Two months had gone by since Leo had started full-time in the tunnels. Working with his brother was really the only joy he got out of the work. He didn't always see Max, since Max was usually going around different parts that were under construction. It wasn't official, Max was fond of saying, but he was becoming more of a supervisor for the work. Which meant a better and more important position was looming.

Leo continued to try to find some type of pleasure in his days, but they were all starting to bleed together into large chunks. Each day had its continuing routine about it that was comforting, but at the same time slightly disturbing.

Leo could barely remember when he had last taken a day for himself, to break the routine. He finally decided one morning to take the chance. His brother wouldn't be happy, but it was worth a shot.

"Up and at 'em, Leo!" Max said as he woke his brother with the normal playful punch. "We've gotta get back to digging. That new south emergency route isn't gonna dig itself!"

Leo rolled over and sat up. He faced Max but did not look at him, instead he focused on the burrow wall. "Um...Max, I'm not feeling quite up to digging today." he said, a trace of nervousness in his voice.

Max didn't miss a beat. "Ok, sure. You can come with me and supervise for a little while. I'm sure nobody would mind." Leo then watched as Max left and went to join their parents in the next burrow. Leo followed him.

"No, Max. You see, I'm not really feeling up to working today at all."

This got Max's attention. He turned around and looked at Leo questioningly. "Why? Are you sick?"

"No."

"Well, then what do ya mean, you don't feel like going?"

"I just really think I need a break."

Max actually looked a little incensed by the idea of not working. It almost made Leo laugh, but instead he spoke again.

"Come on, Max. I just feel like taking a day off. You don't really think anyone will miss me if I take just one day off, do you?"

Max's tone when he spoke surprised Leo. He actually sounded kind of ticked-off.

"Every meerkat counts, Leo. What if some emergency were to come up and somebody needed you?"

"What kind of emergency? Like a cave-in or something? I highly doubt that if a cave-in happened, that they would need me personally. There's about 50 other meerkats working on the tunnels..."

"Yeah, and what if they all decided to take a day off? Nothing would get done."

"Max, I'm not the only meerkat who has ever wanted a break." Leo was not understanding what the big deal was.

"All those other meerkats are slackers, then."

"What about Dad?" Leo asked.

Mel and Ann had been watching their sons argue since they entered, and at the mention of his name, Mel interjected.

"Max, why can't your brother have a day off?"

Max and Leo both turned to their father, acknowledging him for the first time that morning. They both looked like they were about to be reprimanded.

"Because there won't be anyone to replace him. Every one of the 50 odd meerkats on the job has their own work to do, they can't be doing his too while he's out lollygagging."

"Lollygagging?" Leo said with a bewildered look back at Max.

"Son, I can fix your problem for you. Why don't I just go in for Leo today?"

"No, Dad. You need to rest. I don't need it as much." said Leo. Mel was still going through the pangs of aging. He was out of breath most of the time and he had not been able to do some of the strenuous tunnel work. So lately he had been taking more and more breaks to rest.

"No, Leo. I haven't been back in forever, it seems. I think I could use the exercise. This way you get your break, and someone is there to do your work. Problem solved."

Max looked like he still wanted to say something, but after a pause he said, "Fine." Then he and Mel left.

"That's kind of a double-standard, don't you think, Mom?" he asked Ann. "I mean, I want a day off and suddenly I'm irreplaceable, but if Dad wants off there's probably 10 males that could fill in for him. Is this the whole colony or just Max's thing?"

Ann sighed. "I don't know, Leo. I try not to get involved when your brother is on his tunnel stuff." She then smiled at him. "So, you got your day off, what do you want to do?"

Leo actually hadn't thought about it. He was so focused on getting the break he hadn't thought that far.

"Well, do you think I could tag along with you and Ms. Ruth today?" he asked.

"Ok. That sounds fine." she answered.


Leo hadn't really stopped and looked around the colony in a long time. He also hadn't heard from Ms. Ruth in a while. He heard things from his mother about what she had been doing and what they had done for the colony over the time, but he hadn't actually talked to anyone outside the diggers and his family.

As he climbed out of the hole and followed his mother, Leo saw some young pups running around chasing each other. Wow, how small they looked, it seemed odd to him that he and his friends had been that small not too long ago. Then he remembered his friends. It seemed longer still that they had all been together. He saw Scruffy a few times a day, since they both were in the tunnels. He rarely saw Joey anymore, though. He had become a sentry, and apparently it was a big deal for him, he seemed to take it just as seriously as Max took his job.

Kavie and Laita were the only ones that Leo had had pretty much no contact with for a long time. Odd in a colony that had only so much space, but it was also becoming a little crowded and their land had expanded even more as their population did. So Leo had not seen them, really since a short time after Kavie's parents died. Or if he had, it would have been for a brief moment, not enough time to really recognize them.

He didn't recognize them when he first saw them. It took him a moment after Ann had started the re-introductions to realize that these were Laita and Kavie.

"Leo, say hello to Ms. Ruth." Ann said.

"Oh, sorry. Hi Ms. Ruth."

