Chapter V The Wet Lands
Confronting Avála's Killer
Avíá woke up. She got up and stretched. After walking around for a while, she thought she heard a rustling sound nearby. She slowly and quietly crept toward it. "So, we have him at last." hissed a snake. The snake had a deep cut on his tail, and the end of it seemed to be missing. Avíá crept closer and saw that the snake looked familiar. He killed my brother Avála. she thought. "Caught him napping, ha!" laughed a crow. Feeling that she had to act now, Avíá leapt on the crow, knocking him to the ground. "Hey, what are you….?" yelled the crow. "Can it!" said Avíá, stuffing grass into his beak to silence him. She turned to face the cobra, her anger mounting. She had never fought a cobra before. However, she would have to, both for Rikki's sake and the honor of her family. Her family wouldn't have taken her hunting yet, but she had already killed two snakes. And her family was dead, they couldn't help her now. This cobra was one of the snakes that was responsible for that. She had learned to defend herself. Now, it was time to use her new skills to fight a cobra.
"Who are you?" said the cobra. "Avíá-tía-tárá. You killed my brother, Avála." she said. Her eyes grew hot as coals and she chattered with rage and sprang to her feet, ready for a fight. She danced up to the snake, using the movements she had inherited from the mongoose family. "Young Avíá the traitor. You foolish girl! How kind of you to come to me so that I can finish you like the rest of your family." laughed the snake. "I don't think so!" she said. "Avi-tia-tadaaaaaaay!" she cried. Though she had never faced a cobra before, she fought with the skill of a fully grown mongoose.
"Impressive, for one so young." laughed the snake. "Aví-tía-tía-tía-taday!" she cried. She leapt over the head of the snake, who snapped his fangs at the air as she passed, avoiding them. The crow, who had dislodged the grass from his beak, flew at her, hoping to distract her so that the cobra could finish her off. Avíá-tía, however, was wise to his game and kicked at the crow, knocking him into a tree, where he sat there, dazed, and continued to face the snake. "I'm going to finish you like your family, Missy." said the cobra. He darted toward Avíá's exposed shoulder. She moved just in time, turned, jumped over his head, and bit on his spine, paralyzing him. "You're stronger than I thought." said the snake, only able to move his eyes and mouth.
Avíá had won her first cobra fight. She felt hungry and decided to eat him. She was going to cut off his head and then eat him. However, the image of her brother, bleeding, dying, so young, flashed across her mind. She changed her mind. She decided on revenge. "Now I believe you killed my poor younger brother, who had never harmed you before. What should a victorious mongoose like myself do in a situation like this?" she said, feeling a savage glee at the power she now had over him. "I know; I will eat you from the tail up and let you feel the pain you've caused me!" she said. The snake's eyes widened in fright.
Avíá's Inner Conflict
"Have mercy!" said the snake. "Mercy? Oh, you mean like you did with my brother! What about him? Did you give him mercy? No! You killed him! He was only a young child yet you killed him! You hurt me and I think it's time I return the favor!" she said, glaring at him with strong hatred, barely able to control her anger. Avíá wanted to eat him slowly and make him feel the pain he had caused her. "Give me a quick death. Please!" the snake begged. "Yes, I'll eat you from the tail up rather than just leave you here to starve to death! You know, like you were going to do with me! How's that for a quick death?" said Avíá, her rage mounting. "Snake Empire will rue the day it messed with me! I'll leave enough of you left to let them know what happens to those who hurt me!" she said, feeling a savage pleasure. She barely had a handle on her hatred. She was almost glad that Rikki-tikki-tavi was asleep. She feared he might try and talk her out of this. She felt that, as it had been her brother, she aloen should decide what to do with the offending snake.
She licked the snake with her tongue. He tasted scaly. The snake continued to plead with her. She moved her mouth toward his tail. She opened it, planning to start nibbling. However, she paused, her mouth open, about to bite into the snake. The defeated cobra stared into her red eyes. She could see he was terrified.
She was going to do it, but then she recalled that she had never wanted to kill except for food or to defend herself. Yes, it wouldn't do to leave the snake alive in this state. But to want to eat him alive, this was very unlike her. On the other hand, the snake was one of those who had turned her world upside down. Snake Empire had taken her brother from her. Now, she could repay them. She decided to think it over.
What are you waiting for girl? You have him. Now, bite him. said a voice in her head. She moved her teeth closer to the snake's tail. Avíá, don't. You weren't raised to kill like this. said another voice in her head. This one sounded like her father. Don't listen to him. The snake doesn't deserve to live. Finish him! said the first voice. You can kill him, but you don't have to torture him. Be responsible. Rikki-tikki wouldn't do this. said the second voice. Rikki-tikki didn't watch his brother die. Because of this snake you don't have a brother. You wake up every morning in pain, missing him. Now let the snake feel the pain. Let Snake Empire fear Avíá-tía-tárá. Make them all pay! Start with this one! said the first voice. Don't listen to her[1]. You'll go down a dark path. You'll become the very thing you swore to fight. To kill him this way wouldn't be justice, it would be murder. Going down that path will not result in their destruction; it will result in yours. said the second voice.
Avíá thought of Nagasta, how she was planning to kill people for the loss of her family. How one man stood to lose his whole family over Nagasta's loss. And Nagasta was wrong! It wasn't even him but Rikki-tikki. Would she let herself be so blinded by anger that she would no longer be able to see the truth? Always hating, never happy? Would she someday stoop to hurting even the innocent in her quest for revenge?
She also thought of Avála and what he would say if he could see her now, his big sister that he'd always looked up to and admired, wanting to avenge his death in such a way. She knew that her brother would never want her to stoop to this level. She knew that, were he alive and to see her like this, considering stooping to such brutality for revenge, he'd be crying. She also realized that if she acted like this in her anger, she'd be no better than Nagasta. And, worst of all, she'd be turning her back on everything her family had lived, and, indeed, died, for.
She shook her head. She felt ashamed for what she had considered doing. It had been tempting, but she was better than this. She knew right from wrong and eating a snake alive for revenge was definitely wrong.
I'm not Nagasta. she thought. "No, I won't be like you guys!" she said. "A quick kill is how I'll do this!" She instead sliced off the snake's head and ate the top half of him. She liked the taste of cobra meat. "Avála, I've avenged you!" she cried. She would leave the rest of the meat for Rikki. She moved over to the crow, who was stirring feebly, hit him again, dazing him once more. She was going to pull a prank on Rikki-tikki. She said to the crow "I have eaten your cobra friend. I suggest you be silent."
