Chapter Eighteen: The Lost of Voice and The Meerkat Colony
(Can't breathe)
(I can't breathe)
(I must swim to the top because I can't breathe)
Shenzi open her eyes and found herself under the water. Her whole body was in terrible pain when she hit the bottom of the waterfall. She looked around and noticed the water was calm and cool.
(I must swim to the top or else I'll drown) Shenzi thought
With the last bit of strength she had in her little body she begin to puddle to the top and pulled her head out of the water, sucking in all the air she could get in to her tiny lungs. She pulled her arms up when she realizes she was holding on to Ed. Ed begin to cough and just stayed quiet with a sad face. Shenzi begin to sink again from the weight of her friend. She looked around hoping to find Banzai till she heard his voice from behind.
"Shenzi, over here" Banzai said in a very weak voice.
Banzai manage to crawled on to a broken log and paddled towards Shenzi. She place Ed on to the log then held on to it as Banzai paddle to the edge of the river. He was so exhausted that he was only a foot away from the land before he fell in to the water along with Ed. Luckily, the water was shallow and Shenzi had to use all her strength to pull them out of the water and on to the land. She too then collapse to the floor from exhaustion as well.
There was silence for a minute as she pulled herself up "is everyone alright" she said weakly
"I'm in so much pain but I'm ok" Banzai said before coughing up some more water. '
"Ed, what about you" Shenzi said
Ed just laid there nearly in a curl up ball, shaking in fear.
"Ed, are you alright" Shenzi said reaching over and pulling him up.
He was very pale, he wouldn't stop shaking and tears were pouring down his eyes.
"What's wrong with you man, say something" Banzai asked surprised that Ed was crying without making a high pitch sound that would have busted his eardrum like the last time.
"Hush Banzai, give him a minute he just a bit shaken" Shenzi said
Shenzi had to hold Ed by his shoulder to get him to stop shaking "its ok Ed, it over, we're not in the water anymore. He kept on shaking as more tears poured down his eyes.
"Dammit Ed, stop shaking and say something your freaking me out" Banzai shouted.
Ed just stood their, he open his mouth to say something but no words came out. His eyes grew wide as he tried again to speak but nothing.
"Well!" Banzai shouted again believing that the dummy was playing a joke on them.
Ed covered his mouth with his hand and shook his head. Shenzi seems to get what he was trying to say, she sigh and walked off a bit. Banzai was still confuse about why Ed wasn't saying anything.
"Let me guess your not talking because I'm yelling at you right, fine I won't yell anymore, now say something" Banzai was growing very inpatient with the pup. Something he remembered his sister doing to him when they get mad at him something they call the silent treatment.
"Banzai, Ed lost his voice" Shenzi said calmly yet very sad
"No way, how could he lose his voice" he asked
"Sometimes when animals get so scare it cause them tho lose their voice...permanently"
Banzai looked at Ed who started to cry again, he hold back his snicker when Ed looked so funny trying to scream his sorrow out but it was nothing but air.
"Calm down Ed, it going to be alright" Banzai said, he wasn't good at comforting hyenas but Ed wouldn't stop crying. "Shenzi can you calm him down he always listen to you" he asked but got no response.
Banzai turned around to see Shenzi staring out at the river and the waterfall with her head hanging low. "Shenzi?" He called out but with Ed still crying and trying to hug Banzai for comfort was making it hard to see what was wrong with Shenzi. Banzai pushed Ed to the floor "Ed, Shut up, stop crying" He shouted at him. Ed closed his mouth and just stared at Banzai with red puffy eyes. "Sit there while I go see what's bothering Shenzi" Ed nodded.
(Damn, it about time) Banzai thought as he walked over to Shenzi "Shenzi are you ok" he was stunned, for the first time ever he saw tears running down her eyes.
