A/N I know, I know, I've been slacking horribly and there's no excuse for that. I went into a brief slump after graduation, got busy being ordered around by my parents, started getting into college, and took a vacation.

But that's still no reason to be so lazy. I've gotten a laptop, but can't really write on it yet seeing as I'm not really connected to anything yet. sigh

Summer's half gone too…anyhow; I'll make up for it. Here's chapter eleven, I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for not giving up on me (those of you still reading).

Thanks to my chapter 10 reviewers: Bloodshy Testament, MorpheusDreamer, Pichooi, SunRise19, and Nala5(who should update her Redwall fic about Song and Dann...oops, didn't mean to nag). Thank you especially for understanding about the graduation thing, it was depressing.

xxx

Osono was not hard to find, considering that she could be heard a long ways off. Timon cringed inwardly as he followed her voice, wondering who was unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end. He would have been thrilled to know that it was actually Max, who was beginning to regret letting Pazu run off, if only because it was giving him a headache.

"Did it even occur to you that he may actually hurt someone? What if he finds them before we do? Surely he'd want to go after Hadiya." Osono gasped as she thought of the all of the horrible things that could happen. "And what about Timmy? He's such a good boy; he's probably trying to protect her. Omigosh, if what he gets hurt?" The two were still sitting in the clearing in which they had spent the entire day. Max had been cornered against a rock and was now propped huffily against it, giving his niece enough space for her rant to fizzle out. Timon raised an eyebrow wearily at his pacing mother.

"For Pete's sake, I'm not an idiot. I think I can keep from getting killed." He called, drawing their attention. He ducked aside as his mother bounded toward him.

"Timmy!"

"Look, we don't have time for this, Ma." He said apologetically, motioning Max over. "It's getting dark and I'm in a hurry."

"Well? Spit it out!" Timon glared sourly at Max.

"I will if you don't interrupt me."

"Don't go givin' me none of your sauce…"

"Would you just let me talk?" Timon growled. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm really not trying to be a smart aleck, it's just that I want to get back to Pumbaa and the others…"

"Others? Did you find Hadiya?"

"Yes Ma."

"And…Flinchy?"

"Yes. They're both with Pumbaa out towards the border." Timon answered. Osono chuckled in relief.

"I'm glad they're okay…" Timon shook his head.

"Not yet they're not. From what they told me it was Pazu who ran them out. And he's threatened to kill them if he finds them here in the oasis!" though he didn't show it, Timon was becoming very scared. Despite the fact that Pumbaa was watching over them he felt that he needed to be there with them. He couldn't really protect them, but he still needed to be there…

"Timmy?" Osono touched her son's shoulder gently and he looked to her.

"Ma, I've gotta go. Stay here, okay?"

"She's not going anywhere." Max said, nodding to Timon.

"Thanks. Oh, and if Pazu comes by…keep him busy or something." With that he disappeared swiftly into the foliage.

Stroking his chin, Max stared after him, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "That's strange."

"What?"

"They're back in the oasis…but Amani never reported…"

xxx

Pumbaa's snores made it nearly impossible to sleep, although Flinchy didn't seem to mind them at all. The warthog was sprawled in a clump of grass, all four legs sticking into the air as he slept. The two meerkats were leaning against his side, rising and falling as he breathed.

Hadiya was a little uneasy about being the only one awake, but she had failed to rouse her friends. Now she was staring into the leaves opposite of her, listening to the sounds of night. Dimly she became aware of approaching footsteps. She tensed as they rounded Pumbaa's bulk and came into view.

"You're awake." The figure stated simply, stopping just short of her. Hadiya relaxed when she saw it was another female meerkat.

"Yeah…apparently I'm the only one with any sense." She chuckled. "Do I know you?"

"I'm…Amani. A-Are you Hadiya?" she asked, fiddling with what appeared to be a walking stick she stepped closer.

"Yep, that's me."

"What are you doing here?"

Hadiya could feel the fur on the back of her neck stiffen and rise. Something wasn't right. She scooted closer to Flinchy, hoping to wake him, but he merely continued to snore. "I couldn't very well perish in the desert when someone was worrying about me, now could I?" Amani glanced around them, shouldering her stick.

"No, I suppose not." She struck out suddenly. Hadiya wasn't quick enough to dodge the sharp blow to her head. Amani stepped back as Hadiya slumped over, then she delivered another blow to Flinchy. With a groan she threw the stick aside.

"I'm so getting killed for this…"