Chapter 5 – Lovers at Last
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Zina sat by a lake, looking at her reflection. After a while, she put her arms on her knees and buried her face in her arms.
"Hey, Zina."
Zina looked up.
"Oh, hi, Timon."
She buried her face again as Timon sat down next to her.
"Somethin' the matter?" he asked.
Zina sighed as she raised her head again.
"I just keep thinking about my father and my brother." she said, "They were the only family I ever had. I really miss them."
"You mean you weren't part of a colony?" Timon asked.
Zina shook her head.
"My father never did believe in living underground. He thought it was a coward's way of living. So we basically roamed around looking for grubs and sleeping wherever it was safe. Then one day, we had an encounter with that hyena. We all split up and tried to hide, but he eventually found me. My father saw him go for me and attacked him. Then my brother went to help him. He told me to run and save myself. I should've helped them, but I… I just ran. When I looked back, I… I saw…"
Zina sniffled and wiped a tear from her eye. Timon put his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to go on if you don't want to." he said.
Zina shook her head again.
"I know exactly how you feel." Timon continued, "My Pop was killed by hyenas when I was young too. And he didn't like having to hide from predators either. I guess that's another thing we have in common."
Zina slowly started to calm down.
"I bet both of our dads would've made good friends if they'd ever met." she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Timon just grinned at the thought.
"Timon, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about."
"Yeah? What's that?" Timon asked.
"I overheard some of the guys talking this morning. About you. And… me. They said that you... umm..."
"That I'm in with love you?"
"Yes! How did you...?"
"I heard the girls say the same thing about you. And you know what? The guys were right. You're the most beautiful meerkat I've ever laid eyes on. Not only that, but you're the best at catching scorpions. Plus, you're one of the few who actually laughs at my jokes. Not to mention the things you've done for the others here. I love you, Zina."
Zina couldn't believe her ears. No one but her father and brother had ever told her that they loved her before. Timon also couldn't believe how easily he had just said all that.
"Then the girls were right too. You're sweet, you've got a good sense of humor, you saved my life and avenged my family, and you brought me here. I love you, Timon."
Timon slowly brought his muzzle close to hers, then they kissed.
'I did it!' Timon thought, 'I really did it! I won! Can this really be happening? Or is it just another dream? Aw, who cares? Even if it's just a dream, at least I got this far.'
It was long before they pulled away from the kiss. Afterwards, they both looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds, then held each other in a loving embrace.
"I wish I could stay here with you forever." Zina said with a sigh, "But I can't stay much longer. Not with your uncle around."
"Now wait a minute. He never actually said that you had to leave. Did he?"
"No. But I just know he will soon. He still doesn't like me or appreciate anything I've done."
"Well, don't worry. You'll get to stay. If Uncle Max ever tries to make you leave, I'll convince him to back down and let you stay. And I won't give up."
Zina smiled and kissed Timon on the cheek. They continued to hold each other, until Zina noticed Max walking towards them.
"Oh no." she said, "He's coming."
"Uncle Max?"
Zina nodded.
"He's gonna make me leave now. I just know it."
Timon just kept holding her and whispered in her ear, "No matter what he says, don't let me let you go."
"Timon, Zina, I want to talk to you." Max said.
"Does she really have to leave NOW?!" Timon said, not even looking at him, "She hasn't caused any trouble."
"No, Timon. That's not at all what I wanted to say."
Surprised by Max's calm tone of voice and curious as to what he wanted to talk to them about, Timon and Zina slowly turned to face him.
"I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for being so ungrateful. You've both done so much more for the colony than I could ever have done, and yet I've never even thanked you for any of it."
Timon thought at first that Max was joking, but looking in his eyes; he could see the sincerity in them.
"Zina, I'm sorry for treating you like a pile of dung. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like."
"Really?" Zina said, "Th-thank you!"
"And Timon," Max continued, "this may be difficult for you to believe, but I've always loved you. You're the closest thing to a son that I've ever had. I'm just sorry I never proved it very well. Will you ever forgive me?"
Timon shed a single tear before walking over to Max and hugging him. Smiling, Max returned the hug. This time, he was gentle and didn't choke Timon with his hug.
"I love you too, Uncle Max."
Noticing the stick in Max's hand, Timon thought, 'Why'd he bring his stick?'
"There's one more thing I wanted to tell you." Max said, after pulling away, "Something that I've been..."
Max suddenly looked up and shouted, "LOOK OUT!"
He then pushed a startled Timon to the ground, right before being grabbed by a hyena's jaws!
"Uncle Max!" Timon shouted.
