announcing the Sacred Peace! – came to Golden Cave, seeking news about monarchess. Of course seeing that Arista banned hunting that day and Circle of Life appreciated that sacrifice. Mother gave birth to living cub and additionally survived.

Year earlier.

Dhalimu was a tough lion – born as rogue, from almost earlier youth had to take care about himself and his sister. But he was tired with his seven years long life and death of Malkha burdened him heavily. No one saw that – except of Sparthi. But adolescent lion was crying after his mother already, so Dhalimu had no want to hide his tears.

They finally placed mother and cub on the stone – ultimately joined in hug and ready for a journey to the stars. Then whitefurred looked on his sister for the last time and murmured something quietly. He turned to his nephew and said louder.

“I hope you will love your sister. We paid dearly for her life.”

Then started to slowly walk towards path down.

*

Next days were crucial for cub’s survival, so when Zira was still alive on third morning after birth, almost whole pride calmed down. Masa was feeding kitty, in cave stayed also Arista. All other lionesses were hunting, while Dhalimu – in most cases accompanied by Sparthi – were doing routine lion’s job of patrols on brink of Home Grass and appeasing eventual quarrels among subjects. But kingdom after loosing the queen was calm and quiet. Whatever improbable it seemed, animals tried to make king his burned easier. On those days just after Malkha’s death Arista wasn’t forced to intervene in even single case.

But at third day after presentation and funeral, Dhalimu asked his brother-in-law aside. Arista followed white lion to one of side chambers of main complex and sat down on the sand of floor. Dhalimu didn’t – staying in tensed and rather formal position.

“I know what you mean.” Said king. “It’s hard time for us both, but I have to get back to my duties. Thanks that you made it all for me… I promise, I’m ready to work as I should.”

“It’s good to hear that.” Replied Dhalimu. Then paused a while, having problem with putting his thoughts into words. “Listen… I mean, listen, sir.” Started uncertainly. „It’s useless to speak about her, because nothing would bring her back. Just know, my king…”

“My king?” asked confused Arista. “Why have you returned to that official stuff? Aren’t we good friends, after all? Or you…” King narrowed his eyes, thinking of his brother-in-law could possibly blame him for Malkha’s death. But surely that was not a case.

“Arista!” interrupted him white lion. “I only seeing the things as they are… My presence in Golden Sands is longer needed and expected. I know that’s a time for me to leave.”

It took several heartbeats before king managed to ask with shocked voice. “What?”

“Simply. I’m not longer brother of the queen and now I’m just lion outside of royal family who is residing in kingdom. That’s not a natural case and I know that. I’m ready to leave, if you think that my help is no longer needed.”

“Dhalimu… I have never…”

“I understand that is nothing personal.” Said greymaned. “But the truth is I shouldn’t be here, so I decided to leave before I would be asked about it.”

“Stop!” growled Arista with growing irritation. “That’s some kind of madness… No one wants you out, especially me. You have your place here and will have forever. I don’t know why have you…”

“Law is telling…”

“That I’m the king.” Finished ruler. “You are still my brother-in-law and friend… I hope. Are you?”

“Of course I love this pride as my family and consider you as a friend...” Said Dhalimu, but then added with more official tone. “…sir!” And continued quieter. “But still, that’s not my place, according to the law.”

“We need you, Dhalimu.” Said Arista, looking white lion in eyes. “We: pride and I… and Sparthi, of course.” Added with more emotional tone. “You are his favourite uncle.”

“Yeah, right… I’m his only uncle.” Noticed Dhalimu, but smiled in that moment.

“And Zira…” said goldenmaned. In that second smile of the other lion died and his lips narrowed to angry grimace. But blink of an eye later he restrained that impulse and looked carefully on brother-in-law. Arista didn’t see that expression. “You know… Malkha is gone, but she died to give us Zira.”

“Indeed.” Said Dhalimu with soft voice, but if one was looking in his eyes carefully she or he would notice something cold inside.

“And that girl will be growing up, even without knowing how wonderful lioness her mother was.” White lion nodded his head and Arista continued. “I think she deserve at least to know her uncle, brother of her mother. I really want you to stay with us and help us. Thtyle="text-indent: 9pt;">“It’s good to hear that.” Replied Dhalimu. Then paused a while, having problem with putting his thoughts into words. “Listen… I mean, listen, sir.” Started uncertainly. „It’s useless to speak about her, because nothing would bring her back. Just know, my king…”

“My king?” asked confused Arista. “Why have you returned to that official stuff? Aren’t we good friends, after all? Or you…” King narrowed his eyes, thinking of his brother-in-law could possibly blame him for Malkha’s death. But surely that was not a case.

