with resigned voice.

“Hear yourself.” Said Msaka. “You are imbued by nature with the light of reason, and it could direct your actions, according to Circle of Life. But you just must be careful not to take own pride and self-confidence as real wisdom. But I think you could do it. What are you feeling?”

Dhahabu closed his eyes and was silent for longer while. In his mind appeared pictured of home, parents but also grandparents. And he understood that all them was right – at least in their not perfect, partial perception. Even his mother – queen, somehow missed the point of whole conflict. Dhahabu couldn’t see the whole too. But he watched another piece of puzzle. He inhaled deeply, hoping he read his path properly.

“Tomorrow at dawn.” Said cub. Or it was still a cub? Prince sounded very mature. “You will assist my mother in return. But beware – you can’t hurt any lion, except of case of self – or queen’s defence. You also can’t hurt my grandfather and grandmother under any circumstances.” Seeing that Msaka was waiting for something more, he added. “I order you, as prince and future king of Prideland.”

“So that shall be done.” Replied crocodile. “It that all, my liege? Me and my family are a bit hungry. It’s time for a hunt.”

“Good luck then.” Said Dhahabu. “See you tomorrow.” Then he turned to shocked Anasa and said. “We’re done here. Let’s back home.”

After second he sensed that he made involuntary mistake – he meant <go to Golden Hall>. It would be just a misspelling or dangerous prophecy of bad luck. But there was no time to think it over.

“You were great.” Said Anasa, walking next to prince in hall direction. “However I’m still scared.”

“Don’t say it to anyone.” Replied Dhahabu, bending to her ear. “But I am too!”

*

Sun set over Outlands, changing red-flamed landscape to darkness. Kucha and Maitha found cubs on hill and took them to one of small sources nearby, to leave queen alone. Vitani finally finished her memories in shrines and got back to Golden Hall. She entered silent chamber and stopped next to Golden Throne.

She carefully touched the trunk, recalling previous time she was there. “Almost year ago.” She thought. “With Tanabi. He helped me climb there and sit on the pine like on throne… And soon after he said he love Vitani. Ow, Tanabi… You can’t die! We had just one year... It’s much too short time.” Then she shook her head and added in mind. “No, I can’t think about him while thinking about the dead. That’s not true. He is alive and will be.”

She turned her stare up, to chimney of mound, to notice distant stars over her. Initially she hadn’t known if she should do it inside or on slope of Golden Hall. Finally she decide to be inside. She believed that her mother was looking over her all the year around from nightly skies. But that was a special night – Vitani got back to her cubhood, when she and her family was again in keep of exiled pride. Queen calmed herself, hoping to hear any voice from the past.

“Mom, I’m home.” Said with cubbish voice. It was wrong to say that – her home was Priderock, eventually Golden Sands. But she called as always she used to announce she was back from plays on Outlands. She waited for ten heart clatters for Zira’s voice, who would – with joy or anger, it depended – welcomed her in mound. But no one replied.

“I’m here.” Repeated Outlandress. “I want to ask for your forgiveness once again.” She bowed to the ground and continued. “I failed again by letting my power slip out of my paws… But I believe it happened with purpose. To remind me, who I am. I’m daughter of Scar and Zira!” she called to silence of Golden Hall. “I will no longer hide that! I inherited throne after my father, the same as Kovu inherited his title after you, mother. Whatever will happen, I will never disown you! And I will return to take my place!”

 

[“Inheritance” song. Tune is serious, mysterious and war-march-like. Every step of Vitani sounds as drum beat. She stands up and walks around trunk, still looking up to hole in roof. Light of moon shines on her, then she goes into shade to enter lightened area again. When she is in darkness we see as her blue eyes reflect some of light in aerie way.]

Every breath I’m breathing hard

Feel the grasp on chest and soul

Thing that keeps my thoughts apart

And still whispers mighty call

[She stops and shakes her body, as if she wants to rid of some burden on her back.]

Burden I can’t leave out free

As if my tail weights ten times me

[She moves to old bedding of queen Zira, to see shallow pan in ground with rest of brushing there. With carefulness and honours she grabs few straws of it, squash in paw and rubs it into fur of her head.]

Past that I cannot alter now

Road I’ve shamefully walked through

If I can’t get back somehow

I beg forgiveness them and you

[She bows down to the ground, closes her eyes and stays motionless for several seconds. Then raise up, opens her eyes and turn back to the centre of chamber.]

