Chapter 13: Into the Jungle

Of all the places to get sent on a mission, it had to be a smelly, old jungle. It didn't help that the humid air made him sweat bullets or the fact that the constant cracking from the twigs under his feet sent shivers down his spine. Hadn't the guys in this world ever heard of a trail? Instead of a smooth walkway, he pushed through bushes, looped around boulders, and passed over rotting logs that could've split at any second! And for what? To find some creepy, old ruins and smooth talk some ape? Why did he always have to get landed with such hard work? Nevermind the fact that flies kept buzzing around his ears, forcing him to swat 'em away every five seconds. Was this day ever going to end?

Well, fortunately, after what seemed like hours of hiking, the sight of golden towers caught his eye. In fact, it might've been a pretty cool place to check out, if he wasn't in such a hurry to RTC and get some well deserved rest. Plus, moss crept all over the structures, and reached up from between the bricks. It gave the place an eerie look, and if he had a heart, Demyx probably would've leaped out of his skin by now! C'mon, couldn't those smelly monkeys have hired a maid? The place really needed some sprucing up.

But eventually he stumbled upon a musty old throne room, lead by the sounds of a swinging beat. As he stepped into the room, he caught sight of mop-headed monkeys hopping around, swinging, and clapping their hands against the floor. All the while, a big, fat orangutan kicked back on the throne, squeezing a banana into his mouth using one of his feet. Now, a guy like Demyx stood out like a sore thumb. After all, he didn't get stuck as a hairy mutt like Axel, and his black coat didn't exactly mesh with the hot climate. In fact, the closer he got to the big guy in charge, the more those monkeys stopped and stared. It was actually kinda creepy.

But he still went along, scooping out a slip of paper just for a quick once-over. Luckily, Saïx kept the instructions quick and simple. All he had to do was give these monkeys a little talk. Sell 'em on the wonders of darkness. While a part of him still felt a little jittery over the whole situation, it didn't take long before Demyx tucked the card away and turned to face the orangutan. Sure enough, King Louie's eyes were locked on him, and his over sized lips pulled back into a toothy smile.

This was his chance. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could get back to strumming on his sitar. So, after a few seconds of helpless staring, Demyx held up his hand and cleared his throat.

"Hey, uh. I heard you wanted to be like a man."

x.x.x

After the skirmish with Seifer, Riku slept like a rock. No, make that a boulder tied chained to the bottom of the sea. His dreams a shadowed haze, he awoke to the glare of the sun reaching through the curtains. Kairi hovered by the doorway, and she gestured toward the foyer. Apparently DiZ wasn't through with them yet, and he had yet another lecture all prepped to go.

So they slipped into the library and plopped into two vacant seats across from Donald and Goofy, the former of which still had bags under his eyes and slurped a steaming mug of coffee. With everyone together, DiZ cleared his throat.

"As I mentioned yesterday, it is pertinent that you remain watchful of worlds teetering on the brink. I suspect that your ship's sensors provide… adequate tracking, but only to worlds within your immediate reach." He paused to sip from his own mug of coffee. "To travel without direction would waste valuable time. Fortunately, I've performed a bit of reconnaissance in your absence and have pinpointed a world that may well require your aid…"

He passed along a sheet of paper—a grid dotted with various symbols and notes. Donald promptly snatched up the sheet, scanning its contents with gaping eyes.

"Wak! You coulda said something sooner!"

"Perhaps if my findings were complete, but unlike you, I am not one for combat, and uncovering new worlds is an arduous process." Setting his glass aside, he motioned toward the door. "In any case, I believe you have a world to save, so I urge you all to gather whatever supplies you need for your voyage and leave at once."

Thus, after a brief trip into town, Riku and friends blasted off once again. Surprisingly, Goofy took to the wheel this morning, while Donald squinted at DiZ's star chart and glanced repeatedly between it and the ever bleeping radar screen. The ship teetered and swayed, though whether it was a result of the incoming asteroids or Goofy's natural clumsiness was up for debate. Thankfully, after a near collision with a passing Heartless vessel, a green mass closed in from afar.

Resting the chart in his lap, Donald tapped the radar screen, zooming in on the tiny dot. The machine hissed and crackled with the sound of static. Grunting, he whacked the dashboard until the fuzziness of the display steadied. He glanced between the chart and the screen itself.

"Hmm… Something jungle, population… intelligent wild animals. Wolves, big cats, bears, buzzards…" He stretched his neck out, squinting at the radar, then back to the chart. "Bah, confounded machine! All that darkness is screwing up the signal."

