Chapter 12: Chester's Predicament
Timon and Pumbaa talked all night to Chester about grubs. Chester wasn't thoroughly interested in the subject but it seemed to make them happy so he hung in there for their sake. They grew tired from talking to him when the rest of the pride began to enter the den. Timon and Pumbaa joined them as Chester climbed down Pride Rock and returned the rock where he slept the night before. He took what time he had to think. He questioned the information that was inadvertently given to him over the past two days. Simba's fury when he first caught sight of Chester seemed to make sense, the poacher who mocked him as he nearly kidnapped the cubs looked like the probable cause. But why? What did he mean by "last time"? Why did Kovu apologise for mentioning something about them? Something told him that Simba and the rest knew more than they were letting on.
Chester wakes up to find himself alone. The sun is slowly rising and Chester gets up still puzzled about the previous events. He walks out toward it and looks around him. Silence has filled the morning air. He must have woken before everyone which he found extremely unusual. Chester shrugs his shoulders, reaches down and picks up the backpack he nearly forgot he had and blankly walks forward in no set direction with no destination in mind.
???: Good Morning, Chester.
Chester whips around to find Simba a metre or so away from him.
Chester (In an unintentionally vague voice): Oh, 'Morning, Simba.
Simba raises an eyebrow.
Simba (Curiously): Are you O.K?
Chester (Lying): Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired.
Simba: Are you sure?
Chester nods loosely. He turns to go.
Chester (Looking over his shoulder slightly): I'll be back soon. I'm going for a walk to clear my head.
With that he sets off completely unaware that Simba isn't at all convinced that he's O.K.
Chester walks calmly across the quiet plains of the Pride Lands. He is in an almost dream-like state so he has no idea where or which way he's going. Although he is such a condition something keeps him from wandering into the Outlands where certain hyenas would surely have a bone to pick with him. He grew strangely fascinated with the natural environment. The sun rose higher by the minute and some animals came out from their habitats only to retreat back into them. They didn't expect to see a lone human treading past their homes. The poachers must have a negative effect on all animals towards humans.
Various animals: A human! In the Pride Lands? Do you reckon he came with the others? He must have. Shh!! What? He might hear us! Don't be stupid, humans can't hear us. He just as stupid as the others!
Chester (Passing through): By the way, guys! (The animals stare at him in shock.) No, I didn't come with the others and I'm not that stupid!
Chester carries on walking smirking slightly while the animals chat furiously about him and what just happened.
He passes through a wet part of the Pride Lands. The sun reflected off the water's surface giving it a beautiful shine like it was covered in gems glinting in the sunlight. After a few moments of staring at the glittering water he suddenly realises that the "walk" had done nothing whatsoever to help him with his predicament so he decides to head back to Pride Rock. He heads up a small hill near to the wetland, without a clue of how he'd travelled over time he spent walking aimlessly. He stops after walking a bit and sits down to rest. Chester had been on his feet for what seemed like hours and heat of the never-ending sunlight was getting to him. He takes off his backpack and pulls out a very crushed cap and puts it on. Wiping some sweat off of his face, he looks onward hoping to see some sign of Pride Rock. Pride Rock was the only real place where he was accepted in this place. No such sight had reached his view. He looks down at his feet and sighs in disappointment. He gets up and starts to set off again but then he stops in his tracks as quickly as he started. Something was glinting in the distance slightly. His mind races and he suddenly breaks into a sprint. He quickly reaches the sources and stops.
Chester (Putting a hand over his eyes): Aw man, I'm so paranoid!
???: What's wrong, Chester?
Chester looks around and sees a lioness a few feet away from him. She looks somewhat like Kiara but yet different. He recognises her as one who defended him when Simba cornered him.
Chester (Smiling): Hi, Nala!
Nala smiles at him but in a concerned way.
Chester: I thought I saw a gun in the sunlight, I thought the poachers might be back.
Nala (Nodding slowly): Oh. I see. Is it?
