Chapter 2: Leaving Her Jungle Home
Eight years has gone by in the jungle, and Mishti has been doing well with her wolf family. She may not have been fast and strong as her brothers, but she is able to keep up as good as she can.
In the afternoon, Bagheera is walking on the branch of the tree to see Mishti is walking back to the den. She is twelve years old. She still has her tan skin, short black hair with bang covering her forehead, red bindi, and brown eyes. She is wearing a red sleeveless shirt, and matching shorts, and she still wears the bracelet her mother has given to her.
She stops and howls like a wolf. That catches the wolves attention. They all run up to her and end up pushing her down. Then they lick her and are happy to see her. Mishti giggles from the love she is receiving. Then they leave get off of her.
Bagheera smiles to see how happy Mishti is, and can never be happier. But he become sadden about one thought. He knows that someday, Mishti will have to be returned to her own kind.
Then one night at Council rock, the grown wolves along with Bagheera have gather and are holding an important council meeting. This meeting is to change the girl cub's entire future.
On the top of the rock is a dark elderly wolf name Akela.
The leader says, "Shere Khan will surely kill the girl and all who tired to protect her. Now are we all are in an agreement on what must be done?"
The other wolf elders nod their heads agreeing to their decision.
"Now it is my unpleasant duty to tell the girl's father," Akela says.
The leader turns his head, and says, "Brother… come over here please."
"Yes Akela?" Rama asks stepping forward.
He then sits in front of the rock Akela is sitting on
Akela says, " The council has reach a decision. The girl cub can no longer stay with the back, she must leave at once."
"Leave?" Rama asks, stunned by the decision.
"I'm sorry Rama, there is no other way," Akela says.
"But… but the girl cub… but she's like my own daughter. Surly she's entitled to the protection of the pack," Akela says.
"But the girl can't survive alone in the jungle," Rama say.
Akela says, "But Rama, even the strength of the pack is no match for the tiger."
Hearing the meeting, Bagheera knows there is trouble for Mishti.
Bagheera speaks up, "Akela, perhaps I can be of help."
The panther jumps off the branch he is sitting on and walks towards the elder.
"You Bagheera, how?" Akela asks.
"I know of a man village where she'll be safe. Mishti and I have take many walks in the jungle together. I'm sure she'll go with me."
"So be it. Now there's no time to lose," Akela says.
Bagheera begins to make his way towards the wolf den Mishti is living in. Akela and Rama follow him.
In the wolf den, Mishti and her older brothers are helping their mother getting the little ones to sleep. After getting the younger cubs to sleep, they are just about to head to be as well.
But someone calmly calls out, "Raksha."
The wolves and girl cub turn to see Rama, Bagheera and Akela.
"There's something we need to tell you," Rama says.
Raska stands up and walks over to the exit of the cage. Mishti and the young grown wolves are a bit confused to what is going on.
Outside of the den, the wolves and panther are discussing what needs to be done.
Rama is the one to bring the bad news, "Raksha, remember what I tell you about Shere Khan returning to this part of the jungle and the council meeting is going to be discussed about Mishti's future."
"No," Raksha says in distress.
"I'm sorry Raksha, but there no other way," Akela says.
Then Bagheera steps in, and says, "Don't worry, I'll be taking her to a man village where she'll be safe."
"But my daughter?" Raksha asks.
"I know, it's hard for me too. But I love my daughter as much as you do, it's the only way to protect her," Rama says.
Raksha saddns, "I know."
"Mother," A voice speaks up.
The four turn to see Mishti and some of the wolves looking at them in curiosity.
The eldest Black Brother asks, "Mother, what's going on? Has something bad happened?"
"I'm afraid so. Mishti needs to leave with Bagheera tonight," Raksha says.
"Are we going on our walk?" Mishti asks.
"Mishti, this time we're not just going on our walk. I'm taking you to a man village," Bagheera answers.
Mishti and the young wolves are shocked to hear it.
"I… I have to leave… but why?" Mishti asks.
"Because Shere Khan has returned to this part of the jungle, and will have swore to kill you," Bagheera says.
"Kill me? But why would he want to do that?" Mishti asks.
"He hates man. And Shere Khan is not going to allow you to grow up to become one, especially because you're female," Bagheera says.
The youngest Gray Brother asks, "How come?"
"Well, let's just say that Mishti and other female mammals can give birth to young cubs," Bagheera says, not wanting to give much away to the little ones.
"But… Bagheera?" Mishti sadly asks.
"I know it's hard for you, but it's the only way for you to be protected," Bagheera says.
Mishti really doesn't want to leave, but does know that she will need to be returned to her own kind. Sadly, she never expect it to be so soon and that her life is along the line.