Goofy shifted in his seat, fingers drumming on the wheel. "But that's the world DiZ circled, ain't it?"

"Well, the coordinates match up, so I think we're on the right track."

A jungle, huh? Well, it was about time. Sure, it hardly compared to a town full of grinning skeletons and haunting ghouls or plunging under the sea, but jungles meant exotic landscapes. Trees stuffed with slithering snakes, screeching monkeys, and brightly colored birds. Fierce predators, unknown terrain… For a brief moment, Riku's chest swelled with a surge of excitement. His lips perked, his eyes lit up…

But amidst the green, violent strands of darkness lashed at the surrounding space. A halo of grey clouds swirled above the treetops. Flickers of lightning left spots dancing before his eyes.

He sank into his seat, arms limp in his lap and chin tucked against his neck. His chest rose and fell with a soft, pathetic sigh. "Well, what's the hold up? We'd better get moving before we miss our chance…"

"Don't worry, Riku! I think we're gettin' pretty close now." Beaming, Goofy let go of the controls just long enough to flash a quick-thumbs up. "'Course, we've still gotta figure out where we're gonna put the ship, plus—"

"Just leave everything to me, Goofy." Donald scooped up his staff, propping it against his shoulder. "All we'll need is a little magic, and we'll blend right in!"

"Magic?" Kairi poked her head up from behind Riku's seat, brows rising. "So, what're you going to do?"

"You'll see soon enough." Riku turned around, breathing a hushed laugh and faking a smile. "Donald's magic helped us breathe underwater once; heck, he turned me into a merman. So if he can pull that off, I'm sure he'll set us up with something good."

"Oh, that's right." Donald blinked, and he swiveled his chair around. "This'll be your first time getting changed by my spells." He snickered, giving a little wink. "Well, don't worry! We'll show you the ropes."

"Yup!" Goofy chuckled, poking at a few of the buttons. "Plus, it's kinda fun, once ya get used to it!"

As the world drew closer, an endless sea of green flashed into view. Rather than dive through the canopy, however, Goofy steered the Highwind toward a clearing in the treetops with only the slightest shuddering during its descent.

When the rest of the jungle came into view, Riku kept his eyes glued to the windows. Tree branches reached right into their path, scratching the sides of the ship. Massive ferns and bushes rested at the bases of trees, while tall grass quivered in the breeze. Tree roots stretched out like enormous arms, their 'fingers' digging into the ground. Dangling vines swayed from side to side, while moss devoured rotting logs. The only problem was the black mist, which crept up from crevices in the ground, reached out from beneath boulders, and shrouded the jungle in a light fog.

More telling were the golden eyes glistening amidst the shadows. Branches rustled and snapped. Shrieks broke out among the canopies. Goofy's teeth started chattering, and he gave a great big gulp.

"G-Gawrsh… DiZ wasn't kiddin' about the darkness… What're we gonna do about this?"

"The only thing we can do," said Donald, and he smacked his palm down on a button. The ship whirred, and a streak of red light shot at one of the treetops. The Heartless screeched, and a blue blur sprung from behind the leafy cover. A dozen more followed, giving Riku a chance to soak in their whip like tails, thick black claws, big, round ears, and the tattered fur revealing a faces formed from pure shadows.

Slimmer, orange monkeys with wide hips and bright red bows swung from the vines behind their bulkier brethren. Their clawless hands clutched small, wooden slingshots. Harmless against the Highwind's thick shell, but who knew what kinda tricks they'd pull once the gang disembarked?

Turning from the window, Riku looked to Goofy. "So, where exactly are we parking, anyway?"

"Well," said Goofy, "maybe if I put us in one of those bushes here…" He steered the ship over some branches and swooped close to the ground. "Or uh. We could always slip behind some rocks!" The ship slid to the side, swerving between some tree trunks.

Donald rolled his eyes, tapping his fingers on the controls. "Well, whatever you do, don't bump into any—"

WHAM! The entire ship rattled. Leaves rained down over the front of the cockpit. Lights flickered on and off as the ship slowly slid down with a WHUMP. So much for a smooth landing. Now a blanket of leaves concealed the windows, which bore several light scratches for good measure. Donald and Goofy both hunched over in their seats, while their hats rolled along the floor. With his eyes rolling around and around, Donald pushed himself to his feet. He wobbled back and forth, slapping his hand on a few random buttons. After some clicks and beeps, the screen flickered on again with the roar of static. Black and white dots replaced the radar, and the rest of the lights flashed on and off.

