Mowgli was trying to be clear with his explanations as he tried to retrace his steps through the swamp as, King Rama and his brother followed right next to him with the rest of the wolfs following close behind them.
King Rama was furious! He and, Exon were equally enraged to hear about what had become of, Mowgli and Karina since the day they were captured.
Mowgli talked as they went along knowing that Karina's life was at stake. Using the methods, he was taught on how to recall one's trace that they would leave behind when they are moving along through the jungle. It was difficult to remember due to the swamp but thankfully some of, Mowgli's footprints remained in the muggy ground.
The King almost wanted, Mowgli to stop as he heard more on what the Primates had done with both him and, Karina. From the talk of enslaving them. Forcing them to serve and entertain an apparent royal couple that ruled over them. Making, Karina outfit herself into something of a hideous disgrace upon her and they even went as far as hurting them both!
But the only thing that eased some of his anger was the fact that, Karina looked out for, Mowgli. His youngest son talked about how she always was there for him as often as she could. She did her best to give him hope and on two occasions tried to escape with, Mowgli but on the second time she managed to get out of the ancient ruins that was the domain of where they both were kept and where the Primates have been dwelling for sometime and, Karina remained behind to give, Mowgli a chance to get away.
Exon was worried for, Karina. He admired the courage she had to muster to stay where she was to hold back the Primates to allow his brother to get as far away as possible. He knew she was of good nature, but this excels what he once believed of her. She was truly a trustworthy friend and had true heart about her.
"I simply cannot believe this!" Exon grumbled as he stepped along with, Mowgli and his father as, Mowgli continued to follow the trail he left behind. "How could we have been so foolish?"
King Rama nodded. "Indeed. I am the biggest fool of them all. I did not expand our search far enough otherwise we would have found these ruins, Mowgli spoke of. And disregarding this part of the jungle due to its environment I have allowed an old law to be shattered and for so long these Primates have made me realize I have been flawed." He sighed gripped his shield tight and grasping his sheathed sword.
"Never again!" He vowed his voice fuming with anger as, Mowgli had told enough. These Primates were going to pay very dearly. Especially these royal Primates that, Mowgli spoke of that were the ones who orchestrated their kidnapping and made them personal slaves to themselves.
Exon felt his fathers rage as he pulled out his sword and carefully felt the sharp edges. His sword was clean and well sharpened. He took a swipe with his sword near a hanging vine making a clean cut of it.
"Those monks will answer for this! And if they dare do anything with, Karina so much as a piece of fur on her the spirits will be their only defense against me!" He growled warningly.
Mowgli too had some anger about him as he wanted to get back at the Primates for all that they done but right now all that was on his mind was, Karina. There was no telling if she was still alive or not. She told him to run when he last saw her, and the Primates could not have been far behind them. He worried that maybe they could be too late. What if the Primates already were past, Karina? What if they killed her and already were looking through the swamp for him?
The Mancub quickened his pace as every second could mean, Karina's time has passed. He followed his trail trying his best to not run ahead. His father had to tell him to slow down a couple of times as the rest of the wolves behind them had to take their time as the swamp was slowing their pace.
After almost an hour, Mowgli came upon familiar ground. He could smell death in the air that surpassed accursed swamps foulness. "Oh no!" He gasped as he ran ahead again tearing through some bushes and for a moment got caught in a hanging vine but threw it off and saw something near an algae filled pond.
He saw two primates laying dead on the ground. One looked to have been stabbed through where his heart was as it laid down having clutched his wounds only to die of them. Another was laying on its belly with a spear lodged in its back. It was almost like what, Mowgli had done with, Beretta.
Mowgli ran up to the deceased Primates as, Rama and Exon followed ordering the others behind them to take cover in the swamp while they investigate the bodies.
"This is it! This where Karina and I parted ways! Where she told me to run but where is she?" Mowgli panicked as, Rama grabbed his son's shoulder.
"Calm, Mowgli! I know your worried for her. I am too! But we must figure out where she is first." Rama explained looking at, Exon. "What do you make of this?"