"Okay Bagheera, but can I say goodbye?" Mishti asks.
Akela and Bagheera nod their heads.
Mishti hugs her wolf parents and her brothers. The younger wolves who are up and hear the news run up to give their farewell. After saying goodbye to her wolf family and Akela. She leaves with Bagheera to the man village.
During the night, Mishti is riding on Bagheera's back like he does on their night walk in the jungle. But this time is different, Bagheera is taking her to the man village where she will be safe. Mishti knows that it will be a matter of time to be returned to her own kind, but also doesn't want to leave the jungle.
Bagheera walks on a log, and down the bath. He then jumps over the small river gap. Mishti makes her to hold her balance as she sits on the panther's back.
Mishti yawns, and asks, "Bagheera, I'm getting a little tired. Think we should go get some rest."
"Soon Mishti. I know that you're worried about going back, but you will be safe there," Bagheera says.
"I know, Bagheera. I know it will be a matter of time before returning to my own kind. But… after what happened…" Mishti says, and stops speaking.
She looks at the bracelet her mother has given to her before she died. She gets off of Bagheera's back and turn her head towards to where the wolf den is. Bagheera turns his head to see Mishti looking to where the wolves are.
Bagheera says, "I know it might be painful for you, but it's safer for you in the village. Especially with Shere Khan making his way to this part of the jungle."
Mishti nods her head in reply. Bagheera walk on as Mishti continues to stare at the wolf home she knows.
Just then, Bagheera calls out, "Mishti, over here."
Mishti turns around and walks towards the large tree.
"Come on, it's safer up there," Bagheera says.
Mishti looks up, "If you say so."
Bagheera climbs up the tree first. Then Mishti follows after him. Bagheera has been teaching her a few things, including climbing trees. She isn't perfect, but it able to climb to high places and gets help from Bagheera from time to time. Soon, they're both climb to the tree branch high in the tree. Mishti sits on the branch close to the tree.
Bagheera walks along the branch, and says, "Get some rest, we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."
"But I rather stay in the jungle," Mishti says.
Bagheera shake his head at Mishti's stubbornness. Sure the girl cub is not weak and is capable of take care of herself, but the jungle still has danger that Mishti isn't prepared for.
"Now Mishti, I know that you are able to looking after yourself, but there are still many dangers in the jungle that you're not aware of. Now let's get a good night rest," Bagheera says.
He then stretches himself and lets out a yawn.
"You don't need to worry about my Bagheera, I can look after myself, "Mishti says.
She turns her head to see Bagheera has fallen asleep. Mishti sighs and looks at the night of the jungle. She never tells Bagheera this, but she still sometimes have nightmares about her being trapped in the fire and mother dying before her. Even though Mishti is brave, strong, and smart, she is also a troubled girl with sadness in her heard. She sighs sadly as she looks at the jungle.
But while Misht isn't looking, something slithers besides her in the shadows. Coming out of the shadow is an indian python. The snake his big yellow eyes, dark gold color scales with dark brown spots on the back and light underbelly. The python is known as Kaa.
Kaa looks at Mishti with a smile on his face. The secretly slithers to where Bagheera is sleeping. He takes the opportunity to slither to Mishti while the panther is sleeping.
Kaa slithers towards Mishti and hisses, "Sssay now, what have we here?"
Mishti hears the hissing and turns to see the snake. She simply signs and turns her head away from him and looking down on her knees.
The snake chuckles and slithers over Mishti's head and come face to face with her, "It's a girl cub…."
Misthis just turns her head and body away from his with arms crossed and her legs dangling on one side of the branch.
The snake hisses slithering to see her face, "A delissscious girl cub."
Mishti feels the snake hissing on her head and look to face him.
She gently pushes him away and says in a calm done, "Just go away and leave me alone."
Mistaken that Mishti is taking to him, Bagheera says in his sleep, "Just what I should do, but I'm not. Now… please go asleep girl cub."
Kaa looks to see that Bagheera is talking in his sleep. At first, he is afraid that the panther is is waking up, but ends up going back to sleep. Kaa smiles and nods his head to the idea and turn his head towards Mishti.
He slithers towards her and begin to admit string rings of circles from his eyes, "Yessss, girl cub. Pleasssse."
Mishti tries to ignore hum, but the strong colors admitting from his eyes cause her to feel strange. Her eyes begins to admit the same colors, and her arms begins to dangle.
Kaa begins to sway his coils and his head side to side as he gently says, "Go to ssssleep. Pleasssse go to sssleep. Ssssleep, little man cub. Resssst in peacssse."
