A/N: By the way, I forgot to mention that in the previous chapter Jim Cummings would voice Akela and Corey Burton would voice Rama. Speaking of the former, he's also voicing Colonel Hathi, his herd of which is appearing in the next chapter of our story after this one.
The Jungle Book
Chapter 2: Bagheera's News/Meeting Kaa
Later that night, Mowgli and Shanti were now riding on Bagheera's back in the night.
"Bagheera, I'm getting a little sleepy.", Mowgli yawned.
"Yeah... Me, too. Shouldn't we head back home?", Shanti asked.
"Shanti, this time, we're not going back. I'm taking you and Mowgli to a man-village.", Bagheera responded.
"You are?", Shanti puzzled.
"But, why?", Mowgli asked.
"Because Shere Khan has returned to this part of the jungle. And he has sworn to kill the both of you.", Bagheera explained.
"Kill us? But why would anyone in their right mind wanna do that?", Shanti asked.
"He hates men. And Shere Khan is not going to allow you to grow up to become a man - just another hunter with a gun.", Bagheera responded.
"Oh, we'll just explain him that I'd never do a thing like that.", Mowgli assured.
"Nonsense! No one explains anything to Shere Khan!", Bagheera retorted.
"Well, maybe so. But I'm not afraid. And besides I...", Mowgli began before Bagheera interrupted.
"Now, that's enough. We'll spend a night here. Things will look better in the morning.", Bagheera assured before Shanti momentarily noticed that Mowgli wasn't paying attention.
"Mowgli? Mowgli, come on!", Shanti urged before Mowgli turned around and caught up.
"Now come on, up this tree. It's safer up there.", Bagheera suggested.
"Uh, I don't want to go back to the man-village.", Mowgli spoke a bit worriedly.
"Go on. Up you go.", Bagheera urged.
"That limb way up there?", Mowgli asked as he looked up.
"That's right.", Bagheera responded before Mowgli tried to climb the tree-trunk but quickly found out he couldn't.
"Is that all the better you can climb?", Bagheera chuckled as Mowgli slipped a little.
"It's too, it's too big around! And besides, I don't have any claws.", Mowgli responded as he slid down before Bagheera stopped his descent and tried to climb up while trying to push him up only for Mowgli to slip up and grab Bagheera by the back before he could fall, making the panther snarl in reaction.
"Uh, maybe you should be careful the rest of the way up.", Shanti suggested before Mowgli then climbed up to the tree, but not without using Bagheera's bottom jaw as leverage, thankfully without any scratches, or bite marks for that matter, to get up the branch before Shanti got on Bagheera's back and he climbed up toward the same branch before Shanti got off and saw coils at the edge of the top of the branch.
"Now, get some sleep. We've got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.", Bagheera advised, looking down from the branch.
"But... I wanna stay in the jungle.", Mowgli whined a bit.
"Huh? heh, you wouldn't last one day.", Bagheera chuckled before he yawned and laid down to sleep just as Mowgli picked a small stick off the tree.
"I'm not afraid. I can look after myself.", Mowgli spoke before a giant python appeared from limbs above with Shanti taking notice.
"Uh, Mowgli? Don't look now, but...", Shanti spoke before he looked to notice a giant python.
"Ss-say now, what have we here?", the python asked as Mowgli stuck his tongue at the python.
"It's a man-cub. And two of them, no less.", the python spoke as she slithered closer, making Shanti gasp a little.
"Oh, no. Don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you.", the python assured.
"Easy, now. We don't want any trouble.", Shanti spoke.
"There's no trouble.", the snake assured.
"Oh, go away and leave me alone.", Mowgli only spoke, aggravated as he pushed the snake back a few feet.
"Oh, that's just what I should do, but I'm not. Now, please, go to sleep, man-cub.", Bagheera spoke, thinking he was talking to him as his eyes were closed.
"'Sleep'?", Shanti puzzled before she got an idea.
"That's it.", Shanti spoke with a whisper in realization.
"What's it?", Mowgli puzzled.
"I have an idea.", Shanti responded.
"Yes-ss, man-cub, please go to sleep.", the snake hissed, attempting to hypnotize Mowgli and Shanti as the snake's eyes started to give off colorful, mesmerizing rings.
It worked for a moment until the latter spoke up.
"Okay. But only if you sleep first.", Shanti responded as her own eyes started to give off the similar colorful rings on her eyes, shocking and entrancing the python at the same time as her tail tried to go around Mowgli in circles only to stop and loosen up, waking Mowgli up in surprise.
"Shanti...!", Mowgli spoke in worry.
"It's okay. Just do your thing.", Shanti assured while giving Mowgli a signal with one finger raised before pointing toward the coils around Mowgli before he realized where she was getting at.
"Oh, I get it!", Mowgli realized before getting himself out of the center of the coils.
"What...? How is this...possible?", Kaa puzzled.
"Simple. Last time I saw you, I also saw your little handiwork. Thought it may come in handy.", Shanti responded before wrapping herself around the python in a surprisingly flexible way.
"Whoa. And it is. A lot better than I expected, actually.", Shanti spoke as meanwhile, Mowgli was pushing against the coils with his feet while turning to Bagheera, thinking he might help.
"Hey, Bagheera!", Mowgli whispered before the panther, his eyes still closed, spoke up.
"Oh, no. Look, there's no use arguing anymore. Now, no more talk 'till morning.", Bagherra spoke.
"And you're sure we'll be there by morning?", Mowgli asked.
"Huh? Oh yes, you will, ... KAA! HOLD IT, KAA!", Bagheera shouted as he woke up and saw Shanti and Kaa before hitting Kaa squarely in the mouth just as Mowgli successfully pushed the coils of the branch, sending her winding back from the branches in spins before falling onto the ground, making Shanti giggle as she ceased her hypnosis.
"Great job, Bagheera.", Shanti grinned, practically making the panther speechless in surprise.
"Huh?", the panther puzzled before Mowgli spoke up.
"Look, Bagheera.", Mowgli spoke, pointing to the snake as she slithered away.
"Just you wait until I get you in my coils.", Kaa hissed before Mowgli laughed until met with Bagheera's usual serious glare.
"So you can look out for yourself, can you? So, you want to stay in the jungle, do you?", Bagheera asked.
"Well, yeah. We just took care of Kaa, didn't we?", Mowgli responded.
"That part is true. But, still, with Shere Khan around, we can't take any chances.", Shanti responded.
"Your sister has a point, Mowgli. Now for the last time, go to sleep!", Bagheera urged.
"Well, I'm sure things'll get better soon.", Shanti assured as she climbed up to the leaves branch by branch before yawning.
"Man-cub, huh... man-cub, ahh...", Bagheera muttered before yawning and finally, the trio fell fast asleep.
A/N: So, what'd you think? Pretty surprising for Kaa to have a rival of her own, huh? Frankly, there's not much difference in the next chapter apart from Shanti being involved this time around.
