repeated his action, thinking with despair. He knew that hornbill’s flight to Priderock and way back – made even by the fastest lioness – would be much, much too long to get on time. Young lion was getting tired fast, he also feared that Anasa would panic and with some another turn she wouldn’t hold her breath long enough. “But I must do what I could! I’m a prince, Stars dammit!” gasped in mind, submerging once again.

After fifth time he lost his count. His life became a way up and down, synchronized with breathe in and out. He even tried to freeze his mind, to save any energy he could. He only silently prayed to ancestors for a miracle. It took six more breath for miracle to come.

Suddenly Dhahabu felt as some strong paws pulled up Anasa in front of him. He surface and opened his eyes to see Umeme, carrying coughing cub in her mouth. Lioness gave just a quick look on prince to check if he was all right, then jumped on bank and laid Anasa on grass. Kitty coughed even louder.

“Thanks A…” sighed Tiko. Because of coughs prince never knew if bird said “Ahadi” or Arista”, but some brink of his ruler’s intuition said him it would be very interesting to know that. Meanwhile bird flew down and sat next to Umeme, who was trying to clear Anasa’a throat, by pressing cub’s chest. After few such actions cub stopped to cough and breached normally.

“You’re right?” asked lioness.

“I guess…” replied cub with weary voice.

“My prince!” then called Umeme, turning to Dhahabu. But he already managed to got to shore and climb on it. Cub laid on grass, exhausted. “My prince… are you…”

“Yeah…” panted goldenfurred. “Thanks…”

Lioness – as if she didn’t believe in cub’s assurance – came closer and looked examined him carefully. Seeing he was indeed unharmed, she return to Anasa.

“Thanks, Umeme.” Repeated prince.

“Thank Stars, sir.” Replied lioness. “It was a miracle I was so near.” Then she turned again on prince and smiled. “But anyway – nice moves, sir. You really did it in smart way. But…” she lowered her voice. “…I can’t turn a blind eye on that. I must report about it to your mother.” Both cubs turned their stares down.

“Yes, I know that.” Replied Dhahabu with serious tone. “I will tell her myself, I promise.”

Umeme was silent for a while then said. “Good, that would be the best. I must say you did a real mess here, but I like how you clean it. You saved Anasa… and I believe you will tell your mother what has happened here with all details. You’ve made mistake today, prince. But damage is done and keep undoing it in that way. It’s just… good.”

Anasa stood up and came to goldenfurred. She whispered to his lips. “Thank you… You saved me…”

“Well, yes.” Nodded Dhahabu. “But you was amazing too. You stayed cool even in such situation. I… if I could say that… I’m proud of you.”

“But what will be now?” asked asked, clearly scared by vision of her mother. Bidii was loving parent, but very stern one.

“Don’t worry… I will talk with my mom first.” Said Dhahabu.

In standards of Pridelnders, queen was very lenient. It didn’t mean that she was tolerant about any disobedience, but she let her son on more independent and even more dangerous plays than most of lionesses on Priderock. Juts harsh cubhood of Vitani taught her that fun with no sweat (of both effort and fear) is not a fun. However such a stupidity that prince and Anasa made, would be most likely punished decisively.

“Really?” asked Anasa. “You… are saving me again!”

“That’s what for princes are.” Smiled Dhahabu, but in fact he was shivering inside before talk with queen.

“All right, cease those secrets.” Umeme finished their quiet conversation. “We are going home.”

“You are really cool guy.” Snorted Tiki, flying next to Dhahabu. “But you have to learn some manners anyway.” Prince slowly followed goldenfurred lioness.

*

After about hour they reached Priderock to see just two lionesses there. But that were Vitani and Bidii. Both cubs gulped.

Queen and her subjects stayed in cave while rest of team was on hunting. Monarchess had no obligation to go for game, however she usually went. But that day she decided to take a break, after minor injury she had taken day before. That’s why she also wasn’t accompanying her son in plays, but ordered it to Tiko. The same Bidii – stretched paw made her unable to hunt and Vitani assured her that her daughter was safe under hornbill’s overseeing.

Umeme was carrying Anasa on her back (Dhahabu followed them, saying he could walk on his own all the way), but just before rock, she stopped and let cub come down. She looked on prince and said.

“So… that’s the end of my road. You are going to your motherered her voice. “…I can’t turn a blind eye on that. I must report about it to your mother.” Both cubs turned their stares down.

“Yes, I know that.” Replied Dhahabu with serious tone. “I will tell her myself, I promise.”

Umeme was silent for a while then said. “Good, that would be the best. I alone. I hope you will deal it quickly.”

