on the line.”

The big word was out. They wanted something in return for their help.

“State your demands,” Vitani replied coldly. She didn't have time to be shocked, dismayed or insulted. Things had to move quickly.
Now Dakly stepped in again.

“All right, let me point this out clearly: my aunt is willing to help you without any obligations from your side, as she is fully aware of the sever debt she carries. These guarantees we demand are not for her's, but for the clan's help. You shouldn't blame my aunt for them.”

“Okay, let's agree on that for starters,” Vitani nodded, “What else?”

“Full and official recognition of our sovereignty over these lands. Entitlement to the same rights as any other predator in our relations to lions. The Outlands.”

“What? The Outlands? Out of the question!” gasped Vitani, “Your expecting me to give up the place where I was raised? No way. Your other demands can be met, but you ain't getting the Outlands.”

“Ma'am, I beg you to reconsider... Of your entire pride, only you still have a bond with the Outlands. The other lions barely acknowledge it's existence. We, however, could put those lands to good use...”

“No, I ain't buying it. I'm willing to give you the right to hunt in some parts of the Outlands, but they remain mine!”

“Then we have no deal, I'm afraid,” Dakly concluded, “Good night...”

“No, wait!” Vitani quickly responded, “We can work this out... What if I gave you the right to hunt on almost all of the Outlands...”

“No, that still isn't quite far enough,” yawned Dakly, “Okay, lets just get the record straight here: why is it you don't want us living in and owning the Outlands? Is it because you lived there?”

“You could say that...” Vitani kept thinking about the Outland's shrine, and the Golden Hall. She knew she was in a pickle, but she wasn't about to give those up. They just meant too much to her.

“Can that somehow be limited to certain area's?” questioned Dakly further.

“I suppose...”

“Ill tell you what: what if we designated certain 'sensitive areas' where hyenas would have to stay clear from, and which would remain under your de-facto control, while we got the rest of the lands?”

“I don't know,” Vitani kept doubting, she still felt as if her weak position was being exploited too much, “No, I can't do this. You're taking too much advantage of me here.”

“Well, what do you expect? You're asking quite a commitment of us, ma'am. If the last war cost you half your clan, you're not too eager to go at it again... The choice is your's; you take it or you leave it.”

A long, tense silence ensued.

“Say, Dakly, what do you think would happen if Nala ousted me for good?” Vitani suddenly asked,

“I don't know about you, but... last time I checked, she wasn't on too friendly terms with your kind. Simba neither. I might have just let you be, letting you have your Boneyard. But Nala and Simba might consider a more... definite, a more final solution, don't you think?”

Dakly swallowed. He hadn't thought of it that way. Not yet anyhow. Vitani had a point, Nala toppling Vitani wasn't exactly in the clan's best interest. Not at all.

“Yeah...” he grumbled, “Okay, say, what if we... what if we expanded those sensitive area's a bit? To about a quarter of the Outlands; both your symbolic hot-spots and some areas near the border with the Pridelands?”

De facto expanding the Pridelands into the Outlands? That could work...

“I don't think I'm entirely convinced yet...”

“Okay, I'll throw in the right to freely visit your sensitive areas surrounded by our new territory. On condition that any lion who uses it notifies us first,” Dakly finally conceded.
Nala thought about it for a while, in silence. She wasn't entirely pleased with the deal yet, but she had no margin left, both qua time and qua aces up her sleeve.

“All right, deal.”

“Phew, all right!” sighed Dakly, obviously relieved, “So your committed to keeping your end of the bargain?”

“You have my word as Queen of the Pridelands.”

“Right then; the Boneyard Clan is at your sevice, ma'am!” Dakly couldn't help but grin as he bowed before Vitani. Shenzi, however didn't grin. She smiled, contented, now full of life and energy again. She looked better than she had in ages.

“Time for those Simbast scoundrels to get their comeuppance!” flashed through her mind as she got up.

