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 too. That will prove to be your ruin, Lion."
"If we are to fight, let's make this... interesting, shall we?"
All of a sudden, a ring of fire ignited, trapping Djim and the Lion within. 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 eye level. At a distance, 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 staff and his mother continued yelling but no sound came out.
Plucky removed the two halves of the ruby and at arm's length he joined three together. He felt a surge of power coursing throughout his body, from the crown of his head down to his toes.
"Excellent, my son! Now give me the ruby and I'll let your auntie go," the witch said.
"I have a better idea!"
Before the witch could react, Plucky spun towards the witch, and, holding the ruby out in front of him, he yelled, "No magic!"
"NO!" The witch screamed, but it was too late. Her staff faded out of existence and she fell to the ground unconscious.
---
Try as the cougars might, fatigue set in, and they began falling in battle. The generals ordered a retreat, but they quickly realized they were surrounded by hyenas. The last rank of jackals had since advanced and closed in around them. Suddenly, a wave of energy flowed across the plain, leaving the witch's army momentarily bewildered.
---
Plucky rushed over to his aunt, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh, Plucky! You saved me!"
"Mama! I mean Auntie!"
"Mother is 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 turned and leapt over the rim of the fire, after which a blast of energy consumed the Lion, flesh and bone. Plucky immediately returned to his mother to untie her, and as such didn't see the Lion of Stone tackle Djim and sent them both flying over the edge of the cliff. Plucky, realizing what happened, ran over to where he last saw Djim. Dropping to his knees, he cried out for Djim.
Suddenly, he heard a grunt, and saw a paw reach up and grasp the edge, followed by the rest of Djim.
"Help me up, will you?"
Plucky stood up and ran over to Djim.
"I'm just kidding. I found some stairs leading down to something 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 a renewed vigor. It was then they all heard it in the distance, yet rapidly approaching: from the southeast was a stampede of angry water buffalo. Leading the charge, front and center was Plucky, his aunt, and Djim. Panic flowed through the armies of the witch, and they retreated as quick as they could. The cougars cheered, though they were exhausted from their long battles. 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 it without Djim," Plucky said.
The king returned, escorted by two guards.
"Plucky... Djim... I am very proud of you both."
"Your Majesty, you are most welcome," Djim said.
"Thank you for everything, your Majesty." Plucky bowed his head.
"And this must be your mother."
"Your Majesty." Plucky's aunt bowed her head.
"Djim, I have arranged for you to have special living quarters that you may spend the rest of your days in peace. I thank you for your service," The King said.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, I must decline your offer. I will always be a cougar, but fate has afforded me a new brother in Plucky. Wherever he goes, there I shall follow," Djim said, bowing.
"Your Highness, if I may, Djim and I in our journey have found proof that my father is still alive. I would appreciate it if Djim went with me on this mission."
"So you have said, so it shall be done. Djim, may the fates smile upon you, wherever life takes you."
"Thank you, and totsiens, your Majesty," Plucky and Djim said in unison.
"Fare thee well, your Highness," Plucky's aunt said.
Along the trip back to the Evergreen Forest, Plucky had told his mother about what Djim and he came across inside the mountain. She listened carefully, and intrigued, 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 to the Great Lion. I think he might know where my father is."
"You're in luck because I sense the Lions are nearby," said Djim.
"It seems the Lions are still in their den or thereabouts," said Plucky's aunt. 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 nodded and they continued in silence.
Approaching the Lions' Den, Djim gave a signal to stop while he crept ahead to determine what was happening. A short time later he returned.
"They know we are close. It must be the ruby."
Plucky nodded and they stepped into the clearing.
"Plucky, how pleased I am that you made it back home."
"As I remember, you tried to kill me," Plucky said warily.
"Plucky, my dear bear cub, please understand: I was under an enchantment at the time. Whatever I may have said, know I would never do anything to hurt you," The Great Lion replied.
"There you have it, Plucky. You have the Lion's word. But enough dilly dallying. Have you changed your mind about giving the ruby back to its rightful owner?"
"If there is anyone who can claim to be the ruby's rightful owner, that would be me."
Everyone turned their heads, and the Witch shook her head in disbelief.
