III. Bloody meeting
It was a grave mistake, a terrible error to turn back. That why he was looking on scene which he wasn't able and didn't event want to interfere. Or at least – he thought that initially. Horen was marching on the bank of Border River, about hundred metres after twins. He didn't know why he stayed behind, but he was ready to bless the Stars for that, because Daki and Laki didn't see that horror in the water.
From high cliff the river bed was seen clearly. Stream was raging, what he was rather hearing that seeing in darkness of the night. But moonlight was shining on the centre of river, showing the silhouette of floating lion. He was wounded, bleeding from numerous cuts on his chest, barely awake. He was keeping his head over surface only because extreme effort – but it was clear that without any help blackmaned would drown quick, maybe even before he reach the waterfall.
Horen was gazing on struggle before him. He was like in parlays. Some voices were calling and ordering him to jump down in furious stream, to catch and get out dying lion. But body was disobedient – lion was standing still, as if he was only half-aware of drama in river.
Amini passed next to him, giving the last stare in lion's eyes and screaming something through the roars of closing waterfall. That was the turning point – Horen opened his lips and shouted with terror, trying with all his might to jump ahead and get to drowning one. It was too late – blackmaned was floating helplessly to the edge. Also older lion couldn't make any move, stopped by overwhelming force. Tears came to his eyes. He was still calling the name of Amini, but voice couldn't change the unavoidable fate. Blackmaned disappeared on edge of waterfall, still looking in his eyes. A silent "Help me!" died on his lips. That was dreadful stare of fear and amaze of betrayed trust. Horen cried with pain and opened his eyes.
"Ugh!" gasped regent. Once again he repressed the scream in the last moment. Nightmare returned to him and was even stronger than the previous night. Horen stood up, carefully not to wake Chanua. He took a look around, on silent pride, Kwini and Jino and additional guest in cave – unconscious prisoner of war. But regent ignored that slight variation of landscape, because he had his own problems. He shook his mane from sweat and took a deep breath.
It was an absurd – in reality, three years earlier all had come in different way. Yes – he did look on river and saw Amini. But blackmaned was then dead already, he couldn't scream for help. And Horen was unable to help him... at least in that moment. Lion ran instantly he understood what had happened, so the memory of dead friend and ward was just a few seconds of terrible view. It was enough to haunt Horen for years.
"I haven't killed him!" whispered lion in darkness of cave, probably repeating that statement for thousandth time in his life. But then he froze, when redmaned lion, lying in corner of cave murmured in his sleep. Regent felt silent and carefully came to prisoner. "Who are you?" asked quietly. "You are not from Keme's lot, I'm sure of that!"
On forehead of stranger was a giant bump, making identification difficult. But even if Yakta was in perfect condition, Horen wouldn't have recognize him. He had never seen that lion and had no idea that he was somehow connected with Golden Pride... his and Amini's pride once. So the view of prisoner made no impression on him.
"Psst... my love..." he whispered to Chanua'a ear. "Your guest is waking up." Queen opened her eyes with fear. "It's all right, he is still knocked out." Added Horen. "I was just wondering if you want to see his awakening."
"Of course, I'm not afraid." Said queen with sleepy, yet somehow humorous voice. "You are here and you will defend me in any kind of distress." Horen narrowed his eyes, but she didn't notice that. "So let's wake him."
Regent and monarchess went to lying prisoner and stood over him. Horen carefully, ready to defend, nudged lion's side. Meanwhile, although none had waken them, Kwini and Jino stood and came to mother.
"...you should get a compress with wet leaves and..." stranger continued a sentence from his last seconds before knock-out. "Huh? What?!" gasped, raising his head, but agile paws of Horen pinned him again to the ground.
"Easy, boy, so you won't get hurt... more." Murmured regent with dreadful tone.
"Be careful, my dear." Said queen. "We don't know if he is friend or foe."
"We are guarding him, mom." Said Jino, waiting next to Horen.
"What... Where..." yelled Yakta, awakening most of the pride. Then he recalled events of previous day. "NO!" He called. "I'm sorry, madam, it was an accident!"
"What he is talking about?" asked prince surprised.
"About me, I guess." Replied Kwini, impulsively rubbing cut on her cheek. "He greeted me yesterday... in very expressive way."
"If only I were there..." whispered prince.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." Repeated Yakta, but fell silent, seeing he isn't listened, or at least that part of his speech wasn't bothering auditors.
"All right, let's start from very beginning: who are you?"
"My name is Yakta and I'm rogue from Mighty Jungle, sir." Said redmaned, being unable to lie. But in critical situation he was able to tell not all truth. "Are you king of this land?" Hearing this Chanua smiled instinctively. She wouldn't had anything against if Horen confirmed that.
