Author's note: For those of you saddened by Max's death in the previous chapter, I assure you that he will be avenged. I won't say how, but Lakota will get his comeuppance eventually. Anyhue, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 6 – Averting a Mutiny

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The next morning, Pumbaa nudged Timon; who was tossing and turning in his sleep.

"Timon, wake up!"

Timon screamed as he woke up.

"Yahh! It wasn't my fault!" he cried, "I swear! Huh?"

After seeing Pumbaa there with Zina on his back, and realizing that he'd been dreaming, Timon sighed with relief.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Zina asked.

"Oh, it was horrible, Zina! We had to go back to the tunnels, and I kept messing up at everything again! I don't know how much more of that dream I could take."

"Well, sorry to break it to you, Timon," said Pumbaa, "but I think that dream just might be coming true."

"…I beg your pardon?"

"The other meerkats are talking about leaving this place."

"They're WHAT?!"

"They're talking about…"

"I heard what you said, Pumbaa. That was a rhetorical question."

"Oh."

Timon hastily climbed onto Pumbaa's back.

"Take me over there, and step on it." he ordered Pumbaa.

Pumbaa saluted and said, "Yes, sir!"

Then he ran to the meeting place with Timon and Zina on his back. There, the other meerkats were gathered in front of a log. Flinchy was standing on that log and speaking to the crowd. As Pumbaa neared the log, Timon jumped onto it and walked up to Flinchy.

"…so I think we'd be best off going back to our old home and…"

"Whoa, now! Hold it! Time out!" Timon shouted, "Are you saying you want to leave this place behind and go back to tunnel digging?!"

"We have no choice. That hyena said he'd be back with reinforcements in three days."

"Now look here, Mister! Pumbaa and I risked our lives several times trying to find this place and we're NOT gonna give it up now!"

"Look, Timmy," Nina said, "we know how hard it was for you to find this place and we're grateful to you for bringing us here, but we can't stay much longer."

"Yeah, we'll never last long against those hyenas." said Flinchy, "Plus, Iron Joe used to be calm and relaxed when we first came here. Now look at him."

"They're gonna get us!" Joe cried, "They're gonna eat us! They got Buzz! They got Max! They're gonna-"

Stumpy grabbed Joe and shook him.

"CALM DOWN! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" he shouted.

He then slapped Joe across the face twice.

"Thank you, Stumpy." Timon said, "But next time, try not to knock him out."

Stumpy looked at Joe; who was now unconscious.

"Whoops."

"We're not meant to fight predators, Timon." Flinchy continued, "When they come, we hide. That's just how it works. And we can't stay here if they know we're here."

A majority of the other meerkats nodded in response. Timon put his fists to his hips and glared at them.

"You guys really disappoint me, you know that?" he said, "Look at everything we've got here. Water, shade, an endless supply of food, and you're all gonna let a few hyenas take those things away from you? Need I remind you of what they did to Uncle Max? And you're all just gonna cut and run, and let them get away with it?! Well, not me! As the new leader of this colony, I say we're staying here!"

"Just who do you think you are?!" Flinchy blustered.

"Someone who's a lot less of a coward than you. That's for sure." Zina snapped at him.

"And just who are you to talk?!"

"A survivor, thanks to Timon."

The other meerkats turned to face her with puzzled expressions on their faces.

"What do you mean?" asked Swifty.

"On the day when I met Timon, I was this close to becoming a hyena's breakfast. But Timon had the courage to stand up to him and save me. And now that hyena's dead."

The other meerkats gasped and looked at Timon unbelievingly.

"Son, you… killed a hyena?" Nina asked.

"It's true." said Pumbaa, "I was there."

"Yeah. I kinda left out that detail, cause I didn't think you'd believe me." added Timon.

"Timmy," Nina responded, "after seeing what you did at Pride Rock, I would've believed anything you told me."

The other meerkats began talking amongst themselves. Then Gus suddenly looked up and said, "Look, Mama! A turkey!"

"What?" Sherri said, "Where?"

"Up there!"

Everyone looked up and saw a hornbill landing in the tree above them.

"Greetings and salutations." he said.

"Hey, I know you." Timon said, "You're that bird that works for Simba. Umm… Sazu… Zashu… Zalu..."

"The name is Zazu!"

"Right. So, what's on your mind?"

"I've come to announce that King Simba is on his way to visit. He should be on his way within three days."

"Really?" Pumbaa asked excitedly, "Simba's coming?"

"You don't say…" said Timon, "Well, that's good because we could sure use his help."

"Oh?" said Zazu, "What with?"

"Somehow, a hyena has managed to find this place, and he's threatened to come back with reinforcements. He also killed my uncle, Max."

Zazu gasped and put his wing to his beak.

"Oh dear! Why, that's terrible!"

"Can ya give him that message for me?"

"Certainly! I'll tell him right away!"

Zazu flew off.

"And try to make it quick!" Timon shouted to him.

"Yes, yes! I'll hurry!" Zazu shouted back.

"Bye, Mr. Turkey!" shouted Gus.

As the other meerkats snickered in response, Zazu sighed and muttered, "Kids today."

Timon wasn't exactly Zazu's favorite person, but he was still a friend of Simba's, and the last thing he wanted Simba to go through was the death of a friend. Especially since it took Zazu a long time to get over Mufasa's death. Additionally, he couldn't help feeling bad for Timon after hearing about Max's death.

"Well, there ya go." Timon said, turning back to the colony, "Problem solved."

"But what if Simba doesn't get here in time?" Pumbaa asked.

"Wait, I just thought of something. What if Simba doesn't get here in time?"

"I'm not sure we should take the chance." said Flinchy.

"You really want to go back to the tunnels?" Stumpy asked him.

"Well, no, but…"

"Then shut up!"

"Thank you again, Stumpy." said Timon, "All right, look. Just give me twenty-four hours. I'll come up with a backup plan to defeat the hyenas. I promise."

Everyone nodded.

"Alright, Timon." said Flinchy, "Twenty-four hours."

"We're counting on you, Timon." said Sherri, "I don't want to go back to the tunnels."

With that, the other meerkats left, except for Nina.

"Well, that went well." Timon said, "It shouldn't be too hard if Simba doesn't get here in time. I mean, we've already taken out one hyena. A few more shouldn't…"

"You don't have any idea what to do, do you?" Zina asked.

"Not a clue."

Timon sighed.

"Aw, honey," Nina said, "don't give up hope. You'll think of something. Even if you don't, I'm sure Simba will be here on time."

"Thanks, Ma."

"Let's get some breakfast." suggested Pumbaa, "Maybe that'll help you think."

"Pumbaa, that's the best idea I've heard all morning."

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To be continued