"Rats." Donald shook his head, swiping his hat off the floor. "Goofy, your driving's almost as clumsy as you!"

"Gawrsh, I'm sorry, Donald." Goofy looked down, tapping his two index fingers together. "But at least we made it safe and sound!"

"Think I'll side with Goofy on this one." Riku reached for his seatbelt, unfastening it in a flash. Maybe the landing was a little rough, but at least this time they didn't get caught up in a sandstorm. "So, you going to set us up with that magic of yours?"

"Hey, I'm getting there. Sheesh." Donald huffed, and he scooped up his staff. He gave it a quick shake before glancing at the others. "You guys better get close to the door, though. It might be hard gettin' us out once we're ready."

"How come?" said Kairi, peering over Donald's seat.

"Probably has something to do with the spell." Riku snorted, and he slowly stood up. "What are you going to do, turn us into snakes?"

"No way! That'd be silly." Donald snickered, and he stomped right up to the door. He latched onto the handle and swung it wide open, letting in a warm breeze… and a few pesky flies. "Anyway, let's get this over with. The more time we dawdle, the less time we'll have to adjust."

"Well, it can't be that bad." Kairi shook her head, placing her arms over the back of his chair. "But go ahead. I know I'm ready."

"Not like we've got anything to lose." Riku shrugged.

"Yup!" Goofy grinned, performing a quick salute. "Fire away, Donald!"

With that, Donald swept his staff through the air. A dark green glow formed at the tip, spreading throughout the entire cockpit. It coiled around Riku's legs, and in a matter of seconds, he fell to his knees, breathing heavily. A warm tingle raced down his spine, and he immediately shuddered. His face felt as if it was being stretched out, and he felt a sharp tug at his ears. His clothes melded with his flesh, covering him from head to toe. The yellow and black pattern of his top shifted to a mat of spotted fur, while his fingers grew stubby and broad. Only his eyes and silver hair remained unchanged, still reaching his shoulders in this new form. And despite the strange change overtaking him, he still managed to lift his head, eyes scanning the area.

Donald's blue, zipper-coated getup evaporated right before his eyes, replaced with a mess of shaggy, black feathers. In place of webbing, his feet gained razor sharp talons, while a set of large wings replaced his arms. The collar of his shirt became a scruffy ring of white feathers, and his hat vanished completely. The only thing that didn't change was his broad bill and the short feathers all over his head. Unlike Riku, though, he stood perfectly still, flapping his wings once or twice. Goofy, on the other hand, fell flat on the floor, yelping as his once floppy ears grew stiff and pointed, while a shaggy coat of grey fur replaced his entire outfit. He stumbled around on wobbly legs, landing back on his belly each time he tried walking. But, on the positive side, at least he wasn't a turtle this time.

But what about Kairi? Letting out a groan, Riku lifted himself up on his front legs, dragging himself closer to the seats. "Hey, Kairi. You okay?"

"Just a minute!"

In the back, Riku heard the sound of shuffling, followed by a soft thud against the back of a seat. Before long, two tiny, black paws reached up over the top. Seconds later, he caught sight of her familiar red hair, except… well, the short, pointed ears were kind of new, not to mention her long, narrow snout. In fact, her face looked almost like some kind of ferret crossed with a cat. And as she lifted herself up and over the seat, the rest of her features came into view, including a grey coat covered in black spots, a tail almost as long as her body, and a white underbelly. It sure wasn't any animal he'd seen before, but, then again, he was no zoologist.

Besides, they had more important things to worry about, like acclimating to their new bodies and watching out for those Heartless.

"So, jungle animals." Riku sighed and lowered his head, tail flicking. "Are you sure this is going to work?" After all, a drastic change like this required adjustment. For one, everything just looked… bigger like this. With his head so low to the ground, all the seats towered like trees. Plus, how was he supposed to fight on all fours?

"Oh, relax, Riku." Donald snickered, scooping up his staff with one of his wings. He slipped halfway through the door, tapping one of his feet. "You did fine in Atlantica! All we've gotta do is practice."

"Sure." He smirked, rolling his eyes. "And we'll have loads of time for practice while we're fighting Heartless and tracking down the Keyhole." As if to prove his point, the moment he tried marching to the door, he wound up tripping over his own feet. All four of them.

