Chapter 17
The steady path was leaning in different angles with bumps and rocks to the sides and in the middle. Stepping into the dark shadows underneath the treetops, silent was in and out of the shadows. The creatures of the jungle were either sleeping in their comfortable homes or hiding away from the threats of man and their glowing Red Flowers. The brave, young man-cub, Mowgli was leading the way in front of Buldoe and his friends down to the shadowy paths. The deaf man was holding up the Red Flower behind Mowgli, so the others behind can see what's in front. Mowgli can see perfectly clean in the dark even without using the Red Flower; hearing, smelling, and shaping his surroundings. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the mongoose creeped secretly to hide himself in Kitty's bag as the others was walking down the depths of the jungle to find the ancient ruins. Mowgli looked back at his side and saw Kitty walking quietly with her head looking down, Kitty was walking in front and close to Riswan. Mowgli doesn't want Kitty to get hurt or in a danger zone then Mowgli look back ahead continuing leading the way.
"How far are we?" Buldeo shouted out to Mowgli.
"We're getting close" Mowgli answered.
Walking upwards as the path was leading them higher, and higher, as they were getting close to cliff side. Mowgli could recognise the shape of the cliff side, he remembered when the monkeys kidnapped him and carried him up on the cliff side. Mowgli pointed out the way up to the surface of the cliff, he continued when the others have reached up.
"Oh, and jungle brat" Buldeo yelled at Mowgli before he could continue leading on. "If you got any tricks coming our way. Then don't expected me not to do another shooting."
Mowgli felt Buldeo's threats like claws cutting down on his skin, he looked back at Kitty and saw the terror of the threats hitting in her eyes. Thinking that Buldeo was either threating Kitty or threating one of the animals of the jungle. Mowgli give a sharp stare at Buldeo, he looked back ahead and continued walking up, meanwhile Mowgli prayed secretly hoping his plan will work. When they reached up to the surface of the cliff they were at the side end of the cliff, where a huge cliff is standing high behind the fallen city of the ancient ruins. Mowgli stopped at the far end side of the cliff side with the others stopped behind him. Mowgli token them to secret passageway to the underground of the ancient ruins, where he and Grey entered in after when Kitty was kidnapped by the monkeys. However, when he reached to the back side of the temples, the passage was all blocked from the fallen parts of the temples.
"Why have we stopped?" Buldoe asked.
"It's blocked as you can tell" Mowgli pointed.
"Well, then dig!" Buldeo demanded.
"Not with all of these huge rocks" Mowgli stated, Buldeo knew that the jungle boy was right.
Then, Buldoe spotted the narrow path around the corner, "What about there?"
"That will take you the side. The temples have both fallen. We can't enter inside there" Mowgli said.
Buldeo looked around the walls of the temples are still high up, he looked back at Mowgli and ordered, "Go up."
"Not up there. But, maybe down there" Mowgli suggested. He pointed out the other way on the side around the corner. He walked over down the narrow side when walking down a small gap between the temples' wall and the large cliff next to it, but it was small than the one below. Mowgli was just underneath the hole in the wall, as he gave an easy jump for his hands to grab on the corners and his feet pushing himself up. In a second, he got himself fully on the edge and now he was just inside of the broken temple. Buldeo went down first then Kitty in the middle so that she's doesn't try to escape anywhere from the men. Mowgli kneed down quickly and scooped some ashes onto his hand, the stood up by the side of the hole so that Buldeo could see him clearly. Once Everyone was out being the side of the hole, Buldoe was first to climb up but wasn't fast as Mowgli. Buldoe held the Red Flower to see the inside of the temples, his eyes were wide as he knew that he was getting closer to the treasure. Kitty was by the side at the bottom, before it was her to turn to climb up she noticed that Mowgli secretly shook his hands by his waist warning her to don't come in. Kitty stood where she was following Mowgli's orders and waited till Mowgli tells her so. Riswan was next to climb up although his heavy body was helping him much to get himself over, Buldeo had to help him by pulling one of his arms. The deaf man was walking behind Kitty while holding the Red Flower, but Mowgli walked to him fast and threw the ashes at his face like throwing the colourful powder back at his first Holi celebration. The deaf man fell back while rubbings his eyes trying to get ashes away.
Mowgli was yelling, "Run, Kitty! Now! Run!"
Within a second, Kitty rushed pass the deaf man and ran through the narrow path as fats as she can go. Mowgli watched Kitty run like the wind and he see that Kitty is getting between a smaller gap, she gets smaller as well by his view. Buldeo yelled angrily at the deaf and ordered him loudly him to chase after, when the deaf man began the chase Buldeo lifted his gun up and pointed it at Mowgli. The man-cub spread his arms wide to prove that he has no any tricks in his hands or anything round him.
"Nice move" Buldeo started, "But you forgotten about my warning, jungle brat."
"You got me. You don't need Kitty. She doesn't know her way around this area anyway. She could get lost" Mowgli suggested.
Buldeo looked at Riswan and he nodded agreeing that the man-cub is right, but Buldeo still aim his small gun at Mowgli's head.