 

IX Warm Welcome

Day raised over Prideland with complete silence. Most of lionesses were already awaken, but still somehow feared to show awareness. Only active creature in cave – apart of Thamath, keeping guard over Tanabi – was Nala. When sun appeared on horizon, she entered royal chamber and woke up Simba, who was lying next to unconsciousness king.
“My dear…” she whispered, stroking his mane. “I must go.” Seeing he opened his eyes, but was still too sleepy to reply, she added. “Stay here with our son, we will candle ourselves. We will be back soon, I promise.”
Simba had no strength to protest – nightly guarding tired him, he also felt that Nala acted on her own and according to her own plans. If brownmaned wanted to stop those, he should have done it two days earlier. Then was the time of harvest what was planted before.
Nala bended down and kissed motionless Tanabi’s cheek, then turned back and exited chamber. She quickly woke pride and formed tight unit to march north. There wan no time nor need to hunt. That small war was about to be determined even before breakfast.
“Go!” called regentess from ledge of Priderock. Then she joined to silent ranks of lionesses. Eight huntresses of pride, led by ex-queen departed in river direction. They were observed by numerous creatures of savannah. Animals weren’t scared of being hunted, however they feared that day. Even if not everyone knew what was about to happen, every living creature there sensed scent of blood in the air. For the first time since year – another war was near.
Simba told Timon and Pumbaa to stay in Green Den whatever happened. Friends of course disobeyed that and set of on Priderock even before dawn. When they came to pride’s keep they noticed outgoing war party.
“That is not good.” Murmured warthog, looking on Pridelandresses.
“What’s a ceded.
Nala thought about it for a while, in silence. She wasn't entirely pleased with the deal yet, but she had no margin left, both qua time and qua aces up her sleeve.

“All right, deal.”

“Phew, all right!” sighed Dakly, obviously relieved, “So your committed to keeping your end of the bargain?”

“You have my word as Queen of the Pridelands.”

“Right then; the Boneyard Clan is at your sevice, ma'am!” Dakly couldn't help but grin as he bowed before Vitani. Shenzi, however didn't grin. She smiled, contented, now full of life and energy again. She looked better than she had in ages.

“Time for those Simbast scoundrels to get their comeuppance!” flashed through her mind as she got up.

 

IX Warm Welcome

Day raised over Prideland with complete silence. Most of lionesses were already awaken, but still somehow feared to show awareness. Only active creature in cave – apart of Thamath, keeping guard over Tanabi – was Nala. When sun appeared on horizon, she entered royal chamber and woke up Simba, who was lying next to unconsciousness king.
“My dear…” she whispered, stroking his mane. “I must go.” Seeing he opened his eyes, but was still too sleepy to reply, she added. “Stay here with our son, we will candle ourselves. We will be back soon, I promise.”
Simba had no strength to protest – nightly guarding tired him, he also felt that Nala acted on her own and according to her own plans. If brownmaned wanted to stop those, he should have done it two days earlier. Then was the time of harvest what was planted before.
Nala bended down and kissed motionless Tanabi’s cheek, then turned back and exited chamber. She quickly woke pride and formed tight unit to march north. There wan no time nor need to hunt. That small war was about to be determined even before breakfast.
“Go!” called regentess from ledge of Priderock. Then she joined to silent ranks of lionesses. Eight huntresses of pride, led by ex-queen departed in river direction. They were observed by numerous creatures of savannah. Animals weren’t scared of being hunted, however they feared that day. Even if not everyone knew what was about to happen, every living creature there sensed scent of blood in the air. For the first time since year – another war was near.
Simba told Timon and Pumbaa to stay in Green big deal.” Snorted meerkat. “They beat Outlanders year ago, so they will do the same now.”
“Are you sure those are again <Outlanders>?” asked Pumbaa, then feeling irritation of friend, added. “Right, let’s go to Simba.
Meanwhile Nala was on lead of unit, followed by Bidii and Mto. Seeing anger and slight uncertainness shown in steps of leaderess, greyfurred lioness asked.
“Ma’am, what is wrong?”
“Umeme.” Replied regent. “She should have been here already. Something happened there.”
Mto gasped with fear, following Nala’s premonition. However she couldn’t believe that Kucha and Maitha would raise their paws on lioness of pride. “No!” she thought. “It must have been Vitani herself. Only that Outlandress is capable of this.” But then she speed up, seeing that Bidii a bit outran her.
“Stay sharp!” called Nala. “We will settle it quick.”
So when ex-queen re-ordered her warrioress, Timon and Pumbaa reached Priderock. They entered empty cave to find just shaman, sleeping on doorstep of inner chamber and Simba inside. They came bedding of knocked out ruler and his father.
“Ow… murmured meerkat. “We didn’t know that is so bad…”
“Nice to see you, guys.” Welcomed them lion. “I doubt you could help… but I need just your

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