The Tawny Branch

Chungu hit Tetesi’s side with impetus that threw them both over four metres aside. Lioness was surprised, but she anyway managed to hit new enemy in paw. They both landed awkwardly in backs and it took several seconds for brownfurred and redmaned to stand up. Kiara instantly rolled aside, leaving free battlefield to combatants.

“You killed Angaa!” growled Chungu.

“Sorry, I had to misunderstood his peaceful intentions.” Snorted Tetesi. In fact she was furious. It came not as she planned. Then she called to Kiara. “Rejoice, my lady! Join the enemy of pride and kill me.”

“Chungu!” screamed queen. “Do not kill her. Just wound her and get to cave.”

“With all due respect, you highness.” Growled rouge. “Shut up!” And pounced on Tetesi.

This fight wasn’t so impressive. It was just a desperate exchange of quick hits where both sided were unprepared and furious. Brownfurred was sparking with anger for disrupting her plans. Chungu was in berserk after death of his friend. Because his fierce and erratic attacks, Tetesi seemed to have some superiority. She was a bit tired and definitely weaker. But she was also already warmed up to fight, acting in adrenaline rush and was generally better trained.

Queen was looking on that without move. Beware of how it ended previous time, she was far from intervention. And in fact she had no idea whom to cheer. To Tetesi, claiming she wanted to… and trying to kill her, or rouge lion, who was ally of killed assassin. If she understood it right, both combatants were struggling for honour of killing Golden Queen. But somehow it didn’t matter. Kiara discovered that she was with all her heart cheering Tetesi.

She made a step ahead, to came with help, but then she felt a terrible pain in her paw. She noticed that her limb was deeply cut, most likely by brownfurred’s claws. When rouge hit Tetesi in side, she instinctively clenched her grim. It was a real miracle that queen managed to shrink her body and covered throat with paw. Instead of arteries of her neck, only fur and some muscles of limb were cut.

“Tetesi… Why!?” she called, crying from pain.

“Disrupt me one more time and you will never know!” gasped lioness, who was almost pinned to the ground in moment of inattention.

“Sorry!” replied queen.

“Do not sorry, dammit!” gasped lioness, rolling on rocks and shunning next rouge’s attacks. “Run, that’s you chance!”

“Should I call for help?” asked Kiara.

“Don’t bother yourself.” Snorted brownfurred, standing up and withdrawing to the stonewall. “He will finish me without any help.”

“I mean… for you.”

“Shut up!” called both lion and lioness.

So queen did the only reasonable thing she could: turned back to Golden Massif and started to jump on three paws in home’s direction. Tetesi noticed as she was hobbling with snake’s speed. That caught attention of Chungu.

“What the hell is so funny?” he asked.

“Will you let her go?”

“Hmm…. What?” yelled Chingu and turned head back. That wasn’t a smart move.

And what did Tetesi wasn’t fair nor heroic but deadly efficient. Then lion unshielded his vulnerable neck brownfurred attacked. She plunged her claws into his shoulders then struck with her jaws. Her teethes got to enemy’s throat and in one bite squashed his trachea.

She even didn’t bother to watch her adversary die. Just jumped ahead in escaping Kiara’s direction, leaving chocking rouge behind. After not more than minute she outran her game and stopped before her.

“Going home, my lady?” asked with poisonous smile.

“As you taught me – fight until you can.” Said Kiara seriously. “At least you can’t say I didn’t try.”

“I can’t.” nodded Tetesi, looking in her eyes. “I think I don’t have to explain you, you know it all. I’m really sorry, Kiara. If you wasn’t his mate, maybe we would be good friends. Or… we actually were?”

“I could say so.” Replied goldenfurred.

No, it was horrible. If she cursed me, spat at me and cried with hatred it would be much easier to finish her. But then? She didn’t seem to be angry! Just sad. And what was even more painful. She said.

“So now you will be the queen. I think he already loves you. So he will forget me soon. Anyway… good luck.” In her voice I heard almost complete resignation about coming death. “But remember what you promised about Dhalimu. Now you are his mother.”

I know it had to look grotesque, but I burst in tears. I, cold-blood plotter, murderer to be, with paws stained in blood, was crying, touched by materly and motherly devotion of my enemy. And who knows, maybe she would melted my will to kill with her innocent look, but she made a step ahead, trying to fool me. I just reacted.

I pushed her strongly and she overturned on the sand. Then I raised my right paw of extended claws and pointed my stare on her face. Then I heard her terrified cry.

“I’m pregnant!”

Whatever it looks, it hard to change destination of already started hit. I put all my might not to reach queen’s face. My claws hit the sand just inches next to her head. Then I reached my limit. I burst in cry too and fell down. Moment later we were hugging each other and crying aloud. As much as I failed as murderer, she failed as victim.

It took as several minutes to stop. Then I stood up and looked on laying queen. I said, trying to sound scary and decisively.

“It’s over, Kiara. I won.”

“I know that.”

