Timon slid across the flat ground on his stomach, his face grimacing in pain. Slowly lifting his head up, he was elated to realize that his friend's attempt was successful and he was now on safe ground. Climbing to his feet with some difficulty, Timon leaned over the edge of the cliff and gave Pumbaa a quick smile.

"I'm coming for ya, buddy!" Timon shouted down at him, before spinning on his heel in search of a vine.

Timon was working on loosening one from a tree a few feet away when he felt a presence behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he slowly turned his head. Gasping in surprise at what he saw, Timon whipped completely around and pressed his back against the tree.

Nuni smiled at him. "Hello rat."

"Nuni..."

She craned her head to the side, gazing at the meerkat menacingly. "What do you think you're doing?"

Timon's eyes narrowed and he glared at the female warthog heatedly. "I'm saving my best friend, who you aren't going to take away from me anymore!"

Nuni grinned and slowly backed up toward the cliff, shooting the distressed Pumbaa below a quick look. "I might not be able to break your friendship, but there are other ways I can take him away."

Timon's eyes widened as he watched her raise her hoof up and place it on a large rock. Raising his eyes up to her face, he desperately shook his head. "Don't."

She looked at him in mock surprise. "Don't?" she repeated. Her face soured as she added, "And what if I do?"