Chester (Looking Down): Nah. (He suddenly recognises it.) Close enough, though!
Nala: What do you mean?
Chester picks up the object and examines it.
Chester: It's a tranquillizer dart.
Nala: A what?
Chester (Walking over to her): A tranquillizer dart. Here, take a look at it!
Nala cautiously looks at it and then walks over to him.
Chester: The poachers must have been using them. They must have shot something and they left it behind.
Nala's expression changed from curious to fearful.
Chester sees this.
Chester: What's wrong?
Nala (Backing away looking scared*): Keep that away from me. Please.
Chester: Huh? Why?
Nala (*): Just do it (She takes a breath) please.
Chester can't make sense from this so he turns away and pulls his arm back and throws the dart as hard as he could and it sails away from them out of sight.
Nala starts breathing heavily.
Nala (Breathlessly): I'm sorry.
Chester looks worried and walks over to her.
Chester: What's wrong? Tell me.
Nala (Calming down): I can't.
Chester: Why not? (Thinking quickly) The poachers didn't do anything, did they?
Nala looks at him, her eyes have watered slightly.
Nala (Briefly): I don't want to talk about it.
That confirmed his worries.
Chester: Well, in case you ever want to talk about it, I'm here. If they've done anything to you, tell me; I know for sure what humans are capable of.
Nala: Thank you. (Trying to direction attention away) So, what are doing here? Simba told me something was troubling you.
Chester: He did? What did he say?
Nala: He told me that he thought you sounded distant when he spoke to you. I went out looking for you to see if you were O.K.
Chester looks at her.
Chester (Smiling slightly): Thanks for your concern! I just needed to clear my head. (He looks back) It's just something them poachers said- (He breaks off)
Nala: What did they say?
Chester: The short guy, he was mocking Simba about something- (He turns to face her) he said something about "last time", (he pauses then turns away again) I know there's something you guys are keeping from me. I came here to try to make sense of it but, (he pauses) nothing.
Nala: (She sighs.) You've done a lot for us, without wanting anything in return-
Chester turns around to look at her. She looks upset and guilty.
Nala: O.K. I'll tell you.
Chester sits himself down and she comes over to him.
Nala (She takes a breath): About a week ago, the poachers you saw yesterday, they found the Pride Lands. This part of the savannah is secluded from the rest. A sort of safe haven if you want to call it that. No human has ever ventured into it; until now. We'd had managed to fend them off to a point. (She pauses for some reason leaving Chester thinking the poachers must done something bad.) Then they brought those "guns". (She breaks off and looks at the ground)
Chester looks concerned. He urges her to go on to get it over with quickly.
Nala: Some time before they came, Kiara gave birth to Komali and Malika. It was a wonderful occasion for all of us. They were so happy; Simba and I were overjoyed at their birth. (Chester raises an eyebrow, wondering where this is going.) We helped them raise the cubs until they grew to what they are at the moment. Then something happened unexpectedly; (She puts a paw on her chest) we were blessed too.
Chester (Wide-eyed): You- you mean?!
Nala (Smiling slightly): Yes. We had another cub. A boy.
Chester: Wow, cool! (He looks around him eagerly) Well, where is he?
Chester looks at her and she has a very glum expression.
Chester (Remember what she said before): Don't tell me. (He suddenly looks shocked and worried) They didn't, did they? (Knowing it couldn't possibly be a lie) How could they?
Nala (Glumly): We left him just for a second, when we came back; they were chasing him and one of them aimed the gun at him and- (She breaks off and starts to weep.)
Chester is stunned. He couldn't believe it. They had taken him away from her and Simba. Something he prevented had happened and there was nothing they could do about it. That explained Simba's fear of the tranquillizer and Nala's fear of the dart.
???: You found him, Nala! Chester! I was looking all over for you.
Simba was running over to them, he stops when he sees their expressions. He is puzzled for a moment and then understands.
Simba: Now you know the reason I nearly attacked you, Chester. I thought you were in line with them.
