Chapter I Rise of the Cobra Queen

The Fight with Kinsta

He moved left. Then right. Kinsta taunted him. "You're very foolish coming to fight me! I'm a lot quicker and stronger than when we last met." he hissed.

"Well I think I might be too." said the mongoose.

"Mother will be pleased with me once I've killed you." hissed Kinsta. The mongoose jumped sideways to avoid the king cobra's strike.

"You've gone too far Kinsta! Eating a young bird learning to fly." said the mongoose.

"Come on you little red-eyed pest! Fight!" hissed Kinsta.

"I've killed snakes before! I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you!" said the brave young mongoose.

"You got lucky with Tivía!" said Kinsta. "I assure you that I won't be as easy to kill. Every mongoose gets lucky sometimes." Kinsta knocked him backward and moved over him. "I'm really going to enjoy this!" he hissed.

"Tivía wasn't the only snake I killed." said his foe.

"Who else then? A gardener snake? Ha!" hissed Kinsta.

"Krait, Nag, and Nagaina!" said the mongoose. Kinsta's eyes widened, and he paused, startled.

"Impossible! They were killed by humans! There's no way a young fool like you could possibly kill them!" said Kinsta.

"I assure you I did." said the mongoose.

"How?" asked the king cobra incredulously.

"I paralyzed the wicked dusty brown snakeling by biting his neck and he died from his wounds before the people even got to him. As for Nag, I caught him by the hood." said the mongoose.

"Impossible! Mother said that the humans did it!" said Kinsta in total shock.

"No, I killed them." said the mongoose, creeping toward Kinsta while the king cobra waited, still totally stunned by what he had just heard.

"You're too young. My Grandparents died months ago. There's no way you could." said the astonished cobra.

"No, I killed them. Just like I'm going to kill you!" said the mongoose, leaping at the king cobra. Kinsta turned and tried to strike, but he missed and the Indian mongoose quickly seized the opportunity, biting into Kinsta's spine and paralyzing him. "Believe me now?" said the mongoose, pouncing upon him and crushing his skull before eating the dead snake from tail to head after the custom of his family at dinner.

Teenage Rikki-tikki-tavi

Rikki-tikki-tavi, a teenage mongoose, finally had done it. He'd finally managed to kill and eat a cobra for himself. It had been months since the last he'd seen of the cobras Karistan and Nagasta, the offspring of the late Nagaina and Nag, two deadly cobras that Rikki had defeated about a year ago. However, their last egg had hatched into the infamous Nagasta, who married a cobra, from a nearby forest, named Karistan. The two had been wreaking havoc, even worse than Nag and Nagaina, on the countryside. In fact, they, unlike Nag and Nagaina, had actually managed to kill a few humans in the surrounding area. The humans didn't often go after them as few were willing to risk death to hunt them and their children. The cobras always seemed to get away when they did try to go after them, especially lately. It seemed they were invincible for the time being. How they escaped capture was a mystery. However, Rikki had managed to stop them from attacking the humans they really hated, the human Teddy and his family, who had, with Rikki's help, killed Nag and Nagaina. However, he admitted that he was lucky to beat the cobra Kinsta, a deadly and rather fast one. Kinsta had been one of her better ones. She had indeed amassed a cobra army. But Kinsta had been thwarted, thanks to Rikki, in getting into the garden and causing more havoc. He'd already eaten Azil the tailorbird's daughter when she fell over the garden wall the previous week, but he'd never eat any birds again. But he knew that was too close for comfort. Mongooses aren't immune to the cobras they hunt, nor can they find a special herb to cure them, at least none that he, or any human for that matter, in the area had found. Rikki took the fangs of Kinsta, the only part of the snake he hadn't eaten, besides the bones, and buried them in the ground, being careful not to prick himself with them. "Can't let Nagasta find any trace of him. Then she'll search for him forever. And," he shuddered, "imagine what she'd do to me if she found I killed Kinsta. I imagine, given her hatred of the humans, that it won't be pretty." he said. He was very exhausted from his efforts and fell asleep, hidden in a bunch of bushes, in case a snake came along. He rested there for a few hours, dozing while he digested his meal.

