Djim's senses were heightened. The Lion of Fire and he circled each other warily. The Lion of Stone curiously held back. The Lion of Fire feigned a pounce, and Djim tensed up for an attack that never came.
"Do you really think you'll come out of this alive, cougar?"
"You made one mistake when you killed my parents: you didn't kill me also. That will prove to be your ruin, Lion."
"If we are to fight, let's make this interesting, shall we?"
Suddenly, a ring of fire ignited, trapping Djim and the Lion inside. Djim looked at the fire, then back at the Lion, who anticipated the momentary distraction. Djim dodged to the right, just missing the Lion's pounce in his direction. He swiped at the Lion with his paw but missed. The Lion roared as he landed, then turned to his left, hoping to catch Djim off guard.
Plucky stood in front of the oak tree. Both halves of the ruby were now resting in a tree hollow, nearly at his eye level. At a distance and still guarding the mom Plucky had grown up with was the Witch. His mother continued pleading with Plucky, to no avail. On a whim, the Witch waved her stick. His mother continued shouting, but no sound came out of her throat.
Plucky removed the two halves of the ruby with one paw as his other paw inched toward the pocket of his overalls. He then turned, and at arm's length, he clasped his paws together. He felt a surge of power coursing through his body, from the crown of his head down to his toes. He then locked eyes with the Witch.
"Excellent, my son! Now give me the ruby, and I'll let your auntie go."
"I have a better idea!"
Before the Witch could react, Plucky reached into his pocket once more and pulled out a small black stone. The Witch's eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. Plucky slammed the two stones together, yelling, "NO MORE MAGIC!"
"NO!" the Witch screamed. But it was too late. Her stick faded out of existence, and she fell to the ground unconscious.
Try as the cougars might, fatigue set in, and they began falling in increasing numbers. The captains ordered the survivors to retreat, but they soon realized they were nearly surrounded by hyenas. To make matters worse, the last rank of jackals had closed the circle. Suddenly, a wave of red and black energy flowed across the plain, leaving the Witch's army momentarily bewildered and stunned.
Plucky rushed over to his aunt, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh, Plucky! You saved me!"
"Mama! I mean, aunty!"
"Mama is just fine! Now Plucky, help your friend! Use the ruby!"
Plucky turned and spotted Djim desperately trying to fend off the Lion. Still holding the ruby, he pointed it at the Lion and shouted, "Watch out, Djim!" Djim reacted by leaping over the fiery rim, after which a blast of energy consumed the Lion, flesh, and bone. Plucky immediately turned to his aunt so he could untie her. At that moment, the Lion of Stone tackled Djim, and the momentum sent them both tumbling over the cliff's edge. Plucky, realizing what had transpired, ran over to where he last saw Djim. Dropping to his knees, he cried out for his friend. Suddenly, he heard a grunt. This was followed by a paw reaching up, then the rest of Djim crawling onto the level ground.
"Help me up, will you?"
Plucky stood up and ran over to Djim.
"I'm kidding! I found some stairs leading down to something. Something that I think will help my tribe."
Plucky looked around the meadow one more time, but the Witch was curiously nowhere to be seen.
"Let's go, Plucky!"
Plucky and his mother, now untied, followed Djim down the stairs.
As if on cue, the remaining hyenas and jackals fought against the cougars with renewed vigor. Then they all heard a steady rumbling rapidly approaching from the southeast. Everyone stopped fighting and saw it: a stampede of angry water buffalo. At the forefront of the pack, each atop a beast, was Plucky, his aunty, and Djim. Panic flowed through the Witch's army, and they retreated as quickly as possible. The cougars cheered, though they were exhausted from their intense battle. On instinct, the water buffaloes stopped when they reached the weary cougars.
"Three cheers for the bear cub!"
"Thank you, everyone, but I could not have done this without Djim," Plucky said.
The King returned, limping and escorted by two guards.
"Plucky... Djim... I am very proud of you both."
"Your Majesty, you are most welcome," said Djim.
"Thank you for everything, your Majesty," Plucky added.
"And this, Plucky, must be your mother," The King said.
"Your Majesty," Plucky's aunt bowed her head.
"Djim. I have arranged for you to have exceptional living quarters wherein you may spend the rest of your days in peace. I thank you for your service," the King spoke.
"Your Highness, with the utmost respect, I must decline your offer. I will always be a cougar, but fate has sent me a new brother in Plucky. Wherever he goes, there I shall follow."
At this, Plucky spoke up.
"Your Highness... If I may, Djim and I, in our journey, came across proof that my father is still alive. I would appreciate it if Djim went with me on this mission."
"Very well. As you have said, so may it be done. Djim, may the fates smile upon you wherever life takes you."
"Thank you, and totsiens, Your Majesty," Plucky and Djim said in tandem. "Fare thee well, your Highness," Plucky's mother added.
Along the trip back to the Evergreen Forest, Plucky had told his mother about what he and Djim found in the cave. She listened carefully. When Plucky finished recounting, she replied, "I, too, believe your father is alive. I would not lose hope of finding him, wherever he may be."
"What will you do now, Plucky?" Djim asked.
"I want to talk with the Great Lion. I think he might know where my father is." "Well, you're in luck because I sense the Lions are still in their dens or thereabouts," answered his mother.
All of a sudden, Djim stopped and sniffed the air. "It also seems the Witch is there with them. Choose your words carefully, Plucky."
Plucky grimly nodded, and they continued in silence. Approaching the Lions' Den, Djim quietly signaled for the group to stop. He crept ahead to understand better what was happening. A short time later, he returned. "They know we are close. It must be the ruby."
Plucky nodded and boldly stepped into the clearing, followed by his mother, then Djim.
