"This is the jungle!" Baloo stalked the small group of wolves(+Mowgli). "In the jungle, we all hunt. Qnd.." He slammed his front paws onto the sandy ground, scaring the group. "We are all hunted."
"You see what that means?" He walked slowly, staring them down. "It means that you...you don't wanna get caught."
The triplet cubs chittered amongst each other, the one closest to Mowgli giving a teasing nip.
"That's why you can't join the pack until you have passed the Running-" Baloo saw this and butt him out of the line into the sand. "Pay attention!"
The cub who got butt out whined and slouched back in line with his brothers.
"'What's the running, Baloo?'," He asked himself. "The Running is the hunt where you...are the prey." He drawled his words, enjoying the fear and determination in their eyes.
"Now, Bagheera and Nala here. You all know the two of them, don't you?" Baloo gestured to the two animals on the higher stone perch. "Yeah, Bagheera, friendly Bagheera. In the Running," He brought the attention back to him. "He will hunt you. And if he catches you...you fail."
"What happens if you fail?"
At Mowgli's question, a few wolves saddened.
"You don't join the pack!" Baloo shouted his answer.
The wolves all braced for more yelling or a harsh beating but got none.
"But," Baloo sniffed. "I've never had any of my cubs fail." He sat back. "And I'm not gonna start now." He laughed to himself.
All of them,straightened up, still silent.
"Good. Let's practice, shall we?" But it wasn't a question.
All wolves in the line turned the opposite direction, lowering their torso to the ground as they got ready to pounce off.
"On my call."
Mowgli's eyes stared dead ahead.
"Wait."
Sweat dribbled down his skin.
"Wait."
Nala yawned.
"Go!"
And they took off, giving no second thoughts about it.
"Come on now!" Baloo shouted as he followed. "Pick up the pace!"
The wolves ran by Mowgli, leaving him.
"Come on!" Baloo also passed Mowgli, looking back. "Faster!"
Mowgli stopped, panting as he stood and looked ahead. Baloo was off by his tail so it was safe to say Mowgli was at the far back.
He went over to a few large leaves and gently pulled the end, allowing some refreshing water to pour down into his mouth.
As the last drop fell, Mowgli heard a hollow whistle. He looked to his right and there was a hand with a starfruit shaking down from above the leaves.
Mowgli smiled seeing the fruit and deemed whoever was handing it a friendly person. He went to grab it but the hand retreated, peaking through the leaves a few paces from where he was at and the owner chittered.
This happened again until the owner pulled back a leaf, looking down and showing it to be a baby monkey.
Mowgli smiled before holding onto a few branches and pulling himself up above the leaves.
Before he could go fully, someone dragged him down.
"You were with the monkey people again." Baloo sighed, tired from the day's events and Mowgli's behavior.
YOU ARE READING
The Child Of The Jungle
Paranormale"He is the first human to ever be accepted by the jungle." "Let's keep it that way." After his family got murdered by the jungles rogue, he was brought in by two helpful souls and raise...
