XIX. Children of the Desert
Way south seemed to be easy, but it turned out to be hard even in initial hours. There were some technical issues that pride fixed, but barely. Arista couldn't walk on his own – he was guided by supporting him Rama and Cheza, eventually lionesses were ready to simply carry him on their backs. Sparthi also needed a helping paw, but he was hobbling just slightly. With constant support of left side he could walk on his own. Ghera and Doria were switching in duty of leaning prince. So it made Zira the leader of whole group.
She walked on lead, what maybe wasn't an extremely hard task for a moment, but somehow kept goldenfurred at peak of her awareness. It was odd that lioness guided a pride, a visible sign that king and his heir were unable to do it. That would made Zira felt uncomfortable, if she could feel less uncomfortable in that moment. In fact her mind was filled with aching memories of Masa and Wivu and also with images of laughing Sukari. If not a task to lead her pride, she would gladly stopped and camp in ambush on following rogues. She new they were about to come and only the awareness that her vengeance would be quickly settled, gave her calmness and strength to go ahead.
But there was also and another problem – as a leader, Zira was responsible for safety of array, what included a sandstorm watch. All lionesses should have watched on the sky, but princess was the one who was responsible in the end. When she turned back, she saw on the northern firmament dark clouds of dust. Storm was nearing, but for a while no one could say when it would strike. Lioness hoped that it come when they already found a night shelter.
"Saada, Busara, Thela, Vii and Ujuzi, it's time." Said Zira. "You know the drill?"
"Sure thing." Replied Saada. "We are just going straight ahead, and picking a place to sleep. Then put dew-traps and wait for you."
"Just go… and don't stop, whatever would happen." Added Sparthi, hobbling just behind them. "Ignore any signs of rogues, unless they block your way. It's up to you, to provide us all the water."
"Of, course, sir." Said Vii. "I hope to see you soon. Take care and watch your backs." Then five lionesses started a faster pace and soon after outran the pride.
Wind was moderate but already inducing a dust-clouds. So water group quickly disappeared in sandy air, leaving rest of array on back. The probability that rogues would had gone faster and waited in ambush on scouts was really minimal, but Zira felt very unsure, being left by her friends. It also meant that main group was weaker and unable to run with two partially disabled members.
"I doubt if they attack us now." Said Sparthi. "I think that would wait to dusk, to get us… and our water."
"Great." Replied Zira. "You really cheered me up, brother."
"We should make a stop." Said Ghera, from prince's side.
"Not yet." Replied goldenfurred instantly. "After midday."
"Stop with this bossing, Sparthi needs a break." Snorted first princess.
"No, just go ahead." Said prince himself. "Unless dad asks for rest, we will go."
Ghera wanted to add something, but Sparthi stopped her with soothing purr. So she just exhaled louder and continue her walk. But since that moment her sight was fixed on Zira. Stream of screaming thoughts called in her. "She is about to kill him! She actually wants to rid off her brother and took over the pride herself!" Walk of goldenfurred seemed to be easy and certain, but Ghera saw a gentle shivering of her nape, what she read as a sign of extreme nervousness. And in fact she wasn't far from the truth.
They didn't stopped on midday – king forbade. Arista, most likely not fully aware of what effort his assistants had to put in walk, decided he could go further. Surprisingly, it was Sparthi who took it harder – wound on paw started to slightly bleed again, what didn't seem to scary, but was an unpleasant surprise after seemingly advanced healing process.
They stopped just before dusk, suddenly approaching at scouts chosen site. They noticed as in one of pans lionesses of water team prepared an improvised shelter. The ravine was deep, over three metres, long – coming parallel to Lime Valley on distance of over ten metres - but narrow, just slightly wider than a single lion. Dew collectors were already placed, but before night and down it was unlike to get any water. However a shadow turned out to be saving switch after a heat of daily wander.
"Sorry, we decided it would be the best." Said Saada. "None of us had any idea if further is some better place."
