Chapter 19
The next day, all the creatures of the jungle were quiet while waiting to see and hear from Chil the kite to fly by over them. As the high, blue sky was cloudless Chil was flying high over the green surface of the jungle; looking down on how the sun's light brightens the green leaves from eth tall trees, the sparely ripples on the river, and showing the sharp edges of the mountain from a distance. When the kite just flies over all the animals lifted their heads stare up at his entrance.
"Here! Here! All animals of the jungle! Hear me!" Chil called out loud while flying fast above the green surface of the jungle, "Come all to Council Rock! The wolves have proposed a special meeting!"
High up in a tree, Mowgli was sitting high on a branch with his back lying against the tree, his right leg hanging off the branch, his left leg kneeing upwards with his left arm laying on the top. The small branches above him covered shadows on parts of Mowgli's face from the sun's light as his eyes looked down in sorrow.
He ears pricked up the Chil's call as the kite yelled out again, "Come and hear the last speech of Mowgli!"
"All creatures down below! Hear me, for the man-cub has decided to leave the jungle!" Chil was just fly over the tree Mowgli was sitting in, Mowgli looked and listened, "Come and hear the last words for Mowgli!"
Mowgli began breathed heavily as he gripped his fingers tightly together in his hand turning into a tough, shaking fist. Soon, he could feel his eyes starting to get wet, Mowgli raised his head thinking that the water might fall back and there never stop coming when they started. Mowgli silently growled to himself feeling so grief about what he is about to do. A few triplets of tears slowly slide down on his checks, as well as making him feel the grief slowly.
"Mowgli!" Down below was no one than his younger wolf-brother, Grey calling out for him after he tracked down his scent, "Mowgli! Come on! It about to start!"
Mowgli shook his head and wipe his eyes by his wrist to get the tears off and rubbed his checks to get rid the wet traces from them. Grey shouted, "Come on, Mowgli! We're going to late!"
"I'm coming!" Mowgli shouted down, smiling at how Grey shouts to him. Mowgli grabbed a vein and slide himself down fast that and within a second, he was already landed on the ground.
Mowgli and Grey began running together side by side to Council Rock, they both smiled for they like spending time together. Mowgli could the rushing wind blowing pass his body, at the same time he could also feel the time rushing pass them. Once they reached up to the edge of Council Rock Mowgli could started to feel the boiling grief in his stomach like he was about to faint and run away, but he walked over slowly with Grey feeling right and calm a little. The birds tanding on the small tree branches watched Mowgli walked, as the same for Chil standing on a lonely branch from a dead tree next to Council Rock. He tried to control his shaking hands to stop and be steady, as Mowgli and Grey were just stepping on the rocky steps up to floor level of Council Rock. Mowgli spotted the whole wolf pack sitting around at the bottom of Council Rock with Baloo and Bagheera by the side along with Rikki Tikki Tavi. The four vultures stand still and waiting on a tree branch high enough to see the whole wolfpack. Mowgli other siblings, Sura, Luri, and Akru were sitting on the edge of the steps to the top of Council Rock. Sura's little pups were play fighting by the side of their mother. They all looked up as Raksha was standing on the peak of Council Rock, feeling her paws standing on the body skin of Shere Khan. Mowgli walked down in silent and sorrow and sat down next to his siblings as he bended his knees close to his head and wrapped around his legs. Unexpected to know that a few of the great elephants arrived including the little elephant, they stood straight and proud behind the wolfpack. Surprised by everyone to see the elephants come at this assembly, now all began thinking that this would a be s special assembly, but a few were unsure what it's about.
Raksha began, "Members of the wolf pack. Friends and families of the jungle. I have called this special assembly to say Mowgli, the man-cub has decided to leave the jungle and return to his own kind. There still wouldn't be any Man-Village to rebuild, so Mowgli will live beyond the jungle to live with man-kind."
The wolfpack started whispering to one another, discussing on their expression about Mowgli leaving the jungle. Raksha continued, "Needless to say, we will all miss him dearly. We all had a special close bond with the man-cub."
