resisting but such a trainings weren’t helpful. I was sniffing smell of blood and going hungry with every breath.

Kiara was doing extremely poor. She was running straight ahead, not paying any attention on the route. She could choose much easier way, if she was thinking about where she was running. But not – she was thinking with straight and simple categories with no complex tactic. Suddenly I felt bolt of fear that she could fall in some crack or cause some avalanche. She could die. Well, somehow I wanted to kill her, but no to die under my protection. I was hating Kiara as mate of Kovu, but I was really concerned about Kiara as my student. I wanted to call her, warn her, cheer her, but I was just counting.

“Ninety nine… one hundred. I’m coming!” I shouted and set off.

My paw was still aching, so I was walking carefully and slowly. Queen had almost two minutes of advantage. However I felt I could catch her easily. I was jumping lightly over