Interrogating the Crow
A short time later, Rikki-tikki-tavi woke up. He noticed that he was alone. "Avíá? Avíá!" he said, feeling uneasy. He heard a rustling in the grass and turned around. "I'm awake cobra! You're in for a rough fight if you come any closer!" he said, staring at the grass. The grass stopped moving for a few seconds, and then a mongoose suddenly jumped out of it, startling Rikki. He turned to fight back before realizing that it was Avíá-tía-tárá. "I sure scared you!" she laughed. "Don't you have better things to do than stalk me like some cobra?" Rikki scowled. "I almost attacked you." "Well, I did catch a crow and a cobra." she said, smiling. "Where are they?" said Rikki. "I've eaten half of the cobra. He was the one who killed my brother. No use keeping him alive. You can have the other half. And as for the crow…" she said, heading into a bush and coming out a few seconds later, dragging the slightly struggling crow in her mouth. She spat him out in front of Rikki. "They're here Your Highness! They've got me! They've…" he croaked. "Silence!" said Avíá-tía-tárá. "Cry again and you'll feel my claws across your throat and nothing more afterward!" snarled Rikki. "It was crows that betrayed my family to the cobras! I'd be more than happy to repay them in kind, so you'd best behave!" said Avíá again, her eyes turning red. The crow, noticing her anger, decided to cooperate. "They're sent us to tell the vipers about you. The vipers have just sworn their allegiance to the King and Queen. They're setting a trap for you. The Wet Lands are often covered with many rivers, most too fast to swim through, and the vipers, and some cobras and dust brown snakelings are blocking the only path in." said the crow. "In that case, we're thwarted. Rikki and I will decide what to do with you. We can't have you talking. It seems best to slit your throat." said Avíá.
"Stop! There is a way!" said the crow in desperation. "What?" said Avíá. "You can swim? Can't you?" said the crow. "Somewhat." said Rikki and Avíá. "Well, swim past them. You might be able to get them from behind. There's a river that flows a bit to the south. It will take you off the path, but you should be able to get around them if you sneak east as long as you go far south enough to avoid the blockade." said the crow. "Thanks." said Rikki-tikki-tavi.
"Don't kill me!" said the crow. "We won't." said Rikki. "Thank you. I trust you won't tell anyone about us." said Avíá. The crow nodded his head. "Yes, I imagine Nagasta would eat you for messing up if you told." said Rikki. The crow nodded again. "You are to tell them that you were looking for us and flew into a tree and got knocked out." said Avíá. "Thank you for sparing me." said the crow. "Just to make sure you don't tell on us now…." said Avíá, striking him in the head and knocking him out. "Nice one." said Rikki-tikki. "Thanks." said Avíá-tía, her eyes turning back to their normal blue.
"I think I'll see to that other half of that cobra. Then we can head out to the water." said Rikki-tikki. "You seem to learn fast. You've never fought a cobra before, yet you got him all on your own." said Rikki, munching on the dead snake. "Yes, he killed my brother. I wanted to get him. Had to really fight myself not to eat him alive from the tail up when I did get him. I felt that it was too cruel and something Nagasta would do." said Avíá. "Yes, that sounds like Nagasta all right. But, of course, you're better than her." said Rikki-tikki.
"Oh Rikki-tikki, I almost did it. I came so close." she said, hanging her head in shame. "You aren't perfect. No mongoose is. Not even me. However, you made the right decision and I'm proud of you. If you had gone through with it, I'd still be your friend, though, of course, I'd have been deeply disappointed in you. As it is, I know you are very strong inside Avíá-tía. Lesser mongooses would have given into their anger." he said, starting to eat the cobra.
Half an hour later, the two stared at the river below them. They jumped into it and were nearly swept away. To avoid being separated and pulled under, they grabbed hold of each other and were able to swim to a bank about a mile south of the blockade.
First Kiss
'So," she said, shaking off her fur, "where do you live?" "Nowhere." said Rikki. "I'm on the run in case you haven't noticed." She snickered. "I meant before all of this. Before they were after you." Avíá said. "Well, I lived in a burrow with my Father and Mother. Then about a year ago the flood water washed me out and I nearly drowned. When I came to, I was in the garden of Teddy's family. They dried me off and fed me. Needless to say, I explored every bit of their house." said Rikki. "It must be fun to actually go inside a house. I've always wanted to be a house mongoose. How'd you get so lucky?" said Avíá. "Well, I suppose it was providence that I met them. I first met Darzee and his wife that morning. They were upset that Nag had eaten one of their hatchlings the previous day…." said Rikki. "He was Nagasta's father, I'll bet he must have been quite horrible." she said. "Trust me. He was." said Rikki. "He met me. Blabbed about how Brahm gave the cobra a special mark! Told me to be very afraid, though somehow, I think, he was afraid of me. Knew I could kill him if I tried hard enough. He tried to distract me long enough for his wife Nagaina, the one I personally think Nagasta takes after the most, and all the more reason to be afraid of her for that reason, to nearly get me, if it hadn't of been for Darzee she would have. I jumped in the air, and managed to get away." he said. "I got in a small bite and I survived. "You are quite lucky. Most mongooses your age would have been bitten for sure." she said admiringly. "Well, the cobras got away and I had to soon save Teddy from a dusty brown snakeling named Karait." he said. "Wow. Those are harder to stop than cobras and just as deadly." she said. "I know that now. Didn't then. But anyway, I won. I managed to paralyze Karait. I would have eaten him from tail to head, but I realized I couldn't be slow and needed to stay thin to fight Nag and Nagaina. I didn't have to wait long." he said. He continued to tell Avíá all about his fight with Nag and his later fight with Nagaina. How he had failed to destroy the last egg. About his encounters with Karistan and Nagasta. How he had realized who she was during the height of the flood. How he had been forced to flee rather than run after her and risk getting drowned in the flood. How the crows had joined her side, and, as she already knew, many of the mongooses as well. How he had been helped by Tacróc and how Tacróc had sacrificed himself to help Rikki. "And so, I was running from the Dark Mongooses when I ran into you." he finished.
"You give so much of yourself and seek nothing in return." said Avíá-tía-tárá admiringly. "All I seek is that everyone I care about is safe." said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "Isn't there anything else you could want?" said Avíá. "Yes, as a matter of fact there is." said Rikki. "What?" said Avíá-tía. "You. I need you with me. I hated being alone. It was awful. I'd like for you to stay with me for the whole trip to Kalindo, though I couldn't ask you to go with me, of course. You should probably turn back here. With me, ten to one, you'll likely be killed." he said.
"I think you're worth it!" she said, and before he knew what was happening, she had kissed him. He stared at her. Somehow, though he couldn't explain it, he'd always wanted that. Somehow. "Avíá, I…." he said, turning bright red, lost for words. "Come on. Let's ambush those evil snakes. We want to lure away those guys from your family and Teddy's family, don't we? Yeah I might die in the attempt, but they seem worth it to you, so they're worth it to me." she said. And suddenly, without thinking about it, he kissed her back[2]. "Thank you Avíá-tía-tárá!" he said. They both turned away, blushing. "Let's go show them what a mongoose can really do!" said Rikki, and Avíá ran along happily behind him. They jumped into the river and rode down a small waterfall and swam for a bit, hanging onto each other, until they were certain that they were beyond the blockade.
