Chapter 12

Later that morning, there was a thunderstorm, worse than the sandstorm the week before. It was common in the Outlands for there being a large thunderstorm just a week after a sandstorm. That day, pouring rain swept across the Out Lands and the Pride Lands. Many of the rivers and waterholes were overflowing.

However, this did not stop Kimba from leaving his cave. Mad about what happened earlier that morning, he forced Kayla to come out with him, with their babysitters following as well.

"Kimba, it's pouring out there!" Kayla yelled. "Grandpa wouldn't want us going out in this storm!"

"I don't care!" Kimba yelled back at her. "We are going to the Pride Lands today!"

"Now Kimba, let's be reasonable…" Timon tried to tell him. "The Pride Lands is a pretty rough place, and this storm would just make it worse."

"Ha! That's what you think!" Kimba laughed.

"But what's the point!" Pumbaa cried. "We're probably going to drown before we ever get there!"

"I've made my decision, guys!" the cub declared. "We are going to the Pride Lands and nobody is going to stop us!"

"Kids! Wait!"

Kimba groaned as Mufasa and Simba ran towards them.

"Why are you all out here?" Mufasa asked.

Pumbaa heard something, and whispered, "Guys…"

"We wanted to come out and play!" Kimba told them.

"Guys…" the warthog said a little louder.

"Kimba, you aren't allowed to be outside during storms." Simba growled. "We discussed this last week!"

"GUYS!"

Everyone turned to stare at Pumbaa.

"Uh…I just heard something." he mumbled.

They all stopped talking and listened. Even though it was hard to hear through the storm, they could hear a series of faint cries.

"Where do you think it's coming from?" Kayla wondered.

Kimba looked around, and noticed a small cave. "Look! Over there!"

They all walked into the cave, one by one. Inside the cave, it was very dark, and the path they followed was narrow. The only light came from the fireflies that hung onto the sticky walls, which were covered with mysterious goo. Timon started to shiver.

"What's wrong Timon?" Kayla asked. "Are you cold?"

"Are you afraid of this cave?" Kimba asked.

"I'm not cold, but I'm a little afraid of this cave…" Timon whispered. "I mean, what if there's …a monster in here?"

"A monster?" Kayla repeated, giving the meerkat a funny look.

"Yeah…" Pumbaa whimpered. "It may be waiting for us at the end of this cave!"

"And when we get to the end, it will…pounce on us and eat us all!" Timon jumped onto Pumbaa's back. The warthog was scared, and ran around the cave, screaming.

"You guys, there is no such thing as monsters!" Kimba groaned, then started to walk again. "Now let's go ooooon!"

Kimba had fallen into a hole in the ground. Kayla, who was nervous about her brother, jumped into the hole after him.

"Hey! Wait for us!" Timon shouted, and jumped into the hole with Pumbaa.

As for Mufasa and Simba, they found the entrance to a tunnel, which was about a foot away from the hole. They guessed that it would take them to the cubs…and whatever was making all the noise.

I love cliffies! ;-) Oh yeah…if you are reading both this story and Taka's Story, then it will be a good idea to read Chapter 16 of TS before reading this story's next chapter!