My Lion King Forum

Timon thrust out a hand, grabbing a hold of Simba's paw and shaking it vigorously. "Name's Timon, kid. And this fella' here, we call him Pumbaa." He prodded Pumbaa's flank with a thumb. "Taught him everything he knows."

"Yep! And he'll show you how to live out here. Timon's a great teacher, you get it in no time!" Pumbaa puffed up, obliviously. "Hang on, Timon...Wasn't I the one who taught you how to burp the loudest? You know, the really important stuff."

"Pumbaa, let's get you outta the sun, huh? I think the heat's getting to ya." Timon motioned towards the wall of green jungle looming over the horizon. "Well... Simba, you comin' or what?"

"Sure!" Simba replied as the three of them started to make their way to the jungle. The lush greens of the jungle contrasted with he golden browns of the desert. The sun shone onto the trees and foliage, creating a warm and inviting glow as it reflected. Although Simba had never lived in a jungle environment, there was no denying that it looked like a nice place to live but he would have to learn how to live and survive there.

And now he had Timon and Pumbaa, who seemed to genuinely want to help. Perhaps this could be the start of a good friendship.

As they got closer to the jungle, the sound of fresh running water as well as critters who inhabited it could be heard and created a calm serenity.

The calm serenity was killed by the sound of a terrifying rumble that scattered the birds in the trees and drowned out the critters around them. "Sorry, that was me," Pumbaa sheepishly glanced down at his belly, "Timon, is it lunch time yet?"

Timon glanced up at the position of the sun in the sky, and then down at his belly. "Y'know, Pumbaa, you might just be onto something." He turned to Simba. "So, kid, what kinda grubs you eat back out there in the, well, the where you're from place?"

"Well, ya' don't talk much, do ya' kid?"

The sun shined through the gaps between the trees which shaded the area they were in. Compared to the large open area of the Pride Lands, which was almost always golden brown under the sun light, Simba was still taken aback at how much more colour the jungle had than his home.

It had been well over a day since Simba had last eaten, but by the sound the warthog's belly had just made, it seemed to Simba that Pumbaa hadn't eaten in even longer than that, but warthogs were also generally not fussy eaters.
This plus the meerkat asking him what he usually eats made Simba realise they probably had very different diets.
Plus they seemed to be the biggest animals around in this jungle, as far as Simba could see, the only other notable wildlife were the monkeys swinging in the trees. However there were a lot of potential places for a predator to hide and sneak on its prey.

"Well the older lions usually do the hunting. My favourite is zebra. Antelope are good too and... " He turned his head toward Timon. Remembering where they were, he realised it was unlikely he would be feeding off the same animals he was accustomed to.

Timon cracked up. "Lemme tell ya' buddy, you've got some exotic tastes. No, see, Pumbaa and I here, we're just your everyday folks. But don't you worry," he winked at Pumbaa, "When you're with us, you'll eat like a king. You see these bad boys?"

Timon pried a small rock from the dirt to reveal a writhing mass below. Ignoring the cub's cringe, he plucked a long worm and held it up. "You see this guy? This guy here is a pure jungle delicacy." Timon sucked up the worm, which was nearly the length of Timon's whole body, with a disgustingly wet slurp. "Oh man, that is good." He plucked a thicker beetle and held it up. "Oh, you gotta try this crunchy-gooey delight. Pumbaa's favorite." Sensing Simba's reluctance, he shoved it in the cub's nose. "C'mon! You're a growing boy!"