A/N well, here I am again! I've worked pretty fast on this one, and it's pretty long by my standards: four whole pages!! And I really wanted to get this up for you guys. Sorry if the ending is a little weak, I didn't want them to ramble for another page or I wouldn't have gotten it up so soon. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it, and I hope everyone had a very full and happy Thanksgiving!

xxxx

Hadiya awoke the next morning to find Osono waiting for her outside. She beckoned her down, immediately grabbing onto her arm when she was within reach.

"Um…good morning."

"Sweetie, listen to me, okay?" Osono glanced around them, noting a few passing meerkats that threw them strange looks. "There's something going around. We don't know how it got started but we don't believe a word of it. All the same, I want you to stay with us."

"Wait, what's going on?" Osono looked relieved.

"Oh, so you don't know? Good, perhaps it's better that way." She pulled Hadiya along with her, pushing past anyone in her path and not bothering to be polite. "We'll explain it all later, just…don't go anywhere alone, okay?"

"All right…"

xxx

Timon was on the verge of ripping his hair out. He was under the strict instructions of his mother to not start anything, but boy did he want to. Everywhere he went it seemed like they were talking about her, where she came from, what to do, why…it was enough to make any guy's blood boil. He sincerely hoped that what he was hearing wasn't true, especially the part about Hadiya directly.

His scowl deepened when Flinchy passed him, a frown crossing his face as he listened to someone recounting the tale. "Move it, this is my spot! Everybody out!" the two sent him a dirty look and continued on their way. 'He's not even defending her.' He thought bitterly, staring until he lost sight of him. What good was it to be interested in someone if you're not even going to stand up for them? 'Oh well, maybe he'll back off now…'

He caught sight of his mother pushing through the vegetation and pulling Hadiya along with her. He jumped up to meet them, then thought better of it and sat back down (it wouldn't do to look to eager to talk to her).

"Alright, Ma." He said, rising again when they reached him. "I've chased everybody off. Well, I tried to get Uncle Max to go jump off a tree, but he…" he stopped, seeing Hadiya's eyes swimming with tears. "Oh no."

"Yes, I heard. But I don't understand it…how can they know?" she sniffed. Osono glanced around; double-checking that no one was listening. She motioned to Max.

"Dear, I think it would be best if we got this out…just among us, of course." Hadiya nodded, lowering herself to the ground. After a moment she took a deep breath and looked up at them.

"I'm a rogue because of my mother. She wasn't the calmest person in the world and tended to get a little…hot headed. When I was younger we lived in the colony where I was born. We were happy, or at least, I was. Mama was never really content.

"One day I was exploring the tunnels with a friend of mine. I can't remember his name now, but he was my best friend back then. All of a sudden there was shouting and before I knew it I was running with Mama. We were chased out of the tunnels and run out of the colony. It was all so confusing…"

Max had stood listening silently to her, now he bent and put a hand on her shoulder. He looked her in the eye until she turned her head away. "Hadiya, you're mother…her name was Kesi, wasn't it?" Hadiya nodded, her eyes wide.

"Whoa, hold on now." Timon finally interrupted (he'd been itching to say something). "Uncle Max, how do you know her name? And what does that have to do with anything?" Max rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"Hadiya, do you know why Kesi was forced out of the colony?" she shook her head. "Then I hate to be the one telling you the truth, but…she was a murderer."

"What!?" all three of the others gasped together, staring at him in disbelief.

"But how? That was so long ago, surely this isn't that little pup…" Osono put a protective arm around Hadiya, pulling her close.

"I'm afraid she is." Max gave her a weak smile. "All grown up and home again." Hadiya sat gaping at him, as if unable to believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

"No…not Mama…she would never…"

"She has been gone for quite awhile, has she not?"

"Yes, but…"

"Hadiya, I'm sorry, but it's the truth." She sunk lower still, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Timon put an arm around her as she began to cry.

"And everybody knows?" he asked. Max nodded. "But how? I mean, it's not like we've gone shouting it out to the whole colony."

"I'm not really sure how it got out," Hadiya said, she stood up and wiped her eyes, "but I have a pretty good idea who did it." She turned to Max. "Have you seen Pazu since last night?"

"No, why? You don't think…"

"I do." Max shook his head and raised his palms defensively.

"No! There's absolutely no way he could cause so much trouble in just one night!" Hadiya followed him as he began to stomp away, stepping in front of him at the first opportunity.

"But you saw how he was last night!"

"He's always been crotchety like that…"

"Didn't you see it? He knew who I was!" the three of them stared at her. Thoughtfully Osono nodded.

"He's certainly old enough to remember something like that. Max, I think she may be right." Max shrugged uncertainly.

"We have no wa-" he cut himself off at the sound of voices approaching them. Hastily he, Osono, and Timon moved in front of Hadiya, blocking her from view just as the group caught sight of them.

"Where is she?" asked Flinchy, the mob falling silent behind him.

"Now, this is no way to act. Hadiya hasn't done anything to any of you." Osono said, looking him over disapprovingly.

"We're not saying she's done anything, we just want to know if it's true." He craned his neck, looking for her. "Where is she, anyway?"

"Not here." Timon gave a growl, and stepped towards Flinchy. "And you wouldn't be here either if you knew what was good for you."

"Timon!"

"Are you threatening me?" Flinchy was surprised to hear something like that coming from Timon. "What's your problem?"

"What's my problem? Let's see," he held up an arm as if measuring the top of someone's head. "It's about yea high, annoying, and is shallower than a puddle. What do you think my problem is?"

Flinchy glared at him, his mouth twisting into a snarl. "I think one problem can be solved right here…"

"No, don't you dare!" Hadiya gasped, jumping out from behind them. Flinchy and Timon merely glanced at her and continued glowering where they were. "you two should be ashamed of yourselves, fighting and arguing like pups."

"But…" Timon started.

"You have no reason to be going at each other like this."

"But he has an angry mob!" she looked back and forth between the two worriedly, pausing to look at Timon imploringly. He sighed "I'll knock it off if you want me to."

"Thank you." she smiled at him, but frowned when she turned to Flinchy. "You…you get away from me."

"But…"

"Go." He stood there, stunned for a moment before turning to disappear in the now dispersing mob. Hadiya watched him for a moment before turning to Timon. "I appreciate you sticking up for me like that."

"Anytime." He and put an arm around her.

"But, please don't get into a fight with him, okay?" he nodded solemnly and turned to the others. "Ma, what are we going to do about this?"

"I really don't know, Timmy."

"Maybe…maybe I should go." Hadiya suggested quietly. Timon tightened his hold.

"Uh-uh."

"We would never make you leave over something like this." Max said.

"So, you're not upset?"

"Well, it is a little surprising…" Hadiya pouted a little unintentionally and he laughed. "But like it or not, you're stuck with us."