freed itself from coil of boa, it was running and hobbling on three limbs. Zira got to runaway easily and killed him with single blow. Then she looked on snake.

“Oh… thanks. I guess I wouldn’t catch him without your help.”

“Nice to hear that.” Replied Kauli. “Sssso you understand that you can’t survive on the desert alone?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Nodded Zira and turned her stare down.

“And we could go back?”

“No!” said kitty instantly. “Maybe I still can’t manage at my own, but I will with your help!”

*

She wanted to go back, but she couldn’t. She didn’t tell it to Kauli, but her sleep was uneasy one. Her dreams were scary and haunting. She dreamed about Wivu fighting her and slashing her painfully, then about whole pride, looking on her with despise. She heard again Wivu’s words about her mother and only those accusing, without recalling later consolations. When she woke up she knew that there was no way back – only road ahead. Hard morning, problems with food and water shook her faith in possibility of further march, but thanks to Kauli’s assistance she got what she needed in the end.

“We have to go.” She said and let python slide on her neck.

Then they set off further. Kauli made no more reproaches, knowing it was beyond his power to stop kitty. And he was right – Zira was not in mood to discuss about return. In fact she was silent and perfectly focused on dark thoughts of previous day. Even python – rather unaware of most of lion’s psychology’s nuances – felt that something was wrong.

“If there isssss something you want talk about, I will lissssten.” Said finally Kauli. “In fact I have no choice due to my possssition.”

“Thanks.” Replied Zira. “But I guess that is not your problem.”

“Perhaps it is.” Murmured snake. “And for ssssure it is, if because of that you started that sssstupid trip.”

Zira stopped, surprised by his words. “Is this… so clear?” she asked with shivering voice.

“What? That you have a bad day and you decided to sssshow it to the world? Yessss, it’s quite obvious.”

“Bad day!?” snorted Zira. But then her throat was squeezed by steel grip and boa had nothing to do with that. It was sudden wave of cry. “I have a bad life!”

“Don’t worry, next time will be better.” Replied snake, but then he felt as cub laid down on the sand and started to cry. “Oh, no…. just stand up… and don’t cry! Don’t cry, Stars dammit! You know what a waste of moisture it issss?”

She actually stoop up and even set off to further march, but she was sobbing still. Kauli was carried on her neck, feeling awkwardly as never before. He didn’t understand what was the problem and he had no mean to comfort his charge. After all snake couldn’t hug her, stroke her oked on snake.

“Oh… thanks. I guess I wouldn’t catch him without your help.”

“Nice to hear that.” Replied Kauli. “Sssso you understand that you can’t survive on the desert alone?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Nodded Zira and turned her stare down.

“And we could go back?”

“No!” said kitty instantly. “Maybe I still can’t manage at my own, but I will with your help!”

*

She wanted to go back, but she couldn’t. She didn’t tell it to Kauli, but her sleep was uneasy one. Her dreams were scary and haunting. She dreamed about Wivu fighting her and slashing her painfully, then about whole pride, looking on her with despise. She heard again Wivu’s words about her mother and only those accusing, without recalling later consolations. When she woke up she knew that there was no way back – only road ahead. Hard morning, problems with food and water shook her faith in possibility of further march, but thanks to Kauli’s assistance she got what she needed in the end.

“We have to go.” She said and let python slide on her neck.

Then they set off further. Kauli made no more reproaches, knowing it was beyond his power to stop kitty. And he was right – Zira was not in mood to discuss about return. In fact she was silent and perfectly focused on dark thoughts of previous day. Even python – rather unaware of most of lion’s psychology’s nuances – felt that something was wrong.

“If there isssss something you want talk about, I will lissssten.” Said finally Kauli. “In fact I have no choice due to my possssition.”

“Thanks.” Replied Zira. “But I guess that is not your problem.”

“Perhaps it is.” Murmured snake. “And for ssssure it is, if because of that you started that sssstupid trip.”

Zira stopped, surprised by his words. “Is this… so clear?” she asked with shivering voice.

“What? That you have a bad day and you decided to sssshow it to the world? Yessss, it’s quite obvious.”

“Bad day!?” snorted Zira. But then her throat was squeezed by steel grip and boa had nothing to do with that. It was sudden wave of cry. “I have a bad life!”

“Don’t worry, next time will be better.” Replied snake, but then he felt as cub laid down on the sand and started to cry. “Oh, no…. just stand up… and don’t cry! Don’t cry, Stars dammit! You know what a waste of moisture it issss?”

nor take any action he knew that mammals used for consoling their kind.

“Tell me, what issss the problem.” He asked.

“You won’t understand… You are not me.”

“But for now I’m closssssest creature to you…” he took a look around. “In about radius of twenty kilometresssss.”

“I killed my mom.” Sobbed Zira.

“You took her on a walk too?” asked instinctively, thinking about his own lot, but then added. “Look, I don’t know history of your family too well, but I could bet my mealsssss of incoming season you misunderstood ssssomething.”

“Yes, I knew you wouldn’t understand.” Replied Zira with sobbing voice. “My mother died giving birth to me. My litter sister died as well. If not me, they could be still alive.”

“Maybe I don’t understand.” Replied snake. “For insssstance, I had no idea how could you fix that, getting yourssself killed in the desert.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about.” Zira replied with calmer tone, when cry turned to just silent sobs. “I doesn’t matter what I would do. The point is what is already done and that I can fix it in anyway… I guess.”

 

[Song “Just me to blame; pt. I”. It not singed in screen. Vocals come from off-screen, maybe from Zira’s mind. Tune is sad, song mostly a cappella. Voice of Zira – shivering on the edge of cry.

Shot of cub (with snake on her neck and back), walking on Lime Alley – from the air, wider perspective of endless desert around. Wind is blowing from north, with march of kitty, as if even nature pushes her out of home.]

I could walk still miles away

I could climb the highest peak

I could take the hardest way

But I won’t find what I seek

[Zira stops and looks ahead, to see nothing but endless desert. Then wind blows stronger, some wave of dust is blow to rock-crack and it turns back, blowing in cub’s face.]

Even run around this earth

Is just running from myself

[Zira shakes her head and moves on. There are tear in her eyes, those earlier due to sorrow and newer because of dust.]

I could laugh the death in face

I could take the bravest dare

 I could win the longest race

But I won’t reach what I care

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