A/N alright. I'm ready to do this. I've got my Dr. Pepper and my Bambi soundtrack (which is totally the wrong music for right now), so I think I can get this entire chapter done tonight...

I think three pages is a long enough chapter for now, so I'll save the action for the next chapter. I'm sorry to say, but we'll be done in just a few chapters. If anyone has an idea that they would like to see in a sequel feel free to share it! I'm also thinking about a prequel concerning what Kesi did and when she runs away with Hadiya. Opinions anyone?

Thanks to the reviewers, as always! Of course, I want to list them: Pichooi, MorpheusDreamer, Bloodshy Testament, SoulSingerJenna, KariGilmore, Fiona Fargazer. We've had a few new names lately, huh? So glad that all liked it! Hopefully Morpheus was right, that it'd take a year for everyone to stop reading! Er...maybe we'l avoid that. heh heh

x x x

Timon slowed as he came upon Pumbaa in the darkness. Seeing he was asleep, he tip-toed closer so as not to disturb his friends. He frowned unhappily as he circled the warthog.

They were gone.

He did another lap, just to be sure. They were still gone. Stomping angrily he gave Pumbaa a sharp tug on the ear.

"Uhfwuhwazzat?" Pumbaa snorted, flipping over as he was startled awake.

Timon, who had just narrowly escaped being flattened, raised an eyebrow. "Pumbaa, are we missing something?" he asked, his voice low. Pumbaa tilted his head thoughtfully and shrugged.

"I don't know. Are we?"

"Oh, maybe...how about a couple of MEERKATS?" Pumbaa winced and glanced around.

"Hey Timon! Hadiya and Flinchy are gone!"

"No, really?"

"Really!" Timon narrowed his eyes at him.

"Do you even know what we were talking about?" he sighed at Pumbaa's blank stare. "Never mind, I can tell you were just having a stupid moment...Aw Pumbaa, I can't believe you did it again!"

"Did what?" he asked, standing and beginning to pace a small circle with his friend.

"You fell asleep when we thought you were watching her!"

"Oh. Sorry." he said as what he had done finally sunk in. Timon waved it off, pulling himself onto Pumbaa's snout.

"Never mind, buddy. I guess we'll just have to find them again, won't we? Gee, I wish I had come back soo-ARGH!"

Normally Amani would have laughed at the sight of Timon tumbling backward in fright, but given the situation she only watched impassively as he yelled indignantly. After a few moments he calmed down and popped back into view to glare at her.

"What are you doing popping up out of nowhere like that? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" she stare at him for another moment then raised her eyes skyward as if seeking patience. "Hey, I'm talking to you, Armani!"

"Oh, please, it's Amani not 'Armani!' I don't make suits..."

"Whatever. Spit it out, sister, we've got things to do." Amani's face clouded briefly before she managed to look impassive again. After quite a bit of throat clearing and shuffling her feet she looked up at them timidly.

"I was supposed to draw your attention for a few minutes. I'm also supposed to tell you to look up."

"Thanks for the encouragement, but why distract us?"

"Uh, Timon...I think she meant to really look up." Timon followed Pumbaa's gaze to the branches high above them.

x x x

Hadiya was indeed in a foul mood. Not only had she been bashed in the head, courtesy of a very hard stick, now she was in a tree. A very, very high tree. From what could tell, she had been dragged out along a branch and tied in place with a bit of vine so that she was facing the grund far below. Flinchy, who had not yet awakened, was tied to the other side so he was facing upward.

She had seen Timon return, and all that had happened since but had not been able to hear due to the disance. A groan sounded from above her. "Flinchy?"

"Hadiya! You okay?"

"I've been better. Can you see anything?"

"...Branches...leaves...a really ugly guy off that way..."

"Pazu?"

"Yep." they fell silent, both aware of the inevitable outcome of their situation. Most likely they wouldn't be coming out of this alive. Hadiya shuddered at the thought. She really had no doubt that Timon would try to save them, but they had to face the facts.

Timon wasn't exactly a fighter.

"You think this is it?" Flinchy asked, sounding a little sad. Hadiya narrowed her eyes sternly, even though he couldn't see.

"Even if it is, I'm not going quietly." She watched breathlessly as Timon leapt from Pumbaa's head and raced toward the trunk of the tree. Amani didn't try to stop him, but instead followed him onto the trunk, leaving Pumbaa to pace the ground, looking worriedly up at Hadiya.

x x x

"You're not seriously going to do this, are you?" Amani yelled, scrambling to keep up with Timon. He turned to glare at her as he pulled himself higher.

"What do you care? You're in it with him!"

"Okay, first of all, why would I be in on it with him when I neither like him nor know WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?" Timon faltered, but continued climbing. "Besides, he pretty much forced me into it." Timon's glared disappeared and he paused to let her catch up.

"What did he do?"

"I was in pretty much the same situation as those two are now, but with no vines keeping me in place."

"Really?" she nodded. Timon considered her thoughtfully for a moment. "Amani, right?" she nodded again and he smiled. "Don't know what I was thinking. Anybody'd have to be cornered to going along with Pazu...the old fart..." Amani grinned as they continued on their way. She could tell he wanted to say something much worse.