Tricking the Vipers
They headed inland and slowly moved north, hidden in the brushes. "Now the Queen only says we can kill Rikki-tikki-tavi. She has specifically ordered that she alone can eat him, upon pain of death!" hissed a nearby snake. "If all goes right he should walk into our trap." hissed another snake, which Rikki had never seen the like of before. This one must be a viper. he thought. An idea suddenly came to Avíá. "Yes, but he's not been caught before, or haven't you noticed all the other traps he's gotten by?" hissed Avíá in as best a cobra accent as she could.
"Yes, but the Queen says this is the only pass through here, unless mongooses can fly now!" hissed the viper. "Who are you talking to?" hissed the cobra. "Don't be an idiot!" hissed the viper. "Why are you calling me an idiot?" hissed the cobra angrily. "You were talking to me and now are pretending that you aren't, that's why I called you an idiot!" hissed the viper. "What's going on?" hissed an upset dusty brown snakeling. "That stupid cobra is being an idiot!" hissed a female viper. "Enough! What if Rikki and his female companion get past us while you're arguing? The Queen will not be pleased. Not pleased at all!" hissed another king cobra. "If we didn't have to put up with you," hissed Avíá in her best viper accent, "we'd have caught those two by now!"
"Is that a challenge?!" hissed the king cobra in fury. "No. What are you talking about? Hearing voices? Perhaps you need some rest." said the female viper. "You can rest right now! You can sleep as much as you want when you're dead!" hissed the cobra, lunging toward her. The snakes quickly started a quarrel amongst themselves and moved away from the other snakes, to an area blocked by several bushes from the view of the other snakes, to fight. Rikki and Avíá crept, silently and hidden in the grass, toward them. The snakes were biting each other and one tore the other's head off. In the confusion, Rikki and Avíá had little trouble coming out into the open and killing them all.
"Should we go now?" said Rikki. "No, I've got another idea." said Avíá, smiling. "What's going on back there?" came the voice of another dusty brown snakeling. "Hold this and move it like it's a live snake." said Avíá-tía-tárá. Rikki moved it back and forth like a real viper and Avíá hissed in her best viper accent "Nothing. Those stupid boys got into a fight. Don't worry, I've settled it. Expect the Queen will be pleased to talk with them about it later." "Well, our crows have given us reason to believe that Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía are heading this way." hissed the dust brown snakeling. "We should be waiting for them. We're going to get them this time." he hissed again. "Oh. I just remembered something. I think I saw two mongooses coming in the distance. It was right when those idiots decided to have a fight. Surprised those mongooses couldn't hear it. I expect they think we're not here and are off their guard." hissed Avíá.
"Where did you see them?" said the dust brown snakeling eagerly. "They were heading southwest." said Avíá-tía-tárá with her viper accent. "We'll get about thirty of us to go southwest and intercept them. You stay here with the others." said the viper, heading to his friends. "The pair were spotted heading southwest. It's probably the fault of those fighting snakes back there. The King and Queen will find a fitting punishment for those nincompoops, but in the meantime, let's finish off some mongooses!" he said as the others cheered and followed him southwest.
Fighting the Vipers
Rikki and Avíá snuck up behind the 15 snakes that were left to stand guard. "Lovely day isn't it?" said Rikki, coming out while Avíá hid in the bushes. "Yes it is." said a snake absentmindedly. "It's quite…..hey, who are you?" said the snake. "Your worst nightmare!" said Rikki, managing to grab the snake and break his neck. Several others headed toward Rikki but three were grabbed by Avíá, one with each set of paws and one in her mouth. She slew them and tore them to bits as Rikki led the others toward a cliff, where the ground was eroding away and the dirt was in danger of falling into the river below. "Trapped now mongoose!" said a cobra.
"Not quite." said Avíá, pushing some precariously perched boulders down the hill and onto the loose grounding, causing the ground to start to give around them. Rikki ran toward Avíá and the ground collapsed around the snakes, sending them into the water and drowning them[3]. Rikki barely made it and Avíá pulled him up. "Thank you." he said. "You've saved my life." "What are friends for?" said Avíá-tía-tárá.
The two mongooses headed toward the remaining cobras. "Rikk-Tck-Tck! You are thick![4]" said Rikki. The snakes came at Rikki, who managed to overpower the nearest and bit its head off. Avíá was next to him, killing a viper. The two headed out on branches over the water. The snakes followed. "Any last words mongoose!" said a cobra. "Yes." said Rikki "Goodbye." He and Avíá jumped hard on the branch and clung to another as 15 of the snakes fell into the water. All but the cobras drowned. Rikki and Avíá finished these off as they climbed out of the water. A cobra, a dusty brown snakeling, and a viper headed at them. Rikki and Avíá kicked them across the face, stunning two of them, which Avíá and Rikki hurled into the water. They killed and ate the remaining cobra.
Avíá Tells Rikki About Her Family
"Nice work." said Rikki, licking his lips. "Thanks." said Avíá, discarding the bones of the cobra they had just eaten. "So, what was your family like?" said Rikki. A sad look formed on Avíá's face. "If it's too painful to bring up. I understand. It's all my fault they're dead. I should have smashed…." said Rikki. "It's not your fault!" said Avíá firmly. "Stop blaming yourself! There's nothing you could have done." "What about if I had smashed Nagasta's egg?" said Rikki. "Well, then perhaps Nagaina would have killed your friends before you got there." said Avíá. "Possibly. But who says Nagasta won't do the job for her while I'm gone? She could have even killed my family by now!" said Rikki.
"Don't think such horrible things!" said Avíá, eager to get Rikki off the subject of blaming himself. "My Father was a quick and kind mongoose. Rather talkative too. Once he brought us back four cobras which he said he'd killed single-handedly while fighting all four at once. My Mother, on the other hand, was quiet and often spent a lot of time with us. However, I can well remember the times she left our burrow to go fight a cobra or dusty brown snakeling outside and she always won and came in and gave it to us to eat. My brother Avála was very funny. A bit annoying, always teasing me about boyfriends. My sister Arda was quiet but we got along well. I recall one of the last things she said to me." said Avíá, starting to cry. "She said 'Avíá, someday soon you'll be on your own. You'll find a wonderful guy and wonderful things will happen to you. I can see great things in your future.' I then went outside to relieve myself and I was coming back when I heard crows yell 'They're in here!' Then I heard my family screaming and I hid behind a bush and saw them make Father come out. They demanded 'Where's Rikki-tikki-tavi?' and he said 'I don't know and I'd never tell you if I did!' and then" she started to cry harder "They killed him. They didn't get any further with Mother so they killed her too. Then Avála tried to fight, but got bitten by too many, he was only a child, and he died within a minute. Then they confronted Arda. Told her she could live if she joined them. They also demanded to know where I was. Arda turned and she saw me hidden in the bushes. She replied to them 'I'll join you when hell freezes over! You'll never find my sister! And you'll never get Rikki-tikki-tavi! I hope he kills your King and Queen!'. They gave her one last chance, but she refused. She killed one of them, but they bit into her throat and she died too." Avíá said, breaking down into sobbing. "One of them then called my family 'Stupid mongooses!'. They mentioned me. They decided that I was no threat and would starve to death without my family. They then left. They didn't see me. If only I had tried to kill those cobras then they might still be alive!" she sobbed.
