haven’t come in vain, let’s go on Priderock. There you will feast with our pride, I will officially introduce you my heir and we will talk about old, good times.”

“While enjoying new, good times.” Murmured Spotty, still sensing some masquerade in the air. Whatever was playing Tanabi, he was doing it without help of his pride – lionesses and Simba were shocked and lost as newcomers.

King turned back to Pridelandresses and ordered. “All right, you must be quick. Mto, lead the hunting and get some decent game for our gests. All right?” Lioness nodded her head. “So go!” But then he noticed as Nala and Vitani set of to follow the hunting team too. “No, you two will stay at my side.” Murmured with harsh voice, but then finished with softer tone. “My dears… Dad, lead the guests home.” Asked Simba.

“Home?” asked Vitani. “But edict is still valid, so they can’t…”

Tanabi came to her and interrupted her with kiss. Then whispered with decisive voice. “Don’t upset me today. Don’t upset them. Can’t you see mom and dad came here to honour your mother and brother.”

“You let them in?” yelled queen.

“You let them in.” replied Tanabi. “Willingly!” added, stressing that word. “And we won’t exile them again. You already know, that exiling is very nasty acting.”

Queen wanted to say something, but quick look in her mate’s eyes cut every her opposition. “As you wish, my love.” Said with resigned voice.

“Mom! Dad!” Dhahabu – who had been just taken from other side with Anasa on Msaka’s back - ran to parents and pounced on Tanabi. Of course king, due to his partial blindness failed to catch him on time and cub hit monarch with all his weight. Then both fell down and prince instantly jumped aside, with lowered ears and words of apologies locked on lips. But Tanabi just burst with laughter.

“All right, that about warm welcome. But let’s go home. Take Anasa and head back on Priderock.” He stood up and looked on hunting team, just vanishing of range of hills. “They went hunt, so we could set of to our keep. Yakta, Jino, take your prides and follow us!”

So they started south. Tanabi and Simba carrying Dhahabu and Anasa were on lead, then were going lions and lioness from friendly prides. The retinue was closed by Nala and Vitani, walking few steps after them. Initially between them was a space of cold and silent air, but walking in distance about metre from each other and saying nothing for more than few minutes is really hard task to do. So finally Nala said quietly.

“So what now… should we apologise each other?”

“I guess we should.” Nodded Vitani. “But give me some time. I have to order few things in my head.” Nala gladly agreed.

*

Simba and Tanabi did much to guide guests slow and in very roundabout way to give hunting team more time for action. But after about two hours they came to Pride Massif. In that time Nala and Vitani exchanged about ten sentences directly to each other. Fortunately Tanabi noticed problem of mate and mother and sent Dhahabu with Anasa to buffer between them. Young prince managed to do it properly.

On Priderock both lionesses had some work with giving guests places to rest in main cave, so it kept them busy for a time. Then came huntresses and queen with queen mother had to divide meat in portions.

“I see you claws are very sharp.” Said Nala, seeing her daughter-in-law slashing piece of zebra’s haunch. “How have you kept them in that state while wandering on Outland’s rocks?”

“Outlander’s secret.” Replied queen. Then they both burst in laughter. Nervous, very uncertain, however honest. In that moment Vitani sighed inside and concluded she could turn her back on Nala if it was necessary.

Meanwhile Tanabi found Umeme who was serving among guests and delivering meat for two royal couples. He nudged goldenfurred in side. “May we talk, Umeme?” Lioness jumped, scared by that sudden approach.

“Of course, my lord.” Replied, when she turned her head to king. In her voice one could sense fear.

They went to royal cave. Then only Thamath was there, looking on sketch he made on wall. He was painting some additional lines on it and looking on effect with amaze.

“Sir!” he called, not turning his stare from picture. “I found it! The premonition I had was connected with lady Vitani and was about…”

“It’s good to know it on time.” Smiled monarch. “But now, my friend, go with your prophecies to our guests.” Ashamed shaman exited chamber, murmuring something quietly. When he disappeared behind the corner of corridor, Umeme asked with shivering voice.

“So why have called me, my lord.” When king was silent for a while, she added impulsively. “I know! I betrayed you… I joined Vitani only after…”

“You were with her when it was most important.” Interrupted her Tanabi. “But I don’t mean it.” Umeme turned her stare even lower to the ground. “While I was out… I wasn’t totally away.” Explained king awkwardly. “I mean I heard some things… and felt some too.”

“Forgive me, my lord…” cried lioness.

