Chapter 11
Despite the seemingly wild and exotic exterior, the land of India wasn't excluded from the influence of foreign powers. These days, men from a far off country kept the sub continent under their thumb. Of course, living far out in the jungle like Mowgli makes one care little for such politics. But there then came a day where Mowgli found this out first hand. It came in the form of a massive troop of military men that came marching through the jungle. The army not only followed ancient existing pathways through the jungle, but seemingly cut new ones wide open effortlessly. The clopping of horse hoofs created a new beat in the jungle that replaced the common chatter of the birds and monkeys. Mowgli had been spying the moving mass of might from an afar hill along the rest of his animal friends.
¨ I´ve never so many people before. What do they want?¨
¨ Who ever knows what men want?" Bagheera sighed. ¨ You would do wise to stay away from them.¨
¨ Why? So I should be with the villagers, but not these white guys?¨
¨ Hey, it ain't cause of that, Mowg.¨ Baloo responded while thoughtfully scratching his back on a tree. ¨ It´s just these guys mean business.¨
¨ Well, looks like I´ll have to deal with it, cause they're staying in the village right now.¨
For a second, Bagheera considered telling Mowgli to stay in the jungle for the night. But he instantly recoiled from that, knowing Mowgli´s transition into man´s world had to be permanent. He simply sighed and stated in a matter factly way, ¨ Fine, but just be careful, man-cub.¨
As Mowgli entered the village that evening, there was much more hustle and bustle than usual. He had to Bob and weave through the soldier's business. Many of them were relaxing and jesting about with each other, with mounts of plates being built up from their dinner, the faint scent of English beer and Indian naan dancing through Mowgli's nose. He has seen culture before, but this was too much for him. So much that he accidentally bumped into a young woman, spilling her books all over the dirt. Her light blue eyes flashed in surprise and her brown auburn tinted hair flipped over her face from the force.
" Oh man, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that I-"
In no time, a swarm of soldiers surrounded Mowgli, bayonets poised. An officer stepped up, wearing the typical British officer helmet and sash of medals. He grabbed Mowgli harshly by the arm, jerking him around in inspection.
" So, what do we have here? An animal, an animal who thinks he can bully his way about into here."
The woman lifted herself from the dusty dry ground. " William, stop it! That's enough, he didn't mean it!"
" Katherine, please, you don't need to cover for this ruffian."
The woman rolled her eyes and sighed pleadingly " I'm not, that's what happened. Now please, leave him be!"
William turned a cold eye to Mowgli below him and looked back at the soldiers. " At ease, men. Be as you were."
On command, they disarmed themselves and dispersed back to settle in for the evening. Mowgli got to his feet and helped up Katherine.
" Sorry about knocking over your books, I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
" Oh, that's quite alright. And please excuse my fiance William, he can be a tad bit pushy."
The boy tilted his head in confusion at the word " Fi-anc-e?"
The woman slightly giggled to herself. " Oh, it means I'm engaged to him for marriage."
" So you like him?"
" Yes, I suppose you could say it that way. Though, I guess the same can't be said for his feelings for my interests."
Mowgli picked up one of the books and cleared up its cover " India's Flora and Fauna?"
Katherine took the book from his hands, clearing a strand of hair from her face " Plants and Animals. I've always been fainted with the natural world. So, when my father offered to take me with him for his position here in the British Army, I couldn't resist."
Still, Mowgli was confused. " How can you learn about animals from this? Why not just hang out with them?"
" My father and William, oh they would kill me if I tried to go into the jungle to study them. And besides, it's too dangerous to get near any wild animal."
" Really? I do it all the time."
Now Katherine looked even more puzzled. " How can you do that? Who are you?"
The boy smacked himself in the head in realization " Oh, sorry. I forgot to say this. My name's Mowgli."
" Mowgli? As in the wolf - boy of the Seeonee Hills?"
Mowgli vigorously shook his head in confirmation " Yep, that's me!"
" Well, that would certainly explains it. But I'm still afraid I can't go off and be one with the animals like you."
As Katherine finished her sentence, Mowgli spied the perfect opportunity resting nearby behind her. " Maybe you don't need the jungle. C'mon, Ms. Katherine!"
She laughed as the boy took her hand to lead her. " Please, call me Kitty."
Author's Note: Despite it being radically different from all other versions and it being basically a prototype of Disney's Tarzan, I really do enjoy the 1994 version of the jungle book. I thought the acting wasn't too bad and, even if none of the animals didn't talk or add much. So, I thought it would be fun bring in characters from it. And for those wondering, Kitty won't be a love interest for Mowgli like how she was in the movie. That relationship was too much like Tarzan and Jane and here Mowgli is a teen and her a young adult. But yeah, keep the suggestions coming and see you then!