"It will serve us well." Said Arista with weak voice.
King was put in the centre of ravine, perfectly shielded from any wind. Other pridemembers laid on his sides, closer to mouths of the crack. Everyone was thirsty, but on that lifeless ground getting any drink laid beyond reach of wanderers. Water team of that day went of close recon in search of any cactuses nearby, but returned shortly after with bad news. Zira and Rama climbed on highest dune in sight, to watch for eventual chase, but even above that – to estimate the coming of the storm. Both lionesses judged that would be hit on next day, but that changed nothing. Without oasis they couldn't stay longer in that crack. Portion of dew would work to cheat the thirst, but in long run any available portion of moisture from desert was below daily need of lion.
"Who's taking the first watch?" asked Cheza, completely exhausted by duties with king.
"You, I suppose." Said Sparthi, trying to somehow make that effort up for lioness. First switch was always the easiest one – letting the sentry to sleep continuously for the rest of night. "Zira will stay with you."
"I could take the third." Said princess instantly. She looked on brother and her stare said just "I don't have to be cub-sitted anymore."
"All right, Rama, you will stay." Decided prince, than laid down on the rock. He had no brushy bedding but in that vicinity it was no use to gather any material for that. "So… good night, everyone."
Maybe Golden Lionesses were to excited to fall asleep instantly, but exhaust of whole-day-march kept them from talking. Also a constant proximity of eleven felines reminded brutally in what kind of distress they were. Lionesses just laid down, pretending that they had gone into slumber and hiding all thoughts into silent waiting. In time their acting become true and they actually fell asleep, cut down by tiredness and appeasing whistle of wind.
\/\/\/
Arista had a fever that night. His wounds – especially those not seen: oedemas on internal organs and wide cut hidden by his mane – caused an inflammation. Strong will of ruler kept it under controls, as the health is in most cases the matter of mind, not of the body. But monarch knew he was almost done. "As my kingdom." He thought and left his body.
But just to find himself outside, among sleeping pride. They waited outside, standing on desert. All of them: Malkha, Masa, Dhalimu, Wivu. That time saying nothing, just smiling and waiting. King smiled too and raised his paw to wave them. But then he woke.
It was few hours before the dawn. Thela and Vii just were waking up Zira and Busara for the third watch. Seeing that his daughter is already on her paws, he wagged his tail to call her. Goldenfurred ran with expression of fear on her face, as if she expected to find king in pain.
"No, it's nothing." Said Arista. "I just want to say something to you."
"You should sleep in the first place." Replied Zira.
"When you are in my age, you will see how dull and fruitless is sleeping." Smiled king. "But listen… I know Sparthi will fulfil his duty, but you must support him."
"I don't know if I manage, but I'll do my best and more." Said Zira, sitting next to king and gently stroking his mane.
"I know… but you must also watch of your own way… Listen, I had a dream… about Pridelands and you. I don't know what mission Ancient Ones would give you, but I sense you will be the key figure for next turn of the Circle of Life."
"Yeah, sure, dad." Replied princess. "But we are going together. I know I wasn't the best daughter, but older I am, the easier I'm listening to what you say." Zira smiled, but then narrowed her eyes in cryful expression. "Dad… I know I did many things wrong…"
"Don't start it again." Cut that king. "You mother… and Masa are surely proud of you. Just keep it for little longer. You must guide our pride safe…"
"I will dad." Said princess and hugged to the king.
"Zira, I'm already on the position!" gasped Busara from the up of ravine.
"Yeah, I'll be there soon." Replied princess. Then she looked on father. "Sleep. I will watch for you."
Ghera watched Zira taking her sentry place. Not that she expected her to go away at night, but just to be sure. However she hater her sister-in-law, she knew that goldenfurred wasn't stupid. "She won't call her rogue-pet right now." Thought. "I guess she will wait for morning." Lightfurred closed her eyes with stressing, yet exciting thought that next day would bring her a battle of her life. A battle with her deadly rival.