"No, but from authorisation of lady Chanua I'm responsible for safety of this land." Said regent and just second later he scared of own words. "Damn! I guess I should show similar courage in front of Keme's thugs... not only before some wounded prisoner." He thought.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir. I didn't mean to interrupt pride's peace." Said Yakta with genuine apologising voice.
"I think he could be a scout of those rogues we met on Western Border." Added Jino. Horen narrowed his eyes, because he didn't wish to recall burning threat of his old friends.
"Maybe." Nodded regent. "So what we should do with you, stranger?"
Most of lionesses came to centre of cave to look on prisoner. Among females Yakta noticed scratched Pili and swollen Kwini. He moaned, recalling his recent acting.
"Ma'am, is that serious?" asked princess, pointing with head on her cheek.
"I guess I won't be pretty for next few days, but as you can see, I'm still alive." Replied lioness.
"If I may add something, I suggest you look beautiful... even in that condition, madame." Replied Yakta, but he instantly felt that such a statement sounds quite weird.
"Stars!" murmured Horen. "Have you hit him in head?"
"Release him." Said Kwini. Regent looked on her with amaze on his face. "I know what I'm doing, Horen." Said princes and Yakta, hearing that name, barely repressed a yell. "Except from my new make-up and few Pili's cuts he did nothing wrong to us. Yes, I'm sure, mom." Added, anticipating queens doubts. So Horen and Jino carefully loose prisoner, but Yakta stayed on the ground, still uncertain what to do in such situation. "Oh, he is exhausted. Give him some meat." Ordered princess.
Pili, not hiding her anger but also extreme interest in exotic guest brought him some leftovers from supper. Mean while redmaned came to queen and – being carefully watched by Horen and prince – bowed before her.
"What should I do to make up you that embarrassing entrance?" asked.
"Nothing, I guess." Replied monarchess. "Kwini seems to forgot about whole case... Or wait, I want you to swear you won't attack or break peace on our land. If you do this, you will be our guest."
"Milady, I've never intended to harm your pride... and even if, your subjects would have quickly stop me... But of course, I swear not to raise my paw on your people..."
Talk become quite polite and pleasant, but – of course – Golden Ones heard little from that. All they knew was that Yakta had been captured and being kept in cave.
"We must free him." whispered Ostasi. "A frontal strike when pride go on hunt is the only way."
"So let's wait until morning." Agreed Spotty. "And for now we must find some safe place to sleep. Far from path, for not to let them track us."
Friends went deeper in bushes, choosing a lone hill with dense forest to hide from locals. They didn't organised any sentry, but sleep of former Outlanders was light as a feather.
\/\/\/
Keme was waiting for scouts, so he still was awake. He was an old lion, so he needed a little of rest and he was curious to hear any news. He sent three younger and skilled trackers on reconnaissance in valley to search for leftovers, tracks and others sings of life. It was required to estimate enemy's strength before attack. Keme was an experienced leader – he knew that few days of waiting would greatly increase chances of success. And he wanted to win that time. He was sick of wandering around. He was eleven year old and the place to stay for calm retirement was his current aim. Of course, he would never say that straight to his lions. If they sense any weakness in leader, they would depose him. But if he had a pride... not bunch a treacherous thugs but lionesses, loyal and constant... That was he was aiming at.
"Just like Horen..." thought Keme. "Oh, you old rascal... you know what's the best... I'm almost ashamed, taking it all from you!"
\/\/\/
Horen returned to his brushy bedding next to Chanua, but he stayed awake for about hours. Partially he was afraid of returning nightmare. Although it had never come to him twice on night (at least until then), but when rogue closed his eyes, picture of drowning Amini flashes in front of him. False picture, unreal memory, but it was so alive and convincing, that redmaned was almost ready to believe he indeed had seen death of his ward. So after few moments he stood up again, passed next to sleeping pride and exited cave.
Day was coming and east side of sky started to turn grey. No one saw this scene, because Greeners were asleep and Golden Ones already had hidden farther in bushes. So Horen was observed only by fading stars. Old lion seldom was thinking about eschatological matters but that night was as close to ultimate question as he could be. He turned his head to the sky and asked blurred points of light.
"What I should do? Amini... do you hate me so much, that you haunt me even from there?" Of course, no one answered him, but redmaned continued. "But what do you want? Who will have a profit if now I confess everything? Who will gain on my shame... You want me to lose love of Chanua and respect of her children? Don't you see it? I'm no longer taking care just for myself... I want save them, take them from here before Keme comes... Amini, be generous one time more... Help me!"
But in that moment he tensed and fell silent. It was stupid to talk to the stars, waiting for answer to come. Those lights upthere were nothing more than... lights upthere. Too far from earth to have any influence on those who stayed low. "I will do, what I have to." Thought Horen. "Whatever it takes!" Old lion returned to cave.