Of course, he wasn't the only one struggling. By the time Goofy finally got the hang of standing, he wound up slipping along the floor, crashing into Riku from behind. Luckily, Riku's weight kept the two of them from sliding any further and, after a few seconds, Goofy managed to at least sit up.

"Ya know, maybe we oughta get outta this ship before we start worryin' about the Heartless." He gulped, taking a look at his paws. "I sure don't know how Pluto handles walkin' like this, but I think we're gonna need more room to get around."

"Yeah, probably." Kairi giggled, covering her mouth with a paw. She leaned over the edge of her seat and then, after a moment, tumbled onto the floor. Much like everyone else, she wobbled a little as she got to her feet. Despite her new-found clumsiness, though, she continued to smile. "Still, how often do you guys get to see a world from this angle? I don't know about you, but I think it's pretty exciting!"

"See, at least she's thinkin' positive." Donald winked, and he hopped out of the ship. "Maybe you oughta take a few cues from her, Riku!"

Riku shrugged, and he took two slow steps through the door. He kept his eyes on his paws the whole time, moving one after the other. While he didn't exactly trip, his legs still trembled with each movement. Before long, though, he made it to the ground, continuing to move at a snail's pace away from the ship.

On the way, he heard the constant crackling of dry leaves. Stopping for a moment, he gazed at the ground, eying all the little twigs, pebbles, and patches of grass, things he totally would've ignored, had he been in his usual form. And when he looked up, he slid backwards and gasped, for the trees stretched up like skyscrapers, looming high above him. The rigid trunks and broad leaves of the palms especially caught his eye… They even bore a few coconuts just waiting to get knocked down. A part of him wanted to take a whack at the trunks, but… no. They had more important things to worry about. Instead, he took a seat near the tree and narrowed his eyes.

The others followed suit fairly quickly. Of course, Goofy wound up tripping over a loose twig and rolling down to the dirt, while Kairi awkwardly squirmed on her way out. A long body like that combined with four legs must've been a nightmare to control. But, on the upside, with everyone out, they could finally make some progress…

Although, come to think of it, this world was still knee-deep in darkness, wasn't it? Briefly, Riku scanned the area, skimming through the surrounding trees and up at the sky above. A few things immediately caught his eye. For example, that black mist still rolled along the jungle floor, while the crackling of lightning followed by booming thunder echoed all around him. A sharp breeze slapped him in the face, while the palms swayed to and fro. All these symptoms popped up in Merlin's world, too, and that place was a total mess.

He froze for a moment, eyes snapping shut. It was fine. He could do this. There was still time…

He hoped.

"Bah, this place is a wreck!" Scowling, Donald propped a wing on his hip; apparently these new bodies were more dexterous than they looked. "Looks like we're gonna have to wing it, otherwise we'll never get things done."

"Oh yeah?" Riku gave him a wry smile and arched his brow. "So, how am I supposed to wield the Keyblade like this?"

He reached out with one of his paws, sweeping it through the air. And, while a flash of light did appear, and the Keyblade materialized in short order, it just sort of lingered for a moment, wobbled, and then crashed right on top of Donald's head. Immediately, he let out a squawk and flailed his wings around. His feathers ruffled, and his brow furrowed.

"Oh, just use your mouth." He groaned, stomping over to Goofy's side. "It'll be easier than trying to hold it with those paws."

"Yeah, but we're kind of in a bind." Riku lowered his head, and his ears folded back. "Wouldn't it be more practical to make me something with, I don't know, hands?"

"Hey, you saw what the radar said! There's all sorts of dangerous predators here, so you might as well be one."

…A fair point, if they were dealing with ordinary animals, but Heartless seldom cared about appearances. It was the juicy hearts beating inside that lured them toward their prey.

"Still, how am I supposed to fight when I can barely walk? I probably look ridiculous…"

Kairi grinned, scurrying over to his side. "No way! You're adorable, Riku."

"W-what?" His jaw dropped, and he reeled back, bumping into a tree trunk. Was she serious?

"Yup." Goofy shut his eyes and chuckled. "Ya look like a great big kitty cat!"

…There went the rest of his dignity. Of course they'd say something like that.

For a moment, Riku said nothing and slapped a paw over his face. Talk about humiliating. Here they were, caught in the middle of an endangered world, and his friends still managed to poke fun at him. Thanks to his new-found embarrassment, that rustle in the tree behind him barely registered. For all he knew, it could've been another breeze. But then, seconds later, the trees rattled again, prompting Riku to lower his paw and take a better look around.

