what you mean.”

“So, now go.” Ordered queen. “I need some time for myself and my old pride.

Dhahabu nudged surprised Anasa in side then both cubs ran path uphill to leave Golden Pan. Kitty followed prince without question, however she sensed that cub had on mind something more than airy games. But she restrain herself, until they climbed on nearest hill, far from lionesses down there.

“What is going on?” asked Anasa. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“Don’t stop!” called Dhahabu, still speeding on south. “We have not so much time and lots of things to do!”

“Things like what?” yelled Anasa, jumping over peak of range and sliding down from sloppy path down. She passed next to prince, but he agile grabbed her neck with jaws and put back on route.

“Like stopping that useless war!” replied Dhahabu. “Mom needs to return home as queen and ruler. There is only way to assure this.”

“I’m afraid to ask: what it is…” murmured Anasa, running down into river direction.

“You mention me something about crocodiles…” started Dhaabu and turned back to kitty. “And said he introduced to you. I guess he is no longer <stranger> to us.”

“But still he could eat us.” Noticed Anasa.

“Yeah.” Agreed prince. “We have to do something about that.”

*

Vitani was wandering on her old home, spiritually returning to times of her cubhood. First walking among mounds, then running, she recalled pictures of old times. Few times she instinctively stopped, to let Kovu catch her. But she was no longer cub, Kovu was not there. Only mounds seemed be still the same.

Finally Vitani stopped in front of small and standing alone termite hive. It was dead inside and almost hollow. Once it served as mausoleum for Outlanders. There was no body inside, but Golden Pride saluted there all deceased ones.

Queen entered the mound and looked on first tomb there. It was just a piece of wood, taken from Border River. On log all living members of Pride made scratch to leave some trace. It was a mean to recall Hawaa, latest victim of was before the Battle of Reunion. Just next to were other shrines – bones of antelope, to recall Cheka, who died on hunt. Few steps later – dried bunch of Prideland grass, taken from place where died Rama, fighting Pridelanders. And another piece of wood, found in river – to remind Amini’s death during crossing the border.

Vitani put on the ground in empty cavity. It was small piece of rock that queen kept for that year hiding from everyone, even from Tanabi. It was a shard of stone from slope of Gorge River. She extracted it from place where Zira felt to her death. Then another relic was in its place. Zira had her shrine on the Outlands.

“I hope that Kovu thought he has to somehow celebrate your anniversary in Golden Sands.” Whispered Pridelander queen. “He really wants to make all up to you.” Vitani kneeled down and kissed cold piece of rock with love and with respect. Then she stood up and looked back on rest of shrines. “Are you listen to me?” asked, with no hope for answer. “I must ask you for advice. I’m in need now, because I’m again the Outlander. But I can’t leave my throne, even if it could save my life. I can’t let memory of my parents he spoiled by hatred of Nala. I will fight for my land. Please, tell me, I’m doing right thing.”

Relics were silent, but Vitani stayed there for long hours, waiting for any sign. Meanwhile she returned with her memories to every pridemate mentioned there. Recalling every face that was gone, from Vitani’s hear any scruples were disappearing. Maybe it was the real point of visiting there – to awake rage and put any regrets to sleep.

*

“Here!” called Dhahabu, seeing grey shapes lying on bend of Border River.

“Shhh!” gasped Anasa. “They could hear us!”

“I think we basically came here to talk with them.” Noticed prince, slowly going down to the beach.

“You came for that.” Replied kitty. “I’m here to save your tail from being eaten.”

They both went down on sand of river’s shore. In mud of bend they noticed a group of crocodiles, lying after midday meal and resting airily. Half-sunken, motionless reptiles seemed to be harmless and quite friendly. However Anasa knew that even good manners are not a guaranty of not being killed. That why she walked few steps after Dhahabu.

“Ow… sir crocodile…” started prince. “What was his name?” whispered a question to Anasa.”

“Msaka.” Replied scared kitty.

“Mister Msaka!” called Dhahabu again. “May we talk?”

“What?” asked reptile with low bass. He fully emerged and opened his eyes. “You are a lion!” he said with curious tone.

“I noticed that too.” Replied cub. “I’m Dhahabu, son of king Tanabi.”

He came down to level of beach, just several metres from backwater. Anasa followed him carefully and very displeased with that. If crocodile rushed in sudden charge, it was very probable that he could hit one of cubs. Although reptile were awkward outside water, on short distances they could surprise terrestrials. But Msaka looked motionless as usual, just carefully watching two mammals disturbing his nap.

