case it was true in more than symbolic sense.

Sparthi was standing aside of that all. Of course just after funeral father talked with him long to appease tears of son, but then he was sucked by own bereavement and own joy of second fatherhood. Sandymaned sometimes was going with Dhalimu, when late queen’s brother was patrolling Home Grass, but after all he was still a child and he need some other support than presence of silent uncle.

That year in cace 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 in more than symbolic sense.

Sparthi was standing aside of that all. Of course just after funeral father talked with him long to appease tears of son, but then he was sucked by ve were several cubs from previous year – four female kitties, usually pranking and jesting aloud to clear irritation of mothers. But then all will to play ceased and children instinctively sought calm mothers support, staying with lionesses for most of day. That made Sparthi even more crestfallen. He had no mother’s side to nestle. And when all his friends were sad because queen was gone, he even hadn’t mother to comfort him.

He was often staying long hours – one time it happened he stayed whole night – on the massif’s plateau, looking on mother’s and sister’s remains. Storm that came just four days after funeral, cleared bodies to bones. Just skeletons were lying on ceremonial stone, contrasting with it’s whiteness to rock’s grey.

Dhalimu found his nephew there and came closer. He also wanted to look on Malkha for a while. He dropped the idea seeing Sparthi, but he came to him anyway, feeling uncomfortable, leaving him all alone.

“It’s late.” Said white lion. Indeed – night had come and first stars were seen on the firmament. “I guess that soon be very cold here. Go down.”

“Yes, I know, uncle.” Replied Malkha’s son and shook his sandy, still growing mane. But then he didn’t move.

“Just get back for night.” Asked Dhalimu. “Your father is worried about you.” That wasn’t actually the truth, because Arista didn’t notice absence of son - he was playing with Zira and Wivu. Cubs opened their eyes just two days earlier and their first moves were attraction catching attention of whole pride.

“Yes, I’ll be there soon.” Said Sparthi with indifferent voice. White lion came closer and touched nephew’s shoulder.

“Just come… We all know how you loved your mother, but I guess there is no point in just sitting alone.” Sparthi just nestled to lions side and stayed silent for a minute. Then answered.

“I know.” Soon I will be there.”

“Boy, if you feel lonely… just know that you aren’t alone.” Said Dhalimu. “Perhaps all seem to be focused on your sister…” saying <sister> he slightly tuned up his voice. “…but just know that your uncle is carrying for you as always.”

“I know that. Thanks.” Said sandymaned.

White lion went to the path down, feeling he had no want to step down to the cave and see whole pride admiring Zira and her every movement. Dhalimu felt as if fur on his neck was strangling him. He breathed deeper and made first step down. He actually regretted he stayed.

Sparthi was still in front of tombstone, looking into stars. Mother told him once that all who died, were there, on the sky. But firmament was so high from earth and was so unreachable. Closeness of shining stars was not supportive in anyway – he saw lights but also knew they were out of his range. Just as mirages on the desert – so beautiful but deceiving in the end. He felt lonely as never before.

He reacted even before paw touched his side. Sparthi was always very agile and alert child, but nerves stretched to maximum due to his emotional chaos somehow extended that vigilance even more. He instinctively based on front paws and hit the unknown intruder with hind legs. He met some fur there and consequently threw attacker good two metres aside. It was easily, bec more crestfallen. He had no mother’s side to nestle. And when all his friends were sad because queen was gone, he even hadn’t mother to comfort him.

He was often staying long hours – one time it happened he stayed whole night – on the massif’s plateau, looking on mother’s and sister’s remains. Storm that came just four days after funeral, cleared bodies to bones. Just skeletons were lying on ceremonial stone, contrasting with it’s whiteness to rock’s grey.

Dhalimu found his nephew there and came closer. He also wanted to look on Malkha for a while. He dropped the idea seeing Sparthi, but he came to him anyway, feeling uncomfortable, leaving him all alone.

“It’s late.” Said white lion. Indeed – night had come and first stars were seen on the firmament. “I guess that soon be very cold here. Go down.”

“Yes, I know, uncle.” Replied Malkha’s son and shook his sandy, still growing mane. But then he didn’t move.

“Just get back for night.” Asked Dhalimu. “Your father is worried about you.” That wasn’t actually the truth, because Arista didn’t notice absence of son - he was playing with Zira and Wivu. Cubs opened their eyes just two days earlier and their first moves were attraction catching attention of whole pride.

“Yes, I’ll be there soon.” Said Sparthi with indifferent voice. White lion came closer and touched nephew’s shoulder.

“Just come… We all know how you loved your mother, but I guess there is no point in just sitting alone.” Sparthi just nestled to lions side and stayed silent for a minute. Then answered.

“I know.” Soon I will be there.”

“Boy, if you feel lonely… just know that you aren’t alone.” Said Dhalimu. “Perhaps all seem to be focused on your sister…” saying <sister> he slightly tuned up his voice. “…but just know that your uncle is carrying for you as always.”

“I know that. Thanks.” Said sandymaned.

White lion went to the path down, feeling he had no want to step down to the cave and see whole pride admiring Zira and her every movement. Dhalimu felt as if fur on his neck was strangling him. He breathed deeper and made first step down. He actually regretted he stayed.

Sparthi was still in front of tombstone, looking into stars. Mother told him once that all who died, were there, on the sky. But firmament was so high from earth and was so unreachable. Closeness of shining stars was not supportive in anyway – he saw lights but also knew they were out of his range. Just as mirages on the desert – so beautiful but deceiving in the end. He felt lonely as never before.

He reacted even before paw touched his side. Sparthi was always very ause it was cub in his age. He crouched to pounce, but then noticed whom he had attacked.

“Ghera?” asked, surprised. Cub of light-grey fur just nodded her head, still being too confused to answer. “Oh, I’m so sorry…” yelled Sparthi, coming to his friend.

“No, no… I’m all right.” Replied kitty, standing up and then falling down to support on sandymaned’s side. “Just… a dizziness.”

“Wait, don’t move…” said Sparthi, putting her on the rock and looking for any bruise. Fortunately his kick wasn’t as strong to many any injure. “I guess that is nothing hard… But I’m sorry.”

Suddenly she burst in laughter. Sparthi was looking on her quite amazed, but then  a wave of giggling took him too. Ghera stoop up, came to friend and playfully pushed his side, sending him to the ground, but none of kitties stopped their laughter.

“Oh, Stars!” finally murmured lioness. “What a

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