I shall pretend that I have reviewers and update. Do you enjoy seeing me cry? -sniffle- But then again, I shouldn't be writing for the reviews... but anyway... those who read and don't review... enjoy. And review, this time! -growls-
Disclaimer: Hah, like anyone reads this thing... anyway, for anyone who happens to actually stumble across this story, allow me to state here and now that I DO NOT own YGO, or Disney, or the Jungle Book.
Yami padded through the forest, enjoying the sunlight, when all of a sudden he heard a baby's cry. He stopped dead and turned his head right and left trying to locate the source of this strange noise.
It was a sound like one never heard before in this part of the jungle.
Yami climb up onto a log and followed its length to a small wicker basket sitting in the remains of a boat. He looked into the basket and was startled to see a small baby.
It was a man-cub. Had I known how deeply I was to be involved, I would have obeyed my first impulse and walked away.
The baby stopped crying and began to giggle, reaching up to pull at Yami's whiskers. He began to walk away, but the baby started to hiccup and then began to cry again. Yami sighed and turned back, sitting on the edge of the log above the baby's basket. He smiled down at the now, once again, giggling child.
This man-cub would have to have nourishment, and soon. It was many days travel to the nearest man-village, and without a mother's care he would soon perish. Then it occurred to me…
A few moments later, Yami stood in the bushes by a clearing, watching five little wolf cubs playing in the sun by their mother.
A family of wolves I knew had been blessed with a litter of cubs.
Yami watched the wolves walk into their lair and crept out of the bushes with the baby's basket in his mouth. He carefully placed the basket by the entrance to the cave and snuck away. The baby lay quietly in his basket, and Yami shook his head in irritation. He snuck out of his hiding place and nudged the basket with his paw, making the baby cry, and crept away. The mother wolf emerged from the cave, her cubs trailing uncertainly behind her. She looked at the squalling infant, sniffed him, and then smiled kindly.
Why, there'd be no problem with the mother, thanks to maternal instinct, but I wasn't so sure about the father.
The father padded out of the forest and carefully looked into the basket. He looked up into the smiling face of his wife and back down at the baby, who giggled. He smiled, and carried the basket into their lair.
Ten times the rains have come and gone. And I often stopped by to see how Tristan, the man-cub, was getting along. He was a favourite with all young wolf cubs of the pack.
Yami sat on a branch, watching Tristan walking along a path. Tristan suddenly flung back his head and howled, "Whoo-whoo-whooo!"
Several of the other cubs, now grown into adult wolves, ran into the clearing, knocking Tristan over and licking him playfully.
No man-cub was ever happier. And yet... I knew that someday he would have to go back to his own kind. Then one night, the wolf pack elders met at Council Rock, because Marik, the tiger, had returned to their part of the jungle. This meeting was to change the man-cub's entire future.
The head wolf, Akela, was speaking to his Council."Marik will surely kill the boy and all who try to protect him. Now, are we all in agreement as to what must be done?"
The other wolves of the Council nodded gravely.
Akela sighed. "Now it is my unpleasant duty to tell the boy's father. Rama! Come over here, please."
The wolf padded carefully amongst the rocks and addressed the head wolf. "Yes, Akela?" His voice was somewhere between a bark and a sigh, respectful yet resigned.
Akela cleared his throat and spoke quietly, gently. "The Council has reached its decision. The man-cub can no longer stay with the pack. He must leave at once."
Rama gasped. "Leave?
Akela sighed and spoke. "I am sorry, Rama. There is no other way."
Rama's eyes widened, and he stuttered out, "But – but the man-cub is – is like my own son." He looked beseechingly at Akela. "Surely he's entitled to the protection of the pack?"
Akela sighed. "But Rama, even the strength of the pack is no match for the tiger."
Rama shook his head. "But the boy cannot survive alone in the jungle!"
That's where Yami stepped in. He had been sitting in the dead tree above the Council rock, listening attentively to all that had been said, but he had been silent until now. "Akela, perhaps I can be of help?"
Akela looked up. "You, Yami? How?"
Yami jumped elegantly down from his tree. "I know of a man-village where he'll be safe. Tristan and I have taken many walks into the jungle together. I'm sure he'll go with me."
Akela nodded. "So be it. Now there's no time to lose. Good luck."
Et voila.
R&R!