Kitty didn't know where to run to in which direction of the jungle, but she to pick one quickly and run into it. The deaf man followed Kitty as he was running faster and closer to her, luckily it was still dark for Kitty to hide herself. Kitty didn't try to scream so the deaf man wouldn't know exactly where she would go and hide. Getting the blissful feeling that maybe the deaf man could far enough from her, Kitty stopped by a tree for a second to rest and breathe as a small smile grew on her face. Unaware, the deaf man was right behind Kitty coming to closer, and closer to her. Rikki was reaching out at the top from Kitty's bag and spotted the deaf coming from behind.
"Duck!" Rikki warned Kitty as he was about to jump out and attack on the man's face.
Suddenly at that same moment, a powerful roar with a huge, brown paw came out of nowhere. The deaf man couldn't hear the roar from his deaf ear and didn't expected the paw coming and knock him down. Kitty heard the roar as she looked around saw the deaf man, she kneed down as she saw the paw hitting swinging out. The deaf man was rolling down a steep path and landed down in muddy quicksand, luckily for him he grabbed a root of a tree and pulled himself halfway out of the quicksand.
Kitty was still kneeing down with her hands covering on her head while breathing calmly. "Hey, Kitty-cat" a voice appeared, "That's not how cats usual defend like that."
Kitty recognised that gentle, cheerful voice, "Baloo?"
Kitty got up and run up to the loveable bear, hugging around his neck as a saying "thank you" and "happy to see you again."
"Nice hit!" Rikki was amused, looking down at where the deaf man was rolling down.
Baloo was laughing with joy, then he looks at Kitty and ask, "Where's Mowgli?"
"He's inside" Kitty answered. It reminded her and felt shame that she escaped for herself, she left Mowgli behind when he risked for her own sack.
"Right then let's go" Bagheera stated from above standing on the tree branches.
As the black panther was climbing down to the ground, Baloo commented sounded in his mouth while eyed at Kitty telling Bagheera, "Say something!"
Bagheera caught the message, he said to Kitty "Glad you to see alright, girl-cub. And you too, mongoose."
"Same for the both of you" Kitty said looking at Bagheera and Baloo.
Bagheera told Baloo that they should start heading down to the fallen ancient kingdom, Kitty wanted to go with them to help out at any needs but knowing that they mostly wanted for her safety away from Buldeo and his men. Even when Rikki decided to stay with her, Kitty still feels guilty for leaving Mowgli behind.
Baloo and Bagheera reached to the hole entrance on the side of the temple, Bagheera jumped through easily and continued walking thinking that Baloo would have gotten through easily too. However, Baloo was struggling a bit to get over the edge, like climbing up that huge cliff years ago but now Baloo place his paws anywhere to push himself up.
"Baggy! A little help here please!" Baloo couldn't see Bagheera far down as Bagheera's black fur was camouflaged to the dark shadows. Baloo shouted, "Baggy!"
Bagheera looked back hearing Baloo's call, he huffed and walked back, "He can climb up a cliff, but he can't climb over a large wall of bricks."
Baloo was nearly near half-way over but then he quickly fell back down, then Bagheera came back however he couldn't Baloo anywhere. He leaned over the edge to see Baloo but in a second Baloo reached his head back up and yelled, "Bagheera!"
Bagheera stood very still with his face crunched and closed his eyes tight, Baloo's yell was echoing in Bagheera's ears and could feel like his mind was shaking around and around and around. Baloo looked up and said, "Wow, that was fast."
Bagheera shown a death stare and whispered, "First, be quite or man will find us. Secord are you trying to make me deaf?"
Baloo started trying again to lift himself over with a little help from Bagheera, once Baloo was finally over he answered, "Well, from the way you talk and..."
"Don't answer" Bagheera stopped knowing that Baloo's answer was leading to be a joke, "For both of our sakes, don't answer."
Bagheera walked on first slowly checking of the area they are in is safe, scanning around every corner, every column, even if the dark shadows can't stop him from seeing through them. His ears can pick up quickly on every sound from far, dark sight, his nose sniffs from far off scents. When Baloo walked up behind him, Bagheera suggested, "Right you go to find Mowgli, I'll take of the humans." In the exact timing, they both nodded agreeing for their position and spilt up to check around the areas then the floors below them.
Down to the first floor of the temple, Buldeo was getting impatience with Mowgli as he doesn't have all night to find the treasure. He focused Mowgli to continued leading them the way down deeper, and darker to the depths of the temple. A few steps down some cries echo through these dark hallways of the temple, the cries of small monkeys who still live in the ancient ruins. Most monkeys decided to stay believing their all-mighty king will rise once again, and so they have been waiting for days, then weeks, then months. Mowgli thought that probably explains why the monkey's cries are getting louder because they have seen the Red Flower from Buldeo so close before in the jungle. As Mowgli was leading the way while scanning around he remembered the statues on the walls this one was. They reached to the centre of the temple where there was a huge square gap showing the clear sky through the empty roof and down to dusty, rocky floor below. The floors and the columns were all covered in long, sharp, beep cracks like veins covering over tree branches. Riswan was walking behind them holding up his rifle while Buldeo was holding up the Red Flower and his small in his other hand. Riswan kept his eyes looking on straight ahead but a sudden black shadow moved from one side to another, he swing his rifle around pointing towards where that shadow just moved. Buldeo turned around using the Red Flower to see where that shadow was, then the cries from the monkeys were getting louder. Mowgli looked around thinking that there's something else around, bigger than the monkeys. He slowly moved back away from Buldeo and Riswan, Mowgli stopped when he spotted something moved in the right side of the dark shadowy corner. Lowing his right hand to get out his blade from the side of his waist preparing to take it out for protection. Mowgli focus on eth moving figure and quickly spotted small, fiery, warm, yellow eyes. That one clue of the dark figure told Mowgli rapidly who it was. A creature with the fur dark as the night, eyes yellow like the sun, but voice soft like honey dripping down from a tree.
