but waiting for pride to secure his authority. All rush around Simba was done because of Simba and for Simba. And due to obvious technical reasons, lionesses assumed that ruler could take care about only cub then present in pride.

However Simba just missed kind ask of Bidii, or thought Anasa would play on her own all the time. After quite strange talk with Nala and Umeme – where both lionesses were flattering him and assuring him about his authority, but none of them allowed him to say a word – he just called for Zazu and heard his version of events. After clear and cogent arguments of majordomo, he was even more confused than before. Then he decided to climb on Priderock Plateau to think all it over alone. It took several hours for him and he went down about sunset. Meanwhile Anasa got to the river.

It was very fortunate for kitty that she didn’t meet Umeme. Lioness set off to find queen and prince, but started her search from nearest ford. Knowing nothing about Vitani’s weakness, she assumed that queen decided to cross river in nearest possible place. She was wrong.

So goldenfurred went to Mighty Waterfall, checking if queen’s retinue came there to walk on rock of waterfall’s bluff. But seeing no trail of them, she finally got to conclusion that Elephant Ford was a place she was looking for.

So Anasa stopped before river when Umeme was still going there. What for mature lioness was just few hours of walk on plain, for cub seemed to be life-trip. Kitty was tired, heated and that somehow muffled her reason and carefulness. She just entered the river and swam ahead.

As you might remember, Anasa liked water and playing in it. She also could swim, although she used to check that skill in still water. She even didn’t notice as current took her. With every metre she was going ahead, she floated over ten due to stream. She learn that about in half a way.

“Ups…” she murmured but then shut her mouth, after some water deluged it.

From that moment her swimming was a desperate struggle with power of nature. Sun set already, so kitty barely saw another shore, however she noticed shapes of bank, speeding left quickly. “That means I’m going right.” Thought cub.

She sensed she was loosing her battle. With every move of paws her progress was slower and slower. Finally she started to try only stay on surface, and call for any help. But it wasn’t easy – opening of mouth would cause flood of water in it. When Anasa finally try to scream, it sounded as quiet gulping.

Tail of crocodile stopped her in place, but also took away her awareness.

*

Next thing cub felt was overwhelming cold. She was lying in some wet place, on sand, but wet sand – most likely on beach. She opened her eyes to see giant body of reptile, lying next to her. She scream with fear, spitting rest of water from her throat.

“That’s was I call warm welcome. I didn’t understand your name, but mine is Msaka.” Murmured crocodile with sleepy voice. “By the way, could you tune yourself down? I’m cold-blooded that doesn’t make me too communicative at night. We may talk tomorrow.”

“E… won’t you eat me?” asked kitty.

“In this time my ectothermed body is not ready to receive any food.” Explained reptile and closed the only eye he bothered to open.

“So if I wait to morning, you could change your mind?” asked cub.

“Well, yes.” Nodded reptile, not moving his jaws more that it was necessary to say that.

“So it’s highly reasonable for me to leave before you could eat me?”

“Well, actually you’re right…” replied predator. Then seeing Anasa fleeing with all her speed, added to himself. “Damn! I guess that low temperature affects also my basic logic.” Fortunately his sleeping family didn’t hear that talk.

*

It was a pure coincidence that Fortuna shone of Anasa once again. Cub was taken by current about four kilometres east and that meant she was put away from water just on longitude of Cubs Sanctuary on southern side and Golden Hall on Northern bank. So going straight north – and kitty turned straight due north – she went exactly to her destination.

Of course it didn’t come easily. To enter main part of Outlands she had to cross range of cliffs, what was difficult task for a cub, especially at night. Bur some friendly spirits had to keep an eye on her – she climbed on bluff thanks to narrow path and walked down safely on the northern side. There she felt lost – hearing much about Outlands, she always imagined that place is creepy, scary and mysterious, but also a bit smaller. On that night she learned that land of ghost tales was an area seemingly as big as Prideland savannah known to her and also much to harder to travel, due to hills and rocks.

After few hours of wandering at random, she climbed on hill she estimated on the highest on vicinity and looked down. There she saw the Golden Hall.

Let me explain – she couldn’t recognise Golden Hall, because in all stories that keep was much more impressive. But she recognise a lion’s silhouette in front of it. It was queen Vitani, who was spueing near to the entrance.

“My lady!” called scarred cub and started to quickly go down hill.