"No" Shenzi said holding back the rest of her tears "I give up"
"What are you talking about" he asked
"You know what I'm talking about Banzai, I give up" Shenzi shouted
"Shenzi, you had a nasty fall maybe you should rest then we'll continue on trying to find Pride Rock"
"What's the point Banzai, we been traveling for weeks, I'm tire, hungry, thirsty, my body is completely sore, and I'm stress out!" She shouted "we're just going to be traveling in circles until we die from hunger or some awful event. I gave up when I realize I was with humans, I got attack by birds, I had to eat odd food, I spent a week in the desert, I fell OFF a fifty foot waterfall, you almost drown and Ed lost his voice, it too much for me, and I'm never going to find to goddamn rock!" more tears fell down her eyes "I might as well say good bye to my family, good bye mom, good bye my moron brother and good bye clan, Oh my god, I actually miss my good for nothing brother." Shenzi said stunned.
Banzai just stood there as Shenzi fell against a rock, covered her face with her arms and begin to cry big time. "Shenzi, cheer up, I lost my family and look how I turned out"
Shenzi slowly turned her head to see Banzai with a uneasy smile, so pitiful he was, Shenzi started to cry again and bury her face in her arms again. Banzai sigh and went to see if Ed was still ok. (I guess the stress finally got to her) he thought
He noticed Ed was staring out at something as well, "she really lost it this time Ed" Banzai said but Ed of course said nothing. He was still staring at something "Ed what the hell are you staring at" Banzai shouted.
Ed placed his paw on Banzai's cheek and moved his head to see what he spotted. Banzai's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. He smiled in joy and ran back to Shenzi "Shenzi, Shenzi come quick"
"Leave me alone Banzai, I'm not in the mood" She cried
"But Shenzi, you got to look at this" Banzai said but Shenzi just ignored him
"My life is never easy, never, I'll never see my mom again- she cried
"Shenzi" Banzai called her again, tapping her on the shoulder
"I'll never play evil tricks on my brother again-
"Shenzi" Banzai said getting a little inpatient
"I'll will never be there when I'm grow up to talk back at my mom" Shenzi shouted
"SHENZI!" Banzai slapped her across the face and she stopped crying.
Shenzi looked at him, rubbing her red cheek, a little shock that Banzai actually slapped her.
"Sorry, but you were going crazy big time" Banzai said calmly
"Thanks, I needed that" she said smiling a bit as she stood up
"Look" Banzai pointed north
Shenzi turned her head and her jaw dropped. She took a few steps closer to and sat next to Ed who had his jaw dropped as well.
"It beautiful" She said
The three pups sat there as they stared at a strange rock miles away. The land around it was green, with a few trees and rivers and animals, lots of animals.
"It...its really is..Pride Rock" Shenzi said
"Wow, it so big" Banzai said
Ed just smiled and rolled his tongue out.
The pups started to laughing for a couple of minutes then the laugher turn in to tears of happiness. They took a deep breath and fainted from disbelief that they actually found the stupid rock.
The pups went as far as they can and settle down to rest for the night. They found a large bush to hide under for the night. Outside they heard the sounds of large animals and the violent wind.
"At this rate we'll be there tomorrow evening if we are lucky enough not to get distraction again" Shenzi said
"You call falling off a waterfall a distraction" Banzai smirked
"Well, yeah I guess you could" she said
Banzai shivered from the coldness, his fur was still wet from the water and the wind wasn't helping him to keep warm. Ed laid down and led out a loud sigh knowing he couldn't talk anymore it was had to get in to his friends conversations.
"Cheer up Ed, I'm sure you'll get your voice back" Shenzi said "Right Banzai"
Banzai felt a little guilty on how everyday when they were in the desert and Ed was singing that ridicules song he would pray hoping that one day he would shut up for good "yeah Ed, who know we might find a way for you to communicate with us in time"
Ed smiled and rolled on to his back and closed his eyes "Ed has a point, we should get some sleep we have a big day tomorrow" Shenzi said curling up in to a little ball"
Banzai yawned "good night Shenzi"
"Good night boys" she said
Day Sixteen:
It was the late morning when the pups finally woke up, they guess falling off a waterfall take a lot out of you. Shenzi sigh, it was another warm day and she was starving. She has gone almost four days without food and little water. The thing that kept her going was the rock that was coming closer and closer as the day goes by. She made a weak smile in a few hours she will be home.
