reminding they were all one, at least in some way.

“Son.” Said Tanabi. He sat down too, yet knowing he wouldn’t avoid giving some lesson. “I feel very uncomfortable to tell you about those things. I tried with all my might to teach you about our past without anger nor biases. I hope I succeeded, but you will judge it someday, when you reach the age proper to think it over yourself.”

“I never sensed you were hard talking about mom’s family.” Said Dhahabu. “Of course mom says about those things in very different way, but neither you nor she told anything… bitter. I think you both were very careful, explaining me.”

“I’m glad you took it in this way.” Replied Tanabi. “But let me finish. You are aware of great conflict in our family, how it was caused and that it caused the War of Prides. Those were very sad events, however he can’t change them. But your aunt and uncle set off to Golden Sands, just before you were born. Yakta became a king, finding in that was kind of recompense for hardships of his cubhood. Golden Pride accepted your aunt Kiara as their monarchess. In every way we could, we are healing wounds of past. It is very hard for us to cast aside memories of some grudges, but we are trying. Your mother is going very well in that. She is really big-hearted person. But not all of us managed to appease emotions. That’s why we rather no speak about history more frequent that it is necessary. However, it is necessary so often.” He sighed. “So try not to bother others with too personal questions. Just ask me or mom, all right.”

“Right, dad.” Nodded Dhahabu. “But tell me one more thing: if we are trying to heal every wound… why grandma and grandpa are still not allowed to live on Priderock?”

“Good question.” Murmured king in mind. but aloud he said just. “It’s really complicated matter. We decided that would be easier for… all. My father agreed with mom.”

“But that means you did escape from one of problems.” Insisted cub. “This is no real solution of our past. It is just… collective oblivion.” Said prince, then stopped for moment, as if he was surprised by own words. He took a deep breath and added. “I know that I know little. But I feel it’s is not right if I have to walk few hours to see grandma and grandpa.”

“You are very wise, son.” Replied Tanabi. “Sometimes you say things that really trouble me. That you noticed something we – mature ones – missed. I could promise you I will think it over. But now…”

“Here you are!” called Anasa, jumping from behind corner. “I found you, you seek…” Then she noticed king. “Ow, sir, I’m sorry.” She said with quieter voice. Tanabi just smiled. It looked a bit scary, while he was narrowing his muzzle, also showing more of scar of empty eyesocket. But Anasa knew it was genuine sign of good humour.

“You were playing hide and seek all this time?” he asked with laughter. “Dhahabu was talking with me for a while. I guess that you checked all of sophisticated hideouts here, but missed some obvious places.”

“You right, sir.” Admitted Anasa. “But the result is the same. Now he seeks.”

Dhahabu turned to father, said something between <thank you> and <sorry>, then followed his friend in run to ledge. Tanabi waited for son to leave then sighed with relief. Anasa relieved him from duty to say more. Then king cursed himself.

“Damn! Sooner or later he will ask on his own behalf. Somehow I’m encouraging him, saying that I can’t tell it in objective way. But then he would learn that there is much more of hidden bitterness on this rock that I could admit. He sensensed you were hard talking about mom’s family.” Said Dhahabu. “Of course mom says about those things in very different way, but neither you nor she told anything… bitter. I think you both were very careful, explaining me.”

“I’m glad you took it in this way.” Replied Tanabi. “But let me finish. You are aware of great conflict in our family, how it was caused and that it caused the War of Prides. Those were very sad events, however he can’t change them. But your aunt and uncle set off to Golden Sands, just before you were born. Yakta became a king, finding in that was kind of recompense for hardships of his cubhood. Golden Pride accepted your aunt Kiara as their monarchess. In every way we could, we are healing wounds of past. It is very hard for us to cast aside memories of some grudges, but we are trying. Your mother is going very well in that. She is really big-hearted person. But not all of us managed to appease emotions. That’s why we rather no speak about history more frequent that it is necessary. However, it is necessary so often.” He sighed. “So try not to bother others with too personal questions. Just ask me or mom, all right.”

“Right, dad.” Nodded Dhahabu. “But tell me one more thing: if we are trying to heal every wound… why grandma and grandpa are still not allowed to live on Priderock?”

“Good question.” Murmured king in mind. but aloud he said just. “It’s really complicated matter. We decided that would be easier for… all. My father agreed with mom.”