Finally, he headed back toward the home of his human friend Teddy. He was met by a bird, a friend of his named Darzee. "Where have you been?" Darzee asked, annoyed. "I've been looking for you for hours. We can't be too careful with those cobras on the rampage. Especially Kinsta."

"He won't be back." said Rikki, grinning.

"Did you manage to convince him to stay away?" said Darzee incredulously.

"Not exactly. He wouldn't seem to take no for an answer so I ate him from the tail up." laughed Rikki.

"You ate…?" said Darzee in shock.

"Yep. Best tasting snake I ever ate. And the first that I killed on my own." said Rikki-tikki.

"Ech! Imagine eating those scaly brutes!" said Darzee in disgust.

"They aren't that bad. Trust me." said Rikki. "Anyway, I don't want Nagasta to find out about his death, so please stop any singing you were about to do and help me clean up this mess. I don't want any trace of him." Darzee complied, though he didn't like touching the snake bones. "Yeah, I don't want Nagasta to have any more reason to hate me. I've already killed her friend Tivía and knocked out several of her children." said Rikki when they were done.

"And she's not going to forget it. She's been so angry at you, in fact, she has killed a few mongooses and humans to blow off steam. In fact, I've heard rumor she even was bold enough to strike down a few cobras that wouldn't join her cause. She's angry I tell you! And she hasn't forgotten Teddy and his family either."

Karkróc

"Darzee, there's something I should tell you about Nagasta." said Rikki. "What about her?" said Darzee. "Well, she…." said Rikki. "I see you're still at it Rikki-tikki-tavi. Saw you eat Kinsta. Queen Nagasta won't be pleased." said a voice. Rikki and Darzee turned around and spotted a large black crow staring at them from a tree.

"Queen Nagasta? Is that her new title? Well tell her I could always do for afters," said Rikki, licking his lips.

"You're a bigger fool than they told me! Even if you could manage to kill Nagasta and Karistan by themselves, you can't take down their new army. At least a hundred cobras, from as far as several hundred miles away, have come to her domain. She is now Queen of the Jungle. Nothing, no birds, no snakes, no mice, and certainly no mongooses will be able to do anything without her approval." said the crow. "Crows too." "I think this explains a lot." said Rikki. He recalled a caw cawing sound nearby when the snakes had attacked somebody not far from the bungalow. "You're her lookouts, aren't you? So they can spot the people and get away in time." "How very astute of you!" laughed the old crow.

"And so you've joined her then. I hope she eats you for dinner! You can never trust a cobra. You'll come to a bad end, mark my words!" snarled Darzee. "Yeah, well, I think she'll give you a nice and slow death. Hopefully she'll swallow you whole without poisoning you and let you slowly digest in her stomach. And the slower the better. She wants all who are friends with that mongoose", he pointed a wing at Rikki, "to suffer a slow, painful death."

"Well, come a little closer and I'll show you what one feels like!" snarled Rikki. "And that goes for Her Highness too!"

"Well, tell your little friend here that maybe he'll be a lot less tougher when he finds that we've taken two of his hatchlings and brought them over for Her Majesty to snack on." Rikki, his eyes turning red, quickly skirted up a tree and jumped at the evil crow, who barely managed to flap away. "Well, Rikki-tikki-tavi, you'd better watch it. Your family is next." He flew away as Rikki hit the ground with a thud. "Drat! I missed! I was going to see how much he could taunt us with his head missing!" said Rikki, disappointed. "Think they really attacked your kids?" he said, worried.

Tragedy

They quickly hurried back to Darzee's wife, who was sobbing, and revealed that what the crow had said was indeed true. "They've only just being to live. Poor things. Hope Nagasta was at least kind enough to get it over with quickly. If only she'd eat those crows, they're the ones that are doing some of her dirty work. Kidnapping and such." Darzee broke down and cried and Rikki was unable to comfort him. Nagasta, what have you done?! thought Rikki. I'll see that you come to a bad end like your father Nag! "What were you going to tell us about that monster Nagasta?" said Darzee in grief. "She's very wicked and doesn't forgive easily. I think that's why she's done this." said Rikki. "Biwi, she's gone and made herself Queen of the Jungle." said Rikki to Darzee's wife. "Is there no end to her evil?!" said Biwi, also in tears. "There was something else that I was going to tell you about her, but now is a really bad time." said Rikki.

