CHAPTER THREE: A MEERKAT AND A WARTHOG?
They set off, padding in the tracks of Simba's father until they reached the edge of the pride lands. "Should we still…" Nala began nervously.
"Yeah," her friend replied, walking on. Slowly, he looked back at his home and sighed, it was going to be a long long night. Soon, they reached the waterhole, where a few zebras were drinking. "Quick! Behind that bush!" Simba cried, darting behind it, and dragging Nala with him.
"Why?" she whispered, peering around the hedge.
"Because if they see me, they'll tell my mom!" he said, and quickly ducked because a zebra was looking towards the bush inquisitively.
"Bob?" he asked, looking towards the other zebra.
"Yea, Frank?" the other said, looking up.
"Can shrubs talk?" Bob burst out laughing, and nudged the other one with his muzzle.
"You nitwit, no they can't."
"Oh, I guess I was imagining things then," Frank said, shaking his head. They made their way into the chilly night.
"Whew, that was close," Simba said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Do you think that any more animals will come?" Nala whispered.
"No, not until morning. Let's sleep here tonight," he replied. They both lay down and quickly fell asleep. Nala's sleep was no doubtedly more peaceful than her friends, for he tossed and turned, while she slept with a smile on her face.
Unknown to the lions, an odd pair came to drink by the bush. "Ah, that was good, wasn't it, buddy?" said one, laying down contentedly.
"Yup," said the other, doing the same.
"Ya know, Pumba, this isn't very comfortable," said the meerkat to the warthog.
"Yeah, I'm with you, timon," he replied, standing up. Timon did the same, and allowed Pumba to start searching for some grass to make a bed with. While he was looking, he happened to look behind the bush and scream. Timon came running and gasped, "Pumba! Lions!" he cried.
IT was at this moment that the two cubs decided to wake up. "What are you? Who are you?" cried Simba, standing protectively in front of Nala. He bared his teeth and growled, advancing.
"Please! Don't eat us! WE'll do anything!" They pleaded, groveling at the prince's feet.
"Eat you? I wasn't going to eat you. I thought you were going to eat us!" he replied, stopping.
"Oh, well in that case, I'm timon, and this is Pumba," the meerkat said.
"I'm Simba," he replied, putting his head down a little lower as to be at eye level with them. Nala cleared her throat, "Oh yeah, and this is Nala, my best friend," he said, introducing her. She came forward and looked queerly at them.