“But that means you did escape from one of problems.” Insisted cub. “This is no real solution of our past. It is just… collective oblivion.” Said prince, then stopped for moment, as if he was surprised by own words. He took a deep breath and added. “I know that I know little. But I feel it’s is not right if I have to walk few hours to see grandma and grandpa.”

“You are very wise, son.” Replied Tanabi. “Sometimes you say things that really trouble me. That you noticed something we – mature ones – missed. I could promise you I will think it over. But now…”

“Here you are!” called Anasa, jumping from behind corner. “I found you, es the problem and we can’t hide it forever. I must talk with Vitani about him.” Then he recalled that phrase he said that morning one more time. He just promised himself to tell his mate about Thamath’s painting. “I know that it sounds idiotic, but since the war is over, I had no easy time at all.” He snorted and walked into the royal chamber.

*

“I got you!” called Dhahabu, jumping down on Anasa.

Anasa hid herself on pile of gravel in one of back chambers of Priderock. That was quite cunning trick, because that place didn’t looked as hideout. Cub wanted to outwit friend, by using trick that he and king involuntary showed her. To hide in very obvious spot. And it would have worked perfectly, if not Anasa’s fur.

She laid down on pile and covered herself with some of dirt. But golden coat of kitty was clearly seen under that improvised camouflage. Dhahabu noticed something wrong instantly he entered that chamber, but it took him about half a minute to believe own eyes. His friend chose so unfortunate cover. Then jumped with laughter.

“How did you find me?” asked a bit disappointed kitty.

“I have sharp eyes.” Replied giggling prince. “But now I see there is your turn.”

Anasa stood up from pile and shook off gravel from her fur. It didn’t work perfectly, because on her coat stayed many dust and she looked almost like he changed her skin. Dhahabu stopped his laughter, seeing that.

“Ups… you look like a mess… I think your mother would ask some difficult questions.”

“But we did nothing wrong.” Said cub with a bit scared voice. She started to lick her fur, but due to area of dirt it was no use. “We just played in home, as we said.”

“Yeah, I know. But you should batch yourself, before your mother sees you. Maybe we sneak out to waterhole on eastern side. I will watch the corridors and let you know, when I have sure she is not there.”

“Yeah, that’s good idea.” Anasa smiled with gratitude. “Thanks!” But then she noticed something interesting in corner of chamber. “Hey, did you see those tunnels?” she pointed on crack in wall.

Dhalimu always thought it was just a crack, but looking carefully one could notice that it was much deeper than seemed. In fact it was passage to some other cavern and what was even more interesting, to one unused by pride.

“Wow.” Said prince, coming closer to crack. It was tempting to enter – hole was small but still enough for a cub. A weak air-movement suggested that on the other side was some bigger chamber. There was no light, however it didn’t scared prince.

“It’s dark there.” Said Anasa.

“Don’t tell me you are scared!” smiled Dhahabu and stepped closer to crack. But then stopped. “Ow, but I don’t know if we should go there. It could be dangerous.”

“I am who is scared?” asked Anasa with irony. “Ow, come on! It’s just a hole. And I’m dirty anyway. We could use that and just get dirty that it sounds idiotic, but since the war is over, I had no easy time at all.” He snorted and walked into the royal chamber.

*

“I got you!” called Dhahabu, jumping down on Anasa.

Anasa hid herself on pile of gravel in one of back chambers of Priderock. That was quite cunning trick, because that place didn’t looked as hideout. Cub wanted to outwit friend, by using trick that he and king involuntary showed her. To hide in very obvious spot. And it would have worked perfectly, if not Anasa’s fur.

She laid down on pile and covered herself with some of dirt. But golden coat of kitty was clearly seen under that improvised camouflage. Dhahabu noticed something wrong instantly he entered that chamber, but it took him about half a minute to believe own eyes. His friend chose so unfortunate cover. Then jumped with laughter.

“How did you find me?” asked a bit disappointed kitty.

“I have sharp eyes.” Replied giggling prince. “But now I see there is your turn.”

Anasa stood up from pile and shook off gravel from her fur. It didn’t work perfectly, because on her coat stayed many dust and she looked almost like he changed her skin. Dhahabu stopped his laughter, seeing that.

“Ups… you look like a mess… I think your mother would ask some difficult questions.”

“But we did nothing wrong.” Said

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