The others fixed their attention on the treetops, silent and still. Ears folded back, Kairi snatched her rapier with a paw and settled onto her haunches; thankfully, her weapon had shrunk with the rest of her body. An icy tingle trailed down Riku's spine; his ears flicked. Though faint, a light scratching sound crept closer, joined by the stench of smoke. White dots shot across the jungle floor. Wind swirled around each member of the group; a smart precaution on Donald's part, given their handicaps.

The jungle remained still, but the scratching grew closer. The branches shivered. Ooks and eeps rose in a crescendo, until…

SPLAT! A thick, sticky substance struck Riku's snout. Hissing, he wiped the goop away with his paw, then dropped onto all fours, arching his back and baring his fangs. Off to the side, Goofy clumsily hoisted his shield onto his back. Clutching his staff in his talons, Donald shakily rose from the ground and spread a dome over the clearing. Another barrage of fruits flew halfway toward the group before smashing into the ground and flattening into mush. The graviga spell tore through the branches, dragging a pile of those blue Heartless monkeys from their leafy perches to the deathbed of mines awaiting them.

BANG.

Hearts glittered and passed through the canopy. Smoke sizzled in their place.

Of course, it'd be too easy if it ended just there. Too easy to give them a break, too easy to let them settle into this new world. So, predictably, another wave of screeching monkeys poured from the surrounding trees in a clawing, hissing, and kicking tidal wave. They plucked feathers. They tugged strands of fur. More sweet, sticky projectiles smashed their sides, their backs, and their faces.

Go figure. With all this darkness, it was only a matter of time before Heartless popped up. Shaking his head, Riku pushed himself back to his feet and glared at the countless yellow eyes. There was no way he'd be able to nail them like this, unless he somehow worked out climbing. Instead, he turned his head just a little to the side, striking the trees with an array of lightning bolts.

Branches snapped, and three of the Heartless tumbled down into a bush, their forms now completely exposed. They stood hunched over, opening and closing their clawed fists. With long tails, rounded ears, and shaggy bodies, they could've almost passed for normal monkeys, if it weren't for their blue coloration and shadowy faces. Unfortunately, these pesky monkeys dashed forward before the group could land any hits. They flailed their arms, hacking and slashing with their claws.

While the monkeys charged, Kairi leaned back on her hind legs and pointed her sword into the air. As the glow of her magic weaved its way around the Heartless, their motions slowed, buying the others more time to attack. With his eyes open wide, Donald let his staff fall just long enough to scoop it up with his talons. Beating his wings, he hovered above their enemies. Unfortunately, as he dived at their foes, he wobbled aimlessly. His staff smacked one of the monkeys in the face, but then he teetered backwards and crashed right into the trunk of a nearby tree. The impact at least knocked two more of the Heartless from their perches, allowing Goofy to clumsily crash into them, shield first. But as he tried to turn, his legs trembled, and he nearly toppled over.

When more fruit rocketed down, a sudden breeze swept it back into the treetops, courtesy of Riku's aeroga magic.

But the party wasn't over yet. While the three blue monkeys remained still for a moment, the branches above them quivered once again. Two curled, yellow hats poked out of the leaves, flinging fire straight down at the group. Gasping, Riku leaped out of the way, but his paws brushed up against a banana peel that sent him whizzing right into a bush. The two Red Nocturnes then zoomed straight at him, their hats still sparking at the tips. Before they could launch any more flames, Riku pushed himself back up and sent ice crystals straight at those pests. Predictably, they exploded on the spot.

In their place, four more Heartless crept out along the branches. Unlike the others, these monkeys' bodies were lean and curvaceous, and they each wore a bow on the tops of their heads. In one hand, they clutched onto a large slingshot, while in the other, they held tightly onto whole a bunch of bananas. More of those blue monkeys then swung in on vines, beating their fists against their chests.

They fought them all off to their best extent. Blasts of fire, ice, electricity, and wind at least knocked those suckers down from their perches. Problem was, the group still moved sloppily, leaving them all wide open for attacks. While Riku got in a few lucky slashes, he kept falling over the moment he picked up speed or, even worse, wound up stepping right into a line of banana peels. His friends didn't fare much better, either. While the Heartless moved swiftly around their wild arena, Kairi and Goofy either dragged their feet or tumbled every five seconds. Only Donald managed to stay out of harm's way, swooping, diving, and flinging spells left and right, albeit with some continued shakiness.