"There! Shot it!" Buldeo ordered Riswan as that was what he was going to do as well.
Mowgli saw them loading their guns then aiming at the hidden creature, he couldn't let them kill him. So, he did the one thing he could, Mowgli ran up to them fast and unexpected, he pushed Buldeo out of the way making him drop the Red Flower and pulled the trigger and shot down at the floor where there were huge cracks. Mowgli pulled Riswan's rifle and threw it away for the dark shadows to swallow whole. After Rsiwan tried to hit him with his big fist Mowgli was too fast to get away and quickly push him with all the strength he's got in his arms. Riswan trembled down and heard his shaken sound as he finally fallen like creating a small earthquake. Buldeo got up quickly with a raging look on his face, he rushed up and was about to attack Mowgli until a sudden shake was made underneath they feet. Unaware of the cracks on the floor was growing bigger and faster, there were more surrounding Mowgli as he felt the floor bending in a different angle. The cracks were creating cranking sounds as they were growing towards the huge gap in the middle. Mowgli was leaning back towards the bending floor heading towards the floor, suddenly he slipped back but quickly hold on to the edge of the floor. Mowgli could see the other ground floors below him, he took the risk and jumped down carefully on the next floor but quickly rushed away from eth cracking were parting the floor to bits.
Outside, the awful sound echoed out through the whole temple, entered through the doorway and out to jungle. Kitty stood in a shocked and scared from when she heard that awful sound through her ears, as well as Rikki did with his back up and wide like a round circle with his small, sharp paws out. Kitty felt the regret boiling in her veins and for that she couldn't wait here any longer. Kitty stood up silently, took out her torch from her bag to see her way back and walked towards the temple without a word. Rikki started with a confused look on his face then began to follow Kitty and climbed up till he reached her bag.
"Um, not like I'm saying that this is any of my business. But, um, what are you doing?" Rikki began.
"Buldeo shot something. And we can't just leave them" Kitty answered proudly.
"Yeah, but…"
Kitty stopped suddenly, "Please, you would have wanted someone to come to help you."
Rikki shook his head, "No, not really. I'm more of a loner to fight."
"You know what I mean" Kitty begged.
Rikki felt her dispiritedly voice vibrating his future answer to stubbed second thoughts. He replied, "Alright, let's go. But, I'll go first."
"Rikki, I'm fine, I don't need any protection."
"No, so the fight will come to me first" Rikki replied. Kitty smiled and laughed a little for Rikki's little response.
Back down to the lowest ground of the temple, Mowgli was climbing down away from the crumbling cracks as they were still growing but he hides in the shadows out of sight from Buldeo and Riswan. The monkey's cries still echoed low and long through these empty halls with fallen parts of the temple walls. Mowgli was walking away as his feet were trying to make the quietest sound while tiptoeing away from the lights of the Red Flower. When his left foot took a step back he felt something hard like a rock, but the surface wasn't as rough as the rock. Mowgli stopped for a second and listen for anything unusual, but he only heard silence. He turns around slowly and saw nothing up straight ahead of him so he low his head down slowly at where his feet stand. There laid a huge palm with dark orange fur covered around the fingers, old dust and grey ash were covering on parts of the hand. Shocked from the sight of the huge sight, Mowgli leaped back away and yelled in fear after knowing who's the hand belongs to. Gazing at the last hand belonging to King Louie, now believing that the great king of the Banalogs is now dead. Felt like his stomach has just flipped over and could feel like it's boiling right up to his throat, Mowgli was walking from the hand.
Bagheera was jumping from shadow to shadow searching around the hallways and in the middle way. Checking if Mowgli is alright and if Buldeo and Riswan are still around with their weapons out. His view around was clear and still but he felt something wrong in his surroundings, till Bagheera heard a click sound when a rifle is loaded. Riswan spotted the black panther in the clear star light through the huge square hole in the roof as his rifle was aiming directly at heart of the panther. Bagheera made himself still like those silent columns and silently leaped into dark shadows. Riswan fired his rifle believing that the panther was still standing there, and he could shape his view of the creature. However, he heard no fall from the creature, as the awful sound was echoing through the hallways. Riswan walked up looking around for the panther but his view was becoming clear as he only shot at a statue of a black panther on the wall. Disappointed and furious at his missed shooting, Riswan forgotten that the black panther is still out in the shadows till a deep, dark growl gave him the cold chills. His hands were shaking his rifle as he was trying to load his rifle fast, but as he was almost finished his loading the black panther came out from hiding jumped out and pushed Riswan back to the ground. Bagheera grab by his shape teeth on the rifle like he was trying to break it while Riswan was trying to push the panther's head away. Successfully, Bagheera strongly pulled the rifle and threw it back into the shadows, then noticed Riswan was crawling away when Bagheera jumped at again in terror. Thought of escaping from the terrifying creature Riswan rolled himself down on a broken bended floor to the next floor down below, Bagheera decided not to chase him down as he was not worth it. When Riswan was down to next floor below, a white small monkey came up to and started making small, squeaky noises while tapping Riswan's head. Riswan raised his head and swing his arm at the vexing monkey to scare him off, but that was his little mistake to become a bigger one. Unaware of the other monkeys around hiding in the shadows; there were large, black ones, the small, ginger ones and many more smaller ones. After Riswan was trying to hit the little monkey again and again, the monkey shouted out the signal to the other. Quick as lighting the monkeys jumped on Riswan and began hitting him, bunching on his back, Riswan tried to get up and crawled away to get away but the monkeys kept on following him and hitting him. Even if Riswan hidden himself in the dark shadows the monkeys will always find him and hit, push, jump or bite Riswan for entering their home.
