Once Upon a Timon - ENGLISH

Chapter 9: Flower petals

When Tesma stopped, they were in front of a colossal structure. Timon could hardly believe what he was seeing.

This house was different from the ones they had visited before.

Unlike the previous ones, this one was located on the highest part of a rock overlooking the colony. Several meters below was the main lake, and all around it could be seen the little houses that Timon had seen the night before during the party.

The size was also a notable feature. It was almost as big as the termite nests the meerkat had seen during his years living in the jungle, and very similar in appearance. Although the mud with which it was built looked much smoother and more refined than that of the nests, it had several towers, just like these, that rose almost two meters above the square base of the structure. These were considerably wider than the towers built by termites, and many had vine-built bridges connecting them to one another.

The base, as already stated, was square, and the roof was formed by a continuous series of quadrangular pyramids. It had several branches furrowing the length and width of said pyramids, serving as beams, which protruded from the mud and could be seen from the outside. The entire complex was fenced off by a clay wall, the upper end of which imitated the roof of the base.

"Was it Basu's idea too?" Timon asked.

"No. This was everyone's idea. Dad and I live here. It's like... our castle. Do you want to see inside?"

Timon did not even need to reply. Tesma took him by the hand again and trotted him to the gates of the building. He barely had a chance to keep up with her, taking care not to bump into anything and looking inside the place all at the same time.

Inside it was even more amazing. Wooden beams could be seen passing under the pyramids, which turned out to be hollow. Decoration was sparse, if at all a few battered clay sculptures. The atmosphere was cool, and as they entered it the temperature dropped more.

The female led him through each corridor and nook and cranny that they found in their path, explaining quickly and with emotion, as only Tesma could explain, the function for which each one was destined. On the way they met some meerkats cleaning the place, or moving materials from the site, but they hardly paid any attention to them.

"That's the garden we built in honor of my mom," explained Tesma when they passed in front of a little door that led outside. Timon did not have enough time to appreciate the beautiful flowers and vines that were grown there. "And on this side we keep the food. Every day someone brings insects here and is in charge of seasoning them before giving them to my dad. The jungle is full of scent plants, did you know? I guess so, you lived here longer than us and... oh! This is where we usually eat. Usually it's just dad and me. And this corridor leads to an underground tunnel, just like before. Dad sleeps down here. He says he likes tunnels better, old school, and I think he still don't like Basu's ideas. Maybe he never will anymore."

"And what about Tay?" Timon dared to ask. "I heard that you were engaged. He... does he live here too?"

Tesma's features suddenly became serious, almost sad.

"No, not yet," she said after a few seconds. "He will do it after the wedding."

"And... when will that be?"

"In five days," she sighed.

Timon was surprised to see her reaction; it was not what he would expect from a future bride. Noticing her discomfort, he decided to change the subject of the conversation.

"And what about the towers?"

"They were supposed to be used for surveillance, but in the jungle there is nothing to watch over. Nobody hardly ever goes there," she explained, a little more animated. "My room is up there, it's like my own world. Only my ladies-in-waiting and the servant on duty go up there. Dad never goes there, "then she added in a whisper: "he doesn't want to accept it, but I know he's afraid of heights."