"No," said Rikki, putting his forepaws around her shoulder and patting her on the back, "you'd be dead too. That's all that would have accomplished. Then I'd have been killed by those Dark Mongooses as I wouldn't have had you to save me." "Well, I put their bodies back in the burrow and caved it in on them once I was out. I couldn't stand the thought of cobras or crows or worse coming back to defile them. I then went looking for the killers, but instead met Undelli and the others. They suggested that I join the Queen and find you, once I told them about the death of my family. Of course, I'd rather be burned alive than join Nagasta. I knew they were evil and went off on my own. I went through the Land of the Mice, and heard some mice saying you'd been nearby and I went looking for you. I was feeling pretty hopeless that night. That's when you ran into me." she concluded, still crying.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Your family died bravely." said Rikki consolingly. He continued to pat her back. He also gently stroked her fur. Avíá cried for a long while. She had finally brought up the death of her family. It felt good to finally get it out of her, to be able to confide in another.
"Avíá, it will be all right. You did a brave thing in talking about your loss." he said, gently rubbing her back. When she had composed[5] herself enough, she said, "You're truly all I have left Rikki-tikki-tavi!" "I'm honored to be the one there for you. You shouldn't have to go through this alone." he said. She hugged Rikki tightly with her forepaws. He turned bright red. "Your sister was right Avíá-tía-tárá. You will do great things. I know you will." said Rikki. "You really think so?" said Avíá. "I can tell." he said. "It's getting dark." said Avíá, noticing that the sun was gone. While they had been talking, the sun had gone down and clouds had come out. It started to rain.
"Let's go somewhere dry." said Rikki. He and Avíá eventually found a small cave and headed inside of it. Rikki laid down to rest. Avíá lay down next to him. "So, what are you like? I mean…do you enjoy fighting lots of cobras? Is that your idea of amusement?" she said. "I have to keep the garden safe." said Rikki.
He told Avíá about himself. He had never told a girl anything about himself if he could help it, but it felt different with Avíá. She was special. Anyway, she was the first one to have kissed him. He wondered what his mother would say if she knew. She had always been against kissing before marriage. Maybe she would understand. Avíá had nobody. And, for that matter, neither really did he. "Nothing like I had thought of you." said Avíá after he had finished. "In a good or bad way?" he asked. "Far better." she said. "I had originally thought you were older, not interested in anything a kid could say. But you're my age. You do understand me." she said. "As much as any guy can understand women anyway." muttered Rikki under his breath. "I heard that!" Avíá said.
Nagasta and Karistan Take Over the Garden
Meanwhile, inside the garden, the rain was coming down hard. "Think the mongooses will come back?" said a toad. "I hope so." said his wife. "We've kept the cobras out by filling in all possible holes. There's no way…." said a mouse, pausing as crunching sounds suddenly filled the air. Mongooses had tunneled in under the fence and were followed by cobras, dusty brown snakelings, and vipers. The gate to the garden crashed down as several mongooses and crows attacked it! Nagasta and Karistan came in, triumphant. "The garden is now ours! As it should be!" she hissed happily. "The humans will just let us be! And we'll wait for that pest Rikki-tikki to come back before dealing with them!" said Karistan. "Run!" yelled a frog to the Coppersmith. "She's taken over! Tell Rikki-tikki!" he said, running for a place to hide. The Coppersmith took off into the night. "Get him!" Nagasta hissed. "We hear and obey Your Highness." said Arknác and Sicréc, flying off after him.
"So, you're defending the garden against her. You must really love those humans." said Avíá-tía. "Yes, we've saved each other." Rikki-tikki said. Two stray vipers hissed outside, looking for them. The two mongooses got up, and before the vipers could see what happened, they had been killed. "Excellent. Dinner! I'm starving! I could eat a whole army of snakes!" said Avíá. "Let's bring the snakes inside. We don't want to be in the open." said Rikki. "Ok, but hurry up, I'm starving." she said. "Now who thinks with their stomach?" said Rikki. The two laughed.
They went inside and ate their meal. Once they were done, Rikki said to Avíá "And, what are you like?" "Me?" she said. "Well, I've heard about your family, you've heard and me and mine. What about you?" he asked. Avíá felt nervous telling Rikki, whom she only had known for a few days, about herself. However, she felt comfortable around him and told him about herself. He listened eagerly. When she was done, he said "I've never met a mongoose like you before Avíá-tía-tárá. We have a lot in common."
The rain stopped later into the night. The moon shone down on them through the cave mouth. "That should deter these vipers." said Rikki, moving the last of a bunch of stones around to mostly block the entrance. Avíá had blocked up nearly all of the middle of the cave, leaving a small spot in back for the two mongooses to rest. "Yes, today went well." said Rikki, laying down and smiling. Avíá laid down next to him. "Yes. We sure whooped up on Nagasta's goons. We ate better than we had in a while, and, most importantly," he said, grinning, "I kissed my first girl." "Hrumphhh!" said Avíá-tía-tárá. "Hey, you kissed me first!" said Rikki-tikki, smiling. "Anyway, it's probably no big deal for you. You've no doubt had lots of boyfriends. I've never…er…" he said, blushing, "had a girlfriend before." "Actually, Undelli-dav-karsid was the closest thing I ever had to an actual boyfriend. The other ones Avála bothered me about never went far. It just never worked out. I hated him when I found out that he had joined Nagasta." said Avíá contemptuously. "You never had a girlfriend?" said Avíá in shock. "I've never been interested in girls. They never seemed interesting. I never talked to them much. A couple of the females that I have talked to have tried to kill me[6]!" he said. Avíá laughed. "Anyway, I can never join Nagasta. I've killed her parents, her son Kinsta, and all of her siblings too!" said Rikki[7]. "Are you bragging?" said Avíá.
"Me? Bragging? No way! I failed to smash her egg, the deadliest cobra of the lot of them! I have no reason to brag!" said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "Please, stop blaming yourself." said Avíá. "If I could have killed her, you'd be with your family right now." said Rikki. "And if I hadn't gone outside to relieve myself, I would be!" she said. "You don't even know what would have happened had you destroyed the egg. We can't keep dwelling on the past." said Avíá. "Though if it truly bothers you, then you should know I've long since forgiven you." "Thank you Avíá!" said Rikki, lying down and closing his eyes. Avíá moved right next to him, and he quickly fell asleep from the warmth of her fur.
