“Keme…” said Sukari after few minutes of silence, when they were already in half of slope. “That lioness I saw… I was Zira… That strange cub I met in oasis, year back.” Older rogue smiled.

“Oh, you chose your prize… I will try to take her alive and unhurt if that is possible. Of course I can’t guarantee for behaviour of others, but you should get your lioness as you with.”

“Thanks, Keme.” Replied Sukari, not being sure if yellowmaned understood him.

For over year when youngster was travelling with gerge he actually didn’t kill any creature, except of kills to eat. Ruthless way of thinking that he saw in other rogues was odd and scaring for him. Yet, he had no way to change it – Shababu and his companions were older and mature – showing youngster how he should act. Keme was surely different – he didn’t share those violent impulses and distain for lives of others. If not that dark crack of his personality – gloomy memories of family he once had lost – yellowmaned wouldn’t fit to gerge at all.

“There is no shame in giving up to the stronger enemy.” Said older lion to Sukari’s ear. “I’m repeating it just in case. We want hit them and run… but if you stay…” Keme was quiet for a while, then added with softer voice. “Just surrender. Survive. I will come for you.”

Then they got to edge of widdringtonia forest.

*

Dhalimu was a wise lion and additionally for long years he was a rogue himself. He easily put himself in place of attackers and predicted their possible moves. After some consideration, he came to rather ambiguous conclusions – in the same time they had advantage and were cornered in serious troubles.

King Kilele woke up three or four times, but he style="text-indent: 9pt;">“If I am at paw.” Sighed Keme. “But we are going into the battle… Perhaps there will be no time for any advises. You just choose instantly what is best for you. Remember that, if something happens to me.”

“No…” whispered Sukari. “You’ll be all right… You have to be.”

“And most likely I will.” Replied yellowmaned, sensing some strange feeling inside is heart. Voice of younger rogue was not simple show of fear. It was also fear about him personally. Keme understood that what he felt was sense of responsibility. He never had tasted that emotion since… Since that time he didn’t want to recall. But it was back somehow – again lion had someone for whom he should take care. It was obvious on desert for those almost two years when they were travelling together, but Keme named it just in that moment.

“Not go in first line, let Shababu fight whatever suicide tactic he choose, just take care about your own business.”

“And your.” Added young lion.

”And mine…” nodded Keme. “But think about yourself in the first place. Be sure that I will understand that concern.”

“Keme…” said Sukari after few minutes of silence, when they were already in half of slope. “That lioness I saw… I was Zira… That strange cub I met in oasis, year back.” Older rogue smiled.

“Oh, you chose your prize… I will try to take her alive and unhurt if that is possible. Of course I can’t guarantee for behaviour of others, but you should get your lioness as you with.”

“Thanks, Keme.” Replied Sukari, not being sure if yellowmaned understood him.

For over year when youngster was travelling with gerge he actually didn’t kill any creature, except of kills to eat. Ruthless way of thinking that he saw in other rogues was odd and scaring for him. Yet, he had no way to change it – Shababu and his companions were older and mature – showing youngster how he should act. Keme was surely different – he didn’t share those violent impulses and distain for lives of others. If not that dark crack of his personality – gloomy memories of family he once had lost – yellowmaned wouldn’t fit to gerge at all.

“There is no shame in giving up to the stronger enemy.” Said older lion to Sukari’s ear. “I’m repeating it just in case. We want hit them and run… but if you stay…” Keme was quiet for a while, then added with softer voice. “Just surrender. Survive. I will come for you.”

Then they got to edge of widdringtonia forest.

*

Dhalimu was a wise lion and additionally for long years he was a rogue himself. He easily put himself in place of attackers and predicted their was barely aware of world around him. He managed to eat a little, drink and fall asleep again. Recovery after operation made by Dhalimu was going smoothly, but too long. White lion hoped that ruler would wake up for good and although he knew that High King would be unable to help his subject in substantial way, even a short speech, showing that monarch was about to heal, would be important support of morale.

But it hadn’t happened. Dhalimu estimated sheer forces of two parties – according to recons made by High Lionesses, aggressive gerge consisted six lions, five full grown and one adolescent. Against eight lionesses (six of High Pride, plus Zira and Rama) and two lions, six rogues were slightly weaker army. Additionally Dhalimu planned to clash with foes just next to home cave, so three wounded females would support defenders as a last resort. Generally – situation of locals was even better than when gerge of seven attacked them ten days earlier.

