memory.”

“You lay down any conditions!?”

“Yes.” Replied Vitani with blunt voice. “I prefer to have sworn enemy than uncertain ally.”

Umeme clenched her jaws and stayed silent for long minutes. The other way was as hard as path she had been walking earlier. Queen just asked her for say words she didn’t want to say ever. But Tanabi… “Tanabi, my love, I’m doing it for you.” Thought and said with slow voice. “All right, I swear to protect honour of Scar and Zira as once rulers of Prideland.”

“Raise your paw to the Stars!” ordered queen.

“I swear to protect honour of Scar and Zira as once rulers of Prideland.” Repeated Umeme, barely hiding her irritation. Then suddenly Vitani stepped ahead and hugged lioness tight.

“Stars!” she gasped to ear of huntress. “You even don’t know how I’m glad to have you on side.”

“I really wish to say the same.” Murmured Umeme, freeing herself from hug. “However for now I can’t.”

“Only thing I could assure you, is that Tanabi will get know of this.” Assured queen, then turned to inquiring and coldly logical tone. “But now tell me where Nala expects he to return and where she wants to intercept me.”

Two silhouettes were looking on that scene from slope of nearby mound. Those weren’t living creatures, just spectres of dead and half-dead lion. Nuka finally nudged side of Tanabi. He did it without laughter, what meant he was really surprised and serious.

“I guess that is some surprise for you.”

“I could only thank Stars that Umeme did it that way.” He replied. “After all she’s another jaw in Vitani’s party…” Then he shook his head and added with terrified voice. “Stars! Even I am talking about that split as about war!” He turned to brother-in-law. “Could you start your magic?”

“That’s not a magic, just brotherly love.” Said Outlander, but in his eyes ignited a spark of malicious laughter, that Tanabi wasn’t sure if Vitani was really safe. But then she assumed that it was just Nuka’s was to express his emotions. “But not tonight. The anniversary is tomorrow. Until then, I can’t speak with her.”

“But maybe I could…” murmured Tanabi and stepped down to Golden Hall. Nuka just shook his head with disbelief, but didn’t interfere.

Before morning Vitani dreamt about nothing in particular. But in slumber of Dhahabu came some strange vision to his mind. “My boy, you can’t let our family fight each other.” Said nightly voice. “I’m just a cub” replied Dhahabu. “But a prince.” Added voice. “You must use your privileges to carry your burden properly.”

 

VIII. Mother’s Girl

 

Feeding Tanabi was main thing troubling Thamath. Unconsciousness ruler was unable to eat solid food. So shaman tried to give him blood of preys to drink. He felt very uncomfortable about that, because lionesses brought him caught game and he with Simba had to deliver blood to patient. So herbivore monkey became executioner of poor mongooses, fenecs and other creatures capable to become Tanabi’s snacks.

Also that way of feeding monarch was not perfect. Shaman understood that lion had to eat some real meal, to regain lost proteins and vitamins that only solid meat could give. Condition of king was stable… for time being. Thamath prayed that Tanabi wake up in not longer than three days.

“Any change?” asked Simba, who just opened his eyes. Strange, but male lion and male mandrill became nurses of king. Lionesses just hunted and guarder Priderock, leaving to bronwmaned and mandrill duties over Tanabi.

“No, sir.” Monkey shook his head. “He is still asleep. Pulse is normal, temperature is normal… He just seems to wait for something.”

“You may go sleep.” Said Simba. “I’m on guard right now.”

Shaman instantly stood up and left royal chamber, to find some place to sleep. Simba went closer to knocked down son and checked pulse himself. Right, nothing changed. But ex-king was also aware that time of his son was limited and every day in come weakened strength of lion.

“Tanabi!” thought Simba. “You just can’t die! You are the king who will prepare our pride for the Second Drought. If you are gone… all will be wrong. And… of course I love you. I wish you rule your kingdom as king and my heir... but if you don’t return to us soon, I must allow your mother to do her job.”

Then, just as if she was summoned by too loud thoughts of her mate, Nala entered royal chamber and without a word came to Tanabi. She kneeled down next to him and for long minutes just laid next motionless ruler. She nuzzled his face with her cheek and Simba noticed a tear slowly coming down from her eye.

“He is strong.” Said ex-king. “He will return to us.”