" I think I know what I've got to do," said Rikki. It's clear that they're mad at me and you're all in danger as long as I'm here. Anyway, I'm going to tell my family to leave here and go hide away from here. They're in danger. If they will take your family, I'm sure they'd have no qualms about attacking mine. I'm going to say goodbye to them, then I'm going to leave. Where to, I don't know. Somewhere where Nagasta will not be able to harm you. I've done enough damage. Tell the Coppersmith that Kinsta is dead, but now that Nagasta and Karistan have declared themselves King and Queen of the jungle. Tell them that many of the birds are now working for her." he said.

"Ding-Dong-Tock! Kinsta is dead!" cried the Coppersmith. Several frogs and birds, who'd lost family to Kinsta, cheer. "Kinsta is dead! At last! Hail Rikki-tikki-tavi!" croaked a frog. "Beware! Beware! Nagasta and Karistan have declared themselves King and Queen of the jungle and have most of the crows on their side, and more birds joining every moment. Darzee has already lost two children! Beware! The garden isn't safe, even with all the mongooses, who will have to leave for their own safety!" cried the Coppersmith. Those that had been cheering seconds before suddenly ran back to their families, hoping they wouldn't be next.

"King and Queen?! I'd thought we'd seen the worst of things with Nag and Nagaina!" said a frog. "I'll see to them myself!" said Rikki-tikki. "Are you crazy, Rikki-tikki-tavi? Those cobras would love for nothing less than to catch you alone and defenseless and make a quick meal of you! Don't fight them!" pleaded Darzee. "What? Nagasta can't be any worse than Nag and Nagaina." said Rikki, feeling that that was probably not true. "Let's hope not." said Darzee. "Well, maybe if I could get other mongooses, then we'd make short work of these cobras. Only problem is, then there wouldn't be any left to eat." Rikki snickered. "Well, good luck getting any to join you. She's got them all hunting mice. They've given up on cobras." said Darzee's wife. "Anyway, if Nagasta is as bad as they say, I wonder what'll happen to that evil crow Karkróc when he tells Nagasta about how you ate Kinsta."

The Cobra Queen

Meanwhile, Karkróc the crow came to Nagasta. He bowed to her. "I hope you liked your meal. I came across that Rikki-tikki-tavi." "And?" she hissed irritably. "And, well, he appears to have eaten Kinsta. I saw the whole thing. Thought Kinsta would have finished him off." said Karkróc. "I don't like bad news, Karkróc. Why didn't you do something, instead of just watching him eat him?" she hisses. "I, well, what could I do?" Karkróc muttered nervously. "You've failed me. I can't accept that." hissed Nagasta. She quickly snapped at Karkróc's throat, killing him within seconds. "Well, those hatchlings were pretty tasty, but I'm still a bit hungry. Why let the crow go to waste? " She scooped up the dead crow in her mouth and swallowed him whole. "Let that be a warning to all of you. Any who fail me will end up like him." She belched and licked her lips. "Quite tasty, though a little too much fat. But what can you say?" The others around her whimpered in fear.

"What should we do?" said another crow, half in fright at witnessing Karkróc's death. "What do you expect us to do Your Highness? Grab the mongoose and bring him here for you to eat?"

"That would be quite nice, though I don't think you bumbling crows can do it.," said Karistan. "We'll send out some assassin cobras. They'll make short work of Rikki-tikki-tavi!" he laughed. "Now that we know Rikki-tikki-tavi is becoming a real problem, we won't be so nice as we were when we last met a few months ago during that flood. And I doubt he'll be getting much help. Though if he does, you know what to do to those who help them!" The cobras nodded. "We hear and obey, Your Highness!" "Rikki-tikki seems to be the last of the mongooses in my way. Soon I'll be rid of him and I'll fundamentally transform the jungle!" said Nagasta.