She heard Ed making a effort to whin but all she heard was him gasping for air.
"Hungry Ed" she asked and Ed nodded, dammit he hate the fact he lost his voice.
Banzai snicker "I find this a tearful joy about Ed losing his voice" he whisper in to Shenzi's ear
Shenzi was about to yell at him and slap him till she heard animals singing. "Guys do you hear that"
The boys listen, they did hear singing. "Who would spent a day singing about digging." Banzai asked "lets go check it out"
"No, I came to far to stop and check whatever we hear or see, I don't want another terrible event happening to me again"
"It too late Ed already gone to check it out" Banzai said calmly holding back his laugher
"dammit to hell" Shenzi said then ran after Ed who was going towards the singing "Ed get back here"
Banzai followed them and saw them running behind a small rock "hey guys, why did you stop"
"Hush, and look what Ed spotted" Shenzi said
Banzai peaked around the rock and spotted four little meerkats walking around looking for something.
"I can't believe you taught us in to coming out here with you, Timon" one of the meerkats said
"Stop worrying, I told you this is were all the juicy bugs are" the young teen meerkat Timon said
"But you heard your mother ever since that new hyena clan dropped by we get to stay close to the clan. We're easy prey" the youngest meerkat said shivering in fear
"Please no stupid, ugly hyena would walk all day long to eat us" Timon said
"Stupid ugly, he said, I'll show him" Banzai growled
"Calm down Banzai, don't waste y our energy on these skin and bones" Shenzi said
Ed stomach growl and gave his friends a frown "well Ed hungry and I know you are, lets just eat them"
Shenzi looked at the rock, they were so close but her stomach over power her "fine, just leave the one call Timon to me and you guys can have the rest. Think of this as our first hunting lesson"
"You have your first hunting lesson" Banzai asked
"Yeah, after I master the pouncing lesson"
"Oh" Banzai said since he hasn't master the pouncing lesson yet. Ed look down right confuse about hunting and the lesson. Shenzi saw the confusion in his eyes "Don't' worry Ed, it not that hard, you just sneak up to your prey very quietly and tackle him to the ground, if by any chance bite him on the neck"
Ed gave her that "why" face expression "it the only way to kill them"
He went pale, Ed never killed anyone before and for some reason he wish he was back at the humans sneaking to the kitchen for his coffee. "Hey their coming closer" Banzai said
"Stand aside my morons, and watch me tackle down the insulting meerkat" Shenzi bragged
"Yes, almighty Shenzi" Banzai said sarcastically
Shenzi saw the meerkat Timon still arguing with his fellows meerkats, she quickly sneak over to some tall grass unnoticed. Shenzi licked her lips and quietly sneaked over to the meerkats.
"Timon, we don't care about the bugs, lets get out of here before anyone could see us" his friend said
"For the last time guys, no stupid hyenas would travel all the way here to eat us" Timon said but his friends didn't response. "Guys?" his friends grew very pale and begin to shake "guys, what's wrong with you, it look like you seen a ghost" Timon laughed
One of the meerkats lifted his shaking arm and pointed at something behind him. Timon suddenly felt a warm breeze blowing at the back of his neck. He swallow hard and slowly turned around to see a messy little female hyena pup staring down at him. "No one calls me stupid and ugly" Shenzi said beginning to growl at him. Timon saw his reflection in the pup's teeth as he took a step back.
"Every meerkat to himself" one of Timon's friends shouted as they ran off to the colony.
"Guys, don't leave me" Timon said as he begin to sweat.
Timon kept looking at Shenzi "can I have a head start" he asked
"Five...four...three..." Shenzi begin to count
Timon screamed and ran away as quick as he can. "Two...ONE" Shenzi laughed and ran after the small little meerkat. Banzai and Ed walked around the rock and watch Shenzi chasing after the meerkat. Ed looked at Banzai giving him a "what should we do" face expression.