"Hello, Leo." Ruth said politely.

"And, you remember Kavie and Laita?" Ann asked.

Laita, for the most part, looked almost the same as she had when they were pups. She was taller now, and looked more like an adult, but she still had traces of child left in her. She still seemed as shy as ever, her greeting was quiet and short. She stood slightly behind her best friend.

Kavie turned and looked at Laita, she seemed to understand that Laita wasn't going to say any more. She gave her friend a smile, which she returned, and they both turned back to Leo.

As Leo looked at Kavie, he felt something was different about her. He didn't really know what it was exactly. Like Laita, she did just look like a more grown-up version of herself, but there had to be something. Her fur color was the same, and her nose was the same shape. Her voice had matured, but that wasn't it.

Whatever it was, it was probably the reason why he went temporarily speechless when her green eyes met his.

"Hi, Leo." she said. Her voice sounded calm and friendly. Somehow Leo didn't think he was going to sound like that.

"Hi." he said, glad that he sounded better than he thought he would. As he pulled his gaze away from Kavie he felt a little embarrassed and thought he'd broaden his greeting. "So how have you all been?"

"Oh, we've all been fine, Leo. How about you?" asked Ruth. "Your mother doesn't tell us much."

"well, whatever Mom's told you is probably all there is to say. I'm just working in the tunnels. "

"And you got a day off today?" Kavie asked.

He glanced back in Kavie's direction. "Yeah. I just needed to break my routine. Max sure thought it was a good idea." He looked over at his mother, she smiled. At least she got that. When he looked back over at Kavie and Laita he said, "So what are you two doing here?"

"Actually, the girls here are learning about the duties of a matriarch. I have been showing a few young females around with me to get a feel for what it would be like if they were in my position." said Ruth.

"You didn't tell me you were doing that today Ruth. If I had known I wouldn't have let Leo come." Ann said. Then she looked over at her son and realized that he could've taken offense to that. "Oh Leo, you know what I mean! I wouldn't want too many meerkats following her around all day while she's trying to show Laita and Kavie what she does."

"Oh that's alright, Ann. Leo is welcome to come." Ruth assured Ann. "Either way, we must get going."

Ann nodded and they all started to walk off. Ruth and Ann were ahead leading them, Kavie behind them with Laita close to her, and Leo in the back.

The day reminded Leo a little of his adult training, since the girls were being shown in specific ways how Ruth checks on all the goings on in the colony. This seemed to involve a lot of walking. He felt like they had gone over all the territory twice by the time they were finished, and Leo felt even more tired than he did on a normal day of digging.

He didn't say much more to Kavie after they started, her eyes were now concentrated on Ruth and she looked like she really wanted to make sure she knew everything her grandmother was showing her and Laita.

The day seemed to go by much faster than Leo could want, and Leo soon found himself back in his burrow that he shared with Max.

He wasn't sure, but he thought the sun must have only just set when Max entered later.

"So, how was your day off?" Max said, with only the slightest hint of resentment in his voice.

Leo chose to ignore his brother's tone. He knew Max was still not going to be happy with him. He still didn't completely understand why, though. "Fine." he replied.

"Ya coming back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, Max."

"Good. I mean, I know you wanted a day off, but you shouldn't make it a habit. Not if you want to get past being a regular digger."

Leo didn't want to argue, and he knew that's what he'd get if he said anything about any of that. "Did Dad do ok?" he asked instead.

"Yeah, he did alright. But he shouldn't be putting in a full days work, he gets tired so easily."

Leo felt slightly guilty hearing this. It must have shown on his face as worry, because then Max said, "He'll be fine."

Leo smiled at him. No matter how much they disagreed sometimes, Leo was glad that he still cared enough to try and make him feel better.

"G'night, Max."

"Night, Leo."


Hours had gone by since Leo and Max had lain down for sleep. Leo could hear his brother's steady breathing, he had gone to sleep almost immediately, but Leo had stayed awake. For some reason he just couldn't get to sleep. He tossed in his nest trying to get comfy, but his mind would not quiet him enough for sleep. He wasn't even thinking about anything in particular. There was merely this odd feeling that was keeping him up.

After a while he got up and started climbing out of the tunnels. He thought maybe being out in the night air would tire him out enough to get some sleep.

When he reached the surface the first thing he saw where the thousands of sparkly things in the sky, and for a moment he couldn't look anywhere but skyward. When he finally looked back to earth he began walking. The night air was cool and it seemed to be having the opposite effect he wanted, it was waking him up more. He continued, however, hoping that he could at least get a little tired.

He headed towards the closest tree to the tunnels, right beneath it was a large rock that was a prime sentry location. He thought maybe once or twice around there would be good. As he walked, he continued looking at the sky, enjoying the sight above him. However, since he was looking up he was not exactly sure where he was going, and as he turned around the large rock near the trees roots, he tripped and fell over something and fell flat on his face. He let out a sharp sound of pain and embarrassment. To his surprise, as he heard similar sounds coming from whatever he had just tripped over. He sat up and turned around to see Kavie sitting up quickly, looking concerned at him.

