“Ma'am, do you already know what you will do after tomorrow?”

“Oh, that's easy: I'll return home. Home to Priderock, that is...”

“But you can't do that!” Umeme seemed a bit shocked at Vitani's cold demeanor. “Lady Nala will never let you back in just like that...”

“That's the problem, isn't it?” sneered Vitani, “I just wished I had some more claws backing me...”

“More lionesses? Ma'am, you're not seriously considering starting a war over this?”

“What if I was?” Something dark spoke of the way Vitani stared at Umeme, a determined and vengeful look. It obviously scared Umeme. “And even if I wasn't, the best way to prevent a war would be more lionesses. The way I see it, Nala might not have to much qualms fighting a mere four lionesses. But if there were more of us, she'd certainly reconsider...”

“I suppose that makes sense...” nodded the other lioness, not at all convinced, “But we don't have those kinds of numbers, I'm afraid...”

“If only we could think of something...”

“We need help, don't we, ma'am?” asked Umeme, obviously concerned.

“If I only knew where to get it...”

*

Feeding Tanabi was main thing troubling Thamath. Unconsciousness ruler was unable to eat solid food. So shaman tried to give him blood of preys to drink. He felt very uncomfortable about that, because lionesses on had to eat some real meal, to regain lost proteins and vitamins that only solid meat could give. Condition of king was stable… for time being. Thamath prayed that Tanabi wake up in not long than three days.
“Any change?” asked Simba, who just opened his eyes. Strange, but male lion and male mandrill became nurses of king. Lionesses just hunted and guarder Priderock, leaving to bronwmaned and mandrill duties over Tanabi.
“No, sir.” Monkey shook his head. “He is still asleep. Pulse is normal, temperature is normal… He just seems to wait for something.”
“You may go sleep.” Said Simba. “I’m on guard right now.”
Shaman instantly stood up and left royal chamber, to find some place to sleep. Simba went closer to knocked down son and checked pulse himself. Right, nothing changed. But ex-king was also aware that time of his son was limited and every day in come weakened strength of lion.
“Tanabi!” thought Simba. “You just can’t die! You are the king who will prepare our pride for the Second Drought. If you are gone… all will be wrong. And… of course I love you. I wish you rule your kingdom as king and my heir... but if you don’t return to us soon, I must allow your mother to do her job.”
Then, just as if she was summoned by too loud thoughts of her mate, Nala entered royal chamber and without a word came to Tanabi. She kneeled down next to him and for long minutes just laid next motionless ruler. She nuzzled his face with her cheek and Simba noticed a tear slowly coming down from her eye.
“He is strong.” Said ex-king. “He will return to us.”
“I’m doing what I’m doing only because I know it right and necessary.” Replied Nala. Then she looked in eyes of Simba. “You don’t believe me, right?” Brownmaned shook his head, but she continued. “You think I got back only to sting Vitani? To return match for my our exile? I can’t say I have no anger in my mind. But tell me, what is reason of this all if not Tanabi’s good? I’m just paying price he couldn’t – cleaning that last remnant of Scar’s reign. Our son couldn’t stop Vitani from bringing those ghosts back to life. But now, doesn’t matter what he decide when he will be awake – he will be also stronger. Our pride will be stronger. We no longer have to bow in front of murderer’s shadow. I just stopped Scar from winning his war four years after his death.”
“Vitani is not like Scar.” Noticed Simba.
“But she wants to be, aren’t she?” asked Nala. “And yesterday she proved that. I can’t let her in, before she curse memory of Scar and Zira, enemies of your pride.”
In short recollection Simba reminded that Vitani never ordered him to condemn Mufasa. Maybe she knew that was impossible… or maybe she didn’t see any need of that. “After all she never said we are not of her family. But Nala is right, Scar started all misery in our pride and he can’t be salute as a ruler.”