Avíá-tía-tárá

"Could you tell me again about Rikki-tikki?" Avíá-tía-tárá , a blue-eyed teenaged Indian mongoose, asked her parents. She was a tender-hearted and brave mongoose who wasn't afraid to stand up for the right thing. She could scratch herself in any place with any limb she chose. Her tail fluffed up like a bottlebrush. Her fur was a brownish white color. Her war cry as she ran through the grass was "Avi-tia-tadaaaaaaay!" "He killed and ate the Queen's son, Kinsta. Also, from what I've heard, the Cobra Queen is already mad at him for trying to stop her from killing some humans she really hates. It seems that he also killed a friend of hers, a snake named Tivía." said her mother, Amíra. "It's only the first day of her new regime and she's already suffered a nasty setback." said her father Alánda. "Who is this Cobra Queen anyway?" asked her younger sister, Arda. "Her name is Nagata. I don't know much about her, other than that she hates humans and that her family was killed by humans." said Alánda. "How did she manage to survive?" asked Avíá's younger brother, Avála. "Apparently they missed her." said Amíra. "What a pity." said Arda.

"So, do I really have to go mouse hunting? I've told you countless times that I'm a vegetarian! I was going to hang out with Alísa-vida-canta." said Avíá. Alísa-vida-canta was her best friend. Though Alísa was a bit snobbish at times, Avíá still liked her. Her parents, however, did not. Avíá thought that they were just being a pain.

Avíá and Alísa had talked a lot lately about the cobra attacks. Alísa, much to Avíá's annoyance, had suggested that the humans deserved it. Avíá had argued back that no human had ever bothered her. Alísa had countered that neither had any cobra. Avíá didn't have a retort for that, because, unlike Rikki-tikki-tavi, no cobra had yet bothered her. "You see. It's best we just stay out of this." Alísa had said. "I'm not sure I could take on all of those snakes by myself. However, I don't see why they should kill humans. What did they do?" Avíá had replied. "Something against the leader of the cobras. The humans did something very bad to her." Alísa had said "Bad enough to justify killing humans indiscriminately?" Avíá had asked. "Perhaps. Anyway, humans have persecuted many of the jungle creatures. It's not like they're innocent either." Alísa had said. "I still don't like this. And it doesn't make sense either. Why aren't they killing mongooses? I mean, we're as bad to snakes as humans, perhaps worse." Avíá had asked. "Many have tried to fight the snakes. Several have died Most mongooses have backed off." Alísa had said. "How terrible! I wish somebody would do something." Avíá had said. "Well, Rikki-tikki-tavi is giving them trouble. They really don't like him." Alísa had said. "Who is he?" Avíá had asked. "Brave mongoose. Or foolish. Took them on. Even the cobra leader hasn't been able to kill him." Alísa had said. "I'm glad that he's willing to take them on." Avíá had said. "He's more of troublemaker if you ask me. He'll bring trouble on the mongooses if he doesn't stop." Alísa had replied. Alísa, much to Avíá's delight, had sided with Avíá about her wanting to remain a vegetarian.

"I don't like that girl. She is rude to her parents and stuck on herself." said Amíra. "Am I required to go? I find killing repulsive. Cobra-like" said Avíá. "Yes, you are. Tomorrow night." said Alánda. "It's one thing to kill for sport like the Cobra King and Queen are known for doing or to eat hatchlings. Another to kill to feed yourself or another mongoose." said Amíra. "But I don't eat meat." said Avíá in annoyance. "And neither does Avála." she added defiantly. "Even if you never eat meat, your husband might and your children might. Honestly Avíá, dear, it won't be that bad. We'll show you how to do it. Then you can hunt. You only need eat two bites of meat. If you don't like it, you can be a vegetarian for the rest of your life if that's what you want. And, as far Avála, we'll make him too when he gets old enough. No more games from you young lady. You're going to be an adult in the next few months." said Amíra. "Avíá-tía-tárá, " said her father, "you are going to hunt snakes in two weeks. You need to start with mice first." "Snakes?" she said. "In the present climate? I thought it was against Snake Empire policy to hunt snakes." "Of course it is, but we're going to train you to be a proper mongoose and not a coward. With the snakes all about, you will need to learn to defend yourself, even if you don't eat meat." said her mother. "Aren't snakes, well, dangerous?" said Avíá-tía. "Yes, of course." said Alánda. "We'll be there with you." said Amíra. "What if they got me before you could step in?" said Avíá. "Small chance. But you're going to have to learn to do it on your own anyway at some point. We can't do it all for you." said Alánda. "But I could still be killed." said Avíá. "Possibly, but we'll be there to help you." said Amíra. "Well, that's comforting." said Avíá, rolling her eyes.

