Chapter 2

"A Talk Among Wives"

Following the wedding in the Wazari village, Jane returned home and was now lying in bed with her husband, Tarzan. But, she couldn't sleep for as far she was concerned; Jane was thinking about the recent events that she had been unwillingly involved in. Jane was not only thinking about being kidnapped by La and possessed by her, she was thinking of the events before that with Colonel Staquait where she was humiliated, imprisoned and nearly violated by the French Foreign Legion. All that Jane ever wanted to be able to defend herself, given the fact that she had been living in the jungles for a short period of time.

Rising from bed, Jane walked to the closet and pulled her quiver of bow and arrows out from it. She would only use it for target practice or if she was going hunting or exploring out in the jungles. Tonight, she was going to do target practice which would help her get her mind off of what was happening to her. After creeping out of the treehouse quietly, Jane came to the base of the treehouse and came across a spot on the base that was almost like a bull's eye. She was just about to start shooting her arrows when she heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes.

"Who's there?" she called to the disturbance, raising her bow and arrow at the bushes. "Come out, I say! I am armed and I am not afraid to use my weapons!"

But, the disturbance was soon revealed to be Simba's mate, Nala, who smiled at Jane as she emerged from the bushes. This made Jane calm down, knowing that she wasn't in any danger, at least for the time being.

"It's only me, Jane," said Nala as Jane lowered her weapons. "You have no reason to be afraid."

This had to make Jane chuckle to herself and she put her bow and arrows down against the base of the tree as Nala sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry about that, Nala," said Jane sheepishly as she swung her long hair out of her face. "It's just that I couldn't sleep after everything that has happened to me. You know how it is."

"In what way is that?" asked the Queen of the Pride Lands. "Would you care to tell me what it is?"

Jane took in a deep sigh and dusted her loincloths as she began to tell Nala why she was acting the way she was. Ever since she left England, all Jane had for support was Tarzan and her father, Archimedes. Now, it seemed that talking to Nala was an opportunity for her to express her feelings to someone other than those two.

"Well," began Jane. "It all started back a few months when I was out taking my friends from England out for a picnic in the jungle. We were all having a good time when all of a sudden, a group of men captured us and brought us to an island called Cape Doom. My friends were separated from me and I was brought before the leader who then humiliated me by making me strip to these jungle garments. Tarzan eventually rescued me and ever since that day, I have always wanted to prove to him that I can defend myself."

Jane put down the arrow she was brandishing and shivered slightly as a cold breeze came through her body. After a moment, Jane continued her story to Nala as she listened eagerly to what Jane had to say.

"All I need is to prove to Tarzan that I can do it," continued Jane, as she stroked her hair. "I cannot allow myself to be subjected to La's or anyone else's tortures anymore. There has to be a way."

Nala could understand how Jane could not sleep for as far she was concerned, Simba had told her everything that had happened at Opar and how Scar's three former hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed had helped her do what she did.

"I'm not surprised," said Nala, who couldn't help but feel sorry for Jane. "Simba can't sleep either because of he is thinking about the safety of myself and the Pride Lands after everything that has happened. He feels that the threat is still out there and that it is far from over."

"Of course the threat is far from over," said Jane once again taking an arrow from her quiver and brandishing it like a stick. "It seems like there is a price on my head placed there by La and that she won't rest until I am dead. I'm afraid that the next time that La comes after me, she will kill me. I have to find a way to defend myself and at the same time, prove to Tarzan that I can survive in the jungle without him being there for me."

Nala could see exactly what Jane was talking about given the circumstances of recent. After all, Nala could sympathize with Jane as she had her own issues with Simba when they were first mated. It seemed to her that the only way to get Jane to think of something other than what she was currently thinking was to give her friendly advice.

"There is a way you can prove to him of defending yourself," explained Nala, sitting next to Jane. "You need to experience a situation where Tarzan is unable to be there for you. What needs to happen is where you take everything that you have learned while living with him and use that knowledge to your advantage. If you do that, then Tarzan will see that you are capable of doing just that."

"Could Queen La be that situation that you are talking about?" asked Jane.

"Of course," continued Nala. "You are more than what you say you are, Jane. I know that you are willing to adapt to life in the jungle and Simba and I are very proud to call you our friend."

Jane had to feel better at this, for all she was concerned, Nala had given her probably the best advice she had gotten aside from Tarzan. As the sun came up, Nala hugged Jane and the Queen of the Pride Lands immediately left to return to Simba.

Of course, Jane would have to wait until the moment arrives, but it would soon come eventually…