"Come on Ed, we can't let Shenzi have all the fun" he said and ran after his friend with Ed following him.
Back at the meerkat colony the meerkats stopped when they heard someone screaming at the top of it lungs. They stared as the three little meerkats ran past them "it's Timon' fault" they shouted and jumped in to the nearest hole in the ground. The meerkats stared at Timon's mom and she gave them a weak smiled. The next thing she heard was her son screaming "mommy" and running in to her arms.
"Timon, Timon clam down, what's wrong" his mom said trying to stop him from running.
"SHE GONNA EAT ME!" Timon shouted right in to her face.
Timon's mom looked up to see Shenzi running towards them, with drooling and the crazy look in her eyes, Timon's mom knew that pup was hungry, very hungry.
"HYENAS" one meerkat shouted and all of them begin to run towards the nearest tunnel.
Shenzi stopped and watch all the meerkats running in to the tunnels, she scanned around and spotted the one call Timon. "Shenzi wait up" she heard Banzai shouting.
"You guys are slow" shenzi said as she spotted Timon and his mom running towards a tunnel. "He mine" she shouted and leaped over to the frightening meerkats. When she landed on the grow she found herself falling deeper then the day went dark. Banzai jaw dropped, shenzi just disappeared...under ground. Next thing the boys heard was more meerkats screaming and shenzi coughing from all the dust. Ed walked over to the big hole the Shenzi fell in to and saw her covered in dust.
"Shenzi are you alright" Banzai asked as he peeked in to the hole, most on the meerkats had disappeared while other stood there in deep shocked. Shenzi looked up and stared at her friends withy dry eyes. "Guys, with you two standing there, the weight might cause-'
Before she could fished the thin crust of ground collapse causing the Banzai and Ed to fall in to the tunnel and landing on top of shenzi, crushing her little body. More dust gather around them causing them to sneeze and cough.
" a cave in" Shenzi moan, she felt like someone had punch all the air out of her. "Get off of me"
Banzai pushed Ed off of him so he can stand up. Shenzi struggle to get up, she felt all her bones cracking. "I don't think we can get out of here" Banzai said looking up at the hole the was three times higher for him to reach.
"If we did, the ground is too thin to walk on" Shenzi said "lets just find another way out of here"
"How" Banzai asked
"We'll just follow a tunnel and maybe It will lead us to the surface" she said
The boys shrugs and follow her as they went deeper in to the tunnel. The farther they went the darker it got, shenzi couldn't see a thing in front of her. She could hear Ed coughing from the dust. Banzai spitting, probably to get the dirt out of his mouth. Shenzi' s eyes begin to sting form the dirt and her body felt tried, weak, hungry and very sore.
"I can't see anything" Banzai said
"Stop pointing out the obvious Banzai" Shenzi said before bumping in to the end of the tunnel.
"I think you hit the dead end" Banzai said
Shenzi growled to herself as she rubbed her head. " maybe we should head back" Banzai suggested
"No!" Shenzi snapped and begin digging to the top "I'm getting out of here one way or another"
As Shenzi begin to dig a hole, dirt fell in to her face and dust flooded the tunnel. Banzai felt the dirt being thrown in to his face and he could hear Ed coughing even more. Shenzi, who had her eyes closed, opened one of them is see a little spot of light. She dug faster and faster till finally she saw light.
"Light" She shouted and crawled out of the tunnel with the help of her friends. Her head popped out of the ground and she crawled out in to the soft grass. She reach back and pulled Banzai out by his paws with Ed holding on to him by his waist. With one final yank she pulled them out then they laid there on the ground. The pups were now brown and dirty. Shenzi felt dirt particles in her eyes, mouth, and nose and everywhere in between. Banzai kept spitting and Ed couldn't stop talking. Shenzi rubbed her eyes and noticed they were a lot closer to the rock now. She could hear the wind blowing, the cries of animals...the sounds of hyenas just over the hill...