“No, I think you are doing right.” Simba came to Nala and nuzzled her cheek. “Just… I’m afraid how would Tanabi judge our actions.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Replied Nala. “I’m taking all responsibility on me. I’m just doing what good mother should.”
She tried to calm all anger in her heart, but it was too hard. When she recalled face of Vitani, in her eyes appeared also silhouette of Sarabi. Nala never found body of her mother. She also never asked Outlanders what happened near Elephant Fort. But when she imagined dead mother, sight of triumphal queen’s stare also came to her mind.
*
When queen and her retinue woke up, it was already two hours after dawn. All were sleepy and tired after events of night, but Vitani seeing how late it was, cheered them to stand up.
“How are you doing, my lady?” asked Kucha.
“Better, much better.” Replied blue-eyed. “I think I will no longer slow you down nor be the weak spot. However I must ask you to hunt for me. I have a lot to do today.” Lioness nodded her head, then asked.
“But what?”
“Something you can’t help me with.” Queen replied. “To talk every dead Golden Pride left here. Today and only today I will act as Golden One once again. But tomorrow I will be back Pridelander and we will return where we belong.” Unintentionally she raised her voice almost to hange?” asked Simba, who just opened his eyes. Strange, but male lion and male mandrill became nurses of king. Lionesses just hunted and guarder Priderock, leaving to bronwmaned and mandrill duties over Tanabi.
“No, sir.” Monkey shook his head. “He is still asleep. Pulse is normal, temperature is normal… He just seems to wait for something.”
“You may go sleep.” Said Simba. “I’m on guard right now.”
Shaman instantly stood up and left royal chamber, to find some place to sleep. Simba went closer to knocked down son and checked pulse himself. Right, nothing changed. But ex-king was also aware that time of his son was limited and every day in come weakened strength of lion.
“Tanabi!” thought Simba. “You just can’t die! You are the king who will prepare our pride for the Second Drought. If you are gone… all will be wrong. And… of course I love you. I wish you rule your kingdom as king and my heir... but if you don’t return to us soon, I must allow your mother to do her job.”
Then, just as if she was summoned by too loud thoughts of her mate, Nala entered royal chamber and without a word came to Tanabi. She kneeled down next to him and for long minutes just laid next motionless ruler. She nuzzled his face with her cheek and Simba noticed a tear slowly coming down from her eye.
“He is strong.” Said ex-king. “He will return to us.”
“I’m doing what I’m doing only because I know it right and necessary.” Replied Nala. Then she looked in eyes of Simba. “You don’t believe me, right?” Brownmaned shook his head, but she continued. “You think I got back only to sting Vitani? To return match for my our exile? I can’t say I have no anger in my mind. But tell me, what is reason of this all if not Tanabi’s good? I’m just paying price he couldn’t – cleaning that last remnant of Scar’s reign. Our son couldn’t stop Vitani from bringing those ghosts back to life. But now, doesn’t matter what he decide when he will be awake – he will be also stronger. Our pride will be stronger. We no longer have to bow in front of murderer’s shadow. I just stopped Scar from winning his war four years after his death.”
“Vitani is not like Scar.” Noticed Simba.
“But she wants to be, aren’t she?” asked Nala. “And yesterday she proved that. I can’t let her in, before she curse memory of Scar and Zira, enemies of your pride.”
In short recollection Simba reminded that Vitani never ordered him to condemn Mufasa. Maybe she knew that was impossible… or maybe she didn’t see any need of that. “After all she never said we are not of her family. But Nala is right, Scar started all misery in our pride and he can’t be salute as a ruler.”
“No, I think you are doing right.” Simba came to Nala and nuzzled her cheek. “Just… I’m afraid how would Tanabi judge our actions.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Replied Nala. “I’m taking all responsibility on me. I’m just doing what good mother should.”
She tried to calm all anger in her heart, but it was too hard. When she recalled face of Vitani, in her eyes appeared also silhouette of Sarabi. Nala never found body of her