Mowgli was on his lightest feet, his eyes were widen looking for any danger, listening from his ears and smelling from his noise for anything usual. He was at the centre where he first met King Louie, the ground floor was covered in dusty and rotten fruits next to rocks, and rusty man things, and a long, wide hole across on the edge of the square shape in the middle. The star light through the roof hole made a perfect square shape of pale white light in the centre. The star light through had a touch of orange light coming on the edge of the hole on the roof, Mowgli noticed that means the sun is rising for a new day. Mowgli looked around and heard some steps from above, stepping back close to the dark shadows till a familiar face appeared.
"Baloo!" Mowgli shouted but very low and quiet.
Baloo heard the man-cub's call and was happy to see his little buddy alive. "You alright kid?" Mowgli nodded then Baloo said, "Hold on."
Baloo spotted a long, dusty vein attach tightly around a column, he pushed the vein off to the side and let it fall as low as it could go. Mowgli grew a smile not only for the chance to escape but he was also happy to see his friend. The vein was low enough close to the ground, but Mowgli could jump high and climbed up perfectly. Unaware that one the same floor level behind Baloo in the dark shadows, Buldeo was hiding behind a column and aimed his small at bear.
"I did say no more tricks, boy." Buldeo whispered, as he was about to pull the trigger.
"No!" Kitty jumped out and pushed Buldoe down, he lost his aim at the man-cub and shot at another column.
Buldeo grew a deadly rage look towards Kitty as he was crawling towards her, until he was interrupted by a mongoose crawled on his back and started scratting and biting on the skin of his back and neck. Boiling up his rage even hotter, Buldeo grab Rikki hard and threw him away leaving with bites on his hands. Baloo looked behind and saw Buldeo crawling towards Kitty, he run up to knock Buldeo away but was unaware of that Buldeo was still holding his small gun. Buldoe noticed the rushing bear and quickly aim his gun at the bear. There he released that awful sound and the bullet was shot luckily through the fur instead through the skin. The awful sound still shocked the life from Baloo as the fear trembled him down to the ground, making Buldeo believe that he shot the bear.
Mowgli reached at the same floor level and watched everything, for he believed that Baloo was shot in the leg or something as well. His rage was growing as he just wanted to attack Buldeo and use his blade to scar him for everything he has done. Suddenly, more cracks unexpected grow next to Kitty and parted the floor making it bend down in a wide angle. Kitty didn't had time to react to push herself away, yelling while sliding down to the ground floor. Unexpectedly, there more cracks from she landed as there was no time to reaction for the cracks parted the floor below and Kitty slipped down to the lower floor. Mowgli rushed up to the edge and look down and couldn't see Kitty down the lower floor.
"Kitty!?" Mowgli shouted.
"I'm fine. I'm alive!" Kitty shouted back, Mowgli could hear her loud coughs from all the dust. Kitty whispered to herself, "Thankfully."
Mowgli smiled as he now knows that Kitty was fine and unharmed, he looked back at Baloo with his hand on the side of his neck and could feel his calm breathing. Mowgli grew a smile happy to know that Baloo is still fine, until he could hear some deep, dark breathing behind knowing who it belongs to.
"I did warm you" Buldeo said, pointing his small gun at Mowgli "Now, this is what you're getting."
"So, you don't want to find your treature" Mowgli encourage the thoughts of the glamour treasure Buldeo desperately want. Buldeo paused but he still holding his gun aiming at Mowgli, as the man-cub continued, "Kitty is just down there. I can take you peacefully, if you do the same."
Buldeo gave a long a death stare at Mowgli then flicked his gun to gun warning Mowgli to move and lead him to the treasure. Mowgli slide down the bended floor to the ground floor carefully and gave space for Buldoe to slide down and land safely. Underneath, Kitty could hear them coming down and knowing that they would be going underground. She didn't have her torch to see or anything to protect so she pushed herself against the walls and hope that the dark shadows will make her look invisibly to see. When Buldeo got down to the ground floor he looked down through the hole below and notice how dark and dusty it is. A torch was laying in the edge of the square star light, but had no Red Flower left to light their way down below. He pointed Mowgli towards it with his gun and so Mowgli quickly picked two rocks and banged them till they gave a little stark to light up a small Red Flower. Then quick as the wind blows the Red Flower started growing and began glowing brighter.
