The Wayward Princess
written by LDEJRuff
Chapter 2: Picture Perfect Wisdom
A flash of light woke Tatiana up from her dreams.
"Success!" a gaunt voice rang.
The owner of the voice, a tall, muscular, pink-nosed, black haired man with a shaved face, wearing wildlife safari apparel and holding a camera that appears to be a gun and a photograph, was standing next to her.
"I, Congo Quint, the bravest, strongest, smartest photographer, have done it!" he said. "The perfect photo of a meerkat sleeping outside of her colony. The press will enjoy this!"
"A picture?" Tatiana asked, getting his attention. "May I see?"
"Agreement," Quint said, showing her the picture.
"Looks good," Tatiana said. "Maybe this photo will be part of a biology book, or a newspaper."
"Certainly," Quint said.
As Quint walked away with the photo, Tatiana began her search for an insect to eat for breakfast. However, she found three bugs. However, so did Pumbaa, who had never met Tatiana before.
"Well, another meerkat," Pumbaa said, noticing her. "That's the second one I met this week."
"Really? You met another one?" Tatiana asked. "What does that meerkat look like?"
"Oh, uh," Pumbaa started. "He has red hair, I believe, and he saved my life from a clan of hyenas last night. You know him?"
"Timon?" Tatiana thought. "What was he doing out of the colony?" She asked aloud.
"I don't know," Pumbaa answered. "But I believe he should be heading back to the colony, last I know."
"Oh," Tatiana said. "Well, maybe we should share."
She handed Pumbaa one of the bugs and kept the other two.
"Thanks," Pumbaa said.
"You're welcome," Tatiana replied.
"Oh," Pumbaa began, as Tatiana started to walk away. "You wouldn't leave without letting us know one another, would you?"
"Whoops, sorry," Tatiana apologized. "My name is Tatiana, and I should be heading back to my colony."
"Nice to meet you, Tatiana," Pumbaa said. "Mine's Pumbaa."
Then, Tatiana continued on her way with the two bugs while Pumbaa ate his.
A few minutes later, Tatiana noticed Timon asleep in an area around some dry grass. Without making a noise or waking him up, she quietly handed him one of her two bugs.
"Enjoy your breakfast, Timon," she whispered.
With that, she continued on her way to the colony.
A few seconds later, Timon woke up, and noticed the bug, but didn't notice anyone else.
"Hello?" Timon asked.
He looked around, trying to see if anyone was in the area.
"Whoever gave me this bug," he began, "thank you."
In the afternoon, Tatiana was feet away from home.
"Well, father, I finally made it home," she thought.
Before she could go further, a mandrill holding a stick of gourds appeared next to her.
"Hujambo, my friend," he said. "Where are you going?"
"Oh," Tatiana began to answer. "I'm going home to my colony. Father and the other meerkats must be worried that I'm missing."
"Oh, they're worried all right," the mandrill said. "But old Rafiki knows that they are more than worried. Much more."
"Much more?" she repeated.
"Follow me," Rafiki said. "I'll show you."
Tatiana did follow him, leading to a pool of water.
"Look at what is happening at your home," Rafiki said, tapping his stick on the pool.
The pool revealed the Duke meerkat, heartbroken, and holding Tatiana's red-paint-stained Tiara.
"Why that's my father," Tatiana said. "But why does he look so sad?"
"He's sad because," Rafiki began to answer, "he and the rest of the colony believe you had died when you were taken by that cobra."
"Died?" Tatiana repeated. "That's silly. I'm not dead."
"Yes, I know," Rafiki said. "But look a little closer."
Tatiana took a close look at the pool and saw more images of sad, heartbroken meerkats.
"Oh, I see now," Tatiana realized. "They must be pretty sad."
"But," Rafiki began, "you were lucky enough to escape the cobra. And once you step into the colony gates, the colony will be happy, knowing you are still alive."
"You're right, Rafiki," Tatiana said. "I should return to the colony and let them know that I'm alive, especially my father."
"That's the spirit," Rafiki said. And as Tatiana continued her journey home, he continued, "Bahati nzuri! That means 'Good luck!'"
"Thanks!" Tatiana replied.
However, before Tatiana could continue, she noticed the cobra that kidnapped her, sleeping in the jungle. She backed away from the cobra, but unknowingly stepped on a twig, which snapped, waking the cobra up.
"Uh-oh," Tatiana said, gulping.