The heavy rains continued to shower down as Kalir finally landed to the ground. After a rough landing on the muddy grassland, the Crown Prince discharged his used parachute and took a good glimpse on the other necessities that was remaining for his own discretion. Looking near to his parachute, Kalir only have a survival kit, a first aid kit and a military canteen filled with half of safe drinking water as well for his imperial saber, a knife and his standard-issued Mauser C-96 pistol stamped with Chinese and German markings. With an amount of gear that would barely accommodate for his long survival, the canine sighed tensely.

'Damn. All these for being stranded?'

A loud explosion caught the Akita wolf-dog's attention. Immediately, he stood up and went to the source of the explosion. After covering a short distance away from his landing spot, Kalir could finally see the still-burning wreckage of his downed Etrich Taube. As the rainfall doused the remaining flames that were devouring it, the imperial heir started a quick check for anything that he could still use. Luckily for Kalir, he found a survival radio, a belt kit and a charred yet still-functioning Hanyang 88 carbine. Without any delays, he took them out and returned back to the parachute site. As he walked away, Kalir could look back at the smoldering wreckage of his favorite plane for the very last time.

'I guess this would be the end of my flying days then.'

With a sad sigh, the survivor started to trek the vast grasslands that were all around him.

...

An hour had passed and the rain hasn't been stopped yet. His fur and uniform were totally soaked and he started to sneeze numerous times.

'Rain, rain, go away. I am drenched, cold and sore.'

Kalir looked up and he saw a large tree nearby. Quickly, the Crown Prince took shelter under it as he lowered down his remaining gear on the muddy soil. Hunkered down, he could now rest after a tiring trek from the crash site.

'I hope this is the right time for me to send a distress call.'

Grabbing the survival radio from his parachute that he improvises as a knapsack, Kalir switched it on and send a few words out on the static airwaves.

'2-5, 2-5. This is Kilo-Alpha-Zulu. My plane had been struck by lightning. Plane was totaled but I safely bailed out. Requesting medivac on coordinates 2-5-N-3-0-N-W. Please respond. Over.'

...

Nothing responded. Kalir tried it again.

'2-5, this is Kilo-Alpha-Zulu. Requesting search and rescue on coordinates 2-5-N-3-0-N-W. Please respond. Over.'

...

There's no reply, apart from static. Realizing that the call was futile, Kalir switched the radio off. A voice then called out at him.

'Oi! Oi, you there!'

'Hmm?'

The Akita canine looked around in an attempt to find the source of the voice. Kalir looked up on the branches and he saw a male mandrill hanging on the thick branches with a fairly long wooden on the other hand.

'What are you doing in there, eh? You were so soaked up from the rain.'

'Oh. Y-Yeah. I know. Sorry about that.'

'You better find some shelter to keep yourself warm right now or else you will get sick down there!'

'I...I can't.'

'Why not?'

'Because I'm...I'm lost.'

The mandrill felt sympathetic. He then swings down towards him.

'Hmm. You don't looked like a lion to me.'

Kalir went confused to the baboon's comment.

'W-What? No, I'm not. I'm just a Akita.'

'A-Ki-What?'

'A-Ki...Ermm...Ummm...D-D-Dog! Yes. Dog. I'm just a dog alright. Not a lion or anything else.'

'I see.'

The mandrill chuckled. Kalir felt a bit uncomfortable and he tried to reach his paw for his sidearm but the primate stopped him.

'Would you like to share your moment on top of my very home?'

'What? Oh! I mean...Y-Yes. Please. T-Thank you so much.'

'Alright then. Follow me then.'

The mandrill started to climb up to the treetop while Kalir remained on the ground.

'Come on, friend! Come!'

'O-Okay. Hang on there, will ya?'

Kalir then prepared his knife and the claws that was on his left paw. The canine Crown Prince started to climb up the enormous tree. After a slightly tiring climb, he finally reached the top. Inside a spacious corner of the tree, he could see some artful paintings on the inner bark of the tree, some hanging fruits, flowers and leaves that looked like festoons. As Kalir lowered down his belongings, the mandrill bowed down as he introduced the place and himself.

'Welcome to the Tree of Life - the humble home of Rafiki.'

'I see. Wait. Who's Rafiki?'

'I am!'

'Oh. S-Sorry.'

Rafiki chuckled a bit and he lowered down his staff on one corner.

'What brings you here? Are you a hunter?'

'Umm...I'm not a hunter alright. I'm just a pilot flying from a faraway city. Unfortunately, my plane that I been piloting on was struck by lightning. Good thing I survived but this left me nearly some things that could barely support for my survival in this wilderness.'

'Oh. Nonsense on calling this vast place 'wilderness', friend! This is one of the greatest place that was given to us by our ancestor from above.'

'What would you say that?'

'Because I'm telling you the solid truth. You're now standing on the grounds of one of the greatest kings that I ever served for life.'

Kalir was slightly surprised.

'I...I did?'

'Yeah. In fact, I could take you to the king so that you could see and meet him yourself. How about that, eh?'

'Hmm. I suppose so.'

'Great!'

Rafiki laughed in joy as he handshakes Kalir with his own hands.

'This is a joyous moment that I wanted to mingle onto someone else. What's your name?'

'My name's Kalir, R-Rafiki.'

'Kalir, eh? What a foreign name there alright. Sounds exquisite too.'

The Splenish heir chuckled nervously.