Rushing down floor by floor but in the lightest torch without making a sound, Bagheera hurried to see if Baloo was alright or whenever he has been shot again. He scanned and sniffed and all Bagheera can tell was that there no sign of shot mark or blood stains, only tiny parts of his fur have been cut off. Bagheera huffed thankfully and felt Relieve that Baloo wasn't shot or hurt just only a horrifying fight scared the life out of him. Then Rikki crawled back with the exact same terrified look on his face while breathing fast for he was tired and got thrown hard at a column.
"He lives, thankfully" Bagheera noted about Baloo to Rikki.
"Oh, yeah same for me too" Rikki commented, Bagheera didn't know whether he was saying for himself or Baloo but knew that the mongoose cared.
"Those weapons are getting harder to fight back" Bagheera said, "We have to be more careful."
"Easy for you to say. You still got like nine lives to live on" still believing in that myth, Rikki was unaware that he made a confused, ungrateful look on Bagheera's face.
Unexpected, Baloo was starting to wake up and raising up on his feet, but he was struggling to keep balance. Bagheera walked close by his side instead Baloo trembled down again, however Baloo was doing very well to hold himself up.
"What are you do?" Bagheera asked.
"Getting back up for the kid, that's what" Baloo straighten his legs as you could see the strong muscles in them.
"You nearly got yourself shot again, and this time it will lead you to a death store" Bagheera warned.
"Well Baggy if you just looked around for a second. I think we all are close to enter a death store" Baloo pointed out, explaining about they are all underneath a fallen city where the walls and the floors are all parted and cracked.
"Baloo, I…" Bagheera said.
"I'm fine Baggy, you just need to worry about yourself. If I get hurt or killed, which is not the opinion I'll go for, I just the kid to safe. Even when we fought off Shere Khan and yet we survived, we stood up for him and he stood up for us. So, I'm not going rest because I got hurt, I'm going to get him out because I want him to get hurt, because I love him."
Bagheera stood silently and stare in amazement and passion from Baloo's powerful speech. Feeling the meaning through Baloo's eyes as Bagheera knew from all the differences and crazy events they have from each other, those years reminded him of the close bond they had. Their times with Mowgli and the adventures they had brought the three closers as a small family. Understanding now that Baloo won't give up now, so Bagheera nodded with a small smile for he agreed with Baloo.
Meanwhile Mowgli was carefully climbing down through the hole, surprised that he could slide through it perfectly. He landed down to the bottom floor below. He felt the small rocks and the rusty, gold coins pressed up against his feet, he felt the light, pale dust surrendering him and all around. Mowgli looked around for Kitty hoping that she is alright, but Kitty was smart Mowgli knew that she was hiding.
"Well!?" Buldeo shouted.
Mowgli looked up through the hole facing Buldoe from below, "It's all here!"
Mowgli picked up a few coins and threw them to Buldeo to show him that they are real. Mowgli could see Buldeo eyes were widened after he scan the shiny gold skin of the coins, he rubbed his fingers on the flat, dusty surface and he grew a surprised, blissful smile. Buldeo could imagen from looking at these few coins to lots of them, his gut orders him to go quickly to see if his image is true. Buldeo jumped through the hole and could see more gold coins around on the floor from Mowgli holding up the Red Flower. At that moment, the sun was rising nearly half way but it's great light was blighting the beautiful view of the jungle. The bright orange light was crawling over the edge of the hole in the roof, the light manger to reached through the holes in the centre floor and the light travelled down to the floor below. Buldeo manged to get down and landed on the lower ground, hearing the golden coins move apart from his feet. They didn't need the Red Flower to light up the way because the sun light travelled through the centre floor to show the whole underground floor. Buldeo's eyes were widen than ever and was bliss-fulling laughing as the light was shiny off the clear, gold surface of the coins and much more; crowns, swords, necklaces, bracelets, and diamonds. The whole room had dusty cracks in the walls and there were big statues of elephants on the side of the walls, most of them have broken parts. Mowgli scanned around as much as Buldeo but he couldn't understand the beauty of these coins and diamonds, to him they were just like shiny rocks and stones. Mowgli spotted Kitty still hiding in the shadows away, he waved his hand down to tell Kitty to stay hidden and she nodded for returned.
"Now!" Buldeo shouted, facing Mowgli with his small gun in his right hand, "Get them all in here" Buldeo kicked a box filled with lots of coins, diamonds and many more.
Mowgli walked over and said, "But it's already full."
"That's why I said get them all…" Buldeo clearly repeated.
Mowgli looked at the box he looked back at Buldeo and shock his head side to side, Buldeo shown a nasty look on his face as his right hand beginning to rise and took the aim at Mowgli. The man-cub was slipped past the aiming point and sliced his blade out to scar the small gun away, Buldeo pulled the trigger by surprised and that awful sound echoed through the underground tunnels. Buldeo dropped his gun far so he tried to take punch at Mowgli, but the man-cub was quick in action and slipped pass Buldeo's shot. Quacking as he sees the sword next to feet, Buldeo picked up the sword as Mowgli draw his blade infront. Unforeseen of the small monkeys were sitting on the side of the walls and on the head of the elephant statues, cheering and laughing for the battle between Mowgli and Buldeo.
"Friend of yours?" Buldeo smiley asked. Mowgli moved his shoulders and made an unsure sound from his mouth as his answer.