Timon and Pumbaa talked all night to Chester about grubs. Chester wasn't thoroughly interested in the subject but it seemed to make them happy so he hung in there for their sake. They grew tired from talking to him when the rest of the pride began to enter the den. Timon and Pumbaa joined them as Chester climbed down Pride Rock and returned the rock where he slept the night before. He took what time he had to think. He questioned the information that was inadvertently given to him over the past two days. Simba's fury when he first caught sight of Chester seemed to make sense, the poacher who mocked him as he nearly kidnapped the cubs looked like the probable cause. But why? What did he mean by "last time"? Why did Kovu apologise for mentioning something about them? Something told him that Simba and the rest knew more than they were letting on.
Chester wakes up to find himself alone. The sun is slowly rising and Chester gets up still puzzled about the previous events. He walks out toward it and looks around him. Silence has filled the morning air. He must have woken before everyone which he found extremely unusual. Chester shrugs his shoulders, reaches down and picks up the backpack he nearly forgot he had and blankly walks forward in no set direction with no destination in mind.
???: Good Morning, Chester.
Chester whips around to find Simba a metre or so away from him.
Chester (In an unintentionally vague voice): Oh, 'Morning, Simba.
Simba raises an eyebrow.
Simba (Curiously): Are you O.K?
Chester (Lying): Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired.
Simba: Are you sure?
Chester nods loosely. He turns to go.
Chester (Looking over his shoulder slightly): I'll be back soon. I'm going for a walk to clear my head.
With that he sets off completely unaware that Simba isn't at all convinced that he's O.K.
Chester walks calmly across the quiet plains of the Pride Lands. He is in an almost dream-like state so he has no idea where or which way he's going. Although he is such a condition something keeps him from wandering into the Outlands where certain hyenas would surely have a bone to pick with him. He grew strangely fascinated with the natural environment. The sun rose higher by the minute and some animals came out from their habitats only to retreat back into them. They didn't expect to see a lone human treading past their homes. The poachers must have a negative effect on all animals towards humans.
Various animals: A human! In the Pride Lands? Do you reckon he came with the others? He must have. Shh!! What? He might hear us! Don't be stupid, humans can't hear us. He just as stupid as the others!
Chester (Passing through): By the way, guys! (The animals stare at him in shock.) No, I didn't come with the others and I'm not that stupid!
Chester carries on walking smirking slightly while the animals chat furiously about him and what just happened.
He passes through a wet part of the Pride Lands. The sun reflected off the water's surface giving it a beautiful shine like it was covered in gems glinting in the sunlight. After a few moments of staring at the glittering water he suddenly realises that the "walk" had done nothing whatsoever to help him with his predicament so he decides to head back to Pride Rock. He heads up a small hill near to the wetland, without a clue of how he'd travelled over time he spent walking aimlessly. He stops after walking a bit and sits down to rest. Chester had been on his feet for what seemed like hours and heat of the never-ending sunlight was getting to him. He takes off his backpack and pulls out a very crushed cap and puts it on. Wiping some sweat off of his face, he looks onward hoping to see some sign of Pride Rock. Pride Rock was the only real place where he was accepted in this place. No such sight had reached his view. He looks down at his feet and sighs in disappointment. He gets up and starts to set off again but then he stops in his tracks as quickly as he started. Something was glinting in the distance slightly. His mind races and he suddenly breaks into a sprint. He quickly reaches the sources and stops.
Chester (Putting a hand over his eyes): Aw man, I'm so paranoid!
???: What's wrong, Chester?
Chester looks around and sees a lioness a few feet away from him. She looks somewhat like Kiara but yet different. He recognises her as one who defended him when Simba cornered him.
Chester (Smiling): Hi, Nala!
Nala smiles at him but in a concerned way.
Chester: I thought I saw a gun in the sunlight, I thought the poachers might be back.
Nala (Nodding slowly): Oh. I see. Is it?