\/\/\/
Gerge's morale was low. And that fact wasn't surprising, minding that coalition never consisted of fully spirited and motivated individuals, but that day exhaust even those remnants of high spirit. Day of march without drinking dimmed even Mhamiji's, Tariki's and Gebali's crave for vengeance. Sukari walked saying nothing and most likely he was too tired to complain, while Keme with every step become more and more restless and in ill way excited. On night, that they spent on open air, four rogues felt sleepy even after eight hours of sleep. Keme showed signs of readiness, although perhaps he didn't slept at all.
"Come!" said yellowmaned. "We will get them just after setting off, unprepared and surprised."
"If you say so…" said Sukari.
"There isn't even dawn!" yelled Tariki.
"You wanted to finish this." Gasped Keme. "I didn't oppose… but now I will make you fulfil your oaths. We will get those bastards that took Shababu out!"
"All right, I'm going." Replied lion with sleepy voice. "So what you want us to do?"
"We will split." Said Keme. "Sukari will go in advance and sway some lionesses away of main array, then we will strike on the rest." He looked on his charge. "Of course, you don't engage any of them. Just make a distraction."
"Yeah, sure." Smiled Sukari. But in mind he added. "No way, this is a command I won't obey. I will get one of them for you, Keme!"
\/\/\/
"We must find them." said Zira to Rama's ear. "Otherwise they would attack us from behind."
Lionesses were standing outside of ravine, while rest of the pride prepared to set off. Princess didn't want to share her plan with any other pridememeber, knowing it would cause a protests of Arista and Sparthi. So she decided to use a trick.
"I think you have right in everything." Replied greyfurred. "Except of one – that you go. I could do it as well."
"No, that's my job to stop them." said princess. "You just keep your orders. All will go smoothly."
"I hope so. Good hunting!" Murmured Rama and called back. "Water team, go with me!"
Cheza and Doria ran to senior huntress and followed her fast steps ahead. Zira stayed in pan of dune, waiting for pride to move ahead. She told Sparthi, she would go with Rama, in search of shelter. But what she actually planned was to confront her shadow. "Now, we will talk differently, Sukari." She smiled but also narrowed her eyes in crying grimace. She had no water to lose a tear, but striking memory of Masa and Wivu and why they had died, exhausted all her emotions just to burning urge of vengeance.
Ghera waited in the ravine, looking on her sister-in-law. So, it turned out to be true. Zira wanted help of rogues to betray pride once again. Princess was glad she lied to Sparthi and said she had been going with water team, because thanks to that she could slip out the array too. And watch Zira. Her only aim was to get the ultimate proof – a sound of words of treason. "I will hear it and then call pride here." She smiled. "We will rid off the enemy – that from outside and that from within at once!"
And then she noticed them – four lions walking on desert without any caution nor fear, as if they were sure whom they could find. Mind of Ghera, a bit dimmed with thirst and anger, failed to read a simple fact – one member of coalition wasn't there. That why she wasn't looking in fear for sneaking Sukari. Rogue took a perfect place on edge of ravine and…
\/\/\/
"Sir!" called Rama, running back to main group. "How stupid of us! There is an oasis there!"
Before lioness got to pride-array, a collective roar sounded, venting common joy. With such a shelter, not far and supplied with water, they could simply wait for sandstorm to come and go. Of course rogue threat didn't vanish, but watered and rested Golden Ones were much touchier enemy than gerge could expect.
"Great!" called Sparthi. "So you could make a break with dad. I just go there, to Ghera and…"
"Sir." Said Rama, stopped in place. "But lady Ghera isn't in my group!"
"What!?" gasped surprised prince. "So who's in charge there? Zira."
"Well…" started Rama, to confused to lie still. And additionally upholding a shams would endanger them all. "Zira also…"
"Stars dammit!" gasped Sparthi. "Rama! Get them all to that oasis! I'm going back for them!"