Buldeo started to fight as he thrashed the sharp point of the sword at Mowgli, but Mowgli moved away, and his blade beats back the sword. Buldeo didn't had the fight of a wolf but he was strong enough to grabbed Mowgli hard. Mowgli didn't give Buldeo to chance to get him but luckily, he threw some necklaces at Bulde's face, and he has been knocking over giant, golden jars to get Buldeo away. Meanwhile, Kitty was still hiding from the edge of the shadows while watching helplessly Mowgli fighting against Buldeo but knowing that Mowgli has much greater fight skills against a man. Overwhelmed from the thought that Mowgli could win, Kitty suddenly hear a soft, hissing sound behind her, but all Kitty could see was the dark, friendly shadows.
Buldeo was getting Mowgli lower as he was attacking more on the man-cub, he asked eerily, "Tell me, what you have I don't, as a jungle brat to a man?"
Mowgli was backing away from Buldeo but he felt like a coward if he keeps backing away, so Mowgli decided to take more action. Mowgli leaped forward using his blade to beat the sword back more leading Buldeo to move back. Feeling the overpowering victory against Buldeo, Mowgli was grewing in strength and in words.
"I've got the speed of a kite's flight!" Mowgli started with Chil, the kite and how far and fast his flying is.
"I've got the strength of an elephant!" next with the great elephants.
"I've got the intelligent of a panther!" thirdly with Bagheera, the wise, black panther who guided him through life and has taught Mowgli the Laws of the Jungle.
"I've got the love of a bear!" then with Baloo, the warm, huggable bear who welcomes and befriends creates, great and small, even those he does not know. Mowgli remembered when Baloo saved him from Kaa and when he stood up first to defend Mowgli from Shere Khan.
"I've got the claw of wolf!" finally, Buldeo was about to do a huge attack on Mowgli but the man-cub went low and slide his blade on the other side of his hand. Leading the sharp, pointy of the blade towards Buldeo's side and created scare on the side, Buldeo fell hard as his hands were covering his side. Mowgli looked down proudly at scared Buldeo like a predator caught its prey or won a fight. Mowgli finished, "And they got very sharp teeth" he sliced his blade back into its cover and growled loudly at Buldeo and saw him shaking in fear.
The monkeys all began cheering for Mowgli's victory then they slowly became silent, suddenly the little white one screamed out as it spotted something dangerous and warned the others. Mowgli recognised that warning scream from the monkey and realised who that dangerous creature could be. Mowgli could hear rocks falling apart from something slithering over them, and Kitty spotted parts of the treasure rising as she can see a skin of scales were travelling underneath. told Kitty to run with him and get out, but Buldeo rage forced himself to get up after he picked his small gun. He pulled the trigger but misses his aim at Mowgli, the bullet was shot at the long, wide cracks in the walls. The man-cub moved in fear of the gun shot and Kitty screamed in horror thinking that Mowgli was shot. Mowgli waved his hand back at Kitty telling her to stay hidden in the shadows, but Kitty was close behind Buldeo. Losing his balance because of his wounded scar on his side, but Buldeo's aiming was getting close to Mowgli.
When Buldeo finally got his balance right and straight, he stares at Mowgli with those threating eyes and said, "Before you go off to a new life after death. Say hello to your ma and papa for me."
Mowgli growled in angry remembering the deaths of his parents, but mostly when Buldeo shot his maji, Sahana. Then he focused back to his finial part of his plan, "If you shot me, you won't have enough shots for Kaa."
"What the hell is a Kaa?" Buldeo asked himself, but he thought it doesn't matter he has got what he exactly wanted; the boy dead and the treature. He grew an eerily smiled as his finger was ready to pull the trigger on his small gun, then there was that small, smooth, hissing noise distracted Buldeo's attention on Mowgli. Kitty spotted Buldeo's feet were on the tip of the carpet, she quickly pulled the carpet away losing Buldeo's balance.
Mowgli took the chance to finish, he run up fast and shouted, "Say hello from yourself!" Mowgli jumped up and his strong legs pushed on Buldeo's chest making Buldeo fall backwards even harder than the first time. Buldeo's head banged on one of those big, golden jugs, making it worse to get a nasty headache while his scar was bleeding badly. Mowgli shouted to Kitty to run as he remembered there could be a massive huge where Kaa first crashed through the ground floor.
Before Mowgli could go to escape he looked down at Buldeo, "You want this treasure. You can die along with it."
Mowgli run off passing Buldeo while he was trying to get up and carried a bag of heavy treasures inside, but he keeps trempling down from the weight laying on his shoulders. The monkeys were shouting louder then began completing dead silent, Buldeo looked around and saw all the monkeys staring down at him. At first, Buldeo thought that there was nothing, but when he tried to get back up again something wrapped around his legs and pulled him straight into the dark, cold shadows.
