Rhinoceros, crisps, runway

Rhino huffed, his nostrils swelling to twice their size.

"There's no need for that, Sir Rhinoceros. I assure you our plan is quite secure." Said Vizier Stork. He touched a wing to his beak, "And I know a thing or two about keeping things secure."

This made Rhino huff no less. "I serve the King; I do not serve the Stork. You'll have to convince him of this folly. Until then, I wash my horn of this matter." He turned slowly around, and stomped out of the secret meeting underneath the shade of the Wide Tree.

Meerkat snacked loudly on a bag of spider crisps. "Well, I suppose that's that, then."

Stork tried to calm Meerkat and the others at the meeting. "Of course not. I'm sure Sir Rhino will come around in time."

"I think you'd have an easier time convincing King Lion than that old brute. If you ask me, we don't need either of them."

Baboon quietly raised a finger, "We have brains, but no strength with which to back it up. Who will take and protect this new kingdom, I ask? An army of your kin, Meerkat? Or perhaps you'll convince the Elephants to pay mind to someone other than than Elephantkind? Or maybe you mean to turn the Hippo into a warrior?"At that, everyone laughed at their expense. Hippo turned an even darker shade of red, while Meerkat slowly steamed.

When the laughter had died down, Meerkat began slowly, "You underestimate me, good Baboon. My allies are greater in number and in kind than you might think." He snapped another spider crisp into his mouth. "Spymaster!"

In an instant, Leopard dropped down from his unseen perch atop the Wide Tree. The animals drew away in fear, giving him a wide berth.

Meerkat smiled, enjoying the baboon's skittering especially. "Tell us what you have seen, Leopard."

Leopard described the camp his cold, emotionless eyes had seen. "A few tents, some artillery, and a runway. There aren't many in number now, but they mean to stay. And they will only grow."

Baboon regained his composure, and scoffed. "and do you mean to have an army of spies to go against the Human scourge? You cannot hope to do this without consent of the King."

It was Stork's turn to chime in. "You leave that to me. Cheetah!"

The slender, tiny-boned cat slinked from his bed beneath the tree. "If you please, could you summon our friends the Hyenas? I believe they have a favor owed to us."

Cheetah nodded, and took off in pursuit of their new dark allies.

Baboon shook his head. "I too, can take no part in this."

Meerkat spat onto the ground. "Why can none of you see what is happening here? I have seen the man-cities that stand in place of the jungles of my cousin mongoose. Do you think they mean anything different here? They push out all others and destroy the land wherever they go. There is no one that is safe, no not one. If the King and his loyals want to sit by and be slaughtered, then they need only wait and do nothing. But for me, I will not stand by and wait to die. I will strike, now, while I still can. You can tell that to your king." He threw down the bag and climbed on top of the Stork. "Let us leave these short-sighted simpletons."

"As you wish, Lord Meerkat."