"Sir…"
"Just do it!" snorted prince, freeing from support of Saada. "We will join you there… I hope." Added with quieter voice.
Then he started his hobbling north. Lionesses looked after them, but sandymaned – boosted with new wave of fear – seemed to be in perfect condition for that way. Seeing curious stare of king, he just said. "Dad, I'm coming for Ghera and Zira. I'll be back soon."
"You would better…" replied Arista. "Storm is near."
"That's why we must go, sir." Rama speeded him up. "Lean on my, my king!"
\/\/\/
Zira saw that her enemies were much too numerous to stand against them. But her plan was just to hit and run, so she kept on her initial idea. However she regretted that Sukari wasn't there. She stood up, emerging from sand den. In strange recollection, she saw herself, almost two years younger, when she was standing up from den she made to scare Sparthi. "I'm not a stupid kitty anymore." She thought. "And I'm not afraid!"
"Hey you!" she called aloud, looking of gerege. "Where is your intelligence part?" Seeing surprised stares of lions added. "I didn't mean your wits, because those were never here. I meant the traitor!"
"Well, that is not your concern, for now." Replied Keme with smile. "But I should ask about your reason. Have you got sunstroke, that you decide to fight us all?"
Then a first blow of wind hit. It wasn't hard, but sudden wave of sand put onto Zira's face was surprising and painful. And menacing. "Damn it!" thought princess. "I must do it quick, before we all get torn apart. It would be nice with those bastards, but I promised Sparthi to stay safe!" Meanwhile rogues were still approaching, seemingly ignoring elemental threat, growing behind them. And that was a chance for Zira.
"I could ask you the same. What made you so desperate to fight me in the heat of storm."
"Don't trick us with such…" started Tariki, but involuntary he turned back. Seeing his sudden narrowed eyes, other lions turned back as well.
"Gnu's drooping!" cursed Keme after quick stare behind. But then he looked again on Zira and started seemingly calm speech. "All right, you got us. This storm would put us all dead, if we don't hide somewhere."
In the same time he wagged his tail, in discrete, almost unseen way. Tariki – for whom the signal was, stayed in place for a moment, but then started a way aside to get on Zira's back and perfect spot for sudden attack. Meanwhile yellowmaned continued.
"You know… actually we don't need a bloodshed… for now. I can't tell you we don't wish you harm, because we do, after what happened with Shababu, but I propose you a short-term armistice, just to survive this storm. Let us enter this ravine and we will let you live."
"No that I don't trust you…" started Zira. "I simply know you lie. But even if I believed you, I don't want to have anything to do with murderers of my mother and sister."
"That's all Sukari's fault!" called Mhamiji. "He killed them to show that he isn't on your side anymore. We didn't ordered it."
"Even worse for him." Replied Zira, making few steps back. She just wanted to keep rogues in place for moment longer, to the storm. "If they are trapped here for a sandstorm, we are safe." She thought. "Well, I would have a hard time with rejoining pride, but I will manage. I'm a child of the Desert!"
"You know…" said Keme. "Sukari had some plans connected with you. Unfortunately, you turned out no to be cooperative enough…."
"I would never betray my pride!" cried princess with mix of growl and weep.
"What a pity." Smiled yellowmaned. "That's why you will die."
Words of gerge leader froze Ghera. With those few sentenced wall of hostility that princess built around her sister-in-law was crumbled down. "Stars!" thought lightfurred. "She wasn't a traitor! I was wrong!" And then she noticed that possibly she would never apologise goldenfurred. Tariki was almost on his place.
"Zira, behind!" called Ghera, but in the same time Sukari pinned her down to the ground.
Goldenfurred didn't analyse what happened and from where that warning came. She just felt down to the ground, letting rogue fly over her in surprised, but missed charge. Zira just after rolled aside, before Keme pounced on her.