Mowgli feels the cold chills from behind as he caught up with Kitty and they began running off through the tunnels. They finally reached around the corner and found the other entrance, a big hole above them which leads to the ground floor. There was a large column half fallen over the hole but luckily there was enough space for Mowgli and Kitty to escape. Mowgli helped Kitty first by flatting his together facing up for Kitty's feet to step on and push herself up. She successfully got on the top and manged to pull herself over, Mowgli watched when a horrifying scream echoed through the tunnels. Mowgli quickly turned around faced the screams rushing towards him like the wind blow on his face, he silently gulped some cold air down throat but that creeped him even more. Till, his ears picked up a small, breaking sounds around him, Mowgli tilts his head around to his side and his eyes caught more cracks growing and crumbling down parts of the walls, Mowgli released that these walls won't hold up much longer. Mowgli was jumping high to grab on the edge of the hole, Kitty was reaching down to take hold of Mowgli's hand and pull him up. The cracks were growing faster through different floor levels, columns were beginning to slide out of their positions and fallen creating even more cracks. The hole was growing bigger as the edges were falling apart making it harder for Mowgli to hold on and for Kitty to step away from fallen back in. Unknowing from behind, Kitty looked around and saw Bagheeera rushing up and noticed Mowgli was climbing back up.
"Get on my back" Bagheera ordered.
"No" Kitty shook her, she didn't want to leave Mowgli behind, but he told her to for her safety and that he'll be fine. Kitty did as she was told, she jumped on Bagheera's back and she ride out of the temple.
Mowgli was half way out through the hole, suddenly another column was falling down towards Mowgli. Without noticing the column was coming down but Mowgli could hear a loud, banging growl above him. Mowgli look up and saw Baloo holding up the column with all his strength he has in his back.
"Run kid!" Baloo shouted.
Mowgli finally got himself out through the hole formerly he waited for Baloo to get the column off of his back carefully. However, more columns were coming down infront of Baloo making it harder and slower for him to get out. He pressed his paws against on the round sides of the column to push himself closer, but there were huge gaps in between were bumping off the amount of time he has.
"Go on Baloo!" Mowgli encourage, "You're nearly there."
"Someone do something with that kid!" he shouted out a prayer in his mind, he doesn't want Mowgli to stay for him in case the man-cub might get injured. At that second, his prayer has just been answered as Bagheera rushed back to get Mowgli out, Bagheera saw Baloo and that moment for as wise as he can be he doesn't know what to do.
"Get him out, Bagg! Quick!" Baloo shouted.
Bagheera shifted infront of Mowgli and slide the man-cub over him and he landed on his back. Bagheera was running fast but carefully because Mowgli riding on him backwards, Mowgli could see Baloo's face as he grew a smile, but Mowgli had a shamefaced look for himself. Mowgli just wanted to go back and help him, but he couldn't as Bagheera was moving shifty, so they wouldn't get hit or be landed on by the columns. Mowgli shouted Baloo's name out loud asking themselves why we are leaving him, he then shouted to Bagheera but the black panther ignored him for that is just he and Baloo wanted, for Mowgli's safety. Mowgli couldn't manger to see Baloo as more dust and ashes and falling like rain from the floors above and the view of the bear was getting further away and smaller to focus in sight. Bagheera leaped through many holes to get himself to over many floors till he manged to find the floor with the hole entrance in the side wall which leads them out of the temple. They finally got out and ran to the back of the temple where Kitty was resting back on a tree along with Rikki resting on her legs. They all watched as the rest of the temple was falling down brick by brick, all the veins wrapped around it was pulled down together. At the end, the silent sound rises the dust and the ashes like the sun rise over the jungle. Mowgli got off from Bagheera and walked further towards the fallen temples, his eyes stared at the unbelievable. He slowly dropped down to his knees and he dropped his jaw for some fresh air to breathe and to let go his miserable cry. Mowgli felt the bitter water flooding in his eyes, but he could be able to pour them all out, making himself feel even more bad for he couldn't cry for the lost of his best friend. Kitty and Rikki released that Baloo wasn't around and could see why, Kitty cover her mouth with her hands as she was breathing hard and sobbing while Rikki patting his small paws on his knees. Bagheera walked over beside Mowgli looking down at the crying man-cub, for his eyes wasn't filled with water but sorrow and depression.
"By the law of the jungle" Bagheera started, "Greater love hath no love than thee who laid down its life for another."
Down far to the other side of the back of the temple, a small brick was just pushed out from the others. From the inside, something strong was banging the wall to push the bricks out of position. After a few more bangs, they all trembled apart making a big hole, then Baloo came rolling out from the fallen temple coughing from the ashes inside.
"Woo, the could have tried that for a warm-up in the mornings" Baloo laughed.
By the second, he ears picked up and caught a sorrow voice, he walked up into the trees and see where the others are. He first noticed Mowgli on knees with Bagheera standing beside the heartbroken man-cub.
"Great deeds are always remembered in this jungle, but one name will stand above all highest mountains... our friend, Baloo, the bear.
Baloo blinked his eyes many times clearing away the dust and the ashes, but then widen in surprised from Bagheera just said. Then he realised why, "He's cracking me up."
"The memory of Baloo's sacrifice and bravery will forever be engraved on our saddened hearts" Bagheera continued so gently.
Baloo sobbed his noise, "That's Beautiful. That's just torchy."
"This spot where Baloo fell, will always be a hallowed place in the jungle, for there lies one of nature's noblest, greatest creatures" Bagheera finished it in a soft note.
Baloo sobbed more "Oh, ami I wish you could've heard this."
"It's best we leave now, man cub" Bagheera turned around, "Come along, let's go home."