“No, that is you who should forgive me… if you think I deserve for that.” Said Tanabi seriously. “I’ve very sorry, I’m happy with Vitani and I doubt if anything could change it.”

“I never…” started Umeme, but then stopped and added with sobbing voice. “All right, I did have some hope.”

“I also saw that you acted with your best intentions.” Assured her Tanabi. “What why our talk today is even harder for me. You’ve done great thing that proved your nobility. You did it against yourself. Just because…”

“I love you, Tanabi.” Threw lioness in. But then, surprised by own courage, added instantly. “But know my limits and I won’t go any further. I will speak with sir Yakta. I think he will accept me in his newfound pride…”

“No!” called Tanabi. “I never suggested…”

“That will be easier, my lord.” Replied Umeme. “At least for me. If you need me here, I will stay, but if you let me go…”

“I’m very sorry that it came this way.” Said king. “And I’m very sorry that I’m unable to thank you.”

“Just… be happy.” Replied lioness, barely repressing tears. “That’s good for a start.” But then she turned to exit. “Come, my lord, they are waiting for you.”

Indeed, they were.

The meal was over and two – or three, depends who counts – prides was impatiently waiting for official Dhahabu’s acclamation. Prince was presented as king’s son just after he was born, but that way was an opportunity to introduce him as future ruler. And for something more.

“My dear?” Vitani asked Tanabi, who just was exiting royal chamber with Umeme. She didn’t notice any emotions on faces of mote and subject, but most likely due to own confusion. “Could you say it again, if you are sure?”

“What?” asked surprised king.

“We wont send your parents to Green Den again?” asked queen with curious voice.

“Shhh!” gasped Tanabi. “Not so loud!” he came closer to mate and whispered to her ear. “Of course, we won’t!”

“So let’s sent there Dhahabu.”

“E…?” asked lion in disorientation.

“No, I mean let’s announce that Green Den is his official keep. He won’t be there, of course, but you know… title <Prince of Green Den>…”

“It was <Prince of the Great Green Hole and its Nearest Vicinity> if I recall it properly.” Said king and Vitani smiled.

“So, you’ve got my point. We will make it tradition. Just to give Tiko some aerie sounding title to repeat.”

“Sounds fine to me.” Nodded king. “So shell we?” he stepped ahead few steps, but therve for that.” Said Tanabi seriously. “I’ve very sorry, I’m happy with Vitani and I doubt if anything could change it.”

“I never…” started Umeme, but then stopped and added with sobbing voice. “All right, I did have some hope.”

“I also saw that you acted with your best intentions.” Assured her Tanabi. “What why our talk today is even harder for me. You’ve done great thing that proved your nobility. You did it against yourself. Just because…”

“I love you, Tanabi.” Threw lioness in. But then, surprised by own courage, added instantly. “But know my limits and I won’t go any further. I will speak with sir Yakta. I think he will accept me in his newfound pride…”

“No!” called Tanabi. “I never suggested…”

“That will be easier, my lord.” Replied Umeme. “At least for me. If you need me here, I will stay, but if you let me go…”

“I’m very sorry that it came this way.” Said king. “And I’m very sorry that I’m unable to thank you.”

“Just… be happy.” Replied lioness, barely repressing tears. “That’s good for a start.” But then she turned to exit. “Come, my lord, they are waiting for you.”

Indeed, they were.

The meal was over and two – or three, depends who counts – prides was impatiently waiting for official Dhahabu’s acclamation. Prince was presented as king’s son just after he was born, but that way was an opportunity to introduce him as future ruler. And for something more.

“My dear?” Vitani asked Tanabi, who just was exiting royal chamber with Umeme. She didn’t notice any emotions on n stopped and looked back on mate. “But call my parents too.”

“I was sure you would think about it.” Sighed queen.

Few minutes later king, queen, king-father, queen-mother, prince and Thamath entered the ledge, while prides gathered below it, waiting for the ceremony. Shaman had to improvise some short speech, but no one knew that it was improvised, because lioness and lionesses were sure it was an ancient tradition, taken from Prideland or Golden Sand, not from Thamath’s head. Finally mandrill lifted paw of prince (who was much too heavy to be lifted himself) and called.

“Prince of Green Den!” gathered lioness and lions replied with collective roar.

“Now, they will gave another cheer for us, as a concordant family, as we are!” murmured Tanabi to ears of Nala and Vitani. Then added with even quieter voice. “We won’t talk about it more… But I warn you – if you do me another such a prank, pray

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