"Plucky! How pleasing it is to see that you made it back home," said the Great Lion. Plucky was stunned. The Great Lion's shape was greatly wasted away. He was no longer the majestic beast he had once been.
"As I remember, you once threatened to kill me," Plucky said warily.
"My dear bear cub, please understand... I was under an enchantment at the time I said that. Whatever I may have said, know I would never do anything to hurt you," the Lion pleaded.
"There you have it, Plucky. You now have the Lion's word. But enough dilly- dallying. Have you had a change of heart? Have you decided to return the ruby to its rightful owner?"
Before Plucky could respond, someone behind them interrupted the conversation.
"If there is anyone who can claim to be the ruby's rightful owner, that would be me."
At this, everyone turned their heads, and the Witch took a step back in disbelief.
Stepping out of the forest, and stopping between Plucky and the Lions, stood a haggard old bear, about a head taller than Plucky. He held a walking stick in his right paw. The Witch took another step back, wild fear in her eyes. "How did you escape?" the Witch cried out.
"You can thank my son for that," the older bear answered.
Plucky's eyes widened as the realization sank in.
"F- Father?" he stammered.
"The one and only, Plucky."
Plucky began crying as he ran into his father's arms. His mother joined in the embrace. Even Plucky's father was overcome with happiness.
"Enough with the sentimentality! We are here for the ruby," the Witch exclaimed. The Lions nodded in agreement.
"I'm not giving it to either one of you. My father made it, so the ruby's fate is up to him and no one else," Plucky shot back.
"By that token, I disagree! Your father could never have made that ruby without my help!" The Witch cried out.
"The ruby has always been under our protection," the Great Lion interjected. "You abused your authority!" Plucky's aunt shouted at the Lion. "ENOUGH!" Plucky yelled as loud as he could. Everyone else quieted down and looked at him.
"I have the ruby, so it's up to me! I will give the ruby to my father, and that's final!"
The Witch reached out her hand in vain. The Great Lion drooped his head as if in deep thought. Plucky turned to his father and gave him the ruby. It glowed as it was placed in his father's paw. He turned to the Witch.
"By the power of the ruby, I, at this moment, banish all of the remaining Lions and you, Olive. Neither of you shall ever be allowed back into this forest." "You will rue this day!" the Witch crisply said. Then, she turned around and stormed off the field. The Great Lion raised his head, slowly turned, and padded into the forest. The remaining Lions somberly followed.
"Mother... Father, let us go home," Plucky sleepily said.
"Lead the way, Plucky," said his father.
"Djim, come with us," his mother added.
Back at home, Plucky stumbled off to bed. Plucky's father, mother, and Djim congregated at the kitchen table. Djim excused himself and promptly fell asleep in Plucky's chair.
Sometime later, they were all startled by a commotion coming from outside. Plucky's father ran out to investigate. Djim and Plucky's mother went to wake him up.
"Plucky, wake up! The forest is on fire! The forest is burning!"
His father shouted as he swung the front door open. Plucky sat up as he hugged his mom.
"Plucky, let's go! It's no longer safe here!"
The four rushed outside and were stunned at the chaos. Everywhere they turned, there were families, cubs, and birds fleeing for their lives. It was soon apparent who was responsible for the fire. Coming out of a hold in the ground were hyena after hyena, each carrying a torch and wreaking havoc as only they could. Plucky's mother turned to Djim.
"Get Plucky out of here."
Djim nodded and grabbed Plucky's arm.
"Mama, no!" Plucky cried out.
"Stay with Djim! We are oath-bound to protect the forest! We will find you once the danger is passed! Go before the flames reach us!"
Plucky ran off with Djim away from the only home he had ever known. The fire and smoke soon trapped them. They were coughing more frequently now. Suddenly, Djim stopped, and Plucky crashed into him. He quickly saw the reason why Djim stopped moving.
Before them stood the Great Lion. He growled in anger. Plucky reached for his pendant instinctually but remembered he no longer had it. Noticing this reaction, the Great Lion laughed.
"I don't need magic to kill you."
Before Plucky could cry out, the Great Lion pounced toward him. Plucky shielded his face and closed his eyes, cowering in terror. The impact never came.
Walking on the plain, the Witch turned around and beheld the conflagration of the forest. She cackled loudly and continued on her way.
Plucky opened his eyes and saw a burning tree. The Lion was nowhere to be seen. He looked to Djim.
"Plucky, I'm so sorry! I..."
"Why? What happened?"
It was then he saw it. To his left, laid out on the ground, was his lifeless father. Tears flowed down his face. Then he spotted the Great Lion. The Lion looked at Plucky's father, then slowly shifted so he could look into Plucky's eyes. Plucky was now kneeling in agony. Seemingly content with his accomplishment, he disappeared into the smoky vapor. Plucky never saw him again.
"Plucky, your father had the ruby. I guess it's yours now," Djim said respectfully.
Plucky tearfully uncurled his father's left paw. It was empty. He tried the right paw and did not see the ruby either. Instead, there was an acorn nestled in his palm. Plucky slowly reached for it.
"Plucky, the fire. We need to get out of here. I will keep an eye out for your mother."
As he said this, a burning branch broke off and landed on the ground nearby. Plucky rubbed his tears away. He stood up, then followed Djim, who had dropped to all fours. Plucky stuffed the oak nut into his pocket and followed suit.
Once outside the forest, Plucky's mother spotted them first. She thanked Djim and hugged Plucky. The three watched the rest of the forest burn in silence. One by one, Plucky's friends and neighbors gathered around them. Djim told Plucky he had to report what had just happened to his King. They hugged before he departed.
Once the flames died down, Plucky pulled out the oak nut, studied it, then looked around what was once the forest. He knelt, dug a hole into the ground, and placed the acorn into the hole. Plucky looked up at his mom and then smiled.