Exon kneeled down on one knee near the primate that had the spear lodged in its back. "There was scuffle." He began as he looked around the ground to see there were footprints all over the ground some looked like they belonged to a wolf and at least perhaps a dozen primates.
"A Group of Primates came out here. From what I can tell they must have come out to search for, Mowgli and Karina. Since, Mowgli said this where, Karina had told him to run she made her stand. A valiant one I would add just like before. These two primates had to be kicked by her own hand, but the Primates overpowered her by the numbers. But her body is nowhere, and these were remained. Which leaves me to believe they took her back to the ruins." Exon theorized.
"Why would they take her back?" Mowgli asked. "I don't understand why they would after what we did?"
King Rama had his own theory. "Perhaps, they wish to make an example of both her and you, Mowgli? I cannot say for a fact, but we must…" King Rama went silent when he heard a noise that sounded like a group talking coming near their location. "Hide!" He ordered.
Exon grabbed, Mowgli and hid in the nearby bushes with his, Father quickly following behind them taking cover next to them as they hid in the thick bushes as a group of three Primates came around into view.
They chattered in a rather upset state. "I cannot believe this! Why did we get chosen to go find that, Mancub?" One of three primates whined as he saw the sight of two killed primates. "I really wanted to see that wolf girl get waterlogged myself!"
"Waterlogged?" Mowgli quietly said getting a finger off his mouth by, Rama telling him to stay quiet as he slowly pulled out his sword as these primates will be the first to face his wraith. Exon put a hand on, Mowgli's shoulders gently pushing him down silently telling him to remain where he is as he nodded to his father showing he was ready for this.
"Oh, that wolf will get whats coming to her for what she did to, Beretta but we have the honor to catch that, mancub! And when we do, we shall be rewarded with something grand!" Another of the Primates snickered.
"That won't happen!" A stern voice stated from near the bushes and when the closest primate looked to where the voice came from, he was met with a sword right through his head.
The Primate could only let out a deathly gasp as the two primates saw their friend get run through as a tall dark coated wolf stepped out of the bushes growling as he pulled out his sword and eyed the two primates with fierce yellow eyes.
"Oh, my!" One of the primates gasped fearfully as he held up his spear trying to look imposing but his fear overtook him as, Rama took his shield thrusting it forward bashing through the Primates spear shattering right till the shield collided on the Primate knocking him onto the ground and before he could get up, Rama ran the sword through his chest.
The last Primate dropped his spear and ran for the direction of the ancient ruins but, Exon leapt out from the bushes and threw his sword at the Primates legs cutting his right leg making him drop to the cutting yelling out in pain grasping his severely cut leg.
Exon grabbed the Primate pulling him up to his feet and proceeded to punch him repeatedly in the face. He did not give the Primate one second to even take notice of the blows as he beat his face in breaking his nose and nearly breaking his jaw. He wanted to beat him till there was nothing left of him but there was no time as he needed information after what he heard.
He slammed the Primate on the ground as, Primate was in complete shock from the searing pain that race through his head hardly clinging onto life. "Tell me one thing and ill ease your suffering!" He offered grabbing his sword and holding up to the Primates throat. "Where is, Karina? The Wolf girl as you put it!"
The Primate coughed and gurgled. "Back…of ruins. To be…punished!" He wheezed.
"She won't! But you will face eternal punishment!" Exon stated as sliced the Primates throat as blood oozed from his throat as he tried to cover it up, but his blood poured out to where his life could no longer be sustained, and he died a painful demise.
Mowgli was rather uneasy seeing such a violent act but the worry for his friend rose when he heard that she was taken to be punished. "Father! We got to hurry!" Mowgli huffed as he ran out of the bushes.
Rama wiped the blood off his sword as he readied it for more that would stain it very soon. "I heard what he said, Mowgli. We shall make haste!"