Nagasta and Karistan Head for the Land of the Lions
Nagasta moved aside as Rikki-tikki-tavi snapped at her and tried to claw her. Every time she moved, he seemed right behind her. "You can't hide forever, Wrinkle Skin!" he chuckled. He forced her toward the edge of a cliff. "You'll die, fool!" she hissed, springing at him. But he moved aside and bit into her heart. Nagasta jumped up from her sleep[8], waking Karistan. "What is it?" he hissed irritably. "Nightmare." she hissed. "I think I'm going to personally visit these lions. They may not have strong friendship with us snakes, but I've heard from many of my crows that they detest humans. I shouldn't have too much trouble getting them to hunt Rikki and Avíá, human lovers, for me. I think it's time we settled those pests personally." she hissed, slithering off into the dark, Karistan following behind her.
The Coppersmith
"Rikki, get up!" Rikki jumped out of his sleep, a dream about being back with his family and introducing Avíá to them. The Coppersmith stood on the stones overlooking him and Avíá. Avíá jumped up and noticed the Coppersmith's shadow. In the dim light, she mistook him for a crow. "Nice job, Rikki, you let a crow in!" said Avíá-tía irritably. She pounced and knocked the Coppersmith to the ground. "Get off me!" said the Coppersmith. Avíá held him down with her paws, applying pressure. He couldn't break free of her grip. "Crows betrayed my family. Now, I've been looking forward to a little payback for quite some time!" she said, her eyes turning red. "What are you talking about?" said the Coppersmith in confusion. "You know full well what I'm talking about!" she said, glaring at him with anger. She smiled at him. "I haven't had breakfast, you see. And, since dead crows tell no tales, I think I'll eat you![9]" She opened her mouth and licked him. "You taste feathery. Any last words nasty little crow?" said Avíá, about to slash his throat. "You can go ahead and eat me, but you won't get a word out of me! Also, I'm not a crow." said the Coppersmith, thinking her to be a Dark Mongoose. "Rikki-tikki, I'd hoped they hadn't caught you." said the Coppersmith to Rikki-tikki. Rikki suddenly recognized the Coppersmith. "Avíá, stop! He's a friend! Don't eat him!" said Rikki. Avíá released him. "Now who's thinking with their stomach?" said Rikki in annoyance. "You were going to eat the Coppersmith!" "She's with you?" said the Coppersmith. "Avíá-tía-tárá. Yes, great friend of mine. Helped save me from Dark Mongooses." said Rikki. "I've heard that some mongoose named Avíá was supposed to be with you. Should have realized that, but I'm exhausted from flying all of this way. I really had to get to you. Still, I didn't fly all this way to nearly get eaten." said the Coppersmith.
"What have you come here for?" asked Rikki-tikki. "Nagasta and Karistan have taken over the garden!" said the Coppersmith. Rikki and Avíá stared at each other in horror. "Are the humans dead?" asked Avíá, concerned. "No, she will only hurt them when Rikki comes back. However, she is looking harder than ever for his family, or so I've heard from other birds. I've had to get out of some pinches. It seems several of my kind have joined the Cobra Queen." said the Coppersmith. "Join the club." said Rikki and Avíá. "I've got to get back immediately!" said Rikki. "No, she's on the alert! You must come when she least expects it!" said the Coppersmith. "Are you forgetting that we're talking about Nag and Nagaina's daughter here? Darzee and the others surely have decoded my warning message that I had the mice bring them by now, at least I hope so. Otherwise they'd have been in the garden when Nagasta attacked." said Rikki. "Not to worry, they figured it out all right. I warned everyone to get out, though not all could. Some had kids and that made things difficult. It appears the kids are in danger again. It's just like with Nag and Nagaina I'm afraid." said the Coppersmith. "No, I can assure you, Nagasta and Karistan are far worse. That's why we're going to find the Magical Herb of Kalindo. It's a plant that can cure snake venom one time. Even if she bites me once, I'll still live. It's our best chance. Sheer mongoose skill alone doesn't seem like it'll do it." said Rikki. "I need to rest here for a while. I've flown all night. And as if that weren't enough, I nearly got devoured by your girlfriend." said the Coppersmith. "She's not so bad. And she's not my girlfriend. I've only known her for a few days. Still, I like her. She's my best friend." said Rikki.
"Right." said the Coppersmith, casting a wary look at Avíá. "I shall tell your family that you're well." said the Coppersmith. "How did you come across Rikki-tikki?" the Coppersmith asked Avíá. "My family was killed by cobras. The snakes demanded to know where Rikki-tikki was. My family didn't know but said they wouldn't tell even if they did. The snakes got mad and killed them, my brother and sister included. I had to go poop and so was away and came back and saw their deaths, but only my sister Arda saw me. I decided that I'd help Rikki-tikki beat Snake Empire or else die in the attempt." said Avíá. "I am truly sorry for your loss." said the Coppersmith. "And I'm sorry I wanted to kill you. I really hate crows! They betrayed my family to the cobras!" said Avíá.
Arknác and Sicréc Get Theirs
Two crows came into the cave. Rikki and Avíá moved out of sight just in time. "So, we've found that dratted Coppersmith at last!" said Arknác. "Those two are the ones who betrayed my family!" whispered Avíá angrily, her eyes turning red once more. "Yes. The same two who, along with Karkróc, fed Darzee's children to Nagasta![10]" whispered Rikki, his own eyes turning red. "I'm going to get them this time!" whispered Avíá. "I'll help you." whispered Rikki. They slowly moved toward the two evil crows. "We know you're in there! You can't escape us!" cackled Sicréc, not noticing the two enraged mongooses slowly creeping up on the floor toward them.
"Give up! You're finished!" said Arknác. The two pinned down the Coppersmith. Rikki and Avíá hid behind the last wall of stones and weren't noticed. "Any last words?" said Sicréc. "You have taken so many innocent lives! Why do you do it?" said the Coppersmith, noticing the two mongooses and hoping they'll hurry up. "The King and Queen promise us all the worms and carrion we could want!" they both cackled. "Give up you two and leave and you will be spared, even now." said the Coppersmith. "Nice try Coppersmith." said Arknác. "So long Coppersmith! We have a new crier in the garden now!" said Arknác. "We're paid quite well. And we have the favor of the King and Queen. We'll see you in hell." said Sicréc, pinning down the Coppersmith. Arknác moved to snap the Coppersmith's neck with his foot.
"Seems of very little value in comparison to the lives of families!" said Rikki as he and Avíá pounced on them. "See you there." said the Coppersmith to the two crows before Rikki and Avíá killed them. The mongooses then started to eat the two dead crows. "My family is avenged!" said Avíá, eating her crow. The Coppersmith looked away from Rikki and Avíá until all that remained of the crows was their bones[11]. "Glad you've dealt with Arknác and Sicréc." said the Coppersmith, looking at them once more. "Those crows have too much fat on them!" complained Avíá.