"Oh my goodness! Leo, are you ok? What are you doing out here?"

Leo was dusting himself off, he was still a little sore and bemused. "I couldn't sleep." He knew it was a slightly lame excuse, but it was oddly enough the truth. "What about you?"

She ignored his question for some reason, asking one of her own instead. "Why can't you sleep?"

Since Leo was wanting his question answered, he was not prepared for this. He couldn't think of anything anyway. "I...really don't know."

She looked up at him. Since he didn't look hurt, she had settled herself back down to where she had been earlier, but she was still sitting instead of lying. Kavie's eyes now stared curiously, but still holding concern in them.

"Well, I mean, is there something bothering you?"

Leo thought about his father, about his failing health. He then thought about how he didn't share his brother's love for their work, and about how ever since he became an adult it seemed he had had to compromise something. But , of course, even though Kavie was his friend he hadn't talked to her in a long time, so he wasn't sure if those things were exactly right to talk about with her. Also he wasn't sure if he could say these things to her even if he had seen her more since they were younger. So he thought up the first answer he could think of.

"I don't know."

She smiled a bit at this, and shook her head. "Why is that the answer that most males give?" she said. "Do you not trust me?"

Now Leo thought he must have insulted her. To recover, he said quickly "No no, its not like that. We just haven't really seen or talked to each other in a while, and I didn't know if you would want to hear about my problems. I mean...do you?"

"Yes." she said. It sounded so obvious to her. "I know we haven't gotten to talk, but you're still my friend. Plus if I'm hoping to be matriarch, shouldn't I listen to some problems and try to help solve them as practice?"

He still wasn't so sure, he hadn't told anyone this sort of stuff. Even Max, his brother, his best friend.

She did remind him that they were friends, and again there was that odd thing that made him want to just tell her anything she wanted to hear when he looked at her.

He sat down beside her and told her. Mostly about the not really wanting to dig part, since that seemed to be right at the surface of his thoughts more and more lately.

Kavie had now reverted back to how she was when he had come. She was now laying down, listening. Sometimes looking at him, sometimes at the sky.

When he finished they sat in silence. For a minute Leo thought maybe he had told her too much or something.

But then he heard her say "Leo, if you don't want to work in the tunnels, then don't."

"What?! Kavie, it's not that simple."

"Yes, it actually is. If you're not happy there, try something else, you're bound to find something that will fit."

"But, what about my family?"

"Well, don't you think they would want you to be happy? If you aren't happy now, then they should help you find something else."

"That's easier said than done. You don't know my brother. Sure my dad would be ok, and I might get Mom on board, but I would never get Max's approval."

She raised and eyebrow at him. So he corrected himself.

"Not that I need his approval. Only, he's my brother, my best friend. He loves supervising all that digging and he really loves that I'm there with him. What would he think if I told him that I didn't want to do something he loves? It would be like mocking his dream."

"No it wouldn't." Kavie said, looking strait at him now. "It would be more like you telling him you want your own dream."

Leo thought about this. He then mimicked Kavie and lay down beside her. Now he could really see the vast ocean of those sparkly things. He then remembered something. (Maybe to distract a little from his problem)

"You never told me why you were out here." Leo said. Now starting to yawn.

She looked at him with an expression he couldn't describe, and then back upward.

"When my parents died, you told me that they went up into the sky. That that's where everyone goes when they die. That night marked a few nights when I couldn't sleep, and that's when I really first noticed those things." She indicated the dots in the sky.

"I thought maybe that is where we go...where they went. I asked my grandmother and she said that is what a lot of other animals believe. So since then, I've been coming out here...to try and find which one they're on."

She sounded a bit self-conscious, but she still smiled softly. "I knew I couldn't really find it, but this became a really good place for me to think, and every once in a while I look again."

"Thanks for telling me." Leo said as he now fought to keep his eyes open.

They talked a little while more, until they both fell quiet. The last thing Leo remembered thinking was why Kavie's head was now resting on his shoulder.


"Leo, Leo wake up!"

As Leo opened his eyes he felt very confused, especially since the brightness of the day was blinding him. This is weird, he thought. Why is the sun coming into the tunnels? Why does he hear Kavie's voice? As his eyes adjusted though, he realized where he was.

He saw Kavie looking very embarrassed, sitting as far from him as possible and looking up at someone. Leo turned in the direction she was looking and saw Max looming over them.

He bolted up at that point, and as he stood up Max simply said, "You're late, come on."

Max then turned and began walking away. Leo gave a quick wave to Kavie and followed his brother, saying, "Max, I'm sorry, I..."

His brother looked away from him, his eyes closed, and a paw raised in his direction. "Neh, I don't wanna know."


Author's Note: Well hello, its been a while, but I hope this chapter was worth the wait! I really like this one, and I hope you agree. If anyone has read my other fic T&P:ToC, I tried to make Leo and Kavie's re-meeting the exact (or close to exact) opposite from when Timon and Myla first met. Thanks again to the people who actually read this story! :-)