Kaa

The morning was quiet.

Sunning himself by the river, Kaa was pleased at what had happened the night before. He couldn't have planned it better himself: the man-cub rushing back to the jungle, and with him he was able to ensnare several of his friends as a nice meal.

The water bubbled nearby, sweeping past the rocks as the bamboo walls of the village were in sight. He nestled his head on one of the nearby rocks, uncaring about the large, swollen lump in his belly. If one of the men or women from the village saw him, they would simply leave him alone. He had been here multiple times, after eating a monkey or two that leapt away from King Louie's palace, and every time none dared to disturb him.

He sighed happily, the warmth spreading from the tip of his broad head to the bottom of his tail. He wouldn't have to eat for several months. Not to mention the taste was delectable, the likes of which he had failed to secure nearly a year ago after that man-cub, Mowgli, had escaped him.

But, perhaps that was for the best. The way Shere Khan spoke to him gave him the shivers. It was a dreadful thing to imagine: if he had devoured Mowgli, then that blasted tiger could have ripped him open and hauled him out. Then they both would be goners.

No matter. Shere Khan would never dare to think of coming this close to the village when his enemy was running around in the jungle.

As he heard one of the village girls coming down with a pot of water, he shut his eyes and slept.