guess the same what yesterday.” Replied Zira. “Playing in king of the gorge.” Other cubs sighed with mix of irritation and amusement. That was favourite princess’s game. “What’s up? Any of you have better idea?”

“There will be the same as yesterday and day before.” Snorted Busara. “You will win.”

Rules of <king of the gorge> (or queen in that case) were simple. In Rumble Gorge was bed of seasonal torrent, in dry season completely waterless. That was a trench about metre deep and of similar width. It was a nd most agile of cubs and she always wanted to have Wivu at her side. So Zira usually won with one of defenders, took her place and was standing paying no attention on second “queen”. Sooner or later Wivu came up to her place and then princess started to fight for two or three cubs, securing Wivu’s position. Epesi, Busara and Msikizi knew the drill, but it was hard to make Zira change her acting.

“Yeah!” added Epesi. “You will help Wivu again.”

“And what’s wrong in that?” asked Zira. “She is my sister”.

“We are not playing family, but combat.” Noticed Mskizi. ”You must promise, you won’t help her in any way.”

“Why would…”

“Stop it!” gasped Wivu, who simply couldn’t stand that. She hated to hear she was weaker than her adoptive sister. In spite she knew that Zira had good intentions, just to help her, that kind of assistance was extremely embarrassing and in long run even humiliating. “Just promise them, you won’t take me to your team.”

“Why?” asked princess confused.

“Just because I don’t want it.” Snorted grey cub. “All right?”

“As you wish.” Murmured Zira. “Right, so go up with Epesi. We will start that way.”

Cubs took their positions. Best place for game was just in mouth of Rumble Gorge. Because of seasonal creek that was floating there, where gorged ended was a oasis-grove. Water from valley was floating and dripping down to mouth and there was stopped by rock-place, kind of pan buried in sand. That was why much of moisture stayed near gorge even for the driest months. A permanent oasis – or even better to say – miniature jungle was growing there. Arc-like belt of green, about two hundred metres wide and almost half kilometre long was keeping most of life in Golden Sands. There was a water storage for many creature – green forest was keeping moisture for whole year. In centre of grove was small lake and that was favourite place of most lions there – on the beach of that pond desert sand was coming straight to water, being fascinating border between two words – of dryness and moisture. Whole place was beautiful, but in fact dull as well – kings of Golden Sands forbade to hunt in proximity of hundred metres from water, not to let predators cut down the game in place where it was helpless. Also Arista was rather displeased when cubs were playing in grove – even presence of kitties – almost always with escort of some mature lioness – was kind of harassment for herbivores. That was why cubs used to play further in the gorge.

That time they were under care of Sparthi and Ghera. But young carers were not exactly there. They stayed in grove, relaxing in paradise-like scenery of lake, tired of cubbish plays and – what was even more important – wanting rather own company than hanging with loud and clumsy charges. Sparthi was near, ready to come with assistance, if any of kitties got into trouble, but he simply didn’t bothered with constant surveillance. Zira and her friends were absolutely satisfied with that deal.

So they finally started the game. When sun was almost in zenith, Wivu and Epesi took their places in narrow spot of creek’s bed. Zira, Busara and Msikizi waited lower and when <queens> declared as ready, they started to skirmish. Rules were simple – there wasn’t any. Perhaps some acts were considered as unfair – for example attackers were meant not to hit defenders paws and defes, securing Wivu’s position. Epesi, Busara and Msikizi knew the drill, but it was hard to make Zira change her acting.

“Yeah!” added Epesi. “You will help Wivu again.”

“And what’s wrong in that?” asked Zira. “She is my sister”.

“We are not playing family, but combat.” Noticed Mskizi. ”You must promise, you won’t help her in any way.”

“Why would…”

“Stop it!” gasped Wivu, who simply couldn’t stand that. She hated to hear she was weaker than her adoptive sister. In spite she knew that Zira had good intentions, just to help her, that kind of assistance was extremely embarrassing and in long run even humiliating. “Just promise them, you won’t take me to your team.”

“Why?” asked princess confused.

“Just because I don’t want it.” Snorted grey cub. “All right?”

“As you wish.” Murmured Zira. “Right, so go up with Epesi. We will start that way.”

