* In this chapter, I am honoring Elizabeth, her Majesty of the United Kingdom, and my co-author agrees with it. Read down, and you shall find out where she is honored. I am sure you will like the reference in the way I am doing. Ta-ta. -Traveler.
It didn't take them too long. Thankfully they had an abundance of the required resources all around them. It would've been much more difficult if they were in a desert or something like that. A quick gathering, they had more than enough of what they needed as well as plenty of firewood for the camp that evening.
Jason then took a deep breath, and focused on his ring, and soon, the beginnings of the hammock chair and the painting is made as the ring's power grabbed all the metal and several wood.
The metal stand is made to specifics, and the wood border of the painting is now square and polished. Pippa smiled lightly, "Brilliant, Jason!", and Jasmine brought forward, "Here's some flowers to be pressed into the painting.".
Jason nodded, using the ring to move the flowers into various positions on the paper-like template, pressing them into place. Emma smiled, "Found plenty of berries.".
Jason took another deep breath, the ring's power grabbing the baskets of berries, creating them into masses of color, and with deep focus, the template is now painted, looking like nearly nightly, with the sun almost disappearing into the sky of the moon and stars, a baby in mid-crawl, smelling the flowers, and a pregnant woman sitting by a stag, with a man reading a book on the other side of the stag, his mouth open as if he's reading out loud, with his hand over the back of the stag, holding into the woman's hand.
"Wow... you should hang that in the Louvee.", Logan whistled as Jason smirked. "Well, that's what I was going for when I was thinking about it... you know, that kind of Renaissance Era style of art, maybe a touch of Victorian era...", Jason explained.
"It's certainly something worthy of the gods, I would think.", Adam nodded. Emma nodded, "A fine gift. And the hammock chair?", and Haku came from settling the horses, "Found some ratty blankets we don't need. That would work for the fabric.", dropping the blankets before the group.
Jason then took a deep breath, and the ring's power grabbed the blankets, meshing them together into an incredibly comfortable-looking hammock chair, and placing it right into the hooks of the stand.
John whistled, "Looks darn comfortable. How heavy can those chains hold with the chair?", and Jason replied, "300 pounds.".
Logan widened his eyes, "Blimey, that could hold Silver with his cyborg parts easily!", and John smiled, "Then let's test it out. Couldn't want to disappoint the folks up there.", walking up and sitting down into the hammock chair.
"Well?", Emma asked. "Feels nice... and doesn't sound or feel like it's going to snap on me at any second.", John chuckled.
"You certainly build them strong, Jason.", Haku gave him a pat on the back. Jason smiled, "Well, I know some gods are big in weight and mass, and I apologize to anyone up there, by the way, but it's the gospel truth, and the chair has to be strong to hold them.".
Zuri nodded, "That certainly makes sense. Wouldn't want to cause a disaster.", and Emma smiled, "Indeed. That should be all of it unless you have an idea, Jason?".
Jason nodded and focused on the ring, and the ring's power then went to the nearest patch of leaves and transformed them into sticker decals of the gods' elements. There are lightning bolts, angel wings, ocean waves, blue fire, the sun, music notes, battle shields, theater masks, the wind swirls, and medicine herbs.
Jason then replied, "We can put them on the metal stands, and they are untearable, resistant against water, fire, lightning, wind, and unfadeable.".
"Jeez, how about whipping us up a nuke or something next time and we could probably end this war.", Logan whispered as Jason shook his head, "I would need uranium probably for that... you know where we could dig for some?".
"Touche.", Logan chuckled with a nod. "Well, hopefully I think we'll make a decent gift for Zeus and them... and allow us to cross the bridge uncursed.", Jasmine said.
Emma replied, "Well, we will have to find out in the morning, but first, let's put the stickers on. Let's show the newbies how to do it.", with a reference to Adam, Jasmine, and Silver as she's teasing.
The entire team put the stickers on the metal stands in playful order, and then Jason focused on the ring to shrink the entire gift down to a considerable size to be on the gifting table, along with the painting. Emma, having found some parchment, wrote a letter for the instructions to unshrink the gifts, to enjoy them, and find approval for them to cross the bridge, and with all the team's names on the bottom of the letter, Emma rolled it up with a lovely bowtie, putting it on the gifts as they are placed on the gifting table.
Not a full minute later, there came a glow of the gifting table, and before anyone could blink, the gifts are gone, and John chuckled, "Looks like it's up to them now. Let's have some grub and grab some sleep afterwards, eh?".
"Yeah, we're going to need our rest. I get a feeling we're probably going to be seeing some action very early in the morning after we cross.", Emma said.
"Think we might get ambushed?", Zuri asked. "I could use my mirror to give us a better chance... but there's no guarantees.", Adam told the group with a sigh.
Pippa squeezed his shoulder, "It's okay, Adam. It's not your fault. Still, it doesn't hurt to try.", smiling at him tenderly, and Adam smiled back, touching her hand, kissing her fingers gently.
Haku nodded, "Trying is better than doing nothing.", checking the boiling pot of stew near the fire with some rag to protect his hands.