Avíá-tía-tárá had always not wanted meat. She had refused to eat snake meat and mice meat. She despised the thought of killing, though, admittedly, she would have been content to watch Rikki-tikki-tavi kill Kinsta if she could have been there. She didn't care if members of Snake Empire died. She had hated blood and didn't want to think of blood sticking to her paws, a dead mouse in front of her, its life snuffed out by her.

She had been the firstborn. Her parents had later had two more children. At first, her family had given her vegetables to eat. However, they eventually said that she needed to be an example to her brother and sister and eat meat. They had stopped providing her vegetables and had only given her meat.

If they had thought that that move would make her a carnivore, however, they had been mistaken. She had gone and gathered berries and other vegetables, especially her favorite, mangoes, for herself. Her parents, half-annoyed, half-amused, had let her be. They had pointed out to Arda and Avála how self-sufficient she was. However, two days ago, they had said it was time for her to learn to hunt and that they wouldn't be taking no for an answer this time.

"I don't think Undelli would care if I…" said Avíá. "I told you that I don't like that boy. He seems too proud. Too stuck on himself. Not at all a good candidate for a future mate[15]." said Alánda. "Undelli-dav-karsid. Yes, he is a bit self-centered, but he seems to like me." said Avíá-tía. "You don't seem to like a lot of my friends." said Avíá in disgust. "Watch your mouth young lady. No, I don't.. They are poor choices of friends." said Alánda. "Also, Undelli happens to really like me." said Avíá. "Like you for what? Your looks? He must be pretty desperate then!" laughed Avála. Avíá punched him.

"Do you know anything about Rikki-tikki-tavi? I mean, who is he and why is he risking his life to fight the Cobra Queen?" said Avíá, eager to get off the subject of her love life. "We heard he lives somewhere nearby." said Amíra. "Also, he knows there are things worth dying for." said Alánda. "He knows that this Cobra Queen has to be stopped. He's one of the few that's brave enough to fight her. Most are too afraid to fight her and have left the snakes alone." said Amíra. "The Cobra Queen is terrible and I'd help anyone fighting against her, but to actually fight her yourself….." said Avíá. "You know, there has been a wild rumor that they have fought." said Amíra. "Is it true?" asked Avála. "Did he really fight Nagasta? I thought nobody could survive fighting with her!" said Arda. "It is just a rumor. Whether it is true or not, I don't know, and don't take much stock in rumors." said Alánda. "Could it be true?" asked Avíá-tía-tárá. "It could be." said Amíra.

"I thought nobody could fight her and survive." said Arda. "Nagasta and Karistan are only just cobras, whatever may be said of them. They aren't unstoppable." said Alánda. "It's a strange thing. A strong and evil group takes over and all the good creatures don't think it's worth the risk to stand up to them." said Amíra. "Evil will always lose in the end. They cannot triumph forever." said Alánda. "I hope Rikki-tikki is safe. He's the bravest mongoose I've heard of." said Arda. "Me too. I'd help him if I ever met him. Like that would ever happen. I live a pretty boring life." said Avíá.