"Tell Darzee and his wife that Arknác and Sicréc will never help Nagasta kill again!" said Rikki, licking his lips and spitting out a crow feather. "I'll just rest here." said the Coppersmith, instantly falling asleep from exhaustion.
Rikki and Avíá Wander the Wet Lands
Rikki and Avíá headed outside and stretched themselves. "See any vipers?" Avíá asked Rikki, upon him returning from having gone to relieve himself. "Some, but they're kind of far away. I think they've found the bodies of their friends." he said. "Perhaps we should put the bones of those two vipers and crows out here and then they'll be afraid to come near here." "Good idea." said Avíá, walking past the snoring Coppersmith and bringing out the bones.
She and Rikki wandered around lazily, exploring. Once, they came upon a group of vipers. The nearest went for Rikki but Avíá grabbed him from behind. Before he could try and snap at Avíá, Rikki grabbed him by the head and he and Avíá pulled and ripped him in half, spilling his insides on the ground. The others slithered away in terror, leaving Rikki and Avíá to eat their fallen companion in peace.
They came back around dusk, having spent the day exploring the nearby Wet Lands. They woke the Coppersmith. "Wake up sleepyhead!" said Avíá, prodding him awake. "No, you'll never get a word out of me Nagasta! Never!" he cried, then noticing them, he said "Had a good time?" "Oh yes. Ate a viper. All the rest seem afraid of us." said Rikki. "I can't imagine why." said the Coppersmith. "We're moving on." said Avíá. "Care to come with us?" "For a while, but I can't imagine what Nagasta might be doing to my family." he said. "They got away didn't they?" said Rikki, concerned. "Oh yes. But you know how sinister she is." said the Coppersmith. "Worse than 100 Nagainas." said Rikki.
The three headed on into the night and continued till three hours after midnight. "Let's go rest in here." said Rikki, heading into a cave with Avíá and the tired Coppersmith. After putting up some rocks as a defense, they all rested.
Rikki and the Coppersmith
Avíá fell asleep but Rikki, though tired, talked to the Coppersmith for a while. "So, where are your wife and kids?" Rikki-tikki asked him. "On the island. I had to stick around and be there. It's my duty." said the Coppersmith. "So what of your new girlfriend? I can tell she's a girlfriend, no?" asked the Coppersmith. "I…er…maybe. She seems like one. I have been with her for three days and already I have strong feelings for her." said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "How strong?" said the Coppersmith. "I've only known her a very short time. I cannot say anything for certain. However, it would be safe to say that she's the closest thing I've ever had to a girlfriend." "Do you love her?"
"I am rather fond of her. Do you mean as a good friend or as something more?" asked Rikki-tikki. "The latter." said the Coppersmith. He thought about it. It wouldn't be such a bizarre idea. Avíá had made him feel different. Not so much un-Rikki-like but more Rikki-like than ever. More himself. More complete. Like he could actually fight Nagasta. "It's possible." he said. "I thought you didn't like girls." said the Coppersmith. "I like Avíá." he said. "She's my best friend." he said. "I thought Darzee, Biwi, Chuchundra, Chua, and Teddy were your best friends." said the Coppersmith. "They are, though I'm certain she's the best." said the mongoose. "Well I am very tired, but you have given me something to think about." said Rikki-tikki before closing his eyes and falling asleep.
Snake Ambush
The next morning they headed out again. Several cobras that Nagasta and Karistan had sent to stop them confronted them before they got very far. "End of the line!" hissed one of them. "For you maybe." said Avíá. "At this rate, they'll have no snakes left to guard her!" laughed Rikki. "More and more cobras are joining her every day! Nearly half of the mongooses now work with her as well!" hissed a cobra. Rikki's smile faded. "Well then, I'll just have to send her my love, won't I?" he said, his eyes turning red. He and Avíá overwhelmed the cobra before he could open his mouth to snap at them. "Any more takers?" he said. "Get them!" hissed a cobra. "There are too many of them!" said Avíá. "We can't handle 50 of them at once!" she said. Rikki looked and spotted a fast running, wide stream. "Come on!" he said. He and Avíá dove in and were carried away by the current. They floated on their backs for several hours, the Coppersmith flying along behind them. They eventually got out at the end of the stream.
Avíá and the Coppersmith
That night, the Coppersmith talked to Avíá. Rikki lay next to her. He listened but didn't say anything, being pretty tired anyway. "So tell me about yourself." said the Coppersmith. "I'm Avíá-tía-tárá. My family was killed five nights ago by cobras. I miss them terribly. I've always wanted to see Rikki-tikki-tavi ever since I first heard of him. My parents told me the stories they'd heard of him the day before their murder. My brother Avála, my sister Arda, and I loved to hear them. We had them tell us over and over. I always pictured him as a seven foot tall fully grown mongoose." she said. "No, he's not seven feet tall." laughed the Coppersmith. "He's only in his teens." "My family all wanted to see him. However, I buried them in the house that we loved and it seems only I will get the pleasure of meeting Rikki-tikki." she said, a tear in her eye. "So what do you think of him?" asked the bird. Rikki lay there silently, listening eagerly. "He's the best guy I've ever met!" she said. "Like a boyfriend? And, by the way, he says that he thinks you're sort of a girlfriend." "Did he now?" said Avíá, amazed. Rikki-tikki likes me? Me, who am nothing? she thought. "Yes, he did." said the Coppersmith. Outside, fog was slowly falling around them.
"Yes, I consider him a potential boyfriend then. I was trying to make sure that he felt something for me before starting to date him. My Mother always told me never to date anyone that didn't like me as much as I liked them. I should have listened more to my parents about Undelli. They warned me about him, though he was a good faker, but I think they saw through him, at least to some extent. Rikki was his friend too. Though he never told me about Rikki." she said.
Avíá and Rikki Argue
"I admit," said the Coppersmith, "I didn't think Rikki cared at all for girls. He had said 'Girls? Who needs them? I work alone!'" "Did he really say that?" said Avíá, startled. "Yes, in the garden he did. The day before he left." said the Coppersmith. "Hmmmmmmph!" said Avíá in disgust. "He can just go on without me then!" she said. She got up and stormed out. "Avíá! Come back!" said Rikki. He got up and chased after her.
"Avíá, please, come back!" he said. "I don't know why you want me. You had said you didn't need girls. That you worked alone. So you can go ahead and work alone. I'll go off and help your friends. You can go to Kalindo alone. It's what you like after all." she said contemptuously. "Avíá, it was a stupid thing I said. I'll admit it. I was more interested in snake killing and fighting Nagasta than in getting girlfriends." he said. "Typical boy! Women are only to boss around and have your babies! You couldn't think of us as something more, like companions that you work with. I was just a tool to get you to your ends! You're just like Undelli!" she said. "No! I am not! I think you are very valuable." he said. "Just to get your magical herb so you can look good? What use to you do I have other than helping you with your little quest?" she said. "And to think my family wanted me to get you to help me. I can go to Kalindo without you if I need to." she said. "I know you could. You are capable." he said. "So, you admit it. You admit I could exist on my own without a man! Without you! Or are you just flattering me to keep me here? A lot of those boys who tried to court me earlier were like that. They couldn't see women as anything more than just a tool. That's why we never lasted long." she said.