She heard a scream behind her, that she recognise of Ghera's yell of pain, but then also another gasp, that time of a lion. That meant first Golden Princess hadn't been taken down in one blow and she even managed to fight back. Zira decided that she will think about her sister-in-law just after she secure her own survival.
She stood up and did most ridicules and less probable action, that surprised everybody, including herself. She rushed after Keme, before any of his companions managed to react. She landed on back of lion and reached with her front paws to his neck. Her claws stuck in dense mane, but she got a solid grab and she hit with hind legs, slashing hinds of rogue leader.
Keme yelled in pain, but before he managed to shake princess off, Zira threw her body on right side and using her mass as a lever, she overturned enemy. They both landed on sand when new blow of wind came.
Mhamiji, Tariki and Gebali froze in crouch before pounce, blinded by sudden cloud of dust. They saw nothing and heard just moans of effort and yells of pain, except of howling wind. They just walked slowly, careful not to charge on Keme, white two blurred silhouettes fought in dusty chaos.
Zira found herself partially under much heavier Keme and she knew that normal struggle with stronger male was in longer run a suicide. Even disoriented, exhausted and thirsty rogue was still more powerful than she. "Mother, help me!" she yelled in mind then at random bit side of enemy.
Keme roared and rolled on Zira, trying to squeeze her and that way rid her off. Lioness kept a pound of flesh in her mouth, desperately shielding her head from new blows. Then she was literally threw up and put on paws, by standing up Keme. But in fact desert helped her in that moment. Tariki – blinded by sand- noticed some shape in front of him and attacked in first impulse. Keme was overturned, leaving Zira standing still.
Seeing her only change, princess in desperate rush fell on rogue and opened her mouth. She could expect a hit into face but somehow she felt enemy's paw coming straight to her jaws. She pressed her teeth down, plunging them into flesh of Keme's right knee. She was pulled by impetus of pouncing yellowmaned, what made her feel, as if her jaws were tearing away. But - what was most cheering - she imagined what felt Keme. Again she hit the ground, but she didn't let enemy's paw go. In last effort she pressed even harder, making lion to scream. Then she sensed she got to the bone and instantly loosen her grasp. She stood up and jumped ahead, just a second before Gebali attacked.
She hit side of lion, but they both passed, leaning each other and princess was still able to run. She made another jump, avoiding Tariki's jaws and praying she was retreating in right way. That moment of break cost her dearly. Mhamiji hit her side, sending down for the another time.
"Wait!" yelled Zira, raising her paw to shield from incoming blow. "Every seconds counts. If you don't take him to a shelter, he will die." Rogue stopped his hit, just before her face and took a quick look back. Indeed – Keme laid on sand, bleeding heavily from bitten paw and omnipresent dust already dirtied his injure. "Get him to some hideout and clear the would, or he die from infection. You want to lose another leader in this weak?" Added with menacing tone, rather not believing if that could work. She was very surprised when it worked.
"Damn you!" roared Mhamiji and left her.
He ran to Keme and Zira noticed that two other rogues already got to their chief. Sandymaned lion kneeled and his companions bended to lift Keme and put him on that carrier… Princess failed to see more, because growing sandstorm reduced vision just to few metres. Besides, she had some other things to do. She set off in run to Lime Alley ravine.
She made all her decisions on the fly. Seeing that Sukari was lying in Ghera, pinning her to the ground and slowly reaching her neck with his jaws, she didn't slow down, just rammed rogue with all her mass. Brownmaned rolled aside few metres, what gave goldenfurred enough time to grab her sister-in-law's neck and lift her.
"Get up!" she yelled. "We must go, before they all come here."
She kicked confused Sukari, who seemingly tried to get up. Zira wished to deal with him for good, but she knew there was no time for that. And seeing that barely consciousness Ghera couldn't maintain her balance, she kneeled, letting body of lightfurred fall on her back. "That is not smart!" she thought, but she sensed that staying in that ravine with more rogues to come was even more stupid.
