Yay it was nice to see that you haven't all given up on me, I have just been reading through my past few chapters to refresh my memory and YIKES there are some bad grammar mistakes in there (which is scary as I'm studying to be a teacher), personally I blame Microsoft word spell and grammar check it's not doing it's job (I know excuses, excuses). When I finish this fic I will definitely go back and edit all those bloopers. Anyways hope you enjoy this next chapter:)

CHAPTER 14

Nala was still very ill, yet her condition had improved, as Vitani and Simba had made sure she ate well and always had plenty of easily accessible water. Kovu had been a great help also but was beginning to miss Kiara. The other lionesses had tried their best to keep him company but it just wasn't the same. Simba was getting a little tired of seeing Kovu so bored, so he decided to give Kovu something to keep his mind occupied.

"You can't be serious?" the young lion asked Simba.

"We'll, it will give you a chance to get to know the lands and it's occupants better," replied the King.

"But isn't that kind of a job better suited for birds?"

"Well Zazu has been away for some time now, and in order to keep the Pridelands in check I'm going to need you to do the morning report today."

"Very well," sighed Kovu, and set off to find out any important news.

' Now where should I look to find some important news…' thought Kovu as he raced through the Pridelands looking for anything remotely interesting to report, ' I've heard Zazu do this many times and it's more like gossip…maybe I should just try and ask some creatures whats happening.'

This little exercise was keeping Kovu occupied, however the problem with trying to interview other animals when you're a lion is that they tend to run away, so Kovu spent most of his time chasing terrified zebras and antelope across the plain trying to ask them questions. Finding the task fruitless, he lay down puffed out on the grass. He had despite this actually had quite a bit of fun, which was a nice feeling as he had been deprived of fun as a cub, and realised Simba probably knew this would happen, and was just trying to stop him moping about. Kovu was just about to close his eyes when he heard the soft voice of a female mongoose 'Come children, into the burrow before it sees us."

At first Kovu thought she must have been referring to him, until he saw a large eagle swoop down a few metres away from him and just miss grabbing a young mongoose as it rushed into it's burrow. The eagle then lifted itself back into the air and flew off defeated into the distance towards the desert.

It was almost midday when the lioness, warthog, hornbill and two meerkats found themselves nearly halfway across the hot desert sands. Pumbaa was feeling a little thirsty but was carrying on ok, but Kiara who unlike Pumbaa did not have hooves but sensitive footpads was finding the hot sand to be quite torturous.

"Would, you like to stop and rest for a bit dear?" asked Maha, "I'm sure there must be a little shade around the other side of that sand dune."

"Yeah, that might be nice," puffed Kiara lifting one of her paws to reveal the redness underneath.

"Yeah I could use a little rest too," said Pumbaa as they headed towards the dune at a faster pace.

They were all soon resting in the limited shade provided by the high sand dune but knew they would have to carry on soon as it was nearly midday and the shade was shirking fast, Maha had wasted no time after helping Zazu off Pumbaa, and quickly rushed over to the now lying Kiara to examine the underside of the princesses paws.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I'll survive," joked Kiara who was a bit ticklish as the meerkat felt her paws.

Zazu was leaning against Pumbaa who had taken this opportunity to have a quick cat-nap (or should I say hog nap). Soon he noticed Timon walking towards them and though to himself 'Here comes trouble' as he rolled his eyes and contemplated pretending to be sleeping. But Zazu decided he was above that and waited to hear what the meerkat had to say.

"Hello," said Timon once he was standing in front of the hornbill.

"Greetings," replied Zazu shortly.

"How are you coping with it?"

"With what?" Zazu inquired, with a confused expression.

"The smell," continued Timon directing his gaze to the napping warthog, "my offer to trade places still stands you know."

"Well, as considerate as that offer may be, I do believe I am coping quite well, thankyou," replied Zazu, who then turned to his side to get more comfortable.

"Fine then," said Timon, "see if I care, maybe Ma would like a break from the stench and we can ride together, NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN!" said Timon clapping his paws together with false enthusiasm.

" Do what you like," said Zazu, who at this point couldn't really care less what Timon had planned to separate him from Maha.

Timon then walked over to Maha who had just finished examining all of Kiara's paws and was satisfied that she could carry on, with the journey safely.

"Hey Ma," called Timon.

Maha looked up, "Yes Timmy?"

"Just wondering if you'd be interested in swapping places for the next part of the journey, I imagine Pumbaa's smell must be getting a little overbearing in this heat, and can't imagine that Zazu would be keeping very interesting conversation."

"Timon! That's no way to talk about your best friend now is it?" said Ma, who was getting a bit sick of her son's extremely obvious and annoying ploys to separate her from Zazu. "Besides, I, as you know, enjoy speaking with Mr Zazu," she continued, while tapping her foot and looking at him annoyed.

Timon knew he was once again defeated and started to walk over to Pumbaa who had just awoken, when Maha grabbed him gently by the shoulder and spun him around to look at him, her expression was much softer than it had previously been. " Sweetie, I know you don't like to see us together, and it hurts me to see you so angry," she sighed, " Zazu and I will just share this trip together but I won't take our relationship above friendship if you feel incapable of excepting him…You'll always be the main and most special man in my life," with that she gave him a little kiss on the cheek and walked back over to Pumbaa who was indicating that he felt it was time to continue, Timon watched then, climbed back onto Kiara's back, before she got up.

"You certainly look a little happier than you did a little while ago," said Kiara.

"Well the Ma and Zazu problem is now non-existent," said Timon triumphantly.

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, Ma respects that I don't approve of him and so won't pursue the relationship any further," smiled Timon, "She's so great to respect my feelings like that," continued Timon realising what a considerate wonderful, mum he had.

"Yes, she is," replied Kiara, "…but how much do you respect her's?" she said a little softer more to herself than to the meerkat on her head.

They walked on a fair bit further when suddenly Pumbaa called them all to a halt.

"Ummmm…guys… whats that little dark dot in the sky coming straight towards us?"

Timon's meerkat instincts suddenly kicked in and he quickly leaped on to the highest point her could find (in this case Kiara's head) and stood very still on his hind legs to focus on the image with his keen meerkat eyes.

" It's a bird," said Timon squinting, "Oh no…it's an EAGEL!"

Unfortunately at this point the eagle had already spotted them with it's own sharp eyes and before they could do anything it started to swoop and for some reason it was heading straight towards Pumbaa!

To be continued….

Ha, I always wanted a cliffhanger, some of you may guess what's going to happen but hopefully the next chapter should give you some surprises. Any reviews as usual are always welcome!