It starts...

Aiden grins. "Me too!" Aiden says, and steps up as well.

Syd slowly bounds off toward Pride Rock, and as soon as she met the promontory, let the cubs down.

He could see the look of pure pleasure in the hyenas eyes, as he killed Vahn's mother. Then the hyena's turned on him. One hyena slashed out at the terrified Vahn, slashing him across his left arm....

"AHHH"

Vahn woke with a start, panting heavily...*sigh*
He got up and started making his way towards the waterhole.

Vahn looked in the direction of the voice he heard.
It was Imika.
"Oh, nothing, forget it. By the way, Thank You for what you did earlier, trusting me and all. Not many lions would have done that to a stranger."

Vahn was taken by surprise. He looked at Imika affectionately, a smile crawling across his face. He nuzzles her back, feeling more welcome then ever before.

"I would like that very much" Vahn replied, "although I can't say I know very much of the territory...perhaps you could show me?"

"Wow.....it's beautiful" Vahn says. His eyes slowly turning from the vast forest in front of him, to Imika..

"Yes, that sounds good" replied Vahn. He just couldn't take his eyes off Imika.

Following suit, Vahn lays down next to Imika. He finaly pulls his gaze off Imika and turns it towards the stars.

"Beautiful..." Vahn repeats...
"So, tell me a little about yourself Imika." requests Vahn.

(OOC: I'd love to keep this goin right now, but its 3 am here, and i gota get some sleeps! Laterz for now)




" I see." Vahn goes deep into thought, trying to build up his curage...
"Imika, wha-...*sigh*...nevermind." Vahn said.

Vahn smiled...."It's nothing, really." Vahn explained.

"We should try and get some rest. Goodnight Imika" Vahn nuzzled Imika affectionately, before drifting off to sleep.

*The next mroning*

Roco emerged from the cave and yawned loudly as he approached the water hole near by. He could already see Nisodo sitting in the shallow water, washing his face.
"Morning!" Roco called.
"What?" Nisodo said with water dripping down his face, "Oh, good morning. How's Zinc?"
"She's fine, woke up not too long ago but soon went back to sleep." Roco also knelt down and began splashing his face with water. "We better get them up soon we have to go."
Nisodo looked at Roco, "Why? It's so peaceful here." Roco stared somewhat shocked at Nisodo.
"Have you forgotten why we left home?" He asked, "We are trying to find my Brother, my mum and my uncle!" A concerned looked came over Nisodo face,
"Maybe," he said carefully, "it's time you let that go." Roco's jaw dropped. "I know it's hard but-but how long have we been looking for them? I really hate to say it but, I don't think we are ever going to find them." Roco stared angryly at Nisodo.
"They're-They're my family! I just can't abandon(sp?) them and give up all hope!"
"I admire your faith in finding them, Roco, I really do but sometimes you just have to know when enough is enough. It's just like your uncle used to say,
We are a movable feast, feared by no one...and eaten by all.
The chances of us finding them is a million to one. I just don't want to see you, going on this journey of false hope." Roco looked at the ground, upset, but not defeated, he still believed. "I'm sorry." Said Nisodo, then he walked off back to the cave.
Roco stared down at the water.
"Why did I hold that grudge." He said to himself, "It wasn't his fault he was just a kid back then." The water at his feet seemed to replay the whole haunted mermory.