Rikki Says Goodbye to His Family

Meanwhile, Rikki was talking to his family. "I guess this is goodbye for a while. They won't think twice about killing you. They already took two of Darzee's kids because he helped me. I'm going away from here. I did something today that made her extra mad at me." said Rikki. "What?" asked his father. "I ate Kinsta." "You ate Kinsta? You caught him and ate him? You can hunt snakes for yourself?" said his mother in shock. "But then, you've basically done everything you need to be on your own. Hunting snakes and mice for yourself!" said his father. "Yes, so let me go." said Rikki. "Why? Why can't we come with you?" "You couldn't handle her, for one thing. Another, I don't want you getting killed." "What makes you think you can handle her? And why can't we?" asked his mother. "Remember that cobra I fought that rainy night? That was Nagasta." said Rikki. "Yes, I'm afraid I couldn't take her. But why not go into hiding, son?" asked his father. "Hiding? Nagasta is killing. And it's all my fault. I could have stopped her, about one year ago I had the chance to kill her and I messed it up." "What do you mean?" But they could get nothing further out of him.

"You guys go north of here and hide on one of the islands in the middle of the river. With a few of the birds protecting you and you always on the alert, even if they cross the water, you should be able to spot any enemies before they spot you, and get away. Anyway, hopefully some of these pests will follow me and I can strike them when they least suspect it." said Rikki. "Well, be careful.," said his mother. "Yes, cobra bites are fatal, even to a mongoose. Your only chance is to avoid them." said his father. "Unless you can find the Magical Herb of Kalindo!" said his sister. "What?" said Rikki and the others. "It's just a silly legend a friend of mine told me. Apparently, it can save a mongoose from a cobra bite. But it only works once and is supposed to be over a hundred miles from here. And guarded by evil spiders the size of rats." The others laughed. "What funny tales you tell, Rikíla!" said his brother. "Well good luck. Maybe you'll find a nice girl." "Girls? Who needs them? I work alone." laughed Rikki. "You might someday wish you had somebody to help you. Working alone all the time can be dreary." said his father. They all waved goodbye to him and then left.

Teddy noticed the other mongooses leave and pointed at them. "Why are they leaving? They were sure handy to have around." he said. "Well, you can't expect them to hang around forever." said his mom.

"They don't know what the Queen would do to them if she knew what I'd done. That I've killed her parents." said Rikki. "It's for the best." he said, not quite wanting to believe what he was saying to be true. "I've always wanted to be a house mongoose. Now maybe my dream is over.," he said sadly. "I'll stay with Teddy for one last night. I owe them that much at least." he said, heading inside.

Avíá with Her Family

Avíá laid down beside her family. She lay awake, thinking of the following day, when she would have to kill. Her parents would not let be with her friends until she had gone through the hunt. She thought of Rikki-tikki-tavi again. Was he safe? Would he be able to handle the snakes out to kill him? She snuggled against her brother and sister, unaware that this would be the last night she would ever spend in her home, ever spend with her family, that her friends would join Snake Empire, and that the next friend she would have and that her parents would have considered a proper friend would turn out to be Rikki-tikki-tavi himself.

Rikki-tikki-tavi Departs

The next morning, at sunrise, Rikki rose. "Are you sure this is the best idea?" said Darzee. "Yes. The Queen now hates me about as much as she hates the people. " said Rikki. He noticed how sad and tired Darzee and his wife looked and realized they had been crying most of the night over their two lost children. It was then that he realized that what he was doing was indeed for the best. He wanted so much to tell them about Nagasta and how she was the daughter of Nag and Nagaina, but, no, that would mean admitting it was his fault their children were dead, and he couldn't bear to reveal that to them at the moment. "Farewell. Hopefully we'll meet again." said Rikki, turning to leave.

Teddy awoke. The mongoose was not with him. Where could he be? He headed outside and spotted Rikki starting to leave. He cried for his father and mother, who jumped out of bed and came to him. "Look, the first one, the one who saved us, is going!" Teddy moaned. Rikki ran and jumped and climbed up a tree and scurried out of sight.

"Maybe he'll come back." said Teddy's father hopefully. "I'm frightened." said Teddy. The big man didn't want to show it in front of his wife and son, but he too was afraid. He had heard about the many snake attacks in the area. Without the mongoose, would they stand a chance against the snakes?