Timon and Zina stared back in horror. Lakota had found Timon and made a grab for him, but unknowingly got Max instead. As Max struggled to escape Lakota's jaws, Timon ran to Lakota's leg and scratched him hard with his small, but sharp claws. Lakota screamed in pain and dropped Max; who lay still on the ground. Upon overhearing the commotion, Pumbaa and the other meerkats came out to see what was going on. Lakota glared at Timon and growled, until he noticed Pumbaa and the other meerkats approaching. Thinking that they were about to attack him, he then made a run for it.
"You ain't seen the last of me!" he shouted, "I'll be back in three days with reinforcements! Taste ya later!"
The other meerkats and Pumbaa all stared back, unable to believe what had just happened.
"A hyena!" said Pumbaa, "How did he find this place?"
"There's a different matter to be concerned about right now." Nina said, "Look."
Everyone looked in the direction that Nina was pointing, and gasped in horror at what they saw. Max was lying on the ground, scarcely breathing. Lakota's sharp teeth had punctured his flesh, creating a deep open wound. With one hand, Max was desperately trying to hold in the blood. Timon and Zina were kneeling beside him.
"Uncle Max, are you alright?" cried Timon, "Speak to me, please!"
Max slowly lifted his head and coughed as he spoke.
"I... don't think... I'm gonna make it." he said.
"No, don't do this! Hang in there!"
"Timon... what I was... gonna tell you earlier..."
Max slowly picked up his stick with his free hand and handed it to Timon.
"Here." he said, "Take it. You're the new leader."
"What?! Me?! But-"
"But nothing, Timon! It's... what your father… wanted."
Max's head fell to the ground and he slowly closed his eyes for the last time. Zina put her hand to Max's throat to check for a pulse, then looked at Timon and shook her head. Timon held Max's lifeless body close as tears began to fall from his eyes. It wasn't fair. He had just made amends with Max. Why did Max have to die now, of all times? Soon, Timon felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to find his mother there behind him. Timon threw his arms around Nina and continued to cry. Pumbaa and the other meerkats lowered their heads. Some of them, including Pumbaa, started to cry along with Timon.
"Max will be missed." Nina said, "But at least he died saving you and keeping his promise to your father."
Timon looked back up at her.
"Huh? What promise?"
"You remember how your father used to be the leader of our colony, right?"
Timon nodded and wiped his eyes with his hand.
"Well, he wanted you to be his successor when you were old enough."
Nina lowered her head.
"But when he died..." she continued, "you were still very young. So your uncle Max took over, promising to let you be the new leader when the time was right."
(Years ago)
"Timon your successor?! Tell me you're joking."
"Come on, Max." Buzz said, "I know he's not the best at digging and occasionally gets involved in accidents, but some day he'll get better. In fact, I just know that he'll be a great hero some day. All the other meerkats in the colony will salute him and sing praises about him. You'll see."
Suddenly, the dirt above them started to crack. Then it crashed down on them. Not long afterwards, Timon walked up.
"Sorry, Pop." he said, "I accidentally knocked over one of the sticks. I didn't mean it, honest."
"It's alright, Son." Buzz told him, "Go help your mother fix dinner or something. I'll take care of this."
After Timon left, Buzz turned to the other meerkats; who were dusting themselves off.
"My fault, everyone." he said, "Sorry about that. I assure you, it'll never happen again."
"For your own sake, Buzz," Max said, dusting himself off, "I hope you're right about him."
(Months later)
Timon knelt by Buzz's lifeless body, crying his eyes out.
"Daddy!" he wailed.
Nina took the sobbing pup in her arms and carried him to the tunnel, patting his back as tears fell from her eyes as well.
"Nina," Max said, "Get Stumpy and Twiggy. We've got a grave to dig."
Nina nodded in response and climbed into the hole. Max then looked down at Buzz's body.
"I hope you understand, Buzz." he said, "Timon's still a pup. But you have my promise that when the time is right, I will pass the stick on to him."
(present)
"Let me get this straight." Timon said, "I was next in line to become leader of the colony, and none of you ever told me?"
"Well, it did take us a long time to remember, because of… well, you know." said Swifty.
"And because of that, we didn't want to overexcite you." added Sherri.
"Hmmm… well, I guess I can understand that." Timon muttered.
"But that's pretty much the main reason why Max came with me when I went to find you." Nina said, "He remembered the promise he made to your father, and decided to keep it."
Timon looked at the stick and thought about his father.
"Well," he said, "if it's what Pop wanted, what Uncle Max wanted, and what you want, Ma… then I'll do it."
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To be continued