Chapter 10
While the wet season drenched all of India almost constantly, there were brief moments of clarity for relief. At the first chance he got, Mowgli dashed into the jungle to reunite with his animal friends. His feet left a muddy trail as he dashed through the trees and bushes. He skidded to a stop once he came across a rhino shaking down a tree with Baloo aside it along with Grey.
" Come on, Rocky. Ya almost got it!" the bear chanted.
The rhino just snorted and shook his head in both contempt and to swat the flies swarming " Oy, just be thankful there's kids around here." Rocky than made one last charge at the massive tree and struck it with all the two ton mass he had. The roots of the tree than sprouted out rapidly and made the tree crash swiftly.
" Man, Baloo, what was that for?"
" Well, little britches, I just needed a little help getting at the really good paw-paw fruit."
The rhino turned his head back, his mouth sloppy with fruit skin and juices. " And by a little, he meant a ton, literally."
" Come on, Mowgli!" Grey called to his brother gleefully " Let's see what's in tree! I bet I'll find more things than you."
" Fat chance!"
Together, the two brothers rummaged through the a skewed branches while Baloo and Rocky chowed down on the fruit. So far, Mowgli was winning, by finding bird feathers and colorful flowers. Grey was determined to beat him, so by the time he an orange hair mass, the wolf cub was ecstatic and began to tug at it to get Mowgli's attention.
" Hey Mowgli, you what I found!"
" I think you mean who you found." a voice answered back. The orange mass shook itself with its long arms and scooped up the Grey.
" So this is the man cub's brother. Craaaaazy, man."
Mowgli turned his head in shock and scooped up his brother angrily " Oh, no. You're not getting at my brother, Louie!"
" Cool it, cubs. Those days are waaay back now." the orangutan balanced himself on one arm and gave an innocent but cheeky look. "Ain't that right, Baloo?"
Both the bear and rhino looked over in shock. " Aw, not this poozer." Rocky snorted.
" What, you know Lou already?" Baloo questioned.
The ape swung over, hopping on the back of Rocky in typical swinging style. " Oh sure, Baloski. Old thick skin and I go waaay back." The ape then began to skat out his answer.
"See, I wasn't always the king of the swingers
Oh, not the jungle VIP
I'm at the top but started out in a box.
And that's what bothering' me
I got caught by a man, mancub
And forced right into town
And just like another other cub
I got tired of monkeyin' around!"
"But Oh, oobee doo
I remember you
I was stuck you
Fed up like you, too
You'll see it's true
An ape like me
Did learn to get free 'cause of you!"
" Oh, will you give it a rest, King Kong?" the rhino asked perturbedly. It beckoned Louie to hop onto Rock's bumpy snout and look him in the eyes.
"Now don't try to kid me, Buffy.
I made a deal with you
What I desire is man's grasp
To make my dream in a rap.
Now let me spill the secret, Buffy
Clue the boys in on what to do
Tell 'em about the power of Buldeo's red flower"
But even the foolish ape knew it wasn wise to play around with a two ton grump like Rocky, proven true as Louie began to scat out of the scene.
¨Cause You!
I was just like you
I got free like you
Walk like you, too
Yall see it's true
Someone like me
Can really be
Like someone like me
Can really be
Like someone like you
Can really be
Like someone like me!¨
¨ Gee, Rocky, was all that stuff true?" Baloo questioned.
The rhino just began to slink off ¨ Like I said, doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done.¨
It was clear that despite the seemingly meaningless jive noise Louie commonly made, it struck a chord with the rhino that he wasn't ready to relive. Mowgli took a step forward to try and go after Rocky, but he felt a shaggy paw stop him.
¨ Leave him be, little britches. It´s pretty clear the guy has gotta sort out his necessities on his own.¨