The Child Of The Jungle

¹Mowgli

(I don't know the grey wolf's name so imma call him Grey Brother)

It has been a few years since the day the man-cub was brought into the jungle. He was raised and fed by Nisha and Vihaan, played with the other young cubs of the pack, and was taught lessons by the two who brought him in. And their friend, Baloo.

Running along the canyon and through the whole jungle, the man-cub yowled and laughed, riding on Bagheera's back as the two and Nala raced to the fields.

--

"Hunting is sacred, little brother." Bagheera led Mowgli through the tall grass in a slow crouch. "It is our right. But we never do it for sport."

Nala sat in a thick tree above, watching them while cleaning her claws on the bark.

Bagheera caught the deer in his jaw and placed him on a stone after it stopped thrashing about. "Wait...wait...we look them in the eye, so that the soul doesn't depart alone."

Mowgli looked the deer in its eyes silently, watching as it's pupils stopped moving, signaling that it's soul has passed on.

"Let's go." Nala called from the trees above after hearing some monkeys chirping.

--

Below the coverage of the jungle leaves and on the support of a large branch above a stream of water were the three.

Mowgli caught a bug in his hand, eyes unmoving from his big brother figure as he slept with Nala on his back. Mowgli bit into the bug and chew slowly before deciding to bother the panther.

"Bagheera." Mowgli softly nudged the panther's snout with his foot, not getting much of a reaction. He looked overhead at the birds flying. "How old is the jungle, Bagheera?"

"The jungle has been here since before you were born and it will be here..." Bagheera yawned. "...after you die. The jungle is eternal."

"Bagheera..." Mowgli started again. "Why am I different to the other wolves?"

Bagheera opened his eyes and gently nudged Nala down his back and onto the tree trunk. "You are no different, little brother." He tapped Mowgli's heart. "You are special."

Mowgli smiled cheekily at his older brother who could only fight to try and keep his eyes open.

--

"Of course you're different."

Baloo was another case.

"That's why you need special training." He chewed mindlessly. "You know what your trouble is? Lack of focus."

Mowgli was breathing lightly as he felt the scorpion climb from his legs upwards. "Baloo. How many ants can you fit in your mouth? Ants are really small. And your mouth is really big."

Baloo paused for a second before biting more into his fruit.

"I bet-"

"Mowgli, will you concentrate?" Baloo reprimand him, seeing the scorpion right at his chin.

The scorpion crawled upwards and across Mowgli's face, stopping at his nose and raising its stinger. It was daring him to do it. To move.

"Do....not...move..." Baloo rose more into the air from his safe spot, watching the scorpion.

Sensing it was wasting its time, the scorpion lowered its stinger and crawled upwards. Mowgli waited until it was on his hair to sit up, making the insect drop into the leaves below.

"Why do I have to do this?" Mowgli inquired.

"Because I said so." Baloo countered. "Tell me the three laws, now."