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"Aw man," Bairi said, "why are there so many of them?" He was refering to sandstorms, one of which was getting up and getting nearer.
"I don't know honey," him mother replied, "there just are."
"Learn to live with it kid," his older brother Aki said, "'cause unless you die, you're gonna see a whole lot more of them."
"Aki, don't even talk about that," Their fathers said.
"Aw c'mon dad," Aki said, "I mean, it's not like I want it to happen. After all," he said, grinning at his Bairi, "can you think of a better way of getting girls than playing, 'daddy' to Bairi."
"Aki," their mother said sharply, "I do hope that's not the only reason you think Bairi exists."
"No mum," Aki said, mocking meekness, then grinning, "but you got to admit, he's useful for it."
"I've 'got' to admit nothing," their father said sternly, "now, apologise."
"Aw, but..." Aki began.
"Aki," their father said warningly.
"Oh, okay," Aki said, giving in. He turned to Bairi, and said, "sorry about talking over your head k-b-Bairi."
"Ah 'sokay b-Aki," Bairi said, smiling, "I mean, I suppose I'm lucky really, having an older brother who cares."
"Who said I care," Aki asked, managing to hold a straight face for several seconds then breaking into a grin, "see you on the other side."
"Same to you bro'," Bairi said. Very soon, the sandstorm was in full blow.
"Well, we're on the other side," Bairi said, when the sandstorm had mostly died down. "Aki," he asked, when he didn't hear his brother's reply, or, for that matter, any of the other sounds that the herd normally made after coming out of a sandstorm. He waited a few seconds, then opened his eyes.
It was plain enough now, why Aki hadn't replied, he wasn't there, and neither was the rest of the herd. "Mum," He asked the air, rising, "dad, Aki?" There was no reply. "Mum," He called, somewhat louder, "Aki, dad?" Still no reply. "Mum," he shouted, "dad, Aki, someone, anyone." Silence greeted his desperate cries, and just as he was about to try again, he felt a touch on his side...
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...And woke up. He was breathing hard, almost gasping. He opened his eyes and looked around, stiffly, as his breathing returned to merely panicked. "No," he whispered to himself, seeing no camels nearby, "no, please no."
He felt a nudge on his side, and looked down, to see that the source of the nudge was an odd... ...Pumbaa the warthog, he recalled after a moment, with Timon the meerkat in the long black patch of fur on the top of his head.
"Hey, you okay kid," Timon asked, concerned, when he realised Bairi was awake.
"He'll be fine," said another voice, before Bairi could reply, "he just had a nightmare." He swung his head, and saw Nina looking up at him sympathetically. "Bad nightmare was it," she asked. He didn't reply, but nodded. "Well, if you want to talk about it," she said, "I'm always available."
"Th-thanks," he muttered, rising.
"So, what d'you want to do kid," Timon asked, "take a look round the Pridelands, we can show you all the best spots for bugs."
"Timmy," Nina said, "remember, Bairi doesn't eat bugs."
"Oh, yeah," Timon said, "um okay, you want to take a look around the Pridelands anyway?"
"Er, sure," Bairi said, "but we, er, we don't have to actullay include the bugs, do we, only I'm not sure..."
"Well..." Timon said.
"No you don't," Nina replied, giving Timon a stern look.
"Okay ma," Timon said, then turned back to Bairi, "no we don't have to include bugs, but I wouldn't mind, you know breakfast."
"Timmy..." Nina said warningly.
"No, it's alright," Bairi said, "I suppose I could find something else to do while you, have breakfast."
"That's the spirit," Timon said happily, "whenever you're ready kid."
"Bairi," Bairi said.
"What," Timon asked, both he and Pumbaa looking confused.
"I, er, I'd prefer being called Bairi," Bairi replied, "I mean, I know it's not big or anything, but..."
"Okay," Timon said, "Bairi it is."
"Thanks," Bairi murmured.
"Any time," Timon said, "ready?"
"As much as I'll ever be," Bairi, then remembered Nina. "You want to ride," he asked her.
""If it's okay with you," she said.
"It's okay with me," Bairi said, kneeling down again so that Nina could climb aboard.
A few minutes after setting out, Bairi asked, "who was that, lioness, anyway?"
"Which one," Timon asked.
"The one who argued with King Simba," Bairi replied.
"I think I missed that bit," Timon said, "what'd she look like?"
"Erm..." Bairi said, trying to remember.
"Quite thin," Nina replied, "and she had a tuft on her head."
"Sounds like Vitani," Pumbaa said.
"And she didn't seem to like you two," Nina continued, "she called you
"That could very well be Vitani," Timon said, "especially the arguing with Simba bit."
"So, uh, where are we going," Bairi asked, after several minutes.
"Oh, I though we'd let you decide that," Timon said.
"Oh, er, right," Bairi said looking around, "um, if all looks the same really."
"How about we start at the water hole then," Nina asked.
"I think I'd like that," Bairi said, "and come to think of it, I haven't had a drink since the last oasis."
"How long ago was that," Pumbaa asked.
"Six days," Bairi said, then looked thoughtful, "or was it seven?"
"Six days," Timon exclaimed.
"Six or seven," Bairi replied, "yeah. I-is there something wrong" he asked, when the group fell silent.
"How can you not drink for six or seven days," Pumbaa asked
"We don't drink often," Bairi replied, "but when we do, we drink 'a lot'."
"How much," Pumbaa asked.
"I don't know exactly," Bairi said, "but you can usually see the difference, and I know I can feel it."
"That'll be a thing to watch," Timon said, then cringed when Nina gave him a glare, "okay, sorry."
"You eat a lot too," Pumbaa asked.
"Usually," Bairi said, then kicked a foreleg slightly, "of course, I think I can afford to cut down now, I think I'm going to have to."
"Yup," Timon said, understanding the gesture, "it's a good life here."
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