"But, now he has become man, he is no longer the young cub who we taught and trained. We have admired his kindness and courage; his great deeds will remind as great stories of the wolfpack. But most of all, Mowgli has never lost his modesty. He is a friend to all the creatures of the jungle, a protector to those in need. But, underneath beats the heart of noble, brave hunter. It was Mowgli defeated Buldeo and his cruel men. It was Mowgli who lead the fight against the vicious Red Dholes. And, it was Mowgli who defeated and killed Shere Khan. These stories will be told and retold with pride from creature to creature through jungles in far distances. As his ami, I have known his kindness and love, and as his leader I have seen his skills and courage throughout the pack. For all of this, he is truly a great son of Akela."
The wolfs talk amounts each other as they all agreed to Raksha's speech about Mowgli. They all say how he was a great hero to them all, how well and proud Raksha's speech was. Mowgli felt still but still with sorrow, hearing that speech reminded him of the memorable times he had with the pack, and with his friends, and family.
"And now our fellow wolves of the pack, we must respect his decision. He may grow up as wolf, but he can not deny the truth that he is a man. His decision to leave the jungle and live amount with his own kind, even if it pains to our hearts. And as his ami, I feel that pain more strongly more than any other livily creature." Mowgli looked up and saw Raksha looking down in depress then quickly risen her head. He had never seen his ami looking so sad in his life, it cracks his heart to see his love ones like this for him. After breathingin calmly, Raksha continued, "But young ones but learn to stand on their feet and walk on." Mowgli bended his head in between his knees and mourned silently to himself, hiding his unhappy face to whole pack.
"Now, I would like to share a few words from Mowgli's brothers" Raksha looked and Mowgli's siblings.
From oldest to youngest, Mowgli's siblings all walked up on the peak of Coucil Rock. Sura started, "As oldest, I had a job to look after my family. And, when I had a family of my own, I know now that it's time my young brother, Mowgli to make his decisions in his life. He encourages us to take risk and challenge ourselves to show what we really made of and how we mean for one another. And, as for Mowgli he means a lot me, for a wolf and a man."
Next, Luri speck, "As annoying as having four brothers troubling your time in day and night, another is more troubled. However, I must say that doesn't stop the love I have for my brothers, especially Mowgli. I know all the laws of the jungle, and respected. But, if there was any law saying no love for man, nor care for one, then I shall not follow that law. Different by his looks, his actions, they all show no reason why I should not love him. He is my brother and I will miss him dearly."
Then, Akru came up, "I am usually the troubled one in the family and sometimes I feel the one who let's people down. But, Mowgli always tell to be yourself. And, that I will do the same for him. If he's a man so be it. If he wants to go out to live with his own kind, so be it as well. Because if he does the same to, I should to same for him. After all, that's what brothers are for."
Finally, it was Grey's turn, but he didn't hold up a valued face like his siblings did. He started, "To be honest, I really, really disagree with all of this. Most of you probably agree with me too. I hate the idea that my favourite brother is leaving the jungle. I hate the idea that he maybe not come back. He had some trouble here in the jungle and he had some trouble in the village too. That's why I don't want him to go because I want to see him get hurt." Grey was right about that a Mowgli painfully knew it, the truth terribly squeezed the man-cub's heart and shut his eyes tight as the water of the tears floated through his eye lashers. Expected from Grey continuous speech, "Then, I realised how selfish it would be if he does stay here then he will lonely. He needs human companionship. I know I will truly miss him, but I want the best for my brother. That's all I have to say."
The wolf sibling walked down slowly off while the wolf pack chatted amounts themselves again but louder, Mowgli could hear their agreements for Grey's speech, half suggested that he should stay but half disagreed. The wolf sibling all held a calm and steady face expected for Grey who looked down in grief and accepted the truth he announced the whole pack. Grey sat silently next to Mowgli, but they didn't look at each other, Sura, Luri and Akru sat on the other of Mowgli they all look on their same side and saw the grief covering on their faces. Bagheera noticed the man-cub hiding his face with his cross arms, the black panther walked over not to see Mowgli but because it's his turn to speak out for Mowgli. Bagheera reached to the peak but the wolf pack was still talking and didn't had their focus on the panther. Suddenly a vociferous roar raged out through his sharp teeth and quickly all eyes stare back at Bagheera as he slowly stopped his roaring and stood straight and proud ready to start.
"For as long as I know the man-cub, he was just an infant when I met him. I was afraid of man just like most of you creatures of the jungle, leading to my first decision to leave him be. But the little infant walked up to unafraid, that's when I realised that he wasn't dangerous. He wasn't a treat to me, he wasn't a treat to anyone. I took him to the wolves, so he will have a people, but instead he found a family."
