Epilogue – the Future

Sparthi had no while for himself since they reached Golden Sands. Perhaps the rainy season was on and even on the desert it brought some moisture to the kingdom, but Golden King had to think how to survive the rest of the year. What seemed as the wealth, was about to turn into a scorched soil in just two months.

Golden Sands were beautiful in rainy season. In fact king witnessed the first actual rainy season in his life, because on the desert water was always a rare luxury. He never before saw those carpets of colourful flowers, covering the landscape as far as he could reach. When he had been setting of the home few years earlier, Mouth Oasis was dead and broken remnant of the grove – then grew back to be twice fertile than was before. But those were still just temporally signs of plenitude – careful eyes could easily harbingers of future disaster. Soil, destroyed by elements was still unable to bear the moisture for longer time and next dry months would be almost the same as the Great Drought, from which Golden Ones fled to Pridelands.

He sighed, slowly marching to Golden Massif. He knew that he was on the edge of his strengths, keeping steel watering regime and decisively managing wildebeests population. But he had to do his best. Since his father died in trek back and Zira decided to leave all her duties as a queen, sandymaned was the lion responsible for survival of his pride.

He walked the flower-carpet, trying to focus his mind on current issues and not to recall tragedy that hit his family just two months before. In the middle of his way he met Kira, returning from hunting party. His sister greeted him with smile and polite welcome, but judging on her face, king knew that hunt came bad and his estimation of game reservoir might turned out to be exaggerated anyway.

"You are back already?" he asked after she gave him a lick on his forehead.

"Yes… I sent girls back. Tomorrow will be a better day." She replied.

"Yeah, sure." Nodded Golden King, not believing in that at all.

Saying noting more they reached the Golden Cave. But what should had alarmed Sparthi was a silence before their family keep. In spite of hard times cave was never silent – calls of cubs always give the rock some lighter tune of joy. But that time there was no cubs playing in Acacia alley. Sandymaned looked on his sister.

"Where are they all?" But before lioness could reply a voice from the sky did it.

"My royalties… please, come with me."

Sparthi looked up, to see a blue parrot, flying in circles over them. A view of parrot on the desert was odd itself, but when unknown female bird addressed lions with so open and direct words, that could look more than weird. King's jaws dropped and bird without any fear flew down to take a place on his shoulder.

"Pardon my manners, my lord." Said bluefeathered. "My name is Siasa and I was serving your nephew, as I'm now serving lady Shani. They are just entering the land… pride came to assist them… as they need some help."

"Nephew? Shani?" asked confused sandymanded.

"Oh… my lord, my lady should explain it all to you herself… I'm not sure how much I should tell you at once."

"Anyway… just lead us!" snorted Golden King. Parrot set off to flight and two lions followed her.

\/\/\/

Horen was a tough lion, but injure that he suffered during the desert way made his companions to carry him. Daki and Laki and then Shimo and Shani switched and exchanged in that duty (while the other two were carrying two Siasa's nestlings), but reaching Home Grasses they were too tired to go on. That's why they greeted an assistance of the pride warmly.

When Sparthi and Kira met the array, they were in the middle of way to Golden Cave. At the first glance it was obvious that something changed and something was very wrong. For example: natural leader in such situations – Dhalimu, who always deputized king in need – was already under charge of guests. And what was even worse, Sparthi recognised these guests, at least one of them.

"Shani?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you're right." Replied goldenfurred with voice completely devoid of emotions. "So you are here… prince."

"King." Automatically corrected her Sparthi. "My father passed away during our way and my sister decided not to step in the office of Golden Queen."

"So I guess… that my son will assume the throne, as soon as he is born." In that moment sandymaned noticed that lioness was in the middle of her pregnancy. "If that's a son, of course… But anyway, due to quite obvious reasons, you have to treat me as your queen for some time. I know I don't deserve it, but Kisasian was strict about it."

"Ki… Kisasian?" gasped Sparthi and Kira in the same time.

"Right, let's have it already passed." Said Shani and came to Sparthi. "Dhalimu, lead them home." Commanded lioness, as if that was her privilege to order to Golden Ones.

"Sparthi?" asked white lion, looking on his nephew. After all he preferred to be ruled by legal successor, not some self-declared leader. Sparthi nodded and Dhalimu called lionesses.