“Well, well, well… I somehow had already known that.” Relied crocodile, smiling and showing his countless teeth. “I guess bravery in your family is comparable only with lack of reason. But come closer – I assure you, I respect my king and his kins.” Dhahabu made a step ahead, then stopped, uncertain. “Come, closer, my prince.” Encouraged him reptile. “Came here and I will pay you homage.”

Cub slowly entered the water and went just to crocodile. If predator wanted to catch him, it was easy and almost certain he succeeded. But Dhahabu prevailed his fear and stopped just before Msaka. He was submerged to water almost to level of back – just head was over surface. He was at crocodile’s mercy.

But despite of funny view of small cub and giant reptile, somehow Anasa sensed that it were standing future ruler and subject in front of her. Dhahabu had to be scared, but he didn’t shiver – or at least water hid that. Prince also was looking right into lazy stare or predator.

“Welcome you, my prince.” Said Msaka with his half-growling voice. “As your subject, I offer you any assistance you need.”

“Thank you, Msaka.” Replied Dhahabu and turned back to exit the water. Reptile suddenly rushed his tail and hit with it surface of water. Anasa yelled, but prince stayed indifferent. Finally crocodile raised his tail, lifting cub on it. “Thank you.” Repeated Dhahabu, when predator put him on beach.

“Now, what for you came, sir?” asked Msaka. His voice didn’t change it’s tone, so there was impossible to determine if he was addressing cub seriously, or it still was an irony. But prince believed… hoped that it was honest. Reptile slowly entered the beach.

“Have you heard about my father’s accident?”

“Yes, some rumours came here too.” Confirmed crocodile, lying himself down on warm sand of rivershore. “But king is still alive, if I understood it properly.”

“Yes, but during his illness… we have some troubles. Pride is not fully disciplined.” Msaka blinked his eyes, what could mean everything from sympathy and interest to disbelief or boredom. Dhahabu took it as encourage to continue. “My mother, Vitani, is not treated properly, as queen of Prideland. I think that some additional subject to her retinue, when she re-enter her domain would be useful.”

“Civil war?” summed Msaka. “You are too young to remember that, but I can recall how it ended last time.”

“No, no more war!” Dhahabu shook his head. “My mother have to show her strength to prevent any struggle.” Crocodile bared his teeth in smile.

“So you want me and my family to threat party of your grandparents?”

“No, I want you to secure my mother enters Prideland.” Then he added with even more decisive voice. “And keep all them calm, whatever it would take.”

“You are gambling with stakes much higher than you expect.” Said some another voice from water. Female crocodile emerged from backwater and came to shore too. “You want us – crocwell… I somehow had already known that.” Relied crocodile, smiling and showing his countless teeth. “I guess bravery in your family is comparable only with lack of reason. But come closer – I assure you, I respect my king and his kins.” Dhahabu made a step ahead, then stopped, uncertain. “Come, closer, my prince.” Encouraged him reptile. “Came here and I will pay you homage.”

Cub slowly entered the water and went just to crocodile. If predator wanted to catch him, it was easy and almost certain he succeeded. But Dhahabu prevailed his fear and stopped just before Msaka. He was submerged to water almost to level of back – just head was over surface. He was at crocodile’s mercy.

But despite of funny view of small cub and giant reptile, somehow Anasa sensed that it were standing future ruler and subject in front of her. Dhahabu had to be scared, but he didn’t shiver – or at least water hid that. Prince also was looking right into lazy stare or predator.

“Welcome you, my prince.” Said Msaka with his half-growling voice. “As your subject, I offer you any assistance you need.”

“Thank you, Msaka.” Replied Dhahabu and turned back to exit the water. Reptile suddenly rushed his tail and hit with it surface of water. Anasa yelled, but prince stayed indifferent. Finally crocodile raised his tail, lifting cub on it. “Thank you.” Repeated Dhahabu, when predator put him on beach.

“Now, what for you came, sir?” asked Msaka. His voice didn’t change it’s odiles – to interfere in lions business. That is not the way of Circle of Life.”

“Why?” Asked Dhahabu. “I ask you for nothing wrong, just to put tangled things to order.”

“But idea that some creatures other than lions could have influence on the throne is a dangerous precedent.” Noticed she-reptile. “As the future ruler, you must think larger than any other.”

“So what you advise me?” asked Dhahabu with resigned

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