Mowgli gazed up at Bagheera and felt his heart beating in his throat and through his veins. Bagheera continued his speech, "I knew one day that one day the man-cub will need to leave the jungle. And, that would be the hardest decision he will ever make. Before, I only thought about what's right for him and sometimes forget how he will feeling in the end. But, after years of knowing his greatness and courage, the man-cub always stood up for what is right to him, and to others."
Mowgli remembered early in his life when Bagheera taught him to not use any tricks in the jungle and start acting more of a wolf, later after Shere Khan's fight Bagheera advices Mowgli to fight more like a man and learn more of his own kind. Those members confused and twisted his mind for deriving a thought of Bagheera disliking his actions of being both man and animal. Now those thoughts melted away and developed to the consideration of love they had for one another, remembering all the lessons Bagheera taught about the law and how to hurt. Mowgli suddenly missed the point of all that Bagheera always felt like a close father to the man-cub.
Finally, Bagheera stepped down from peak and Baloo walked up to the top of Council Rock. "Well, to make things cleared out, I didn't know the kid as long as most of you. The first time I met him was for the two reasons; one to save his life from the coils of death, and two was to help me for habitation."
Bagheera rolled his eyes from remembering back on Baloo's tricks on getting honey for himself, however, Mowgli giggled as he remembered the good and fun times they had together. Baloo continued, "After a few goals, I began to like this kid. And, he showed me some of his tricks and I didn't mind them, they were actually quite fun to do with him. We got along, and I would have wanted Mowgli to stay with." Baloo felt his sorrow beating from his heart to his throat as his breathing was getting heavy and harder for him to speak. He paused for a second to breathe then continue, "I love that kid, I love him like he was my own cube. I promise him that if he is unhappy with where he's staying at, or his tricks are not good, then I shall take him back to that village myself. But, now since there is no village now, I guess, he needs to go on his own two feet. I believe every creature has a purpose in life, whether to guide, or fight, or destroy what it desires. Well, I believe that kid's purpose was change lives and bring peace. I can't say he didn't do a pretty good job with it, because he fixed my life up quit beautifully."
Mowgli caught the half side of Baloo's unhappy face as he was still facing towards the pack, Mowgli looked back down in between his knees and tighten his arms around his legs. His eyes were half closed feeling his throat cold harder for him to swallow, Mowgli tried to hold back the tears in his eyes, but they were slippery to come warm.
"I will be heartbroken to watch Mowgli leave, but I will be happy for the new life he has ahead of him. I know one day, soon, he will back, but no matter where he wanders this will always be his home." Baloo gently finished.
The whole wolf looked back at each other, commenting on how Baloo's speech was soft and gentle like honey dripping off from a tree, they soon all agreed with him and now believing that Mowgli's decision for his future is the right path for him to go. Baloo slowly walked down off the peak holding a calm face hiding away his grief. Silently, Mowgli moans down between his legs making his face unseen by everyone around him, feeling his tears dropping off from his edge of his eyes as they splashed on the rocky floor making the lightest sound to hear.
Raksha walked to Mowgli side noticed the drops of tears underneath him, Raksha bend her heads lower towards him and whispered, "Mowgli, it's time. You think you are ready?"
Mowgli raised his head up and shook off the tears off his checks for his sad face switch to calm face with a small smile, he looks up at Raksha look and he nods saying he's ready. Raised up steady but Mowgli's legs were shaking from the inside, he walked up slowly to the peak while looking up as his eyes gazed at the blue skyline torching the green, pointing hills and mountains. Mowgli was hoping the bright skyline could distract his mind for second but that second quickly finished as he reached to the top of Council Rock. Mowgli slowly stepped on the skin of Shere Khan, the tiger's soft fur stroke gently underneath the man-cubs feet.
Mowgli looked down feeling anxious, then he faced the pack and took a deep breathe before he started his speech, "Free people of the pack. Creatures of the jungle. I…" Mowgli was losing his words. He squeezed his fingers inside tight making a rough fist
Mowgli tried to speak but his mind was troubled to say the truth, or mostly he couldn't bare to hear it from him himself. It pains him terribly in his heart, Mowgli was breathing hard and fast, but so the courage in his gut shouting at him to speak, speak louder. He took another deep breathe and continued with a brave, loud beginning, "I thank you all for coming! As you all know I am leaving the jungle This is probably the most difficult decision I will ever make. I hate this as much you all. I wish there is any way else I could stay here, I would."