Cubs took their positions. Best place for game was just in mouth of Rumble Gorge. Because of seasonal creek that was floating there, where gorged ended was a oasis-grove. Water from valley was floating and dripping down to mouth and there was stopped by rock-place, kind of pan buried in sand. That was why much of moisture stayed near gorge even for the driest months. A permanent oasis – or even better to say – miniature jungle was growing there. Arc-like belt of green, about two hundred metres wide and almost half kilometre long was keeping most of life in Golden Sands. There was a water storage for many creature – green forest was keeping moisture for whole year. In centre of grove was small lake and that was favourite place of most lions there – on the beach of that pond desert sand was coming straight to water, being fascinating border between two words – of dryness and moisture. Whole place was beautiful, but in fact dull as well – kings of Golden Sands forbade to hunt in proximity of hundred metres from water, not to let predators cut down the game in place where it was helpless. Also Arista was rather displeased when cubs were playing in grove – even presence of kitties – almost always with escort of some mature lioness – was kind of harassment for herbivores. That was why cubs used to play further in the gorge.

That time they were under care of Sparthi and Ghera. But young carers were not exactly there. They stayed in grove, relaxing in paradise-like scenery of lake, tired of cubbish plays and – what was even more important – wanting rather own company than hanging with loud and clumsy charges. Sparthi was near, ready to come with assistance, if any of kitties got into trouble, but he simply didn’t bothered with constant surveillance. Zira and her friends were absolutely satisfied with that deal.

So they finally started the game. When sun was almost in zenith, Wivu nders were not allowed to throw any rocks down, but that was more a silent agreement of participators than set rule. In theory cubs should have claws hidden, for not to wound each other, but in practise during heavy combat – sooner or later – one of kitties extended claws, what always caused some cries and reproaches and often ended whole game. Kids many times returned to Golden Cave really bruised, but Arista didn’t scold pride-cubs nor carers, because he knew that real training meant sweat and sometimes blood. He trusted in cubs reason and usually he was right.

So the main technique to win for <claimant> was to grab <queen’s> neck and pull her back to overturn her. Defenders were avoiding those attacks or wrestling to push enemy’s paws away. Role of claimant was more tiring, because it required constant jumping, but strike team was three, while defenders were two and score was a result of slightest error of <queen>. In normal condition game was fair, but strength and perfect balance of Zira made it handicapped.

“Go on!” called Wivu, standing above Zira in defensive pose. “Let’s start it.”

“As you wish.” Murmured princess, feeling a bit strange, while fighting against her adoptive sister.

She rushed ahead to first strike, jumping and trying to grab Wivu’s neck. Grey cub reacted with instant and rapid retaliation. That was not a dodge, but strong put of Zira’s paws aside. Because <queen> was lighter than <claimant> it was rather dangerous tactic, due to risk of losing balance. But grey kitty was tired of avoiding confrontation, especially with Zira.

“Ow, it hurt!” yelled princess, falling on river’s bed. Of course, she was faking her yell, to quickly pounce and surprise adversary. But Wivu seemed to be unmoved by that. When Zira attacked once again, she was ready and one time more boldly grabbed paws of sister. She ably push them aside, making gold cub lose her balance. But what good for Wivu wasn’t best for Epesi.

Second <queen> had just pushed Busara’s charge and she was balancing at the edge of river’s rapid. Zira involuntary hit her side and both cubs fell down. Surprised Wivu stayed on top.

“Score!” called Busara with airy voice.

“Perhaps.” Snorted angry Epesi. “But surely not yours. Zira threw me down.”

“Rules are rules.” Said Msikizi. “Zira – up, Epesi down.”

“But…” murmured Busara.

“Wivu, what you say?” asked Zira.

Grey cub was silent for a moment, but then she said with slightly angry tone. “I guess that was your score.”

Princess smiled and climbed to take a place of <queen>. She stopped at Wivu’s right and looked on her. She noticed that her sister was narrowing her eyes in expression of discontent. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I don’t need any help!” murmured grey kitty. “Go!” called to friends down.

Epesi, Busara and Msikizi rushed at once to get <queens>. But that was not very smart move, because place was so narrow that charge of three attackers was perfectly predictable, so&nbways caused some cries and reproaches and often ended whole game. Kids many times returned to Golden Cave really bruised, but Arista didn’t scold pride-cubs nor carers, because he knew that real training meant sweat

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