Short chapter ahead. Sorry for the long delay... wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this chapter.
Chapter 5:
"So you finally told him about Titus?" Pete asked Ma, who was sitting just across from him.
"Yes. He accused me of not telling him because I wanted to forget about him," Ma nodded.
"Well... when you tell a six-year-old meerkat that he used to have a brother for the first time..." Pete paused to consider this, and then nodded. "Sorry, but I have to agree with Timon."
"Thanks a lot, Peter," Ma frowned.
"Panya, you shouldn't keep such a thing from your own son. In my opinion, if you had told Timon sooner, you could've missed him together, as mother and son." Pete blew some air out of his mouth and looked up at the gloomy sky. "What else did he say?"
"Pretty much the same thing you've been telling me about Titus."
"Which is?"
"Disappeared isn't the same as dead."
"So he thinks he's alive somewhere, too?"
"Don't go there, Pete."
Pete looked back at Ma. "Why not?"
"I've heard it all before. Titus is gone and he's not coming back. End of story."
"Forgive me for saying so, Panya, but Timon is right." Pete stood and started to walk away. "You are trying to forget about Titus."
Ma growled and yelled after him, "I am not! I'm a realist!" She sighed and rested her chin in her paw. "But I guess I am doing more than trying to forget about the pain of losing a son and a husband."
"Wouldn't surprise me," a voice said. Ma looked up to see Shomari standing in front of her.
"Leave me alone, Shomari. I don't feel like talking anymore."
"Oh, so you wanna feel the way you're feeling until the end of the week?" Shomari asked as he sat down in front of her.
Ma grimaced, "Well..."
"Tell me."
"All right..."
Meanwhile...
Timon and Zuri continued to walk through the oasis. "Those kids worry me sometimes. It's amazing all my hair is still red," Timon said to Zuri as he put a paw in his hair.
"With what Panya's told me, I'm amazed her hair didn't turn gray years ago," Zuri grinned.
Timon furrowed his brow at her. "I wasn't that bad... uh, while Dad was alive anyway. At least Ma only had me to raise, eh?" Timon laughed slightly, and then sighed, "Oy."
"I wonder what Titus would've been like." When she didn't get a reply, she cleared her throat. "You're gonna be OK, aren't you?"
Timon gave a half shrug, trying to put on a happy face. But it failed, and it only looked like he had gotten hold of a bitter tasting bug. "Eventually I will be."
"You're not alone in this. You know that, don't you?"
"I know, but I'm kinda upset with her right now."
"I'm sure it'll pass, and you'll get together and talk it over because you love each other... right?"
Timon half-smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Zuri." He noticed Zuri looking away from him, as if she had something on her mind. "What's up?"
"Well... something important, yet not important."
Timon gulped, "You're not carrying again, are you?"
"No." She suddenly frowned and furrowed her brow. "And what's that suppose to mean, Timon? You don't want a second litter?"
Timon held his paws up. "I do if you want a second litter! If it's not that, then what is it?"
Zuri twiddled her fingers together. "Well... we've been together for nine months, and..." She looked at him. "You never actually said that you loved me."
"You know I do, Zuri. It's just... well, those are really strong words. I've tried to say it out loud to you ever since I was sure of my feelings, but everytime I try I feel my heart leap into my throat, my mouth dries up or it feels like it's stuffed with some sticky bug, and I can't speak. The 'L' word isn't part of my regular vocabulary because of that."
"Timon. You just said the 'L' word earlier. 'I guess he was just one more person to love.'"
"I was talking about a male whom I never really knew. It's different when I'm referring to a female with whom I have very deep feelings for." Timon stretched a moment. "And besides, I think action speaks louder than words."
"Well, that's not how females think. I need to cool off. I'm going to go see my mother," Zuri said as she walked away.
"You are coming back to the nest tonight, aren't ya?" Timon nervously asked.
"We'll see."
Timon blew some air out of his mouth as he walked in the opposite direction, "Something tells me I'm gonna be sleeping on the couch tonight."
To be continued...