But that estimation was based on some optimistic assumptions. Dhalimu counted Zira as ready to fight (“She will stand with us.” Thought white lion. “Her mother, when was in her age, supported me in everything.”) and was sure he was ready as well. In fact Zira was still just a bigger cub – maybe mature as for her age, but still inexperienced and Dhalimu was nine – at age when first weaknesses of passing time show.

Plan of defence was simple – to be efficient. To kill or would as many of attackers as it was possible, to threat others and persuade them leaving pride alone. Dhalimu ordered all lionesses to be ready, but fake chaos and lack of any preparations. After all he hoped that actual fear of Highlandresses was part of cover too.

When all was set, white lion went asleep, leaving command to Rama, while ordering Sparthi to rest. Zira wasn’t considered as person reliable enough to oversee local guards alone, but after all she was still a child. She became a shadow of Rama, standing for two additional eyes and ears for experienced, yet lazy companion.

“There is very quiet here.” Whispered goldenfurred.

“In our home there is no birds singing and that doesn’t bothers you.” Noticed Rama.

“But there is always some noise… wind blowing in cracks of massif, sand hitting rock…” she said with voice of funny, dreaming tone, as if she already longed for her family cave. Perhaps it was true.

“The quieter it is, the easier for us.” Replied Rama, but then froze, just extending her ears.

“There!” whispered Zira, after few seconds of listening. She pointed slope down due west – direction so obvious for attack, that actually no one expected it. “Roar?”

“Try to wake up Dhalimu and Sparthi without any noise.” Ordered older lioness and she steeped ahead.

From forest emerged several silhouettes, but Rama wasn’t sure if she stopped all attackers. They were going in one unit, only leader came on front. Then – completely leaving his camouflage, called with calm, yet strong voice.

“Good evening.”

Rama instantly roared, sensing that the were circled and surrounded. She didn’t ask herself if that was really the best idea to split small group of rogues, but she was looking on sides in search for hidden his subject in substantial way, even a short speech, showing that monarch was about to heal, would be important support of morale.

But it hadn’t happened. Dhalimu estimated sheer forces of two parties – according to recons made by High Lionesses, aggressive gerge consisted six lions, five full grown and one adolescent. Against eight lionesses (six of High Pride, plus Zira and Rama) and two lions, six rogues were slightly weaker army. Additionally Dhalimu planned to clash with foes just next to home cave, so three wounded females would support defenders as a last resort. Generally – situation of locals was even better than when gerge of seven attacked them ten days earlier.

But that estimation was based on some optimistic assumptions. Dhalimu counted Zira as ready to fight (“She will stand with us.” Thought white lion. “Her mother, when was in her age, supported me in everything.”) and was sure he was ready as well. In fact Zira was still just a bigger cub – maybe mature as for her age, but still inexperienced and Dhalimu was nine – at age when first weaknesses of passing time show.

Plan of defence was simple – to be efficient. To kill or would as many of attackers as it was possible, to threat others and persuade them leaving pride alone. Dhalimu ordered all lionesses to be ready, but fake chaos and lack of any preparations. After all he hoped that actual fear of Highlandresses was part of cover too.

When all was set, white lion went asleep, leaving command to Rama, while ordering Sparthi to rest. Zira wasn’t considered as person reliable enough to oversee local guards alone, but after all she was still a child. She became a shadow of Rama, standing for two additional eyes and ears for experienced, yet lazy companion.

“There is very quiet here.” Whispered goldenfurred.

“In our home there is no birds singing and that doesn’t bothers you.” Noticed Rama.

“But there is always some noise… wind blowing in cracks of massif, sand hitting rock…” she said with voice of funny, dreaming tone, as if she already longed for her family cave. Perhaps it was true.

“The quieter it is, the easier for us.” Replied Rama, but then froze, just extending her ears.

“There!” whispered Zira, after few seconds of listening. She pointed slope down due west – direction so obvious for attack, that actually no one expected it. “Roar?”

“Try to wake up Dhalimu and Sparthi without any noise.”

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