Chester (Looking Down): Nah. (He suddenly recognises it.) Close enough, though!
Nala: What do you mean?
Chester picks up the object and examines it.
Chester: It's a tranquillizer dart.
Nala: A what?
Chester (Walking over to her): A tranquillizer dart. Here, take a look at it!
Nala cautiously looks at it and then walks over to him.
Chester: The poachers must have been using them. They must have shot something and they left it behind.
Nala's expression changed from curious to fearful.
Chester sees this.
Chester: What's wrong?
Nala (Backing away looking scared*): Keep that away from me. Please.
Chester: Huh? Why?
Nala (*): Just do it (She takes a breath) please.
Chester can't make sense from this so he turns away and pulls his arm back and throws the dart as hard as he could and it sails away from them out of sight.
Nala starts breathing heavily.
Nala (Breathlessly): I'm sorry.
Chester looks worried and walks over to her.
Chester: What's wrong? Tell me.
Nala (Calming down): I can't.
Chester: Why not? (Thinking quickly) The poachers didn't do anything, did they?
Nala looks at him, her eyes have watered slightly.
Nala (Briefly): I don't want to talk about it.
That confirmed his worries.
Chester: Well, in case you ever want to talk about it, I'm here. If they've done anything to you, tell me; I know for sure what humans are capable of.
Nala: Thank you. (Trying to direction attention away) So, what are doing here? Simba told me something was troubling you.
Chester: He did? What did he say?
Nala: He told me that he thought you sounded distant when he spoke to you. I went out looking for you to see if you were O.K.
Chester looks at her.
Chester (Smiling slightly): Thanks for your concern! I just needed to clear my head. (He looks back) It's just something them poachers said- (He breaks off)
Nala: What did they say?
Chester: The short guy, he was mocking Simba about something- (He turns to face her) he said something about "last time", (he pauses then turns away again) I know there's something you guys are keeping from me. I came here to try to make sense of it but, (he pauses) nothing.
Nala: (She sighs.) You've done a lot for us, without wanting anything in return-
Chester turns around to look at her. She looks upset and guilty.
Nala: O.K. I'll tell you.
Chester sits himself down and she comes over to him.
Nala (She takes a breath): About a week ago, the poachers you saw yesterday, they found the Pride Lands. This part of the savannah is secluded from the rest. A sort of safe haven if you want to call it that. No human has ever ventured into it; until now. We'd had managed to fend them off to a point. (She pauses for some reason leaving Chester thinking the poachers must done something bad.) Then they brought those "guns". (She breaks off and looks at the ground)
Chester looks concerned. He urges her to go on to get it over with quickly.
Nala: Some time before they came, Kiara gave birth to Komali and Malika. It was a wonderful occasion for all of us. They were so happy; Simba and I were overjoyed at their birth. (Chester raises an eyebrow, wondering where this is going.) We helped them raise the cubs until they grew to what they are at the moment. Then something happened unexpectedly; (She puts a paw on her chest) we were blessed too.
Chester (Wide-eyed): You- you mean?!
Nala (Smiling slightly): Yes. We had another cub. A boy.
Chester: Wow, cool! (He looks around him eagerly) Well, where is he?
Chester looks at her and she has a very glum expression.
Chester (Remember what she said before): Don't tell me. (He suddenly looks shocked and worried) They didn't, did they? (Knowing it couldn't possibly be a lie) How could they?
Nala (Glumly): We left him just for a second, when we came back; they were chasing him and one of them aimed the gun at him and- (She breaks off and starts to weep.)
Chester is stunned. He couldn't believe it. They had taken him away from her and Simba. Something he prevented had happened and there was nothing they could do about it. That explained Simba's fear of the tranquillizer and Nala's fear of the dart.
???: You found him, Nala! Chester! I was looking all over for you.
Simba was running over to them, he stops when he sees their expressions. He is puzzled for a moment and then understands.
Simba: Now you know the reason I nearly attacked you, Chester. I thought you were in line with them.