“I’m doing what I’m doing only because I know it right and necessary.” Replied Nala. Then she looked in eyes of Simba. “You don’t believe me, right?” Brownmaned shook his head, but she continued. “You think I got back only to sting Vitani? To return match for my own exile? I can’t say I have no anger in my mind. But tell me, what is reason of this all if not Tanabi’s good? I’m just paying price he couldn’t – cleaning that last remnant of Scar’s reign. Our son couldn’t stop Vitani from bringing those ghosts back to life. But now, doesn’t matter what he decide when he will be awake – he will be also stronger. Our pride will be stronger. We no longer have to bow in front of murderer’s shadow. I just stopped Scar from winning his war four years after his death.”

“Vitani is not like Scar.” Noticed Simba.

“But she wants to be, aren’t she?” asked Nala. “And yesterday she proved that. I can’t let her in, before she curse memory of Scar and Zira, enemies of your pride.”

In short recollection Simba reminded that Vitani never ordered him to condemn Mufasa. Maybe she knew that was impossible… or maybe she didn’t see any need of that. “After all she never said we are not of her family. But Nala is right, Scar started all misery in our pride and he can’t be salute as a ruler.”

“No, I think you are doing right.” Simba came to Nala and nuzzled her cheek. “Just… I’m afraid how would Tanabi judge our actions.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Replied Nala. “I’m taking all responsibility on me. I’m just doing what good mother should.”

She tried to calm all anger in her heart, but it was too hard. When she recalled face of Vitani, in her eyes appeared also silhouette of Sarabi. Nala never found body of her mother. She also never asked Outlanders what happened near Elephant Ford. But when she imagined dead mother, sight of triumphal queen’s stare also came to her mind.

*

When queen and her retinue woke up, it was already two hours after dawn. All were sleepy and tired after events of night, but Vitani seeing how late it was, cheered them to stand up.

“How are you doing, my lady?” asked Kucha.

“Better, much better.” Replied blue-eyed. .

“Tanabi!” thought Simba. “You just can’t die! You are the king who will prepare our pride for the Second Drought. If you are gone… all will be wrong. And… of course I love you. I wish you rule your kingdom as king and my heir... but if you don’t return to us soon, I must allow your mother to do her job.”

Then, just as if she was summoned by too loud thoughts of her mate, Nala entered royal chamber and without a word came to Tanabi. She kneeled down next to him and for long minutes just laid next motionless ruler. She nuzzled his face with her cheek and Simba noticed a tear slowly coming down from her eye.

“He is strong.” Said ex-king. “He will return to us.”

“I’m doing what I’m doing only because I know it right and necessary.” Replied Nala. Then she looked in eyes of Simba. “You don’t believe me, right?” Brownmaned shook his head, but she continued. “You think I got back only to sting Vitani? To return match for my own exile? I can’t say I have no anger in my mind. But tell me, what is reason of this all if not Tanabi’s good? I’m just paying price he couldn’t – cleaning that last remnant of Scar’s reign. Our son couldn’t stop Vitani from bringing those ghosts back to life. But now, doesn’t matter what he decide when he will be awake – he will be also stronger. Our pride will be stronger. We no longer have to bow in front of murderer’s shadow. I just stopped Scar from winning his war four years after his death.”

“Vitani is not like Scar.” Noticed Simba.

“I think I will no longer slow you down nor be the weak spot. However I must ask you to hunt for me. I have a lot to do today.” Lioness nodded her head, then asked.

“But what?”

“Something you can’t help me with.” Queen replied. “To talk with every dead Golden Pride left here. Today and only today I will act as Golden One once again. But tomorrow I will be back Pridelander and we will return where we belong.” Unintentionally she raised her voice almost to shout. Even Anasa, still sleeping then opened her eyes. “That is not exactly your matter, so leave me here alone until dusk. At night we all will salute Zira, Queen of Prideland and tomorrow we will reclaim her land.” Both Kucha and Maitha put much effort to hear it with calmness, but made no comments. Vitani noticed that and addressed to lionesses. “Girls, understand me – I’m not leaving tradition of Prideland’s Line. I’m reviving it… in its all complexity.”

“As I said – I step your every pawprint.” Said Maitha. “But do not expect to praise each one.”

“But if we leave you…” asked Kucha. “What will prince and Anasa do?”

“Just…” Vitani looked on cubs. “…play somewhere here.”

“In the Outlands!?” called scarred Kucha and Maitha.

“I grew up here and I’m still alive.” Snorted Outlandress. “They will be fine. Right, my dears?”

“I guess we have no choice.” Smiled Dhahabu.

“But don’t leave paths, don’t climb on too sloppy walls, don’t enter cracks…” Started to specify Vitani.

“…don’t play with avalanches, don’t wrestle on cliffs and don’t talk with strangers if we somehow find any.” Finished prince with laughter. “Mom, I know what you mean.”

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