Rama gestured to the swamp where the other wolves were still concealed in ordering them to come out. "Alight! We are going into unknown grounds. We will be outnumbered. But the Primates have desecrated ancient laws. Defied the will the kings of old! And they shamed my sons and a loyal subject of our kingdom! Today we shall punish these desecraters!"
The Wolfs raised their swords and spears in the air multiple times and lightly growled and huffed showing they were ready to follow their King into battle and they were eager to show their enemies what happens when one dares raise a hand against one of their own.
King Rama nodded as his troops were ready for battle. One of the soldiers came up to him with a small bow and quiver filled with arrows.
"Mowgli! Come forward!" He ordered. Mowgli stepped in front of his father as, King Rama placed the quiver of arrows over his shoulders tying it in place and handed him the bow. Mowgli gripped the bow tightly knowing what was to be expected of him.
"Son. I know you have been through a lot, but I must ask. Are you willing to follow me? Your Father and your King into battle. Are ready to take a life and work together to save your friend and take vengeance upon the Primates?" He asked.
Mowgli took a deep breath his heart still worried for, Karina but as he looked to the bow in his hand, he now had a way to take a sense of revenge upon them. He could now face them equally and no longer be afraid. He would be with his family as they take off into battle with a dispatch of wolf soldiers right behind them.
Growing courage in his heart and making an angry look, Mowgli nodded. "Yes, Father!" King Rama and Exon smiled proudly at him.
"Come! Its time to show these flea ridden vermin who rules this land! Tell me one thing, Mowgli. Where is the room where these royals sit as their petty thrones? I will deal with them personally." King Rama asked as he marched to where the ruins were as, Mowgli pointed the way and was told where, King Louie and his Queen made their throne room.
Karina was finally coming to. Her head throbbed as it felt like it was on fire. She remembered what she had done before everything had went black. She told, Mowgli to go on without her. It was the hardest thing she had to do to not keep her promise in true form, but she had to make the sacrifice if he was going to have a chance.
She awaited the coming of the Primates who would be out for her and, Mowgli after they had successfully escaped and kill a guard and the right hand of the royals. There was a least a dozen primates coming at her as she stood her ground.
One she pierced him right through the heart killing him within moments as he dropped to the ground. Another one tried to grab her, but she dodged out of the way and rammed the spear into his backside. But just after that she was tackled to the ground by another Primate.
She did her best to fight back managing to kick him off but more and more primates piled on her and she soon lost consciousness when she was struck in the head by something hard as the Primates grabbed her everywhere and she felt she was lifted before everything went black.
She started to wake but something did not feel right. She was not laying on anything, yet her arms were hurting more than her head. She felt a breeze under her feet as she managed to finally look and saw bellow her was swamp water. She then looked to see her right hand was locked on some kind of metal contraption behind her and it felt like her left hand was locked onto it too. She looked up to see the contraption was being held by a chain.
Karina panicked as she realized what she was strapped to was meant for as she tried to get her wrists free but the lock around her arms were sealed tightly. The Cold metal against her back tingled her fur and, Karina realized she was in far more trouble than she originally anticipated.
"Comfortable, dear?" A familiar feminine voiced asked as, Karina looked in front of her to see it was, Queen Abra and a very angry, King Louie.
"Release me!" Karina demanded as she tried to struggle again earning a chuckle from, Queen Abra as she and her mate stood next to the hanging, Karina near the water's edge.
"I'm afraid not, sweety. I must say I am truly disappointed in you." Queen Abra sighed upsettingly before delivering a slap across, Karina's face making her yelp from the smack.
King Louie pushed his mate back grabbing, Karina's face making her look at him as he was very angry. "You killed, Beretta! Didn't you?" He sneered before delivering a fist right into, Karina's belly.
Karina groaned and coughed as the wind was knocked out of her. "Confirm or deny it. Good riddance I say!" She retorted.
King Louie scrunched his face before delivering another blow to, Karina's stomach. Karina cried out as she dropped her head down and her body rattled the partly cage, she was locked onto. King Louie took a few steps back as, Queen Abra come back up near the water's edge.