As Shani set off on the lead, Imani ran to the lioness. Although she grieved her daughter long time ago, miraculous return of Shani from her grave set new hopes into the heart of lioness. But Kisasian was dead? And why Adia hadn't came home?

"My child… Adia!" Gasped old lioness. "What happened to her. Has she…"

"And what did you expect of these murderers?" Said Shani. With perfect indifference in her voice she explained much more than she told. Last hope of Imani died – she just walked back on her stiff paws to Hanja and nestled to his side. Grieving father found no words to sooth her. The price continued its silent march to the Golden Cave.

As retinue was marching, goldenfurred nudged shoulder of sandymaned and they both came aside of the group. As they reached the distance allowing for discrete chat, she started to speak.

"You will get your answers soon… I have to explain my defeat to lady Zira… in the first place to her. When I tell her everything, you will hear the story too… But it doesn't matter. I know - you don't have to respect me, even don't have to treat me as your queen, but for sake of our duty, you must follow me…"

"Stop!" gasped Sparthi. "What is going on!? You come here, talking something about Kisasian." Then she burst with laughter. "What is so funny?"

"No… nothing." Replied lioness and then sandymaned noticed that tears were accompanying her laughter. "You just don't know anything… Wait, as I will tell your sister about Kisasian…"

"He is alive?" gasped amazed Sparthi.

"Not anymore. I killed him." Said goldenfurred. Lion noticed a sheer madness in her eyes and shivered. "I mean… my brother killed him, but I lead him there. And even if I had nothing to do with that, I am responsible for curse of my blood…" She stopped and stroked her belly. "But it's just my fault, ok? My child is innocent! The cub won't inherit my contaminated blood, only pure Kisasian's heritage will go on…"

"Shani…" said Sparthi carefully. "You have some real problem… we must talk about it and you must let us help you. I don't know what you experienced on Priderock…"

"I killed that b---h!" smiled Shani. "I ripped off her belly, so she will never bear those filthy pawns of my line… and I will kill my brother, but with your help."

"Shani, what the hell you are talking about!?" yelled lion.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked goldenfurred with more and more emotional voice. She was loosing control to get affected by her inner heat. Sparthi knew she was mad, but in the same time she meant it – all her wants and plans she were going to apply with her deadly decisiveness. "I came here to bear Kisasian's cub… and get your help… We will strike on Priderock as soon as we are ready, but that dry season we must survive here. We will manage, I'm sure of that."

"Attack…"

"We must avenge my sweet Kisasian." She snarled. "We must secure the throne for his heir… Perhaps you will stay the Golden King, but Ki's child will rule the Pridelands, after the order is restored. And we will do that. Horen and twins will help us, in spite what they think… Amini is dead too, so they also have someone to avenge."

"I don't understand what you are talking about." Said Sparthi, in spite he slowly was coming to realisation. And to discovery that he had no strength to stop that. "But still, I don't like it."

"Oh, you will, uncle…" said Shani with smile. Suddenly she nestled to his side and rubbed it with bolt of lust. "I will rule at your side… I guess it makes me your mate. I will make you happy… as long as you raise cub of Kisasian. Understand?"

"Stop it, stop it!" gasped lion.

"Don't worry, it won't take long." She continued, ignoring it. "And when it's over, perhaps I will let Shimo kill me." She touched with paw to her neck and rubbed the throat. "There is still so many of this curse within me… But the cub is innocent." She again stroked her belly tenderly. "The cub will inherit just after father."

"You are insane." Whispered Sparthi.

"Oh no, my prince… I'm aware as never in my entire life." She said and looked in his eyes.

Lion couldn't stand this stare. On lioness's face was burning madness for sure. But that was a kind of illness that demands obedience. Sparthi knew that he would do whatever she ordered, whatever he liked it or not. And his second thought was that Simba, or whoever happened to be Shani's enemy, was doomed. Between goldenfurred and her aims there left a space only for death. She was ready do absolutely everything to achieve her goals.

In her eyes shadows of the past covered any other emotion. But even if that was scary, the possible night of the future seemed to be twice that bad.

"Stars, help us!" thought the golden lion.

Taka_PL

May 2008