A/N I've gotta be honest,I am severely disappointed with this chapter. It's way too dialogue heavy. However, i'm horrible at writing action stuff, soI guess there wasn't much thatI could do. Sorry if all the conversation takes away from it everyone.

I was a little surprised at how quickly everyone reviewed the last chapter. So you all liked it then? Well that's great! I'm glad you guys liked the idea of a prequel too, cause that's definitely what I'm going to do next.

Reveiwers! Fiona Fargazer, Pichooi, SoulSingerJenna, KariGilmore, Morpheus Dreamer, and Bloodshy Testament. Thanks to you all, you guys don't know how much i love you!

Well, here we go!

x x x

Hadiya gasped as the vines loosened and she dropped ever-so-slightly. She and Flinchy were both trying to gnaw through them in the hopes of helping Timon. Unfortunately neither had thought of a way to get Hadiya up onto the other side of the branch without her falling, still they continued trying to free themselves.

"I hate to think of him having to fight alone." Hadiya sighed, shifting herself to get at another vine. The vines swayed as Flinchy twisted himself around, hanging so that he could see her.

"He's not alone, that girl's going to help him. Besides, we'll be out soon enough."

Hadiya couldn't hide her frown as she glanced up at him and back to the ground below. "You mean if you don't drop me."

"I'm not going to drop you."

"Oh sure, you say that now..."

"What you don't trust me?" he asked, sounding a little hurt. Hadiya mentally kicked herself.

"Of course I do, I'm just worried about, well...everything."

x x x

Timon and Amani had finally reached the limb where Pazu was waiting for them. Neither hesitated as they pulled themselves up to meet him.

"What are you doing? For cryin' out loud, one try at them isn't enough?" Timon spat and threw his arms into the air, thoroughly disgusted with the whole affair. Pazu smiled.

"Actually, I had just thought that I'd go ahead and get rid of all of you."

"Is that so?" Timon growled, glaring at the meerkat before him. He could feel himself growing hot as his anger built itself up. After all that they had gone through it had finally come to this. "Well I'm not going to let that happen. It's you or me, pal."

He pushed Amani away as Pazu leapt at him and the two rolled away, snarling and swinging at each other. Not really knowing what to do, Amani ran after them, kicking out at them and hoping to hit her mark.

"Ow!"

"Haha! Take that!"

"Ouch...Amani!"

"Sorry Timon!" she said, backing away. She yelped as Pazu threw Timon off of him, sending the younger meerkat tumbling past her."I was just trying to help!"

"Then stop apologizing and help!" he cried, scrambling to his feet, just in time to dodge aside as Pazu jumped at him again. Amani cast about for a stick, pebble, anything she could use as a weapon. There was nothing in sight. Having nothing else to do she advanced toward the tussle. Intent on distracting Pazu, she grabbed him from behind.

He didn't miss a beat as he turned and knocked her out.

x x x

They were nearly free. The only problem now was to move without dropping Hadiya. Flinchy had hold of her with one arm as he pushed the vines away with the other.

"Okay, now I'm going to get these things off, so you'll have to hold on tight, all right?"

"What do you think I'm doing?"

"Do you really want me to drop you, miss smart-aleck? I was just giving you a warning!" he snapped. Hadiya looked a little sheepish, but she stayed quiet as he kicked the vines off and left her dangling by the one arm he was holding. She squealed, tightening her hold. "Don't worry, I've got you!" he wrapped himself around the branch's end, hanging halfway upside down as he struggled to keep his hold on her.

Seeing that the branch was bending under their weight, Hadiya took hold of him with her other arm. "We have to move!"

"But there's no room!"

"Swing me! I'll grab onto the branch back behind you and climb up!" he nodded, a little unsure as he worked to get her moving. It was several frightening minutes before she was close enough to wrap her legs around the branch. A fleeting panic hit her as Flinchy loosed her hand and she pulled herself around the limb to the top.

x x x

Timon saw Amani go down as Pazu spun and dealt him a blow to the face. Without pause he returned it, stepping aside to avoid a kick.

"Oh come on! Would you just go down already?" He groaned. Suddenly Pazu rammed into him, throwing him back. They were moving farther out along the branch now and nearing the end where Flinchy and Hadiya had hung. Flinchy, seeing them, shouted at them urgently.

"No, go the other way! The other way! It's gonna snap!" Timon heard, but his opponent was much faster. Pazu's foot collided squarely with Timon's chest, sending him flying backward into Flinchy. Before they could untangle from one another and gain their feet he dashed back to Amani, knocking Hadiya aside as he went. Lifting Amani, he hurled her at the pair. They swayed dangerously before plunging downward with a snap.

x x x

Hadiya cried out as her friends dropped from sight. Dimly she was aware of Pazu looming behind her. Ignoring her tears, she turned to glare at him. "You...you monster! What did they ever do to you?"

"It wasn't them."

"...What?" he stared hard at her, as if considering what to say. Finally he crossed his arms and scowled.

"I had rather hoped I wouldn't have to explain it. You know what Kesi did."

"Yes, but that was a long time ago! Look, I know we're related. Flinchy told me everything..."

"Did he?" he asked, his voice low. Hadiya suddenly felt uncertain. He had told her everything...hadn't he?

"Just what are you saying?" she asked. Pazu shook his head as if she were trying his patience.

"He didn't tell you who it was that your mother murdered?"

"Well...he was young. I wouldn't expect him to remember..." had he known? She was stung by the thought and she began to feel angry. Had he known and never told her?

"No, I suppose not." he grinned smugly, delighted that he knew something she did not yet again. "Still, it's interesting..."

"There's nothing interesting about it! It was a long time ago, it doesn't matter anymore!" she shouted. In her rage she didn't know that she was crying. Here she was being taunted with the fact that was the cause of everything that had happened.

For all she knew they hadn't survived the fall.

Flinchy...

Amani...

Timon especially...they had barely gotten started on what she had hoped would be something wonderful. Now he was gone...

She realized suddenly that she had nothing more to lose.

Pazu could see that he had gotten to her. His grin faded as he advanced on her. "It's simple, Hadiya. Kesi killed my son. Now I'm just returning the favor."

"NO!"Hadiya threw herself at him. He gave a strangled yell as they toppled over the side.