At this rate, they'd just wear themselves out. These bodies were too new. Too foreign for them to rush straight into reckless brawls. So, fighting back a growl, Riku let his Keyblade vanish from between his teeth. He took a sharp turn to the left, plunged into a nearby bush, and skidded through the muck, covering his new snout with mud and leaves.

Rustling from above nearly made him jump, but when he looked up, Donald swooped onto a low hanging branch, while Goofy and Kairi tumbled in front of him. Keeping their heads low, they lay perfectly still. Minutes passed with not a sound, save for the ominous rumble of thunder and their own breathing. Despite the calm, Riku's heart hammered away. His limbs ached, and though the soothing warmth of healing magic alleviated the pain, his whole body felt as though it'd become one with the soil. He just couldn't bring himself to budge.

"Well, at least we know what we're in for." Riku practically moaned his words, resting his head on top of his front paws. "And I'm sure there's more where that came from…"

"Yup. Looks like we're gonna have ta be extra careful 'round these parts, 'specially like this." Goofy looked down and whimpered, taking a seat on a bed of grass. "Who knew goin' around on four legs would be so hard? It's even tougher when we're all fightin'."

"Guess I lucked out." Donald swooped onto a rock, fanning himself with his wings. "We're just gonna have to play it safe for now. If we can get to the Keyhole and get outta here, it shouldn't be too hard."

Riku shook his head, and his tail thumped back and forth. " Except we don't even know what's going on in this world. Remember Mim? For all we know, there could be someone around here pulling the strings."

"Ya know, that wouldn't surprise me one bit." Goofy frowned. "Seems like, no matter where we go, there's always somebody tryin' to control 'em."

"Pretty much. But we've got a whole jungle to search. Who knows what's waiting for us?"

"Well, we'll just have to figure it out as we go." Kairi smiled faintly, and she slipped over to Riku's side. "But first we should rest. We don't want another Twilight Town on our hands."

He knew she was teasing. After all, Kairi wasn't the resentful type. Besides, they'd both already worked out a plan for any sudden darkness outbursts. So, rather than complain, he shut his eyes and let out a dry laugh. "Hah, that's not going to happen any time soon."

Still, they all needed some down time. After all, how were they going to save this world if they pushed themselves past the point of exhaustion? Rather than fight it, Riku remained still as a log, only occasionally glancing up at the others. About two minutes of peace and quiet passed, and during that time, Riku sort of slipped into a daze.

Until the nearby bushes shook, immediately prompting him to lift his head. His eyes darted around the area, but nothing stood out. Even when the grass rustled, it was hard to discern what was going on. Briefly, he caught a glimpse of stripes… at least, he thought he did, but with the thick mist rolling all around them, it was hard to tell.

He'd just let out a small sigh when a deep voice spoke up from behind the jungle shrubs.

"I say, what an unusual bunch of creatures…"

From out of the bushes came the face of a bulky, orange tiger, who slowly approached the group with a wide grin on his face. He held his head high as he circled around them, tail swishing back and forth. Despite being a fierce predator, he carried himself with a calm and composed air. The shaggy tufts of white fur along his cheeks made him look more like a balding gentleman than a vicious threat. Nonetheless, Riku kept his eyes locked on the tiger, who continued to circle them like a hungry shark.

"Speechless, are we?" The tiger chuckled and came to a stop right next to Goofy, who gulped and scurried back. "My, and after putting on such a good show with those infernal monkeys. And here I had come to congratulate you."

"Is that so?" Riku raised an eyebrow, pulling himself up into a sitting position. "And here I thought you were stalking prey."

"Well, you certainly do have trouble getting up off your feet." The tiger raised one of his paws, revealing his claws. "But I have no intention of killing you. After all, few in this jungle have been able to hold off those beasts. And with fire, too. One does wonder where you obtained such intriguing abilities."

"Well, uh. Ya see…" Goofy looked over to Donald. "We're sorta—"

"Who's asking?" Donald huffed, folding his wings together.

"Oh? Could it be that you don't know who I am?" The tiger shut his eyes, and his smile broadened. "Everyone in this jungle knows Shere Khan…"

"Well, we're not from these parts." Riku leaned forward and sneered. "We traveled a long way just to reach this place. Can you really blame us if our footing's off?"

"Right!" Kairi laughed shakily, scooting back just a little. "We were just so tired from all the walking that we could barely get around."