“But you have beaten me.” I added and she narrowed her eyes in surprise. “You are not pregnant.” I said with certainty. “But it’s possible. I won’t kill you.”

“Ow…” gasped confused queen. “But I will tell…” she involuntary spoke her thought.

“All right, I will kill you.” I said and she cried with fear. “Stop it! I was kidding! Don’t cry, you idiot!” Well, that was definitely shocking thing to call my queen like that. But it just happened and when I heard my own voice I knew that after all I actually won. “I won’t.”

“So…” she sobbed, standing up from sand.

“And you won’t tell Kovu about it.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Just know.” I smiled. “From no on we have learn live together and somehow tolerate our presence.”

“You mean…”

“I mean that you will still be a queen.” I explained. “But you must face the truth. Kovu is mine!”

Epilogue

There was no special ceremony, because about that, because actually no one knew that Kota is a royal cub. No one, except Kovu, me (that’s rather obvious) and Kiara. Perhaps my mother knows something too, but even if she is far from spreading that news. To be honesty: she is also far from grieve about it.

I say it now with certainty – Kota won’t be a queen, she probably will never get know that she is Kovu’s child. It will stay in secret of our two. Or three (four eventually), however not widespread. I love my daughter but I’m not greedy. As a an actual monarchess of Golden Sands I must care also about order and prosper of my kingdom. And it requires clear and straight succession. Throne will go to Dhalimu. It’s such a lovely boy and somehow I really regret that he is not a good match for Kota. Now you all know why.

But anyway – that day was a hour of my triumph over Kiara. Well I didn’t want to be cruel, but I had to show who was running Golden Sands. I hope that she will accept the way of things and we would be friends again.

Just after events in gorge I experienced most crazy time in my life. Kiara said nothing, as I predicted. Kovu asked no troubling question, most likely didn’t want to. He believed in the most probable version that I fixed with queen and since then showed no interest how it was possible that I managed to kill two rouges with Kiara by my side and I got neither her or me to be killed. “Stars blessed us” - that was the right answer.

So how it came that Kovu and I become lovers? Well, maybe it not so easy to believe, but it just happened. On night after banishing Lepizi (Jamaa decided to leave with her), Kovu sought peace and silence on massif plateau. He found me instead.

“Should I leave, my lord?” I asked with self-confidence. Well after successful fight with two males, being close to killing my queen and becoming hero because of both those things I became real self-confident. I hope you don’t mind.

“Yes, I mean no… that is…” Kovu after crisis lacked of perkiness. So can’t you see that was not only my dream, but also a duty to help him. Honestly – I didn’t care for duty then, but keep that in mind I follow the voice of raison d’etat too.

“I will do everything you say, but you must be sure of your orders.” I said with playfully voice and came closer. “Remember, cast out me as soon as you decide.”

“Tetesi…” he sighed and nestled to my side. Just like that, I didn’t any move to encourage him. Really.

All right, I don’t care you don’t believe me. Listen then:

“Something is wrong my lord?”

“Wrong?” yelled king. “Stars! I almost lost y… Kiara and you, that I was forced to exile two lions, one innocent.”

“You did what you had to.” I said. “You regret that not because you did wrong, but because you are so tender hearted.”

“That is so bad?” he asked.

“Not completely, if you are tender hearted for me too.” I replied and we both laughed.

“Tetesi…” she whispered to my ear. “You did so much for me and pride… And I have no idea how could I thank you… Reward you.”

“I think you have, my lord.” I replied. “And fortunately it’s a kind of price you will pay gladly.”

“Huh?” managed to ask Kovu, before I made him silent with kiss.

And how it’s came.

Kiara accepted what she couldn’t change. I like her for that, she is very reasonable. She seems to hold no grudge, or hold it very deep. But after all she shouldn’t complain. She is queen, mother of heir. In theory.

In fact although pride knows nothing, it feels how things really go. I’m doing work of hunting team leader, not only because Kiara is an awful hunter. But because I should do it. Girls threat me not just like a friend, but had more esteem for me than for official monarchess. Not that they dislike Kiara, but… you know. Now queen is only mother of Dhalimu for them.

Dhalimu is really nice boy. He calls me <aunt> and my mothers calls even <grandma>. I’m just charmed by Kovu’s son and I’m really glad to see he is growing to be a king someday.

And about royal majesty – just look now. After giving name for Kota we are going back to cave. Kovu and Kiara lead, as rulers. Girls bow before king with honest impulse of hers. But those ones who are on our left and should bow to Kiara, somehow – most likely subliminal – are turning their heads to the ground a second too late. Just as they were greeting me instead of her. I feel that see of trust and admire around me and I’m paddling in it with pride. But not in vain pride.

I’m just getting what I should for my loyal service as a real monarchess of Golden Sands. In exchange I’m guiding Kovu on path of reign with my best, as great Zira taught me. Not for honours, not for fame, just because of sense of duty. And my only, but fair reward is love of my king and lover.

Can you imagine something better?

The End

Taka_PL – August 2007