"I tell you, I said that out of ignorance. I hadn't known you. I hadn't worked with girls. I thought they were just a distraction. I never said I hated women. I was busy always trying to protect my family, the garden, and the people. I didn't have time for dating. I didn't think I ever would." he said. "I wish I could believe you." she said. "Farewell." "Avíá, you are free to leave. I shall not speak ill of you for going. But, I'd like to ask you to do one last thing before going." he said, choking back tears of sadness. "What?" she snapped. "Please stay still for a few minutes before going. I want to form a picture of you in my mind. I want to remember Avíá-tía-tárá and how, until I had met her, I hadn't really lived. And to remember fondly the brief time I was blessed, beyond anything I could ever hope to deserve, of having known and spent time with her." he said.
Avíá felt overwhelmed. She ran to him and hugged him, crying. "I'm so sorry. You do care, don't you?" she said. "Yes. I had only meant that I didn't think girls were for me, not that they were no good." he said. "But, now that I've met this wonderful girl named Avíá, perhaps even dating isn't such a crazy idea anymore." he said. She laughed. "I was such a fool to ever doubt you." she said. "Nobody need ever know of this incident. I shall never tell anyone and I shall ask the Coppersmith to never mention it." he said. "You're the best! Let's go back and get some rest." she said. "So, you're coming with me after all?" he asked, smiling. "Unless they kill me, I'm going with you all the way." she said. "I don't know, you seem to not trust me. If you're not going to respect me…." he said. "Oh, I'm sorry Rikki-tikki. I really am!" she said. "I'm just messing with you. I'd be honored to have you come with me." he said, laughing. "Oh, you're terrible Rikki-tikki-tavi!" she said, laughing and punching him. They headed back toward the cave.
The Coppersmith and the Enemy
They had almost reached the cave when they heard flapping wings approaching. "Attention everyone! The two mongooses, Rikki-tikki and Avíá-tía, have murdered two crows and have been joined by a treacherous Coppersmith barbet. The Coppersmith is believed to be part of an underground movement in the garden where our King and Queen live. The three are believed to be very close by." said one of them. "They're onto us! We'll have to fight them!" whispered Rikki to Avíá. Before they could act, however, the Coppersmith flew out of the cave and away from the mongooses. "Liar! The two crows tried to murder me and the mongooses saved me! It's the King and Queen who are the real murderers!" said the Coppersmith.
"You are under arrest Coppersmith!" cried an evil coppersmith barbet. "I wasn't aware that you had me as your prisoner." laughed the Coppersmith. "What's he doing? He's going to get himself killed!" whispered Rikki to Avíá. "He's trying to distract them. We've got to escape during the diversion." whispered Avíá. "And leave him? No!" said Rikki-tikki. "He knows that they could kill him. It's not like we can stop him. We can't exactly fly." said Avíá-tía. Rikki reluctantly agreed.
"At least our side doesn't feed the hatchlings of those who disagree with us to our Queen. And our side doesn't murder mongoose families who disagree with us." said the Coppersmith. "Killing hatchlings and mongoose families? When has this happened? All I've heard is that the Cobra King and Queen are trying to stop humans from destroying our homes." said a tailorbird. "The two crows killed, Arknác and Sicréc, were responsible for both of those things. They fed two hatchlings of a friend of mine to the Cobra Queen. And they brought an army of cobras to the family of Avíá-tía-tárá, and stood by while the cobras killed them." said the Coppersmith. "You can't expect the truth from the Queen's criers." Several of the evil coppersmith barbets attempted to seize the Coppersmith. However, branches smashed into them, knocking them out cold. "Huh? But they were just…." said the Coppersmith, turning back and noticing his pursuers had gone. "You'd better go. We believe you. I've had my doubts about the King and Queen. To think they'd try to arrest you for merely not liking their agenda." said the tailorbird. "And we've heard nasty stories about mouse tribute. It appears it's started, though several mice are risking death rather than going along with it this time. It seems the mongoose, Rikki-tikki-tavi, freed them. We heard he was with you. We wish you the best of luck." said a parrot. "Thank you." said the Coppersmith. "But what about you?" "They probably will think they've flown into low-lying branches or something. Anyone, I've heard that the King and Queen are very intolerant of those who let them down. I doubt they'll be talking about your escape. They'll probably just blame the whole thing on you and your friends. It pushes their agenda and it saves their skins from their own King and Queen." said a wren.[12] "We'd best be going." said the Coppersmith to Rikki and Avíá.
They slowly made their way through the Wet Lands for the next two and a half weeks. They managed to either eat or avoid any snakes that they encounter. At last, they reached the edge of the Wet Lands.
The Coppersmith Warns Them about the Dark Forest
"This is as far as I go. So where are you headed next?" asked the Coppersmith. "The Dark Forest." said Avíá. The Coppersmith flew into a tree. "Are you all right?" said Rikki, rushing over to him. "Pay attention to where you're flying next time." laughed Avíá. "I thought you said you were going into the Dark Forest!" said the Coppersmith. "Yes, we did." said Avíá. "Are you out of your tree?![13] That place is haunted!" he croaked. "Haunted?" said Avíá. "Why, have you been there?" said Rikki. "Once." shivered the Coppersmith. "Never ever going back in there! I've met creatures that are dead. There are ghosts in there. I met my Great-Grandfather. Some of the birds I've known that also went in there were so frightened by some of the stuff they saw in there that they lost their minds. There are good ghosts as well as bad ones." said the Coppersmith.
"I don't know about this Rikki." said Avíá, a little worried. "Come on. We're not afraid of ghosts. We can handle cobras, dust brown snakelings, vipers, and crows. I'm a bit more concerned about the lions on the other side of the Dark Forest. Though I think we can get past them too. They're not snakes and Nagasta will have a hard time winning them over, which is one good thing." said Rikki. "I guess I can't talk you out of it. Farewell then. I hope we meet again." said the Coppersmith, flying away.
Rikki and Avíá Hunt Together
"Let's not go in there at night." said Avíá, staring at the Dark Forest. The light was slowly cut off a few feet inside of it and it was pretty dark, though it was still the afternoon. "Agreed." said Rikki. "We don't want to meet any snakes in there in the dark."