Mowgli could feel more tears were coming out from his eyes, but he wasn't a sham of them anyone nor did any of the wolves. The next thing that came out "I am not a man! Nor am I an animal! I can not change the fact that I was born a man. But the jungle will always be part of me. Prat of who I am."
He dogged his fingers deeper and tighter into the palm of his hands, closing his eyes hard enough to squeeze all the tears out. The secret, the truth, the final part of who he really is and his entire life is finally presenting, feeling the pain words needed desperately to shout out knowing that they're right, they're all right from the very beginning. Mowgli took a step closer making himself a bit closer and stranded straighter. His family and friends below stood up with proud of their brave man-cub as their smile, even after what Grey admitted in his speech he grew a small smile thinking of his wolf-brother. "I will be leaving the jungle. I will be leaving the jungle, not because I want to but because it's the right way for me. I will travel out to live with man. I will understand the ways of man and I will try to make them understand to respect the jungle. I will not forget this place, for this is my home, my true home. I will not forget my adventures I had here. I will not forget the laws of the jungle I have learnt through my years. But, most of all, I will forget the ones I love so dearly."
"And we won't forget you!" a sound shouted from below, all eyes moved to Grey as the young wolf smiled at his brother, and that made Mowgli grew a small smile.
As a cheer for the assembly is now finished, the whole wolf pack raised and howled for the success of the man-cub, as the elephants cheered loud and clear with their trucks swing up over their heads. Baloo and Bagheera and the wolf family smiled from the blew, Raksha ran up to the peak as her eyes and Mowgli's meet and smiled. Sometimes words are not needed to show how someone feels, Raksha nodded as a way to show how proud she is of her man-cub.
Mowgli walked down from the peak and looked at his friends and family as they all looked at him, Sura's young pups rush at to Mowgli and the man-cub kneed down and gently rub the side of their heads as a goodbye, once again words were not needed to speak. Then Mowgli's brothers came in line, they touch their fore heads together and closed their eyes as saying goodbye to each other. Raksha was last one but before Mowgli whispered, "No matter where I go, or what they may call me, you will always be my ami."
Bagheera smiled and come to his side was Baloo silently sobbing to himself, Bagheera asked, "Are you alright old friend?"
"Me? Sure, sure" Baloo huffed in some air and answered, "It's just last week, I ate some honey, but it had those stings in from those, female bees." Mowgli turned around to listen to Baloo's another dramatic story and see how it goes, Baloo continued, "And, um, those stings I can feel them in my throat, so I have to sob them out." Everyone nodded and hummed in agreement but mostly giggled and grew smiles, thankful to Baloo for brightening the moment.
"As much as I like those moments of goodbyes" Rikki interrupted to ask Mowgli, "Should we go later or sooner? Because I'm fine with either."
"Wait, your leaving as well?" Mowgli ask surprisingly.
"Yes" Rikki answered with a positive attitude.
"But I thought you love the jungle" Baloo and Bagheera asked.
"I do. But when you said in your speech about every creature has a purpose, I remembered my purpose. Since as long as I remember, I guide some man-cubs as a pet, but mostly they needed a friend. I know giving up the jungle and the freedom is worth a life-time, but I know someone who needs, and I'm not to going to give her up."
Only knowing that Rikki was talking about going back to Shanti, Mowgli saw how easy it was for Rikki to decide what life he wants to live in, but then Mowgli wondered to himself why wasn't it easy for him. Mowgli caught a glimpse of the eyes from Bagheera, soon realising the deeper emotion behind those yellow eyes, it only reminds the panther of the kind man-cub he befriends before.
Later, as the sun was just starting to slide slowly in the sky, Mowgli was riding on Baloo's back with Bagheera walking along beside them and Rikki on Bagheera's back. They were walking up to the north, where half of the Man-Village has been covered in green grass, veins, leaves and flowers all on the broken walls, cracked floors, and fallen trees. Passing through the north, leading on like you're walking to the edge of the world, because they finally reached to the edge of the jungle.
"We have reached our end" Bagheera said.