\/\/\/
The life on Outlands was definitely a hard trial. But passing this trial brought some prizes that no Outlandress was initially aware. What once had been necessary to survive during expeditions on Pridelands, turn out to be mastery in camouflage and sneaking. Three lionesses discovered that Green Pride wasn't even half careful than they expected – Spotty, Danti and Ostasi easily tiptoed almost to the cave and watched hunting team going out. However, they didn't hear most of talks among Green Ones.
"I do not like it." Said Horen, looking on Chanua on lead of lionesses. "I still think we should all go on hunting, including our hosta... I mean: guest."
"My dear, we will be careful." Said queen. "We'll try to go only in south-east regions, okay? And you have to keep our cave... and assist our guest."
"Well... yes, but..."
Queen looked on regent with her special stare. In fact it wasn't a request, even not kind ask, but something different: a gesture of total and unconditionally trust in Horen's judge and will. If then redmaned decided to order lioness to strike on intruders, stay in cave or flee from land, she would have do it without hesitation. She was trusting her regent and love. If Horen had no scruples to use common naivety of creatures around that particular kind of naivety was so temping to use that old trickster felt a shame, as honourable hunter, waiting for game next to the waterhole. For several seconds he considered situation, then he decided. "Good, go. I will keep our stranger and guard our keep, my queen." In thoughts he added. "And if Keme go here I will try to negotiate peaceful surrendering."
"Sure... Jino will help you." Smiled queen and regent narrowed his eyes.
"No, not Jino!" thought redmaned. "It only complicate whole thing..." But it was too late to develop another plan. So lionesses set off on south and queen, before she left, ran to Horen and licked his cheek. After few minutes any sounds of hunting team ceased in dense forest and in cave stayed just four lions: Horen, Jino, Yakta and Kwini, still recovering after fight with guest.
"Hey, you..." said regent, trying so sound firmly and forcefully. "Are you going to be good?"
"I beg your pardon, sir?" asked stranger.
"I ask you, if I could trust in your honour and left prince and princess with you."
"Of course you could!" replied a bit offended Yakta. He also added after few seconds with simple-hearted impulse. "But if I were a traitor, I would have said the same."
"Horen..." Kwini came to regent and whispered him to ear. She also was treating him with mixture of parental respect and familiar fondness. "He won't hurt us... and even if, he won't be able."
"You want to spy those intruders?" asked Jino with growing amaze. "Alone?
"I'll be all right." Replied regent. "And we have to know more about them..." said and added in mind. "...to know what bargain we would do."
"May I help?" asked Yakta with polite voice.
"Yes." Replied Horen. "Sit here and do not let any bad, big rogues inside, if they happen to came here." Then he whispered to Jino's ear. "If something goes wrong, you escape through back-corridor and search for queen."
"I want to go with you!" replied prince, with breaking voice.
"You primary quest is to guard your sister." Said Horen. "Leave the rest to me." Then he looked on Kwini and said. "Do not go far from cave... But if you see nearby those herbs I gave you yesterday, try to gather them and make a compress." Then, not saying more, he set off on west.
"I don't want to be rude, but I very curious, what is going on here." Said Yakta. Kwini came to him and looked on him through her left eye. Her right eyelid was still swollen, what made princess looking like a real veteran.
"Don't worry, Yakta. We have some local problems, but nothing to do with you... You said that you are looking for some lion... relative of yours."
"Far relative." Said redmaned. "Or in fact, relative of my pride-mate. I was asked to find him. But if I would be useful in defence of your land, it's my duty to support so generous hosts."
"Yes..." murmured Kwini, rubbing her cheek. "You would be serious support for us..."
"We will handle it ourselves." Murmured Jino. "Horen will do something smart."
"I have no doubt he will." Said Yakta, oiling the works. "But if you allow me to help, I wish to search for those herbs."
"You said you like me in that condition too." Smiled princess. "But as you wish... Jino, keep an eyen on home, we will be near."
\/\/\/
Horen wasn't sneaking or even cared for being quiet. He was running to the beach, where he hoped to find Keme and his pack. And he was right – on river's bank gerge's leader was present, with two his younger underlings.
"Horen?" smiled yellowmaned. "How nice to see you again. Are you done with your businesses? Could we take over land right now?" asked with bored voice.
"No, there are some problems." Said redmaned, playing to be firm and calm. For all his life, Horen was lying – to survive in pack of rogues, then to gather his own team, later to keep them in one piece after disaster on Pridelands. And for his all life he had been lying in own business. "But no more." Thought lion. "Now I have to deceive that rascal in good of Chanua and kids. Amini, do you hear that? I think it makes me better. I'm no longer a liar. I'm the trickster!" He smiled to his thoughts and continued. "You have to wait few days... the better in some distance, not to scare lionesses. Then we will leave..."
