"What exactly is the plan?" asked Terk, as they walked towards the Gorilla territory. The girl, who they found out was named Shanti, walked in the middle of the group.
"Well," began Tarzan sheepishly. "I figured we should find mom first and she can help us convince Kerchak."
"And you think Kerchak will let it stay?"
"She." Corrected Tarzan, before adding, "He let me stay."
"Besides, she has nowhere else to go." Commented Tantor.
"I just don't want to get on Kerchak's bad side." Said Terk. "And I know he is going to be really mad about this."
"He will be mad." Confirmed Tarzan, making Terk moan in dread. "But he is not completely unreasonable. He will let her stay since she is alone and not a threat."
Luckily, Kala was the first gorilla they ran into when they arrived home. She smiled at the sight of them.
"Mom, I need your help." Said Tarzan. He moved to the side; revealing Shanti to the gorilla.
"Tarzan!" gasped Kala.
"I saved her from the rushing river." Explained Tarzan, solemnly. "I couldn't leave her. She's all alone."
"She has no family?" asked Kala, looking at the little girl gently. She held out her hand with a gentle smile and this time Shanti didn't hesitate to step forward to grasp it. Seems like her fear of them has disappeared, though it probably won't last when she meets Kerchak.
"Terk and I saw the bodies of her family farther upstream." Explained Tantor quietly.
"We were hoping that you would help us convince Kerchak to let her stay." Said Tarzan hopefully.
"You know that you don't have to ask," Said Kala, lovingly. She ran a hand through Shanti's hair, now free from their ties and bindi long lost; all thanks to the rapids. Shanti smiled at the action, still not believing that she was in this situation. It was so unreal. "I don't have the heart to send a child out with no protection. She is lovely."
"Uh, guys," interjected Tantor nervously. "Kerchak is here." Everyone, but Shanti, stiffened at the words; Kala pushed Shanti behind her to hide her from view. Kerchak seemed to know that something was going on because he headed over to the group. The other gorrillas, who were further away, watched as he made his way over to him.
"Kerchak," Began Kala, before he could say anything. "I want you to hear us out and be reasonable."
Kerchak turned an accusatory look towards Tarzan, obviously thinking he screwed up something and caused trouble. Tarzan recoiled a little at the look before holding his ground and stepping forward.
"Kerchak, we were hanging around when Tantor heard something." The elephant looked down when Kerchak turned to look at him. "I saved her from the rushing water." Kerchak raised his brows in question and expectancy at the statement, wanting to know who 'her' was.
"She has no one to look after her." Said Tarzan, before Kala moved to reveal Shanti to everyone. The other gorillas gasped in shock and Kerchak stiffened in shock, before he took on an expression of anger; he rose and roared.
"What have you done?!"
Shanti screamed and cowered into Kala at the aggression, while Tarzan stayed between them.
"I couldn't leave her, she would have died!"
"So, you decided to put this family at risk?!" roared Kerchak. "She can't stay!"
"She's not dangerous, Kerchak!" said Tarzan, angrily. "Does she even look like she can hurt us?" They looked at the 6-year-old, who was still cowering with Kala brushing a hand through her hair to comfort her. Kala looked at Kerchak with a pleading and stern look that made him calm down and sigh.
"There is no one else that will come looking for it?" asked Kerchak in a resigned but still irritated voice.
"No, Terk and Tantor found the bodies of her family." Answered Tarzan solemnly. "There are no others."
"Fine." Grunted Kerchak. "She can stay. But I don't want any more brought here to stay."
"Thank you, Kerchak." Smiled Tarzan gratefully, noticing the change from 'it' to 'she.'
"However, she is your responsibility." ordered Kerchak sternly. "You will teach her what she needs to know and keep her out of trouble."
"I know." Said Tarzan, he expected that, that would happen. Kerchak glared at him before walking away, Shanti started to calm down after Kerchak was far enough and didn't look like he was going to attack. Everyone seemed to sigh in relief at the same time, the other gorillas started to come over to get a good look at the newest member. It was odd seeing a creature just like Tarzan; they knew that there had to be more like him, but didn't expect to actually see one.
"You never told me her name." informed Kala gently, as Shanti looked around at the other gorillas around her with a hint of nervousness; holding Kala's hand seemed to help her fear.
"She said her name was Shanti." Explained Tarzan.
"She speaks our language?" asked Kala in surprise, but Tarzan shook his head.
"No, I found out because she gestured to herself and said her name."
"Well, teaching her to understand us should be the first thing she needs to learn." Said Kala resolutely. The sun was about to completely disappear behind the trees, obviously time for everyone to head off to bed. Kala and Tarzan led Shanti to the spot where they will be sleeping, which was a comfortable pile of leaves.
Shanti was lying between Tarzan and the Gorilla, who were asleep. She couldn't stop thinking about all that had happened to her today. She thought of her mother, wanted to believe that she was still alive wondering where she was. However, the attacks on the village by that tiger has made her understand death and from what she was able to see, her mother could not have survived that attack from the big cat. Shanti can feel the hole in her chest as she thought of her mother and wondered what she would think of the situation her daughter was in right now. It was obvious that the gorillas and the man brought her here to live with them. At least she wasn't going to be alone, Tarzan and these gorillas will take care of her. Still, that didn't stop Shanti from crying because she missed her mother, for being in a completely new place, and for being far away from her friends in the village. Nothing will be the same anymore; she is going to be living in the jungle. Eventually, the 6-year-old fell asleep.