The first thing Isha knew was that her head hurt. Second, that she was being shaken awake. She decided to respond, sluggishly slapping at the paws that were shaking her.

She sat up with a groan, rubbing her head. "Ugh, this is the worst headache I've ever had." She opened her eyes, which were bleary, and looked around. "Hey, this isn't the -" Her eyes widened as she came to her senses. "Where's Kaegan?" She looked up to see another male meerkat looking down at her, a pitying look in his eyes. He looked about her age, with white-blonde headfur and dark eyes. She glared up at him. "Who are you?"

He sighed. "I'm Nato." He handed her a strip of wet moss. "Place that on your head, it should hopefully help." He paused. "And as for your friend, he's fine. He'll be joining us any minute."

She did so, while still glaring at him with suspicion. The moment the cool moss was in place she felt much better, and decided to be civil to the new 'kat. "Where are we?"

Nato sighed before answering. "You'll find out, sooner or later."

Isha, confused, was about to ask another question, when the sound of a scuffle sounded on the other side of one of the walls.

"Hey, watch it! Get your paws off me, I can walk myself, you know. You're paws are cold! Stop! Quit it!"

"That's Kaegan," Isha remarked, surprising herself at the tone of worry in her voice. In order to hide it, she turned to glare fiercely at Nato. "Listen here, buddy, if you don't give me straight answers right now -"

"You'll what?"

The two turned toward the voice, as a male meerkat emerged from the shadows. Nato instinctively flinched, backing into the shadows, leaving Isha to face him on her own.

The male smiled charmingly at her. He was taller, and most likely much older than she was, with dark brown headfur and black-looking eyes. It was the eyes that scared her the most, so much she refused to look straight into them. They had an insane look in them. "Hello, Isha," he said soothingly. "I hope you're finding your stay... comfortable?"

She rubbed the wet moss against her head. "I should say not."

His smile turned apologetic. "I'm sorry about that bump on your forehead, but it was for your own good. You see, we couldn't handle the idea of you showing resistance, after all, we've been expecting you."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Expecting me?" Then she looked toward Nato, then back at the stranger. "Who are you? And how do you both know my name? I've never met any of you in my life!"

"Well, we have a... hmm, how should I put it... a mutual acquaintance?" The meerkat grinned. "And as for my name, I'm called Gatimu. But enough about me, I was sent to tell you that her majesty is on her way, and that she can't wait to see you again."

"See me again?" Isha asked, confused. Then she turned angry, poking Gatimu in the chest. "Listen her, mister, before I speak to her majesty, I expect my friend to be here!"

"I can assure you he's quite fine," Gatimu assured her. "But if that's what it takes to make you comfortable, so be it." He poked his head out a tunnel that Isha hadn't noticed before then. "Guards! Bring him in!"

And so they did. Kaegan struggled in their arms, until they let him go. He brushed his shoulders off, glaring at them with all the hatred he possessed in him. Then he turned his gaze to her, and immediately rushed over and hugged her. "Isha! Oh geez, are you okay?"

Isha hugged him back, relieved he was in one piece. "I'm fine," she answered simply. Then she pushed him away from her, and sighed at what she saw. He had a black eye that was still swelling, a bruise on his cheek, and his headfur was all messed up and dirty. "But you aren't, obviously. Sit down." She ordered, looking to where Nato had seemingly vanished. "Can we have some more of that wet moss?"

"There'll be time for that later, Isha," Gatimu interrupted. "At the moment, it's best you prepare yourself for her majesty's visit."

Isha glared, but before she could reply Kaegan looked at her from where he sat. "Who's 'her majesty'?" He used air quotes to accentuate his words.

"Good question," Isha looked to Gatimu. "Answer it."

"You already know the answer, Iesha, you just need to remember."

This time a female voice, though certainly not very feminine, echoed in the chamber.

"She's here," she heard Nato whisper.

Then, the female meerkat stepped inside, standing beside Gatimu. She had a smug grin on her face. "Well, how are our little guestsdoing, hm?" She had light brown headfur, and odd golden eyes. She smirked towards Isha. "Bet you didn't expect to meet me again, did you, Iesha, dear?"

Isha gaped in silence, completely in shock. Kaegan looked at her, confused and worried, standing up to shake her gently, to try and get her out of the trance she was in. "Isha? Isha, say something."

And Isha did say something. She looked toward the female meerkat, her eyes still wide with shock. "Gerda?!"

mwuahaha, i know, evil me, another cliff hanger. i'm SOOOOO sorry about the wait, this chapter was SOO hard to write, and i just couldn't get it out properly. but tonight (well, technically, this morning, as it is now 12 AM), i told myself "Dani, you are going to write the next chapter", and so i did. hope you enjoyed, though it sucked. hopefully the next chapter will be easier to write, lol. also sorry for the shortness. writer's block and myself just don't mix. without this authors note, it was only 900 words, give or take.

so, what do you all think of the new title? i had a stroke of brilliance with it; i remember looking up the meaning of Isha, and on some sight, it said that in Sanskrit it meant protector. i thought it fit, really, considering the future plots i have planned for her. tell me what you think! it was LittleMeerkatGirl who gave me the inspiration; she said the title should be about Isha, and so kudos to her! yay!