Dhahabu nodded and said to Anasa.

“Wait here. I will try to… keep their focus on me.” Then he set off uphill.

Vitani and Bidii, forewarned by Tiko, were waiting for cubs. Both lionesses had severe stare, however Dhahabu noticed that his mother was somehow absent-minded. Cub stopped on the ledge, just before queen and greyfurred lioness.

“That was all my fault.” He started. “I guided Anasa there and as first entered the swamp. There is no excuse for me… but she just followed me. She trusted that I, as prince… was doing no bad thing.”

“Probably.” Said Bidii. “But Anasa got into trouble in the first place.”

“Yes, but because of me.” Replied Dhahabu.

“Bidii?” asked Vitani. “I think he had right. He is the one who romped there. I think that Anasa doesn’t deserve for punishment…” Dhababu instantly nodded his head. “…as my son.” Muzzle of prince narrowed with fear. “Will you let me solve this?”

“As you wish, ma’am.” Said lioness. “Do what you think as proper. But if You still think that my daughter deserves a discipline, suit yourself.” Replied and went to cave, hobbling a little.

Vitani without word came to Dhahabu and hugged him. Cub was surprised, but stayed silent. After a moment, queen let him loose and stepped back.

“I just made sure, you are here.” She said with hollow voice. “Tiko said me everything. You and Anasa were close to drown.”

“No, that was…” started cub, but then stopped, took a deep breath and said, seeing no point in avoiding. “Well, actually, we were. I’m sorry, mom.”

“Yes, sorry…” repeated Vitani, pacing in front of her son. “It easy to excuse someone, but… from my perspective it isn’t as easy. Look.” She stopped and turned to cub. He had been looking on mother since few moments, but he tried make his stare even more perceptive. “Why are you so… uncooperative? I just gave you a little more easiness and you overuse it so fast… Stars!” she gasped both to Dhahabu and to herself. “I promised myself I will provide you cubhood I didn’t have. That I will let you play and prank, not learn of survival and fight for every scrap of food, as I had to. I just want you to be airy and happy… But that is not the way you are achieving it.”

“Mom…” whispered Dhahabu.

“Don’t interrupt me.” She said. “Just understand, that I was more soft-hearted that I should have been. If your father knew what is happening, he would has tied your tail to his, to keep an eye on you.”

“Yeah, I know that.” Nodded Dhahabu.

“No, you don’t.” snorted Vitani. “Your grandfather Simba was… very strict about that kind of stuff, so your father learned how to keep his cubs short… for their good. And I’m closer and closer to think, he has right.”

“Mom… I will be better.” Yelped cub. “I promise…” then he paused.

“What are you promising?” asked queen. “That it will never happen again?”

“No, mom…” said Dhahabu. “I wish to not irritate you ever, but I can’t be sure if someday…” Vitani smiled.

“Ow, my son… You are just too honest and simple-hearted.” She replied. “Most of your contemporaries would swear on Stars it won’t happen again. But you…”

“I’m just not sure.” Said prince. “But I don’t want to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me.” Said Vitani, again coming to and hugging son. “Just… made me mad.” Added with faked anger. Then they both laughed. “Ow, I just kidding. So from now on I hope you will be more careful. Remember – you are a prince and your kingdom depends on your future. Also because you are a prince, you have to give an example to all… including Anasa.”

“I know, mom. I will… no, I just will do everything I could to please you in that.”

“Right.” Nodded Vitani, putting cub on the ground. “I believe you. So you could go back to Anasa. Tell her that storm didn’t come… this time.” She gently pushed Dhahabu into cave’s direction. Cub set off to entrance, but after few steps stopped and look again on mother.

“Mom… you… won’t you punish me?”

“Hm?” asked a bit surprised lioness. “I guess it’s not smart for you asking such questions, because I could change my mind.”

“Yeah, I very glad you see no need of that, but…” he return to queen. “Mom, something is wrong. I see how it is bothering you since few days. Something you can’t tell even dad about.”

“So what makes you think I could tell you?” asked queen. In the same time she was wondering how her son noticed it so quickly.

“I don’t know… Well, I’m just a cub and I don’t many things. So you could tell me, knowing I won’t understand. I can’t advise you, but I could listen.” She laughed again, but then replied with serious voice.

“No, get back to your plays. It’s true I have some questions I can’t answer right now. But no one could. I must just wait for solution.”

“But you will be alright?”

“I hope.” Said Vitani, regretting she couldn’t say <for sure>. But she was as honest and blunt as her son.

So Dhahabu entered the

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