"I am afraid we can no longer tolerate your behavior, love. You cost us something very dear to us. And that must be met with repayment. A life for a life." She stated rather disappointingly as, King Louie folded his arms keeping his angry look upon the hanging wolf girl.
Karina was afraid for her life, but she understood this was the price she must pay for what she had done to help, Mowgli get away. She tried to be brave but hanging like a captured animal awaiting the slaughter frightened her. "Just get on with it!" She demanded but, Queen Abra put a hand against her face and rubbed it gently.
"Tsk, tsk. Now, now darling. Can't be too hasty for this occasion we must have a guest to witness your demise." Queen Abra hushed. "A certain mancub will need to see for himself that defiance such as yours can never be tolerated again."
"He's long gone by now! And he will warn the Wolf Kingdom!" Karina stated growling but stopped when the pain in her arms was becoming too much as she tried to use her strength to lift herself up to give her some relieve.
"Oh, that mancub is too foolish and stupid. He would not be able to find his way out of the swamp. Let alone find a kingdom in the jungle." Queen Abra laughed as she gently stroked the side of, Karina's face with the back of her fingers.
King Louie snorted as he did not want to be around the wolf that cost him and his queens there most loyal and fierce primate. "Ill be in the throne room till that mancub is caught!" He snorted walking away as, Queen Abra waved him off.
"Then that leaves just you and me. A little quality time together which shall be our last." Queen Abra giggled as she looked over the hanging wolf girl.
"Such a pity." She groaned sadly as she stroked down, Karina's side. "You're such a lovely little thing. But I guess the saying is true. Sometimes the best thing a flower can do is die."
"Perhaps I should relieve you of the gift I bestowed upon you." Queen Abra wondered as she reached for the bottoms of, Karina as the wolf girl gasped as she felt, Queen Abra's fingers grab her bottoms but then let go.
"No. I think ill let you perish with some dignity left. A final gift for you before you meet your water end. Then I shall retrieve what's mine from you." Queen Abra smiled.
Karina was relieved she was not going to be stripped but the prolonging of her life in this state worried her. She could not have imagined this would be how she would go. She would have accepted her fate falling in battle but to be like this would mean her end would be slow and agonizing to perish by drowning.
"I must say, sweetheart. Why couldn't you just accept us?" Queen Abra asked as again rubbed the side of, Karina's face. "We would've given you at least a happy life of servitude. To serve the soon to be rulers of the jungle. To be at her side through the thick and thin. We could've been a family, you know?"
"I would rather die then be in chains to your throne! Wearing this harlot outfit! And you don't know a thing about family you filthy sad excuse for a pig!" Karina snapped at her making, Queen Abra gasped.
"How dare you!" Queen Abra retorted smacking, Karina in the face again and backhanded her. Karina shuddered as her face felt aflame as her chin was grabbed by the Primate Queen. "Perhaps then I won't miss you when your gone and when the mancub is returned to us and he witness's his friend vanish beneath the surface to never be brought up till long after he will see that nothing will give him hope again and he will accept his place from then on. Take comfort that he will still live, and he will have the life that only I and my King will give him."
"Never!" Karina growled as, Queen Abra laughed.
"Defiant till your end. I look forward seeing how well you stand once we begin lowering you in." Queen Abra said before a Primate came running to the Queen.
"My Queen!" He screamed as he had a very panicked look on his face.
"Yes, yes. What is it?" Queen Abra sighed as the sudden appearance of the guard who looked like he seen something horrifying.
"The Ruins! We're under attack!" He warned panting heavily.
"What?! By whom!?" Queen Abra grabbed the Primate bringing him up to her.
"Wolves! Dozens of them!" He cried in worry as, Queen Abra gasped as she then heard the sounds of deathly cries and weapons colliding out in the ruins as, Karina from the cage she was locked onto smiled widely as she just know, Mowgli would have found the Wolf Kingdom. She did not know how he could have found it so fast, but she may just be saved yet.