They gazed beyond miles off further in the jungle from their point of view, Mowgli jumped off from Baloo's back and landed in middle between Ball and Bagheera, but silently stood by his side as he kept his gaze out beyond. Miles off through more jungle trees, and bushes with the sun light guiding the way, further down laid the Town of Khanhiwara where he could start off. Feeling the time pressuring against his muscles like he must move, against his mind like he must say goodbye now, but the pressure was burning the pain through his heart, so he could feel the all shame again.
"You know Shere Khan was right" Mowgli confessed, both Baloo and Bagheera look up at the man-cub, "I was becoming a man." Now, thinking that Shere Khan was right and only wanted to prove it, Mowgli started to feel a bit guilty for killing like one.
"If it must be, then let it be" Bagheera replied, not go with or against, just a belief for what every creature has to face.
"Like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly" Baloo perfectly exampled.
Mowgli walked around in front and his gaze was upon Bagheera, gradually wrapped his arms around Bagheera's neck and hugged him tight. Bagheera could feel the man-cubs tears dropping on his black fur, Bagheera closed his eyes enjoying the moment as he remembers the good memories of Mowgli in past years.
While hugging Mowgli gently whispered, "Thank you. I love you."
"Good bye, man-cub" Bagheera whispered.
After, Mowgli turn around slowly and faced Baloo as he shown a smile on his face and the man-cub gave a small one. In a flash like lightening, Mowgli lashes his arms out and wrapped them around Baloo's neck, hugging him tight with more tears flooding out from his eyes. Baloo didn't close his eyes to enjoy the moment, but he steadied his smile to show how he feels, the tears slipping off from the man-cubs' check like drops of honey dripping off from a tree.
Mowgli hugged him tight like he doesn't want to let go and leave, as he gently whispered, "I am going miss you good friend. I love you."
"Me too, kid" Baloo whispered back.
Mowgli stood up straight while looking at Baloo and Bagheera before begins his journey, Rikki climb up and sat on Mowgli's shoulder, the man-cub slowly turn around and started walking step by step on his own. Mowgli continued walking as he stared ahead of him, after passing a few trees he suddenly stops for a second and slowly turns around. He could still see Baloo and Bagheera in a short distance with small bushes infront of them and the sun light shiny upon them. Mowgli took a deep breathe in and out came a smile. And, he could think to himself is, "What a great life he had. The Wolves, Man, mostly without them." After a deep breathe out, Mowgli turn around and continued your journey.
"What a cub?" Baloo asked to himself.
"Ah, I agree. Him living here in jungle, was different but beautiful. But now, what can I say? Mowgli goes where he belongs." Bagheera positively answered.
"Yeah, but I still think, that that kid is one of a kind" Baloo said, "He would have a good bear if you think about it. But, let's not get it over our heads, you would say."
"No. You could be right" Bagheera commented.
Abruptly, Baloo shakenly put him into a positive position and subjected, "Well, come on Baggy Cat, let's go back to where we belong! And, please… Get with the beat. You might as well stuck with the dull dholes while you're at it!"
Bagheera replied, "Your dull attitude couldn't get any more displeasing, now could it?"
"Oh, please get with it…"
Baloo started sing the Bare Necessities of Life while bumping into Bagheera to get the panther into the rhythm. Bagheera continued walking along ignoring Baloo showing he's careless of the singing, but secretly hidden a small smile on his face for the positive mood got him. They walk back through the north of the jungle heading to Baloo's home cave, in their heads and all of the wolves and kind creatures who befriended the man-cub, prayed for Mowgli's safe journey and hoped that one day he will return to the jungle, his true home.
Hi Guys! Sorry it took me a while, but this chapter took me some time to do a lot of thinking. As you probably know from the last character, Mowgli has decided to leave the jungle to live on with his own kind.
This character with the same title is based from the last episode of The Jungle Book; Shonen Mowgli. I don't own that idea from the episode, but when I first watched it I cried all the way, and I wanted to describe it well for you readers to share the emotional experience from the characters' point of view.
At the end, I thought to myself to add a bit more of Disney in it. So, I thought of adding the ending of the original Disney movie The Jungle Book. The movie had a lovely end, it finished on a perfect note, where Mowgli goes back to where he belongs, so putting this ending to this chapters feels like it's brightening the moment.
Thank you, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. One more chapter, I promise you're going to love this one. Please leaves some comments on what you think and I'll see you very soon.
