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 sp;Zira and Wivu stopped it easily. All three claimants fell down with loud yells, but soon after stood up to another strike.

“No helping!” gasped Wivu. “I can take care myself.”

“Of course, you can.” Replied a bit confused Zira. “What’s eating you today?”

“Just fight!” snorted grey kitty.

Three other cubs changed tactics. Because they hated to stand against well known and efficient team, they decide to cooperate even not looking for own scores. They started constant attacks on <queens>. Sooner or later that always effected with tiring defenders. Three of strikers could make a short break between charges, while cubs on the top had to be still at full alert.

Scoring was simple – one point for throwing down the queen and one point for every three overturning the claimant. And those who fell lost his point – <queen> after one and <claimant> after three failures. That was simple zero-sum game. Attackers hit carefully, not letting Zira and Wivu score, but fatiguing them fast. After several minutes sisters were exhausted.

“That’s… not fair!” panted Zira, looking down on friends.

“I… will… stand… longer.” Panted Wivu at her side.

And that was true. Epesi finally managed to took princess down. Zira landed hard among claimants and rolled few metres with angry sights. Team of claimants gave a collective cry of triumph and before Zira managed to stand up, Epesi was already on the rapid.

“Hey, that was my score!” called Busara.

“You’re dreaming.” Replied golden cub and smiled cheeky. “Go on, intruders!”

Zira came to claimants and took her place. The solidarity among team ceased as cubs seeing that their sacrifice gave Epesi second point, decided to think about own results. Princess stood against Wivu, because Busara and Msikizi wanted to <avenge> outrage that Epesi had done, by scoring thanks to their help. So Zira jumped to her sister.

“Sweet!” smiled Wivu, shunning her charge. “One on one, finally.”

“You are in strange mood, today.” Noticed Zira and hit the edge of rapid-ledge with her chin. Grey cub instantly used that situation and pushed her paws, causing her fall down.

“Perhaps.” She replied. “Two more falls and I have a defending score.”

“What’s wrong with you!?” asked Zira. “Why today you are taking it so seriously?”

“Because I’m winning.” Smiled Wivu. “You are doing the same when you have good result.”

Using moment of inattention, Zira managed to grab Wivu’s neck. She pulled down, hauling on sister. Grey cub was fighting with gravity and princess for a second, but then she fell ahead from rapid-ledge. In fact Zira was the one who felt some real pain – after landing on her back and then being hit by kitty in her belly. But she just growled with triumph.

“My :p>

“Of course, you can.” Replied a bit confused Zira. “What’s eating you today?”

“Just fight!” snorted grey kitty.

Three other cubs changed tactics. Because they hated to stand against well known and efficient team, they decide to cooperate even not looking for own scores. They started constant attacks on <queens>. Sooner or later that always effected with tiring defenders. Three of strikers could make a short break between charges, while cubs on the top had to be still at full alert.

Scoring was simple – one point for throwing down the queen and one point for every three overturning the claimant. And those who fell lost his point – <queen> after one and <claimant> after three failures. That was simple zero-sum game. Attackers hit carefully, not letting Zira and Wivu score, but fatiguing them fast. After several minutes sisters were exhausted.

“That’s… not fair!” panted Zira, looking down on friends.

“I… will… stand… longer.” Panted Wivu at her side.

And that was true. Epesi finally managed to took princess down. Zira landed hard among claimants and rolled few metres with angry sights. Team of claimants gave a collective cry of triumph and before Zira managed to stand up, Epesi was already on the rapid.

“Hey, that was my score!” called Busara.

“You’re dreaming.” Replied golden cub and smiled cheeky. “Go on, intruders!”

Zira came to claimants and took her place. The solidarity among team ceased as cubs seeing that their sacrifice gave Epesi second point, decided to think about own results. Princess stood against Wivu, because Busara and Msikizi wanted to <avenge> outrage that Epesi had done, by scoring thanks to their help. So Zira jumped to her sister.

“Sweet!” smiled Wivu, shunning her charge. “One on one, finally.”

“You are in strange mood, today.” Noticed Zira and hit the edge of rapid-ledge with her chin. Grey cub instantly used that situation and pushed her paws, causing her fall down.

“Perhaps.” She replied. “Two more falls and I have a defending score.”

“What’s wrong with you!?” asked Zira. “Why today you are taking it so seriously?”

“Because I’m winning.” Smiled Wivu. “You are doing the same when you have good result.”

Using moment of inattention, Zira managed to grab Wivu’s neck. She pulled down, hauling on sister. Grey cub was fighting with gravity and princess score!”

Wivu rolled aside without a word. She slowly stood up and looked on her adoptive sister then said with angry voice.

“Right… Zira – two points. Me – zero. Epesi – zero. Msikizi – zero. Busara – two minus. So… go up!” then added quieter, kneeling down. “Do you need my back to climb there, sis?”

“That’s not fair!” yelled Busara. “You are cheating!”

Zira took her place as a <queen> and again stood against Wivu. She was wondering why grey cub was so aggressive and so avid to win that time. Another round started and game spitted – Epesi, Msikizi and Busara were rivalling at their own, while sisters focused on their competition. That wasn’t too smart considering the rules, because of inner game logic they should gain points on Zira, not on themselves. But emotions were already playing the main role.

“Stand and fight!” called Wivu and pounced ahead.

Instead of grabbing Zira, she just jumped to the ledge. It was hard to stay there, but there was always a hope to pull <queen> down too. Risk was greater than in normal attack, but to lose a point Wivu could fall three times, while Zira just one. Sisters were wrestling on the edge, because grey cub lost her ground, but she grabbed princess hard. They even didn’t noticed as claw came out of their pawpads and plunged into adversary’s furs. Finally Zira heard as her sister gasped from pain and she let her grasp looser. That was maybe noble acting, but bad move in game, because Wivu instantly regained her initiative and pushed princess aside. They both rolled on Epesi, heroically defending herself from Msikizi and Busara. All three felt down on two remaining cubs. A collective yell of pain was heard, because kitties on the bottom were pressed by solid mass and Zira and Wivu had still extended claws. They both scratched each other in that landing.

“Blast it!” called Epesi, who regained her senses as a first. “What the heck happened!?”

“I scored!” called Busara from below.

“I scored!” growled Zira and Wivu in the same time.

Then they noticed that they still were holding each other, and plunging their small, yet sharp claws into each other. Then let loose in the same moment, steeping back, but still looking with anger.

“Girls…” asked Epesi, seeing cuts on their sides. “Is something wrong?”

“I overthrown them both!” called Busara. “I have zero now, the same as Zira, Epesi and Msikizi, while Wivu has minus one…”

“The sum

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