"Can we stop yet?"

"No, Kaegan. We can't just drop where we are; we have to have cover."

Silent night had fallen once again over the Savannah.

"What about now?"

"Kaegan, we haven't even gone five steps."

Okay, maybe not so silent.

"Can we stop here?"

Isha, as always, lost her temper. "No! We'll stop when I say, and not before! And so help me, if you ask one more time I will not be held responsible for what happens."

Kaegan muttered, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest. "Slave-driver..."

Isha glared at him, but Chiku interrupted her before she could say anything. "Isha, I really wish you would hold your temper. He's just a pup, after all -"

"Hey!" Kaegan interjected at the indignity of being called a pup.

"- and he's tired. I'm tired, as well, and I can tell from the look on your face that you are too. So I suggest we just take advantage of whatever cover we have, because I'm sure Kaegan won't be able to go another foot soon."

Isha sighed and started rubbing the back of her neck. "You're right, Chiku, as always." She turned to Kaegan. "Sorry." Somehow he didn't believe she was sincere, as she still held that 'or else' look in her eyes, but he remained silent. "Now, Chiku, do you see a tree, or a burrow, or something?"

Chiku scanned the horizon. "While my night vision is not at it's best, I believe I can make out the shape of a large boulder up ahead. Perhaps you and Kaegan can tunnel under it for shelter, and I'll sleep in that rather large tree up ahead."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Kaegan remarked. "I'm ready to stretch out the old digging muscles again."

Isha cringed. "Ugh. Let's just wait til we get there, shorty."

He glared at her, but let the comment pass. "Why? We're meerkats; digging is what we do." He gaped at her. "Don't tell me you're like, one of those free-thinkers."

She arched an eyebrow. "Free-thinker?"

He shrugged. "That's what Damu' used to call them. They always think that meerkat's should stand up for themselves and go strike out and find some 'perfect place where no 'kat has to hide or get eaten', and so on. Like that crazy Buzz guy."

She snarled, whipping around to glare at him, accenting her words by poking his chest. "Don't ever call Buzz crazy. Never. He was more of a meerkat than you and me and your whole stupid Ishinini mob combined." Without missing a beat, she continued. "But as for being a free-thinking, no, I'm not. I understand it's the circle of life to get eaten and dig tunnels and all that junk. I just hate getting dirt under my claws, is all."

Chiku stared at Isha. "I don't believe I've ever heard you speak of a matter as surely as you just did about Buzz, Isha."

Isha just shrugged. "It's... it's just a touchy subject with me, is all."

Kaegan rubbed his chest where she had poked it. "I can't believe you. Miss rough-and-tough loner doesn't like getting her nails dirty." He snickered.

She glared at him again. "Say that again, shorty. I dare you."

He ignored her. "We're here!" He rushed forward, seeing the rock. He collapsed beside it. "Rest!"

Isha rolled her eyes, but gave a little smile in spite of herself. "It's a four-letter word." When Kaegan looked at her in confusion, she waved a paw. "Forgot; you're too young to get that one."

Chiku glared at her. "But I get that one. Isha, I'm surprised at you!"

Isha chuckled, smiling apologetically to cover it up. "I'm sorry, Chiku. But it really is a four-letter word." Then she turned to Kaegan, who was staring at her. "Alright, digger, start diggin'." He rolled his eyes, but did as she said, humming a little tune. She immediately interrupted that. "No, no, no! No singing!"

"But it helps me get my rhythm!"

"Too bad." She narrowed her eyes. "Go rhythm-less. I will tolerate no singing. I repeat; I will not tolerate ANY singing. Do I make myself clear, shorty?"

"Only if you quite calling me shorty."

"Fine, Kaegan. Am I clear?"

He snorted. "As crystal." And with that, he went back to digging.

Isha looked to Chiku. "So I'm guessing you're going to sleep in that -" she pointed to the only tree she could see on the horizon, "- tree?"

Chiku nodded, stretching her wings. "Indeed, I shall. If you should need me, come get me. And please, behave yourselves, would you?"

Kaegan kicked a pile of dirt directly at Isha, as if responding to Chiku's words. "Sure thing, Chiku!"

Isha rolled her eyes. "Go on, Chiku. Sleep well."

"And you two as well," Chiku nodded to her, then took off, heading toward the tree.

Isha looked down into Kaegan's hole he had dug. "You done yet?"

"It'd go a lot faster if someone were to help."

"Well, I don't know someone, but if I see him I'll let him know you need his help. So hurry up and get it done."

She heard Kaegan snort, but then a something made a sound nearby, causing her to whip her head around. She scanned as far as she could, but the grass was high here, reaching high over her head. She backed against the rock. "Scoot over, Kaegan, I'll help." After he had moved to give her enough room, she immediately set to work on scooping out a den for them to sleep.

He decided it would be a good time to make conversation. "So, why'd you stick up for old Buzz? I mean, no 'kat I know likes him, you're the first one I've met."

She took a deep breath. "It's none of your business, really, Kaegan." She said it gently, so not to get him mad. "I'll tell you -"

"When I'm older? Puh-leeze, Isha, don't give me that." Kaegan snapped. "If you didn't want to tell me, that's fine. Snap at me, say 'none of your beeswax', and be done."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Fine then. It's none of your beeswax. Now shut up and move, so I can widen this out a little." He complied, and soon the tunnel was wide enough for them to sleep in. "Now, unless you want to be spoiled and go out and get moss for a bed, I suggest you just get to sleep where you are. It's black out there, and there ain't no telling what all's out there, ready for a meerkat malt to eat with whatever meal they're having."

Kaegan remained silent, curling up in a ball and seemingly falling asleep instantly. Isha rolled her eyes and curled up as well, and soon was asleep.

But not all creatures were.

Four creatures were creeping towards the tunnel entrance, whispering to themselves.

"You know your orders. Carry them out," the apparent leader spoke quietly. "And do not fail." And with that, the four went underground.

sorry for the shortness. i thought i had it down. but now i really know you all hate me, don't you? mwahaha, you'll just have to wait til the next update to find out what's going to happen. got a new poll up on my pro, go check it out and vote, PLEASE. begging here. the outcome of that vote will end up deciding the ending of this story, as to how far i have to get. so go VOTE! I COMMAND IT!

and sorry for the wait; as if things weren't bad enough, my late-aunt's fiance (sp?) got himself thrown in jail last week. apparently it's time for drama in my life, as if Isha wasn't giving me enough of that. no promises on how soon the next chapter will be in coming, but i'll try my hardest!

edit: added the last three lines to make it end better.