Chapter Five: Into the Jungle

The Lion Guard and the baboon siblings finally arrived at the edge of the jungle.

Kion: "We're here." He stepped forward, looking around cautiously.

Bunga: "Zuka Zama, gh-gh-ghost. Zuka Zama, gh-gh-ghost." He started singing with enthusiasm, too excited to contain himself.

Fuli: "Bunga." She groaned, her tail flicking with mild irritation.

Bunga: "What?" He asked, looking innocently at her.

Fuli: "Can you not sing about the ghost?" She asked, giving him a pointed look.

Bunga: "I can't help it. I'm just too excited to meet the ghost." He replied, bouncing slightly.

Kion: "Well, maybe it would be a better idea not to mention the ghost in front of Bongo and Asha." He shook his head.

Bobo: "Don't worry, you two. I promise you, there's not going to be a ghost." He stepped in confidently.

Bongo: "Okay, we trust you." He looked at his brother with trust in his eyes.

Asha, still nervous, nodded, holding on tightly to Fuli's back.

Kion: "Are you guys ready to find the ghost?" Kion asked, his voice steady.

They all nodded, even though some of them still felt a little uneasy. Together, they entered the jungle, the thick trees casting deep shadows on the ground. Bobo noticed Asha was trembling slightly.

Bobo: "Bongo, why don't you hold Asha's hand? She'll feel safer that way." He leaned over to Bongo.

Bongo immediately took Asha's hand, and she slowly began to calm down.

Beshte: "Good idea, Bobo." He said with a smile.

Ono: "That was really good thinking." He nodded.

Bobo: "I'm her older brother. It's my job." He shrugged modestly.

Fuli glanced at Bobo and smiled, proud of how he was taking care of his younger siblings.

Kion: "Everyone, stay together. This jungle is big enough for us to get lost." He reminded the group.

As they moved deeper into the jungle, Asha suddenly froze, her eyes wide.

Asha: *baby voice* "Bongo. Bongo!" She tugged on Bongo's arm.

Bongo: "What is it?" He turned to her.

Asha: *baby voice* "Look." She said, pointing to some bushes nearby.

*RUSTLING*

Bongo followed her gaze and saw the bushes rustling unnervingly. His heart skipped a beat.

Bongo: "Lion Guard! The bushes!" He called out, his voice rising in alarm.

Everyone turned their attention to the moving bushes.

Bunga: "Ooh, it's the ghost." He said, his voice filled with excitement.

Asha: *baby voice* "Bongo, Bobo. Get the ghost." She whispered fearfully, clinging to Fuli even tighter.

Bongo: *gulps* He gulped, taking a shaky breath as he climbed down from Fuli's back.

He and Bobo walked cautiously up to the bushes, both hesitating.

Bongo: "You go first, Bobo." He looked over at Bobo nervously.

Bobo: "No way, you go first." He retorted, though he sounded just as hesitant.

Bongo: "No, you're older than me." He crossed his arms.

Bobo: "Yeah, by like five minutes. What's the difference?" He countered.

Kion: *sighs* "You guys, why don't you both go into the bushes?" He sighed.

Bongo and Bobo: "Okay." They exchanged glances and, after a moment, nodded.

Bobo: "One…" He started.

Bongo: "Two…" He added, his heart racing.

Asha, clutching Fuli's tail tightly, was tense with anticipation.

Fuli: "Mmm, a little too hard, Asha." She winced slightly.

Asha: *baby voice* "Sorry, Fuli. She mumbled, quickly loosening her grip.

Bongo and Bobo: "Three!" They shouted together, jumping into the bushes.

Suddenly, there was a loud cry.

Bongo and Bobo: "YEEEEEOOOOWWWCHHH!" They yelped in pain.

Kion: "Bongo, Bobo, are you okay?" He rushed forward, concerned.

Bobo: "No, not really." His voice came out strained.

Bongo and Bobo stumbled out of the bushes, their backsides covered in sharp quills.

Ono: "Aren't those porcupine quills?" He squinted.

Bunga: "Porcupines?" He said, his excitement shifting to confusion.

Just then, two porcupine brothers emerged from the bushes, looking equally startled.

Beshte: "Hey, it's those two porcupines we thought were the Zimwi." He smiled, recognizing them.

Bongo: "Wait, two porcupines were the Zimwi?" He asked, still wincing from the quills.

Bunga: "Yeah. We all thought the Zimwi was an animal with eight legs, each one bigger than the last." He nodded.

Bobo: "Who knew." He shook his head in disbelief.

Porcupine: "Sorry we quilled you two. We just got scared." One of the porcupines spoke up, looking apologetic.

Kion: "So what are you two doing here?" He approached them, trying to understand.

Porcupine "We heard a voice telling us to leave the jungle. So we hid in the bushes." The porcupines exchanged a nervous glance before one of them replied.

Bunga: "Was it the ghost?" His eyes went wide with excitement.

At the mention of the ghost, the porcupines' eyes went wide with fear. Without another word, they turned and scurried off into the jungle, quills bristling.

To be continued… End of Chapter Five

If any of you are fans, then you would know the episode 'Beware the Zimwi'. Yes, those are the same porcupines, I've decided to have them cameo in this Halloween Special. I forgot to mention, even the same Rhino and Hare are in this special as well.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's chapter. Until then, leave your reviews/comments. Follow and/or favorite the story. And I'll see you all tomorrow-MusicLover5903