"Sparthi…" moaned half-awaken Ghera. "Call Sparthi…"
"He's out of range!" snorted Zira and exited the crack.
Wind almost cut her down. Storm wasn't so strong yet, but goldenfurred, carrying other lionesses of her weight made next steps with giant effort. She was pushed to north-west wall of Lime Alley and with every metre ahead she was leaning on scratchy surface of rock. But it was some basis – rock-plate was raised about half a metre above the ground what let goldenfurred to support on it against the wind. For short while princess thought about crossing the alley and hiding on the other side of natural kerb, but she understood that it was most likely already covered with sand. So all she hoped was another crack where she could stop and shield from storm. And then try to defend herself and Ghera from the chase.
She didn't notice another ravine – she just fell there. It was narrow and about two metres deep crack, coming parallel to Lime Alley – scaled down version of their last night shelter. In last second she held Ghera from hitting hard surface with head and felt next to sister in law. She turned back and with remnants of her strength prepared for desperate defence. But because Sukari didn't come in next minute, she took a quick look on sister-in-law. It was a bad idea.
Ghera was dying. Long and deep wound on her side, coming from the belly almost to the shoulder, showed ribcage and damaged layer of muscles. In one place Zira with terror noticed the light-reddish mass of lungs, savaged with deep cut of claws. Blood kept floating from that injure, covering smaller, yet the same dangerous wounds below. It seemed that first princess of Golden Sands lived only due to her vital impetus.
"Stars!" yelled goldenfurred and leaving entrance unguarded rushed to Ghera.
"Zira…" whispered lightfurred. "I'm so sorry… I thought you stood against my beloved Sparthi."
"Don't say too much." Said Zira quickly, seeing as another wave of blood came from damaged lungs of lioness. "Just lay low, as I will find way to…" But those were just words. She had no idea how possibly she could get from that alive and moreover save her sister-in-law.
"We were fighting each other." Sobbed Ghera. "We shouldn't have too… Forgive me!"
"Wait, don't die!" yelled Zira, when another stream of blood floated down from Ghera's side. "Just… hang on… Sparthi won't forgive me, if something happens to you."
"Just forgive…" whispered light furred.
"I forgive." Said Zira. She gently nestled to unhurt side of lioness and added with cry. "And forgive me! I started it all!"
"So… may we forget about that?" asked lightfurred, but before Zira managed to answer, she lost remains of her awareness.
"No…" whispered princess, sensing slowing down pulse of sister-in-law. "It's the end…"
But it wasn't.
Sukari entered the crack, already bearing numerous superficial cuts, as marks of storm. But it made him just more furious and mad. She plunged his claws in exposed back of Zira and painfully pressed her to the ground. Lioness based on Ghera, but lightfurred was unconsciousness and she gave no sign of pain.
"Now. We will finish our business." Laughed brownmaned and pushed Zira aside. "I wonder, if your brother is already on the way, or I have to show him your body to lure him into Keme's force."
"You've made a great mistake, Sukari…" gasped Zira. Lion was choking her, but she managed to grab his front paws with own limbs and froze in stalemate position. "It's what you told me – one who lost everything, can't lose anything more. It could give some strength!"
She kicked with rear paws, plunging her claws into belly of rogue. Lion recoiled back with pain, but he did it before attack of princess made any serious injure. He just spat a portion of blood from his mouth and crouched to final pounce on lioness. Sparthi hit him in that moment.
"You're dead!" gasped prince, pinning rogue to the ground.
"Sparthi!" called Zira, slowly standing up.
"Run!" growled lion. "Take Ghera and run! Go to oasis, before the storm…"
A blow right into his face knocked that sentence off. Zira tried rush with help for his brother, but Sukari – almost without any effort – kicked her with hind leg, sending her back to Ghera.