Mishti continues to stare into the python's eyes with her mouth slightly open. As the snake is hypnotizing her, his tail slithers to Mishti and begin to coil her up. Mishti tries her to keep her eyes open, but the hypnotic colors is starting to take hold of her will.
"Ssssleep. Ssssleep," Kaa hisses continue to use his hypnotic eyes.
Mishti tires to keep her eyes open, but the hypnotic eyes and coils are causing her to drift to sleep. The coils continues to circle around her until it comes to her shoulders.
But before she can fall asleep, Mishti is able to regain a little counciness as the coils reaches her neck, Ba... Ba-Bagh-gheera."
Before she can continue, Kaa slightly pulls his tail around her neck making her let out a Gulp. He then coil his tail on Mishti's neck. Now Mishti is fully under the python's spell. Bagheera, unaware of what happening is still sleeping.
He has hear Mishti and says in his sleep, "Oh, now... Now look, there's no use arguing any more. Oh! Now no more talk till morning."
Kaa stares at Mishti who is all coiled up her eyes still admitting the hypnotic colors and has a smile on her ace.
Kaa chuckles, and says, "She won't be here in the morning. "
He the lifts Mishti up a little.
Bagheera opens his eye a little, but close it again ready to get some sleep.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, she will. I…" He tiredly says.
But shots up his head in shock, "Kaa! Hold it, Kaa!"
Kaa opens his mouth of and ready to eat Mishti, but Bagheera intervenes. He swats Kaa on the head and make him hit his head on the branch. That cause him to lose the grip of his coils holding Mishti and fall on the branch. That make the coils fall of her her and wake her up from the hypnotic trance.
"Oh! My sinus," Kaa says in pain and shaking his head.
He turns his head around and slithers to Bagheera with a vicious glare, "You have just made a serious mistake, my friend."
Bagheera steps back as the python slither towards him, but stop close to the edge.
"A very stupid…" Kaa says, still glaring at him.
"Now, now, now, now, Kaa, I was.." Bagheera says.
But Kaa interrupts, "Mistake."
While the snake and the panther distracted, Mishti is able to regain her consciousness and climb out of the coils. She doesn't fully remember what's going on and with the snake. But when she turns to where they are, she can see that Bagheera needs help.
Kaa sternly says to Bagheera admitting the hypnotic colors from his eyes, "Look me in the eye when I'm speaking to you."
Bagheera tries his best not to look, but opens one of his eyes and repeat the same color matters.
"Oh, please, Kaa," Bagheera begs.
But Kaa urges it even more, "Both eyes, if you please."
That cause Bagheera to open both of his eyes and quickly fall under his spell.
Meanwhile. Mishti tries to get rid of the snake by pushing the coils off the tree, but they're too heavy for ehr to lift. She lays on the branch as push them with her legs. Luckily, Mishti is able to push the coils out of the tree.
As Mishti is going with her plan, she hears Kaa says, "You have just sealed your doom."
Kaa is about to do something to Bagheera, but ends up getting pulled by the coils. He ends up unwinding from the branches, hitting his head on the tree. Then unwinds from the other branch, and land into his coils.
Mishti looks down to see what has happen, and turns to Bagheera, Look, Bagheera! Look, Bagheera."
Mishti runs up to Bagheera and shakes him, "Wake up, Bagheera."
Mishti ends up calmly hitting Bagheera on the cheeks, causing him to snap out of Kaa's hypnosis
On the jungle ground, Kaa is not pleased about being interrupted and getting pushed out of the tree.
He slithers away and angrily says, "Just you wait till I get you in my coils."
Suddenly, he feels a tug on his tail and his head falls over on the ground. He turns around to see his tail is in a knot and is stuck between two small trees.
Mishti then starts laughing, "Bagheera, he's got a knot in his tail!"
"'He's got a knot in his tail.'" Kaa mutters, not very amused.
Kaa then pulls his tail hard to get the knotted end free. Just then, one of the small tree breaks, and the knotted tail ends up fastly pushes with the rest of his coils towards him. His tail becomes bend.
"Ooh, this is going to slow down my slither," Kaa complains as he slithers away,
Sitting on the branch of the tree, Mishti continues laughing. She turns her head and stops laughing to see the stern look on Bagheera's face.
"Still think you can look after yourself? You wanna stay in the jungle, huh?" Bagheera questions.
"Yeah. I wanna stay in the jungle, and I'm sure I can look after myself," Mishti says, sounding a little confident.
"Doh! Now let's see if we can get some sleep without any more interruptions," Bagheera says.
Mishti rolls her eyes and lay her back and head. She turns turns her head towards the jungle and becomes sadden. Bagheera lays down on the branch and has fallen asleep. The two soon fall asleep for the night and wait until tomorrow to get going.