Vitani raised her tired stare on kitty and yelled with fear. “Anasa? What the heck you are doing here?”

“I… came after you.” Said cub, running to and standing before monarchess. “Are you sick, my lady?”

“No, it’s just too much effort today.” Replied lioness. “But I feel those are last of my problems. Soon all will be right, or even better.” But some malicious voice added in her mind. “Under condition you will survive and your cub will have some home to grow up.”

“Where is Dhahabu?” asked Anasa.

“Inside.” Vitani pointed on termite mound behind her. “But tell me how on Stars you got here. Your mother is here too?”

“No, I came alone.” Said Anasa with pride, but then she realised how in fact stupid is was.

“You crossed Border River alone?” voice of Vitani turned to reaproachful growl.

“Ma’am?” asked Maitha from inside. In next second lionesses exited the mound and froze, seeing Anasa. “What she…”

“I’m trying to find it out now.” Replied queen. “But anyway, child, come inside.” She let Anasa go first then murmured. “Great, we have to take care about you too. I guess there could be worse.”

“I’m terribly sorry to say that, but it will be, my queen.” Replied cub.

They entered the keep. Kitty noticed Kucha lying on ground in centre part of chamber and Dhahabu on dead tree trunk nearby. Just when new creature came in, lioness opened her eyes and quickly awoke up prince with touch of tail. Then looked on Vitani with question in her eyes.

“I have no idea too.” Replied blue-eyed. “So, Anasa, could you tell us, what happened?”

“Anasa!” called Dhahabu with sleepy yet happy voiced on the highest on vicinity and looked down. There she saw the Golden Hall.

Let me explain – she couldn’t recognise Golden Hall, because in all stories that keep was much more impressive. But she recognise a lion’s silhouette in front of it. It was queen Vitani, who was spueing near to the entrance.

“Go inside.” ordered monarchess. “Do you doubt I could defend myself?” smiled and showed her teeth. Uncertain lioness looked on friends and when Maitha nodded, she turned to mound.

“Come on prince, come on Anasa. Let’s rest.” Said and stepped ahead. After a moment queen and goldenfurred stayed alone in front of Golden Hall. Both lionesses were looking on each other in silence, while Vitani tried to read stare of goldenfurred. But in her eyes were so many emotions, questions and calls that it was impossible to describe that chaos. Also Umeme had problem with starting.

“Just say it, why did you came here?” hastened her queen.

“I love Tanabi.” Said finally goldenfurred.

“I guess that Rule of Challenge is valid only with males.” Replied Vitani, trying to sound ironical. In fact she discreetly stepped a step back and extended her claws.

“I don’t want to kill you.” Explained Umeme fast. “Or some part of me would like to, but I can’t.”

“I figured it out already.” Snorted monarchess. “If you wanted to, you would ask me to go in some more remote place…” Then she understood that playing with lioness was pointless, so she asked, trying to sound nice. “But… why do you tell me that?”

“Just to be honest.” Replied huntress. “I loved him since always and there was a time I hoped I would be his mate.”

“But you are still here, not with Nala.” Murmured Vitani. “Stars, at least you have some reason to disobey me, that I would understand.”

“They have their reasons too.” Said Umeme seriously. “Whatever you would do, you are Outlander. Golden Lioness and daughter of Scar.”

“My father was Prideland King!” gaped blue-eyed, but then repressed her irritation. Arguing about past was useful thing only in case that future was secured. “All right, speak on. I understand Nala’s acting.”

“And I support her with all my might.” Said Umeme to surprised queen. “I still believe that heir of Scar shouldn’t rule this… that” She pointed on south. “…land. And moreover I think Simba was great king. But… I promised.” She turned her stare to the ground. “To you I promised my loyalty… But also I promised Tanabi I will take care of you, be your guide here. I failed it.”

“You’re right!” gasped Vitani. “They kicked me out, and you did nothing about it. How the hell I could know that was so terrible!?” Then she snorted and added to herself. “But I guess that queens should sense such things.” She paused for a moment and whispered even quieter. “Kovu got ten times…”

“Ma’am.” Interrupted Umeme. “Irritating me even more won’t make be return to Nala, but it is also not the best way to secure my allegiance.”

“Yeah, I know.” Nodded Vitani. “But staying with me requires few things.” Pupils of golden furred extended with amaze. “I want you to recognise Scar as your once king and swear to defend his memory.”

“You lay

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