"You with your queen and – if he wants to – with that young lion." Added Keme, waiting for shock on Horen's face. His scouts did excellent job with spying the pride. But redmaned remained calm and even with slightest grimace didn't show his fear and surprise.
"Oh, Stars!" he thought. "They have us like in sack!" then he added louder. "Keme, my friends, why you are tiring your boys so much. What for all those games... I would tell you everything about pride, if you asked me." Keme smiled. "We will soon go. I with Chanua, prince and princess..."
"No, Horen." Said rogue leader, shocking his head. "There won't be so easy. I want your pride, but also I want queen on my side. Girl stays here and will me my mate."
Redmaned repressed impulse of fear with heavy effort. Negotiations turn out to be harder than he initially had thought and a new threat appeared. "Stars! We must retreat! This monster really wants to get Kwini!"
"I will tell her about your proposition." Said Horen carefully.
"Convince her." Replied leader. "You could be very cogent, if you want to... Because you want to, right?"
"I will do my part of deal, friend." Said Horen. He tried to still sound firmly, but his voice sounded tensed.
"So, go now..." said Keme. "But do not try to escape with whole pride!" added with freezing growl. "You will not cheat me. If you try to take my pride... I will track you and kill you in way you couldn't now imagine..."
"I'm not a daydreamer-type." Replied regent. "I prefer to focus what is real. I will do what I have to."
"Good, good..." smiled Keme again. "Remember – do not escape!" Horen turned away from rogue and started to walk ahead, pretending he was calm and airily. In fact his heart was beating and his head was full of screaming voice. His paws were burning him to run, but he had to play still. Because of heavy effort with keeping his pose, he didn't hear a strange sounds from bushes nearby. It was a muffled crying.
In few moments whole Spotty's world turned to ashes. In the same moment he got know that redmaned lion was her father and understood he was about to leave another pride, betray someone else... do the same what he had done three years earlier. She had spied on lion, because she had suspected he would pack with intruders against local pride. She ordered Danti and Ostasi to keep an eye on Yakta and went after redmaned. She saw whole scene and heard every word of that bargain. Only thinks that were calling in her head were yelling with disgust. "He sold a pride that hosts him!" "He is ready to give that poor princess in paws of those brutes!" And one, louder: "IT'S MY DUTY TO STOP HIM! BECAUSE I'M HIS DAUGHTER I HAVE TO!" And in the same moment to her ears came another order of Keme.
"If you think I trust this liar, you are wrong." Said leader to Masafa, young, brownmaned scout. "I want you to track him... If you judge he wants to betray us... finish this scum!"
\/\/\/
Horen was so drowned in his thoughts that he had no chance to hear the enemy. In normal conditions it would be difficult anyway, because Masafa was skilled stalker. However – not so skilled to take down old Horen in one blow.
Brownmaned pounced on old lion with outstretched paws and extended claws. He jumped out from wall of dense bushes and overturned his victim. But redmaned – in well-trained impulse – managed to fall down on the ground, letting attacker to fly above him, not inflicting a fatal blow. Stalker's claws ripped back of regent, but missed neck artery. Redmaned yelled in pain, trying to turn to adversary direction.
"I'm tired to spy you." Murmured Masafa. "I will solve your problem here and now!" Then he pounced on bleeding lion.
Horen knew he had a limited chances against younger scout, so he decided to act as unpredictably as he could. He jumped too, but lower, trying to pass under attacker and gain some time. Masafa was too surprised to inflict blow in the air, so regent's plan worked. Partially.
They collided about four feet above the ground and joined in one swirling mass of paws and claws. Horen managed to cut enemy's belly hard, but only with one hit. Then the game was over – because older lion was below, he was pinned down by heavy scout, falling down. Redmaned was close to victory, but he failed due to badluck. Both predators hit the grass, but regent laid unconsciousness. Scout shook his head, prevailing pain and confusion and raised his paw to finish his job. But then Spotty came.
Lionesses pounced with deadly accuracy, grabbing the raised paw in her jaws. Landing, the raging Outladnress clenched her teethes, smashing scout's bone. Masafa cried from pain once again, but he reacted instantly. With left paw he hit Spotty, trying to break from her immobilising grab. Lionesses in last second managed to shield her face with left paw and thanks to that she lost orientation. In desperate attempt, she rolled her body and struck at random with rear paws. She hit some flesh, sensing she tore it hard. Masafa screamed for the last time, hit again with left paw, almost stunning his enemy. But them he stopped, like paralysed.
After a while, when no other blow came, Spotty opened her eyes to see body of assassin, laying in growing pool of blood. His crotch-artery was cut by desperate attack of lionesses and then the last drops of life were floating out from brownmaned. Spotty sighed with pain but also with relief and fell to the ground between the dead body of the stalker and unconscious father.