Stepping out of the forest, between the Lions and Plucky stood a haggard old bear, about a head taller than Plucky. He held a walking stick in his right paw. At once, the witch took a step back, fear in her eyes.
"You- how did you escape?"
The witch cried out.
"You can thank my son for that."
Plucky's eyes widened.
"F-father?"
"In the flesh, my cub."
Plucky began crying as he ran towards his father, who embraced him. A tear trickled down his face. Even Plucky's mother was crying with happiness.
"Enough of the sentimentality. We are here because of the ruby."
"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 the ruby without my help," The witch said.
"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.
Everyone stopped and looked at Plucky.
"I have the ruby now, so I have the final say. I will give the ruby to my father, and that's final!"
The witch reached out her hand in vain. The Great Lion dropped his head as if on deep thought.
Plucky turned to his father and gave him the ruby. It flowed brightly as his father reached out his paw. He turned to the witch.
"By the power of the ruby, I hereby banish all Lions and you, Olive. You shall never be allowed back into this forest."
"You will rue this day," the witch crisply said. Then she turned around and left the field. The Great Lion raised his head, then slowly turned and left their den. The remaining Lions somberly followed.
"Mother, Father, let's go home," Plucky sleepily said.
"Lead the way, Plucky," his father said.
"Come with us, Djim," his mother said.
Back at home, Plucky stumbled off to bed. His mother, father and Djim sat at the kitchen table. Djim excused himself and promptly fell asleep in Plucky's chair in the living room.
Some time later, they were all startled by a commotion outside. Plucky's father ran outside to figure out what was happening. Djim and Plucky's mother woke Plucky up.
"The Forest is on fire! The forest is on fire!" His father shouted as he swung the front door open. Plucky shot up and instinctively hugged his mom.
"Let's go, Plucky. It's no longer safe here."
The three rushed outside and joined the father. Everywhere they turned there were families, cubs and birds fleeing for their lives. It was soon apparent who had caused the fire. Coming out of the bushes and deep forest were hyenas and jackals 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.
"Djim will keep you safe. Your father and I will find you once this is over. Now go, before the smoke reaches us."
Plucky ran off with Djim away from his parents and home, darting around trees and bushes, but soon realized the embers and smoke were wafting through the air any which way they turned.
Suddenly, Djim stopped, and Plucky nearly crashed into him. He soon understood the reason why.
Before them was the Great Lion, who growled in anger.
Plucky reached for his pendant, but realized he no longer had it. Noticing this, the Great Lion laughed.
"I don't need magic to kill you."
Suddenly, the Great Lion pounced, and Plucky closed his eyes, cowering in fear. The impact never came.
---
Olive, walking on the plain, turned around and saw the conflagration of the forest. She cackled loudly as she walked away.
---
Plucky opened his eyes, then seeing nothing in front of him, looked to Djim.
"Plucky, I'm so sorry. I..."
"Why? What happen..."
It was then he saw it. To his left, laid out on the ground, was his injured, lifeless father. Tears streamed down his face and he spotted the Great Lion.
The Lion looked at Plucky's father, then slowly shifted his sight to where Plucky, now kneeling in agony, was. Seemingly content with what had just transpired, he turned away and was never seen again.
"Plucky, your father had the ruby. I believe it's yours now," Djim said.
Plucky opened his father's left paw. Finding it empty, he opened the other paw. The ruby was gone, but in its place was an oak tree seed.
"Plucky, the fire. We need to get out of here. I'll keep an eye out for your mother."
As he said this, a burning branch broke off and landed on the ground nearby. Plucky rubbed the tears away, stood up, and followed Djim, who had dropped down to all fours. Plucky followed suit.
Once outside the forest, on the plains, Plucky's mother spotted them first. She hugged Plucky, and the three watched the rest of the forest burn in silence. Little by little, Plucky's friends and neighbors gathered next to Plucky and his mom. Djim told Plucky he had to report what had just happened to his king. They hugged before he left.
Once the last of the flames died down, Plucky looked at the seed in his paw, then up at the remains of his forest. He knelt down, dug a hole in the ground, and planted the seed. Plucky looked up at his mom and smiled.
THE END