“Arista!” interrupted him white lion. “I only seeing the things as they are… My presence in Golden Sands is longer needed and expected. I know that’s a time for me to leave.”

It took several heartbeats before king managed to ask with shocked voice. “What?”

“Simply. I’m not longer brother of the queen and now I’m just lion outside of royal family who is residing in kingdom. That’s not a natural case and I know that. I’m ready to leave, if you think that my help is no longer needed.”

“Dhalimu… I have never…”

“I understand that is nothing personal.” Said greymaned. “But the truth is I shouldn’t be here, so I decided to leave before I would be asked about it.”

“Stop!” growled Arista with growing irritation. “That’s some kind of madness… No one wants you out, especially me. You have your place here and will have forever. I don’t know why have you…”

“Law is telling…”

“That I’m the king.” Finished ruler. “You are still my brother-in-law and friend… I hope. Are you?”

“Of course I love this pride as my family and consider you as a friend...” Said Dhalimu, but then added with more official tone. “…sir!” And continued quieter. “But still, that’s not my place, according to the law.”

“We need you, Dhalimu.” Said Arista, looking white lion in eyes. “We: pride and I… and Sparthi, of course.” Added with more emotional tone. “You are his favourite uncle.”

“Yeah, right… I’m his only uncle.” Noticed Dhalimu, but smiled in that moment.

“And Zira…” said goldenmaned. In that second smile of the other lion died and his lips narrowed to angry grimace. But blink of an eye later he restrained that impulse and looked carefully on brother-in-law. Arista didn’t see that expression. “You know… Malkha is gone, but she died to give us Zira.”

“Indeed.” Said Dhalimu with soft voice, but if one was looking in his eyes carefully she or he would notice something cold inside.

at would be better for kingdom and – in the first place – kids.”

“Well… perhaps…” replied Dhalimu. “But I just can’t imagine it. To stay here… where all is reminding me my sister… I see her face in every natural feature, in shadows of rocks, in clouds above us…”

“I could say, I understand you perfectly.” Said king with serious voice. “I miss her so much… But we have Zira instead of her. She is here to comfort us after Malkha’s death.” Dhalimu’s face stayed perfectly calm, but for short second he extended ends of his claws from pawpads. “And you will see Malkha in Zira. She will grow, became beautiful as her mother was. And noble hearted as well. I see it already.”

“I don’t know if I could…” started Dhalimu.

“Please.” Simply asked Arista.

“All right.” Said white lion slowly. “But still, I think that’s bad idea. You make an exception for me. Someday you could discover that few earlier exceptions made a rule you never expected.”

“We will manage.” Replied Arista and walked to the exit.

His brother-in-law stayed in place, for several minutes looking into wall. Many different and contradictory feelings were boiling in him. He knew that some of them, were bad… scaring – but he could do little to fight those. In fact he didn’t want to stay exactly because of reasons Arista told him. Zira. He was about to watch her growing and become more and more similar to sister he lost. Sister that died because of her daughter.

Dhahabu shook his head to rid off the absurd thought. But it just was thrown into corner of his mind, still present somewhere there. There was no use to pretend that reality was different. Zira was alive and Malkha was dead. If not a cub, lightfurred would be alive. Malkha was indeed gone and she indeed died to give them Zira. Dhalimu wasn’t satisfied with that trade at all.

*

Masa gave birth to female cub just few days later. Wivu – because that was named kitty – was the second child feed by golden lioness. She was even smaller than Zira, with grey fur and gentle constitution. But her labour was quite easy for Masa and in spite of some fear (most likely caused by recent fate of queen) finished fast and without complications.

Mother could easily provide milk for both: her real child and adopted kitty. Maybe the official bereavement after queen and princess was still on, but presence of two cubs, so sweet and cute cast away most of mourning atmosphere from Golden Cave. Nature was healing wounds that she had inflicted – Arista focused all his attention of newborn daughter… and her milk-sister. In fact that was only possible outcome, as king was staying with Masa and both cubs for most of time. Somehow king was always substitute father for every child in pride, but in that case it was true

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