"Well, you certainly had no trouble fending off those creatures." Shere Khan's smile faded, replaced with a small frown. "Very intriguing… One only wonders what you're capable of under normal circumstances."

…This guy was really something else. Just watching him strut around sent shivers down Riku's spine. It almost felt like he could see right through them, the way he kept questioning their powers and never averted his gaze, even when he came to a halt.

Goofy looked down, shuffling his paws in the dirt. " So, uh, mister Shere Khan, sir . Where'd those Heart- er, monsters come from, anyway?"

"Well," said Shere Khan, "if I were to wager a guess, it would be the ancient ruins. After all, I've gotten word that 'King' Louie has obtained strange powers of his own…" He took a few more steps around the group and shook his head. "Why, it's thrown this entire jungle into a state of disarray."

"Hasn't anyone tried to stop them?" This tiger sure looked tough enough to handle a few Heartless, so why hadn't he shown himself sooner? While he seemed to know a thing or two, Riku wasn't ready to trust him just yet.

But despite Riku's question, Shere Khan remained perfectly composed. In fact, he stopped once again, looking him straight in the eye. "Why, of course they've tried, but few have succeeded. After all, they wield fire as well…" His eye twitched, and for a moment he looked away.

Riku smirked. "Oh, so is that why you were hiding?"

"Hiding?" Shere Khan leered, and he marched right up to Riku. He placed his paw right against his neck, lightly tapping him with a knife-like claw. "If I were you, I would watch my tongue."

"Riku, c'mon." Kairi frowned, tapping his leg. "We should at least hear him out, right?"

Riku sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine, you've got our attention. Why don't you tell us more about this Louie guy?"

"Where to begin…" Shere Khan turned his back on the group, gazing over his shoulder. His lips curled up into a wide smirk, and his tail thumped against the ground. "That oafish ape has a bit of an obsession, you see. He believes that he is on par with man." He chuckled. "Yet one swipe of my claws would reduce him to a lifeless pile of flesh."

"But what about those monsters?" Donald stretched out his neck and squinted. "As long as they're on his side, I doubt you'd stand a chance!"

"Few animals have even survived. Yet, here I am…" He flexed his claws and lifted his chin. "Still, what a pity… Then again, survival of the fittest has always been jungle law."

Well, that was harsh. Biting his lip, Riku pressed his paws into the dirt and kept his eyes locked on the tiger. Something just wasn't right about this. The guy had 'suspicious' written all over him, but… he was their only lead. Even if the guy was a self-absorbed jerk, they couldn't completely dismiss him. Not now, anyway.

"Well, strong or not, I don't think anyone deserves to get trashed by those freaks." Riku shook his head and leaned back. "If those monsters are such a big problem here, then we'll just have to fix that."

"Oh, so you're going after them, are you?" Shere Khan chuckled. "My, how bold. Do you often throw yourselves directly into danger?"

"You don't know the half of it." Donald grinned. "But it's nothing new for us!"

"Yup!" Goofy nodded. "And besides, somebody's gotta teach that bully not to play with darkness."

"Well, if that's what you wish, then, by all means, go. Perhaps you'll be hailed as heroes." Shere Khan stood back up, marching back towards the bushes. "Just know that finding the ruins will require you to venture deeper into this jungle."

Riku sneered. "I think we can take of ourselves."

"Of course." Shere Khan gave the group one last look, still wearing that smug smirk. "But do be careful with that fire of yours. You wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong impression…"

With that, he slinked through the ferns and vanished without a trace.

At first, Riku didn't say a word. He was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. After all, there was still something… off about that tiger. Maybe it was the way he kept eying them suspiciously, or maybe it was his attitude. The guy seemed pretty confident despite the circumstances. To trust him blindly would be a big mistake. Still, he'd at least given them a lead. Whether or not he was lying remained to be seen. They'd never really know unless they tracked down Louie themselves.

So, together, they took off towards the ruins. Regardless of what awaited them, they'd get to the bottom of this.

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: This chapter was revised on 1/6/2018.

While I'm at it, I figure I might as well confirm what everyone's turned into. Riku's a leopard, Donald's a vulture, Goofy's a wolf, and Kairi is this cute little omnivore called an Asian palm civet. I'd actually thought about making her a cat like Riku at one point but decided to go with a little more variety. Besides, having a small, climbing animal in their group could come in handy… once they figure out how to work their new bodies.