"Yeah, well, sometimes I feel that I'm letting you all down by not being perfect with this mirror.", Adam rubbed the back of his neck. "It's cool; we know it has its limitations and all.", Jason assured him.
"We'll probably be fine anyway; doubt they'd expect anyone to try and cross that bridge if it's cursed... that or the guerillas are the ones keeping their eyes on it which would work well for us.", Emma said.
Logan grinned, "Which they would wish for mercy once we're done with them by then.", and the team laughed, agreeing with his comment before focusing on eating some dinner and heading to sleep afterwards, with everyone hoping that Emma is right about the fact the citizens of Mount Olympus is happy with the gifts.
There would be only one way to find out about it. The group slept well; though they had the occasional watching rotation just in case any dark forces tried to sneak up on them. It wasn't likely they would be on their side of the river, but no one wanted to take anything to chance there.
At dawn, the latest rotation started to make breakfast when they saw the gifting table glow, and a note appeared. Haku, part of the rotation, walked to pick it up and went to read it by the awakening fire, "'Thank you for the gifts. Mount Olympus is now populated with copies of your hammock chair for all homes, and the painting is resting within the meeting hall of us gods/goddesses. You all are allowed to cross the bridge when it opens in an hour. Do not dawdle on the bridge as it will not last long. - Zeus, King of Mount Olympus.' ".
"Well, nice to get confirmation on that one.", Haku chuckled as everyone gave Jason their thanks and all. "So now that we've got the bridge... we better move fast. Like he said, it won't last.", Emma reminded.
The team nodded and went to have breakfast in the first 30 minutes between cleaning up camp, and the next 20 minutes of saddling up the horses and bathroom breaks and waiting for the bridge five minutes later at the cliffside.
And within the last five minutes, the bridge starts to appear, becoming an incredibly solid bridge of translucent Grecian stone with a railing of rainbow metal.
"Boy, they go all out with that bridge.", Pippa whistled in awe. "What, were you expecting them to just have an old wooden bridge or something?", John teased.
"Maybe...", Pippa admitted. Emma called out, "Let's move out!", and the team nodded, hearing the command in her voice, and urged their horses to trot out into the bridge, not too fast, but not too slow as they don't want their horses to lose their footing or worse.
Things were a bit too quiet for everyone's taste as they were slowly crossing the bridge. The only real sound was the rushing river that lied beneath and the slowly growing sounds of wildlife that resided in the jungle in front of them.
Emma and John at front has shifted their eyes into dragon eyesight, watching ahead while Logan and Jasmine are watching the middle, with Pippa watching behind them. They steadily made their way across, and finally stepped into the wall cliffside of the jungle border, and not even a minute later, the bridge vanished, denying them or their enemies a way back.
"If we're attacked now... we'd have our backs to the wall here.", Logan whispered; total military mode was on for all of them as they entered a truly hostile terrain. A defender's dream and an attacker's nightmare.
"Still nothing moving in front of us...", John informed. "Not taking a risk here... but we need to find a much better place where we can have some more room to move.".
Emma nodded, "Couldn't agree more. Let's take the trail.", gesturing to the trail up ahead, and the team murmured in agreement, walking their horses carefully, taking the trail as it was wide enough for two in a row.
It was a good thirty minutes as they moved on the trail, and aside from the occasional jump, thanks to a wild animal that got fairly close, there still wasn't any sight of either side of the conflict.
"I know the jungle is large, but I would think we would've found at least some sort of sign that there was a war being waged in this jungle.", Zuri said.
Adam frowned lightly, "Perhaps Garn was right. The Kings Tarzan and Shere Khan's old home was burned down, somewhere in the middle of the jungle. If Clayton rebuilt there, it would make sense that the rebellions would not be too far off, and Garn said that there are cave systems that is riddled with dead-ends and all, but the rebellion people know it like the back of their hands.".
John nodded, "And from the books in Atlantis's library, there is also the ruins of an ancient civilization as well.".
"So, unless we find ourselves close to the center of the jungle... we're going to be lost.", Logan sighed as he pinched his nose. "Maybe...", Jasmine gave one herself. "Well, it's still early in the morning; we're bound to run into something soon..."
The team nodded as they kept walking on, and then they saw a young wolf stare at them upon a boulder, and gave a howl, and in a matter of minutes, gorillas, wolves, and bears, and in front of them is a large tiger and black panther, surrounding the team.
Having watched the 1964 Jungle Book, and the Tarzan movies, the original team recognized Kerchak, Kala, Terk, Akela, Rama, Baloo, and Shere Khan and Bagheera. The large tiger prowled down, shifting into a man of great height, having tri-colored of black, orange-red, and white hair, dark tan skin, and amber eyes, and wearing a vest and breezy pants.
"I am King Shere Khan. Who are you, and why are you here?", the king looked at them with a stoic look. "Who wants to do it?", Haku whispered to the group before Jasmine moved her horse forward.
"Greetings, mighty Khan.", Jasmine bowed her head. "I'm Princess Jasmine, former heir to Agrabah.". She didn't fully know what he may have heard so she thought at least give him something he might know like Agrabah rather than the Talons. "My companions and all are here to help assist in your war and finally bring an end to the conflict.".