Raise from falls, don’t walk astray

Mother guide me, let me pay!

[On <mother, guide me…> she raised her right paw up. Then bolt of moonlight shines on it. She open her pawful and let rest of dust from bedding fall to the ground.]

Chorus:

From now on my every step

Will be exact print of your

Guide me now, in every hour

Up to dream that you once kept

[She starts to walk slowly to exit, followed by light from skies.]

Sure as river by its bed

 Mother, hear your daughter plead!

[Vitani stops in entrance of mound and last time looks inside. Then leaves.]

Second verse:

[Scene switches. Vitani goes on Outlands – still drums accompanies her steps – path uphill. In every natural feature she seems to see Zira’s silhouette. She follows every that shade to learn it’s just an illusion.]

Every dream I dreamed those years

Was a want of please your hopes

I was weak, just stopped my tears

Now dame is gone, I’m flood of those

[But then she reached peak of hill and she looks south on distant Prideland. Moon partially gets covered by clouds and his light shines on the southern side of river, showing fertile land in even more appealing presence.]

But’s not me who’ll be in pain

I won’t let them win again

[Saying <them> she raises her paw to the sky and clenches it. Extended claws cuts her pawpads and few drops of blood fall to the ground.]

For every hour I let you down

Now I will rise above our goals

There is no memory I let drown

Just see your daughter as she scores

[Vitani looks back on some rock. In her sight it turns its shape to resembling Zira’s face. With every words of Vitani’s song “Zira’s face” has more and more clear smile.]

Now I’ll break this spell to free

You’ll be finally proud of me!

[Vitani starts to run down by path to river. She stops on beach. We recognise that is the same place where Amini died. There is piece of trunk purposely dragged there as Amini’s symbolic tombstone. Vitani stops over it and touches it. On her pawpad there is still a little of blood.]

Chorus:

[She “draws” with blood few lines. After several moves we see that picture resembles Nala’s muzzle. Vitani smiles.]

From now on my every step

Is the exact print of your

Guide me now, in every hour

Up to dream that you once kept

[Queen extends her claws and carve deep crack in Nala’s picture. Then turns back to Prideland and finished her song with loud call.]

Watch in me your soul within

Mother, see your daughter win

[She freezes with paw dreadfully pointed south and few last drops of blood drips to the sand under her. Music fades away.]

 

IX. Warm Welcome

 

Day raised over Prideland with complete silence. Most of lionesses were already awaken, but still somehow feared to show awareness. Only active creature in cave – apart of Thamath, keeping guard over Tanabi – was Nala. When sun appeared on horizon, she entered royal chamber and woke up Simba, who was lying next to unconsciousness king.

“My dear…” she whispered, stroking his mane. “I must go.” Seeing he opened his eyes, but was still too sleepy to reply, she added.  “Stay here with our son, we will handle ourselves. We will be back soon, I promise.”

Simba had no strength to protest – nightly guarding tired him, he also felt that Nala acted on her own and according to her own plans. If brownmaned wanted to stop those, he should have done it two days earlier. Then was the time of harvest what was planted before.

Nala bended down and kissed motionless Tanabi’s cheek, then turned back and exited chamber. She quickly woke pride and formed tight unit to march north. There wan no time nor need to hunt. That small war was about to be determined even before breakfast.

“Go!” called regentess from ledge of Priderock. Then she joined to silent ranks of lionesses. Eight huntresses of pride, led by ex-queen departed in river direction. They were observed by numerous creatures of savannah. Animals weren’t scared of being hunted, however they feared that day. Even if not everyone knew what was about to happen, every living creature there sensed scent of blood in the air. For the first time since a year – another war was near.

Simba told Timon and Pumbaa to stay in Green Den whatever happened. Friends of course disobeyed that and set of on Priderock even before dawn. When they came to pride’s keep they noticed outgoing war-party.

“That is not good.” Murmured warthog, looking on Pridelandresses.

“What’s a big deal.” Snorted meerkat. “They beat Outlanders year ago, so they will do the same now.”

“Are you sure those are again <Outlanders>?” asked Pumbaa, then feeling irritation of friend, added. “Right, let’s go to Simba.”

Meanwhile Nala was on lead of unit, followed by Bidii and Mto. Seeing anger and slight uncertainness shown in steps of leaderess, greyfurred lioness asked.

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