They found a large hollow in the ground. "Let's stay in here." said Avíá. The pair found a bunch of mice, looking warily at the Dark Forest. The two had always hunted separately, not together, unless it was to fight snakes. "Let's take them together. I hope to eat soon. I'm starving." said Rikki. "You think with your stomach." she said. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked. "Yes, I am. However, I think you think about food too much." she said. "I'll chase them and you grab the ones that get away. I'll get the ones that you can't get." he said. She nodded. "Ready?" Rikki said to Avíá. "Yes." she said. He came at the mice. He got a few, but many of the others scampered. "Nice try mongoose!" they called. Avíá came at them from the opposite direction. "What the….?" they said. She brought down some as well. Mice ran from her but came right to Rikki-tikki, who slew them. Some ran from him, only to be killed by Avíá. They had enough now and let the others leave. They found that they had quite a taking. It seemed they worked well hunting together, taking more together than each could have gotten separately.
"I thought you don't like killing." he said to her. "I have to provide for myself as well as others. And, I like the taste of the meat. It's growing on me." she said. "I only took what I needed. I'm no glutton[14]." she said. She came to a tree and threw down a few mangoes. "Of course, I'm a fruit-lover too. And you seemed to like these." "We work well together. Look at all the mice and mangoes we have." he said to her, carrying a few mangoes that he'd gotten himself.
"Yes, we do work well together." Avíá said. "Well, bring your mice over. I'm starving!" said Rikki-tikki. "As I said, you think with your stomach." she said. "I knew you were going to say that!" he replied. The two teenage Indian mongooses cut their collection of mice and mangoes into bits and ate mice on mango slices. When they were done, the two sat, rubbing their stomachs. "Best meal I ever had." said Avíá. "Ditto.[15]" he said.
Outside the Dark Forest
The two headed into the hollow to rest. "I think I'd rather be fighting snakes than go into that forest tomorrow!" said Avíá. Several eerie sounds came from it as the sun set. "Can't we go back?" said Avíá as an eerie mist descended around them, making it impossible to see outside the hollow. "We can't see anything in this mist. And besides, we need to get that herb." said Rikki. "What if it doesn't even exist?" said Avíá. "What if Tacróc was wrong?" "Well, we'll be luring Nagasta's crowd away from the garden, so it's still a good idea to keep going. If it makes you feel any better, you can go into the back of the hollow and I'll stay here at the front. Nothing will get to you unless it kills me first." said Rikki. Avíá kissed him, causing him to grin stupidly.
"No. I'll stay right next to you. I think you can protect me." she said, lying down next to him. "You can handle yourself pretty well. I've seen you fight those snakes." said Rikki, the silly grin still on his face. "Oh, you're too kind. I wouldn't have lasted an hour if you hadn't been there." said Avíá, blushing. "I'd be dead now if you hadn't been there." said Rikki, still grinning. "Well, you're my best friend, Rikki." said Avíá, grinning herself now. "Yeah." said Rikki, grinning broader. They heard owls hooting and insects moving in the forest. Also, they heard soft, swooshing sounds from the forest that didn't appear to have come from any animal.
"What was that?" said Avíá. "The forest is haunted. I'll admit it." said Rikki, uneasy himself[16]. "Maybe we should go back." said Avíá-tía. "In this mist?" said Rikki-tikki. "I think I'd rather come across a whole army of snakes than whatever is in that forest!" said Avíá-tía-tárá. "Please don't make me turn back." said Rikki-tikki-tavi. "You'd turn back if I wouldn't go on?" said Avíá. "Of course I would. Tacróc said that I couldn't do it alone. Anyway, I don't want you to get hurt." said Rikki. "I thought you liked working alone." said Avíá. "Mostly I do, but I….er….I….er….prefer working with you." he said, catching even himself by surprise. Great, now I've got a dangerous mission and a crush to worry about! he thought.
" I have worked with Darzee and his wife at times too. Still, they're not very good at cobra hunting. Not….er…like you are." he said. "Oh Rikki, stop it! I couldn't hunt a cobra till I met you!" she said, blushing. "You managed to make two kills on your first try, better than I did on mine." he said. "It was sheer luck. And I had your help!" she said. "You're a natural." "My Father said I am. If I am, I think I can spot it if another is a natural too." he said. "You really think so?" said Avíá, taken aback. "You can just tell with some mongooses." said Rikki. "I think you could fight Nagasta and her family." "I wouldn't last five minutes!" said Avíá. "You would too. Anyway, I'd never let them get you. They'd have to kill me first." said Rikki. "What? You'd die for me?" said Avíá. "Not if I didn't have to. I kind of prefer being alive and being with you over being dead." Rikki said. Avíá chuckled. "But yes, without hesitating, I would if I really had to." he said.
"Undelli would never have been willing to die for me. But then again, you're not like Undelli. You're far….er…nobler." she said, and before he could so much as blink, she was hugging him and kissing him. He hugged and kissed her back. After they were done kissing, the two mongooses[17] fell asleep with their heads on each other's shoulders.
[1] Yes, the second voice is Avíá's "inner Nagasta". While no part of Avíá likes Nagasta, this part of her is in sympathy with how Nagasta operates to get even and scare her enemies. Avíá, with a loss of her family very similar to Nagasta in many ways, had to be given the choice to go down that path, to be the same, only as a mongoose instead of a cobra. However, Avíá is nobler than Nagasta and ultimately rejects the logic of the Cobra Queen.
[2] Ew! I think Rikki's in love!
[3] The King cobra can swim, but they either got hit in the head and knocked out or hurt with falling debris, or couldn't swim as well in that fast of water without any limbs. Or they just decided that death by drowning would be preferable to whatever death Nagasta would give them when they came back and told her that they'd failed her. JJ
[4] Stupid.
[5] calm: not agitated or distracted
[6] He was referring to Nagaina, Tivia, Nagasta, and Ragiva.
[7] He's pointing that out on purpose. J
[8] I thought it would be amusing to give Nagasta a few nightmares about Rikki. JJJJJ
[9] The Indian mongoose can indeed eat birds. She and Rikki haven't though,…yet. However, soon some bad birds are about to get the distinct honor of being their first bird meals.
[10] Rikki of course hadn't seen them do it, but heard it from Biwi, who witnessed the whole thing and will be glad to see those two crows dead.
[11] He isn't too keen on seeing a bird get eaten, being a bird himself. Rikki and Avíá don't like the taste of crows very much. They claim they have a bit too much fat on them. JJJ
[12] small brown songbird: a small songbird with a slender down-turned beak, usually brown feathers, and a short upright tail. Native to: Europe, Asia, North and South America. Family: Troglodytidae
[13] A phrase birds use to question one's sanity.
[14] greedy person: somebody who habitually eats or drinks too much
[15] same here: used instead of repeating something that has just been said to indicate that the same thing applies to you (informal)
[16] Though nothing can usually frighten a mongoose that much or for that long, a haunted forest is one of the exceptions. Even Rikki is afraid of it, though he is trying to hide it from Avíá. In addition, he is trying to be brave to impress her as he, I'm not going to deny it, has a sort of crush on her at this point.
[17] Yeah. They're officially dating now.