Timon, don't go near the river do you here me. You could get me into a lotta trouble if you do and more importantly, you'll get hurt. You got that!"
"Yes Roco."
"Good, I'll see you later, remember what I said."
Timon watched Roco run off and play with his friends. Why was Roco so popular, it wasn't far what did Roco have that he didn't.
Roco always made him looked like a wimp, but not today!
Timon ran off in the direction of the river, danger, huh! He wasn't scarred of any old river, how could he possibly get hurt!
Timon approached the river and looked down into the murky water.
"I don't know what Roco's talking about, I bet I could swim in that and nothing will happen!" At that moment the small brittle area of land Timon was sitting on broke away and he fell into the dank water.
"Help!" He spluttered, "Please, Help! Somebody! Anybody! Roco! Please! Help me!!!"
Some way away, Roco stood up straight and pricked up his ears.
"What's the matter Roco?" Said Izkig.
"Shh!" Roco quickly replied.
"Help! Please Help!" Came the distant voice.
"That's Timon!" Roco said looking toward the river, his eyes widedend(sp???) and he took off toward the river. they others followed.
Roco grabbed a weak vine from a near by tree as he approached the river and tied it around a large rock and his waist then dived in to save his brother.
"Roco!" The other three meerkats yelled.
"Where is he?" Izkig said in a panicky voice.
"I don't see him." Nisodo said.
"G-guys! The vine!" Clooney yelled seeing the vine beginning to split.
The three meerkats grabbed the vine and pulled.
Roco and Timon bursted out of the water and Roco placed Timon and a ledge on the side of the river and told him to climb. But before he climbed out himself, the vine gave way and he was sent back into the murky depths.
"No!" Timon screamed as a log hit Roco and he sank under letting the current take him.
"Quick! Timon! Up here!" Nisodo called giving Timon his hand. Izkig began running down the river but stopped in horror when he saw something in the distance.
"Waterfall!" He yelled. They all began to run down the river and found Roco clinging for dear life from a branch above the water fall.
"Guys! Help me!" Izkig climbed down the river edge as far as he could.
"Grab my hand!" He yelled. Roco tried but in vain.
"I can't reach!" I large crack came from the branch and Roco dropped slightly. "Hurry!" Izkig reached closer and closer and so did Roco but when their fingers where only and inch apart, the branch snapped, and with one last cry for help Roco plunged into the mist.
Izkig stared horrified.
"Come on!" he said getting up and starting to make his way down the cliff beside the waterfall, "We have to find him!"
As they reached the bottom Izkig waded out and then dived into the water to find his best friend. He soon emerged with the drenched, lifeless body of Roco in his arms. He laid him gently on the ground.
They all stared down at the body of their friend with looks of sorrow.
Suddenly, Rco coughed and spat water from his mouth. His friends cheered with happiness and relief but were soon silenced by Roco's piercing glare, he turned sternly to Timon.
"I thought I told you not to go near the river." He said dangerously, shaking with anger.
"I-I-I'm sorry but-"
"You nearly got me KILLED!!!" He screamed. He got up and left without saying a word.

Roco, still staring at the water, thought back. Two months later, Timon left th colony, never to return. His mother and uncle became concerned not long after and went to find him. His mother had wanted him to come with him but he refused, he didn't want Timon back so Roco left the colony with his friends.
Years later they returned to see their families again but the colony was deserted. Something horrible had happened, Roco knew it but there was a chance his brother, mother and uncle had still been away and had escaped the unfortunate event.
Roco was not going to give up that easily, it was his unfinished buiness to forgive his brother and if he didn't fullflill it, well, Roco didn't like to think about a life and afterlife in guilt.
He got up, regathered his thoughts and walked slowly back to the cave.

(sorry that was so long! Also sorry for any bad spelling of punctuation.)

Vahn woke quitely. He couldn't remember the last time his dreams weren't haunted by his past...

He looked at the still sleeping lioness beside him. Imika....she looked so peaceful, gental....beautiful.
Vahn proceeded to get up, stretched, and let out a large yawn...he was hungry.

As quitely as he could, Vahn stalked away from Imika, and set out into the savahhna. It didn't take long to find a herd of antelope. He crouched down to the ground...patiently making his way closer, and closer to the herd. He waited for just the right moment......'NOW!' He thought. He lept out of hiding and into full stride before the Antelope knew what was going on. They saw the oncoming lion, and scattered.
Vahn knew it was only a matter of time before he had one.

Being on is own for so long gave him an almost unmatched stamina. And, being raised by cheetas, he had learned to run with his claws extracted, digging into the ground as he ran, making him much faster than he could be otherwise.

The antelope he was chasing was starting to get tired....just what Vahn was waiting for. He built up his speed, running as fast as he could, and he leap towards the antelope. He landed dead on, and quickly brought donw the antelope. He quickly grabbed the antelope by the neck, and with a quick *SNAP*, it was over.

Vahn stood still a moment, catching his breath. The he grabbed the now dead antelope by the neck, and started off...

Waking up to the bright sunshine flowing into the cavern, Aiden yawned a bit and then headed outside. He remembered Kiros though and ran back in to find him, He went over and pushed him a bit. "Hey, Kiros, wake up." Aiden said, shaking the other cub.

Syd groaned, still asleep. She rolled over on her back, frantically kicking her hind paw against the air, mumbling. She rolled over again and got up. "Hey, Aiden, Kiros." She had begun to like Kiros, and soon the thought of adopting him as well crept through her mind. "Aiden, do you mind if I talk to Kiros alone for a second?" She grinned widely.

Aiden turned to Syd. "Uh oh, is he in trouble?" Aiden asked.

"Not at all." Syd grinned.

((Uh....who plays Kiros again? Hehe....sorry...))

"Oh, uh.. okay!" Aiden said with a smile and ran out of the cave and began playing with his tail.

(STL has Kiros ;) )

((Ah.))

Syd led Kiros out of the den and to the tip of Pride Rock. "Kiros," she began. "How would you like to live with Aiden and me? He could use the company." Syd winked.