"Get away! I order you, as the prince of Golden Pride!" yelled Sparthi and bit Sukari's paw.
Zira obeyed against her will. She bended down to sister-in-law and with desperate bolt of strength lifted her and put on own back. Without looking back, she started her hobbling ahead. She exited the ravine, stopped for several seconds, fighting with wind, then set off south, parallel to Lime Alley. Ghera on her back was dying. With every her step, goldenfurred sensed that pulse of lioness was slower and slower. But still, she marched ahead.
"Onward! While I breathe, I hope. I can't stop!" And with distorted steps she followed her rocky path to oasis. With all her will, she tried not to look back and not to think about neither Ghera nor Sparthi.
\/\/\/
That wasn't a fair fight.
Even in that limited space of crack, Sukari's mobility was a great advantage over prince's impairment. Whenever sandymaned tried to hit enemy, he jumped back, outside the range of adversary. But Sparthi couldn't in the same way dodge brownmaned's blows. So just after a minute of combat, prince understood he was just a hunted prey.
"I wonder, if I should leave you for Keme." Laughed rogue. "But he will get Arista, so I could practise on you. No offence, right?"
"You won't get away alive!" replied Sparthi, hobbling back to the corner of crack. "I won't let you now and in minutes storm will come. It will kill you. Desert will kill you."
"How touchy!" giggled brownmaned. "But I hate to say: you won't survive to see this. I will take you down, here and now and wait this blasted storm here. And then… with boys I will work over your pathetic pride!"
"Why you hate us so much?" asked prince. In the next moment fast blow of Sukari send him on the ground. He felt just in the end of the crack. He was trapped between rogue from one side and rock wall and open space with powerful wind on the other.
"You… just hurt my friend. You hurt Keme."
"I never met your friend before!" yelled Sparthi. "I did him nothing."
Sukari stopped over lying prince and pinned him down. Seeing that enemy was helpless, he grabbed his wounded front paw into jaws and pressed. He plunged his teeth to the bone, but – in his extreme surprise – he didn't hear Sparthi yelling. Sandymaned was too tired to do that.
"Why couldn't you live with us in peace?" whispered prince. Sukari read it by lips movement, because howling wind muffled almost everything.
"I… didn't want be like you." Replied lion with smile. "I wish to be better!" Sparthi threw his paws ahead, grabbing enemy's neck. He just held him, too weak to make any wound. Sukari ignored with wave of mad laughter. "And I am! Look, who is above you!"
"The Desert!" gasped prince and pulled out all his might in that one move.
With all his desperate will, he straightened his all four paws, lifting Sukari up. Still laughing rogue was put upper, outside the shelter of ravine. In the same time storm hit with its all furry, blowing on exposed head of rogue.
Prince didn't hear enemy's scream, because it died in call of storm. But he felt – his paws were feeling that, struck with countless, sandy projectiles, that wrath of nature got brownfurred. Sparthi held his grab still, as Sukari desperately tried to get free and pull himself down to the safe shelter. Wind was roaring and Golden Prince after a while joined that roar, feeling a power of element fighting by his side. His paws were hurt in the same way – but those were just paws, already bruised and soaring. They could be sacrificed in that last resort charge.
Sukari kicked to the last time and then Sparthi felt as muscles of his enemy got loosen. Then blood from lion's head, savaged with sand, started to drip on the prince, he let his grip go. In next second body of rogue felt down next to sandymaned – brown mane of Sukari, became almost fully red. From what was face of lion, left just a blooded crater, after devastating stream of sand. Globulins of the soil in few places cleared the flesh to the bone and totally filled what once had been lion's throat. Sparthi shook his mane with disgust and breathed deeply.
Storm ceased just few seconds after, as if its job was done. Prince could stand up and walk south. But he climbed on three paws, leaning on the rock. Then set off with slow hobbling. Teeth of Sukari had cut his knee-tendon.