"Don't forget to mention how Emma fried Clayton.", Logan leaned over to whisper to her. "That might get us in their good books.".
Shere Khan only blinked in surprise before nodding, "Baloo here has survived the journey from Narnia to tell me many things, and I am deeply sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man, Princess Jasmine.".
Jasmine smiled softly, "I thank you, your majesty. We have come from the bridge crossing of Mount Olympus, traveling from Atlantis. Clayton was there about two weeks ago, plotting to kidnap a most precious treasure of my comrades here, Emma and John Silver, and upon discovering the plot, Emma roasted Clayton thoroughly, and I can tell you with absolute relief that Clayton is dead, never to return and never to live ever again.".
There were many whispers amongst the others that the Talons could just barely make out. They knew Clayton had slipped away, but to be killed? It was a shock to say the least.
Shere Khan was the most shocked, and exhaled, "That is incredible news, and if you mean 'roasted', then your friends are the rumored United Talons, then?".
Jasmine nodded, "Yes, your majesty. I introduce you to the leader of the group, Emma Silver, and she has led the team on many hope-inspiring adventures and fought dangerous people and things. Emma, King Shere Khan.".
Emma bowed her head, "Greetings, King Shere Khan. Is there a place where we can talk privately?", and Shere Khan smiled, "Greetings, Emma Silver. Yes, there is one place we can talk privately. Please, come, all of you. This is no place to be seen by the goons, and I do not want to risk my husband's life.".
The group followed the forces until they eventually came across what looked to be a small ruin of an ancient society. It reminded the original group of the Mayan ruins of Mexico.
"One of many ruins that was left being.", Khan explained. "There are larger ones, but we dare not risk hiding there... too obvious.".
Emma nodded, "That certainly makes sense. Better to keep your people safe than to be out in the open.", and Shere Khan chuckled, "Indeed.", before hearing triplet cries, "Baba!".
Three children, 3, almost 4 years old, wobblily ran to Shere Khan who laughed, dropping to his knees to hug his children, "Mowgli, Elizabeth, Ranjan!", purring as they hugged him right back.
Mowgli is having gorilla ears, hands/feet among his black mop of hair, dark skin, hazel eyes, dressed in a red short-like loincloth, Elizabeth has tiger ears, tail, having light brown hair, dark tan skin, and teal eyes, dressed in a dark green skirt, and Ranjan is having tiger paw-like hands, ears, and tail, having dark brown hair, pale tan skin, and bicolored eyes of dark blue on the right, and light green on the left, dressed in a sky blue short-like loincloth.
"Well, looks like you've got some bouncing children around you.", John chuckled as Emma rubbed her arm. "Calm down, luv, they're alright... they can't be anywhere on this planet safer than where we left them.".
"I know... I just... it feels odd not being close to them right now...", Emma admitted; her worries about their own children obviously playing with her mind a bit.
Mowgli blinked, "Are they new friends? Are they gonna save Daddy?", and Shere Khan kissed his forehead, "They are new allies of ours, dear son, and yes, I hope we can save Daddy together.".
Elizabeth sniffed, "We sorry that we don't remember Daddy good, Baba.", and Shere Khan shushed her softly, rubbing her hair, "It has been a long time, sweetheart, but Daddy is not one to forget about family, especially you three. He loves you as much as I do.".
Ranjan nodded, "Because family is big important, right, Baba?", and Shere Khan smiled with a chuckle, "That's right. Family is big important to us all. Now, why won't you go play with Rama's kids? I will be distracted with my new friends.".
The triplets nodded, "Yes, Baba! You promise to come for lunch?", and Shere Khan nodded, "I promise. Now, shoo.", chuckling as he gently pushed his children into the direction of the huddle of other kids who is being distracted by Baloo and Bagheera as they shifted back into humans.
Shere Khan got up, sighing heavily with grief in his eyes, "I only wish my Jane was here to play with them. She loved them so much...Come, United Talons.", leading the way to a door gateway down to a large cave-room, "This is where the cave systems begin, covering the entire jungle for miles and miles.".
"And the enemy doesn't know of it?" Logan asked as Khan shook his head. "No, they're aware of it, but it's such a maze that we know ourselves... they'd be foolish enough to try and follow us or attack us through them." Khan explained.
"Ah, explains then how you've been causing so much havoc for Clayton then all this time...", John replied.
Shere Khan chuckled, "It has been advantageous for us, but those past two years have been difficult in matters of battle and security. The jungles are plenty for us to live in shelter, having food and water, but somehow every time we get close to their camp, the goons are far smarter with security, and the battles in various places have been either won with killing some of them, or lost with some of my people killed. Deep inside camp, the prisoners of war are kept somewhere near the treehouse where Clayton lived and ruled, including my beloved husband, Tarzan. We have tried to send messages by meerkat or cat, but they have Dobermans who goes by the names of Roscoe and Desoto and Sykes. All brothers, and quite vicious.", with a scowl.