A/N: Told you all I'd try to update quicker! Thanks to all reviewers- even anonymous reviewers to whom I can't reply to :P Hope this chapter's okay :) I'm trying to move time on a bit so I can lead up to "Motives" and then write a fic that takes place after that. So expect a jump in time at some point soon. Read on :D

Meanwhile, in the forest Kopa tore at yet another large chunk of meat- Zebra by the look of it- in front of him. He really was hungry, and for the past week, somebody had been leaving him food every morning, so why turn it down?. About half way through he decided he'd save the rest for later before standing up, stretching and drinking in his surroundings. The forest was dark even in the day time and Kopa found it a little daunting, a strange feeling rising inside him as he wandered through the trees, having hidden his meat behind a bush near the waterfall in hope that it would still be there when he got back. The further he walked, the stronger the feeling in his stomach became and he suddenly realised with relief that it was not fear at all, Aw, man! I need to pee! Kopa searched around for a reasonable place to go, and in the end he settled for a bush. A few minutes later he was back exploring the forest, when he ran into something odd.

The strange object looked like a tree, a very weird tree- Kopa made a note to himself to study trees more often in the future- only it was twisted into some sort of bizarre display. The unnerving feeling Kopa had felt moments earlier returned, only this time he knew that it was not to do with his body's needs- it was the feeling of fear, and the cub quickly became frantic, I should stop walking. This part of the forest might be dangerous…It all might be dangerous and I'm trapped. Oh no! I'm trapped! Again! I don't know my way out!

Despite his mind's valiant efforts to get him to turn back, Kopa continued to advance further into the forest, through all the oddly shaped trees. It occurred to him that they hadn't just ended up like that; something must've done it to them- scratched them up with some sort of immense force. Kopa blanched, Oh I'm in trouble, and jumped up to a height almost three times greater than his own when a sharp voice sounded out, "Ay up there, cub. What's bought you to the forest?"

Kopa squealed- he'd never seen an animal like this one before, but when it didn't advance and simply chuckled, he relaxed slightly and mustered the courage to ask the question at the very front of his mind, "Um, what are you?"

The creature laughed again, a sharp but not menacing cackling sound, and replied, "A bit rude, ain't ya? You never seen a beaver before? You need to get out more, kid."

Kopa laughed nervously, "A beaver? Okay…I'll pretend I know what that is for a bit…I have more questions; "Do you keep putting that meat down for me?"

"Yep. Not a pleasant job, feeding a carnivore, but I had a feeling you'd come to these parts of the woods and I wouldn't wantcha getting an appetite on you now, would I?"

Kopa grimaced, "Um I don't eat beaver…Um, how many of you are there here?"

"Just me."

"Did you destroy the trees?"

"It's not destruction, it's art."

"Do you know the way out?"

"Nah. I grew up 'ere."

"And you've never left?"

"Nope. Now seriously, cub, cut the interrogation, and just tell me why you're here."

Kopa shifted nervously, and a look of great sadness settled on his features. The beaver felt bad for him, so he softened his tone a little as he ventured, "Are you lost?"

Kopa sighed, "Not exactly…Well I am but…I was escaping, so…"

The beaver bit his lip, "Escaping? From what?"

Kopa shook his head, "These weird, horrible creatures...My Dad calls them hunters…" Kopa looked down to see how the beaver reacted to this, but there was no readable expression on his face, just a thoughtful look, as if he was planning what to say next.

"Ah, right. Well, I'm sorry 'bout that uhhh…What's ya name?"

"Kopa…"

"I'm Ned. Pleased to meetcha, Kopa. You said you were chased by hunters?"

"Well not exactly. I mean I was but they caught be, and that's what I was escaping from. I was with my Dad and-"

"They didn't kill him?"

Kopa's eyes widened with shock, "NO! Do-don't say that! I mean, I dunno but…I hope not…I don't wanna- wanna talk about it…"

Ned sighed in sympathy and approached Kopa, who was looking down forlornly at his paws, "Look, kid, I'm sure your Dad's okay. Where's your pride?"

Kopa sniffed and looked up, "Pride rock. My parents will be really worried about me…"

At the words "Pride rock", Ned's eyes widened in surprise "You know King Simba?"

Kopa nodded, once again looking upset, "He's my Dad, but the hunters hurt him and I don't know whether he's okay or not. It's been a week!"

Ned shook his head, "Well then we'll have to get you back there! Come on, Kopa, we're gonna getcha back to your family."

A/N: Sorry it's short, but I wanted to post something quicker :) Next one will be longer, hopefully :)