Mowgli gave was still staring at the fallen temples thinking how could lost two of his loves so soon and so quick. He always promised himself never let anyone suffered for him, the guilt boiled hotter in his heart like he has the Red Flower inside of him. Mowgli slowly stood up and walked on following behind Bagheera, before he gave one stare at the temples then walked on. Kitty stood up too breathing in calmly, she didn't want to smile so she doesn't spoil the depressing moment, but Mowgli did a small smiled at first to show that he's alright. Kitty smiled back silently as she rubbed her hand on his wrist softly showing how sorry and care she is. Bagheera was leading the way back to their home, Mowgli and Kitty began walking as Rikki climb up on Kitty's shoulders.
Baloo felt the compassion from the others then change into a sudden look on his face. He shouted surprisingly, "Wait! Wait! Baggy, you mean that's it! That's all you have to say about me! Why, I thought over the years you must know much more about me! Like much more!"
Everyone turned in a deeply shock when they heard Baloo's voice at first their eyes were widened, but when they saw him alive their jaws were dropped far and were completely speechless. Mowgli, Kitty and Rikki grew a wide smile from ear to ear, while Bagheera was happy to see Baloo but angry and annoyed for Baloo hiding while listening how Bagheera eulogizes him.
"Why you big, overweight, ungrateful fraud!" Bagheera yelled, "You mean to say that all this time you were alive and listening while everyone was weeping over your fake death!"
"Oh, come on, you missed me, and you love me" Baloo said.
"You… You are a such a… miserable… selfish…" Bageera was losing his raging words.
Mowgli couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe what he is seeing, he didn't care for Bagheera was saying now, but that his dearest friend is alive. His whole body was shaking in excitement, so Mowgli began to run towards Baloo, faster than the wind, faster than in the hunting seasons. Mowgli jumped for Baloo and hugged him tight with his fingers slide through Baloo's fur, they were both laughing happily to see each other again.
"I can't believe it" Mowgli whispered, "You're here and alright."
"Me? Well, nothing can get passed me. I was just cooling it off, just wanted to see how Baggy will react."
Baloo saw Bagheera was growling in his mouth as the panther was still really annoyed. Mowgli was laughing, "You certainly got us."
Kitty walked over fast, wrapped her arms around Baloo's neck hugging him while laughing with joy. Rikki watched smiling then pointed out, "I was much as I love these kinds of moments. I would like you guys to notice that someone is about toe explored horrifying." Rikki pointed at Bagheera with his fuming, yellow eyes, Rikki added, "Even the sun couldn't heat that up that fast."
"You unthinkable, careless bear" Baloo said with a straight, angry face.
"Oh, come one! He just survived through a death experience! Give a break! You know you miss me!" Everyone was defending on Baloo's behalf.
"Come on, lets get home" Baloo suggested, he started walking then the others followed beside him, Bagheera was the last one to walk as he was still growling with annoyances but secretly hold a small smile on his face at the end.
Mowgli walked by Kitty, they both smiling the Kitty asked, "Mowgli, this doesn't matter now, but what exactly happened to Buldeo down there?"
Mowgli bitten his lip because he didn't quit know how to answer Kitty's question, the Rikki quickly jumped on Mowgli's shoulder and answer, "Oh, he was invited to dinner."
Kitty eyes looked confused, "With who?"
Rikki laughed a little, "No, no, it's for who."
Mowgli quickly shifted his shoulder making Rikki losing his balance and fell off, Mowgli added, "Let's all agree that we should never mention about this again."
Kitty still looked confused, but she agreed for now it's all over and nothing they can do now. They carried on walking down peacefully and Kitty secretly moved her fingers to Mowgli's, Mowgli felt surprised rushing from his fingers to his mind. He looks at Kitty and her smile feeling a little nervous and blushed, but Mowgli like the feeling he has with Kitty and so he moved his fingers closer and grew a shy smile.
"Hey, we should celebrate tonight!" Baloo suggested an idea.
Everyone agreed but Bagheera commented saying as he was still annoyed, "I nowhere or there yet."
Everyone was laughing out loud at Bagheera's comments, Bagheera carried on walking alone with the others still laughing. Then Mowgli quickly remember, "Wait, tonight? It's early in the morning!"
It was the still perfect day for everyone to start a fresh, new day, even if it was really, really early, the first light of the sun rising on the green surface of the jungle was beautiful as much as watching the sun setting. Mowgli felt so free to get all your troubles off your shoulders, and the sun's orange light warming on the back of his legs, his whole back side and his black missy hair. Mowgli had everyone he needed by his side and he couldn't feel even more happier as he was now coming back home.
What's up guys, so sorry if it took so long, but I manger to finish the final battle between Mowgli and Buldeo. there were a few links between the other Jungle Book movies:
Where the deaf man, Riswan and Buldeo all meet their fates at the end; the deaf man well into quicksand, Riswan in the torture of the temples with the wild monkeys, and Buldeo… well you know how it goes. These are all link to The Jungle Book (1997), I don't own them.
And Baloo's fake death, if you are a Disney or a Jungle Book fan then you would have probably figured this out. I love and laugh at this scene from the animated version, and I'm always wondering how Bill Murry will do, he would have done great and funny as always. Also, I don't own this scene.
Hope you guys have enjoyed this chapter, because there are still to read after. See you guys later!
