Chapter 13

New light poured across the village as a new morning came. Mowgli scratched his eyes free of sand and looked atop the hut he was still upon. Any signs of the camp beast's meeting had dissipated away with the wind and now the British army was hastily getting ready to leave. Mowgli slid down to the say his goodbye to Kitty, who was diligently packing away her books.

" So, I guess you're leaving now?"

" Yes, I'm afraid so. I know it's been so brief, but I really do appreciate our time together. I had a wonderful time last night."

"Well, well." a new voice had caught onto the last part as it barged into the conversation. " It sounds as if it was it were a date."

Kitty just laughed a little and came into William's arms " Well, it was a completely platonic scenario just to let you know, love."

The man gave a small smile, turning eyes toward Mowgli. " Well, I hope you had a cheery time. Say, Mowgli, is it true all those tall tales that have been circulating about your jungle life?"

" Ah, yes it is, sir. It's just me."

" Well, if that's the case, I'm in a bit of need of help. The other night, we caught a wolf in a trap after it tried to rob us of some food in the night. You think you could politely tell it off before we leave?"

Mowgli didn't hesitate for a second to give an answer. " Oh, sure!"

Soon, William and Mowgli made their way on a thinly made path away from the village. Mowgli led the way while William gave him directions. Eventually, they came upon a lone tent and a distant dark box to the corner. Taking the new sight as a hint, he slowly crawled over the box and started calling up to the wolf inside.

" Hello, Grey is it you? C'mon, I've got a good feeling it is you. If so, you should know better than to come to the village."

No answer. He slowly crawled on all fours and kept trying to lure out the wolf within with talk, though it sounded like just growls and small whines to William. Slowly but surely, Mowgli fully went into the box, and came to realize there was no wolf at all. As soon as he realized it, it was too late for Mowgli as William slammed the door behind him.

" Hey, let me out! Why are you doing this? Katherine wouldn't want-"

" Oh shut up!" William hissed as he kicked the box, causing Mowgli to bump his head hard on the wall. As his eyes swirled into darkness, he could see another figure approach William, this one darker of skin. He shook William's hand, and muttered silently into his ear about his deal.

That deal was simple: Buldeo had built the trap and captured a young wolf cub to provide Mowgli an incentive to come. Now, William would transport him along with the rest of his forces back, far away from the jungle. Buldeo would be mailed half the profits of William's "discovery": a feral child raised by the animals in the flesh, a tall tale for real. He would be the sight for all lands under British control, once William of course had shipped him Jaipur to London. However, what no one had counted on was a little wolf cub's determination to free himself. And now, as he trotted through the jungle litter, he was determined as ever to free his brother. Because Grey may have been the smallest of the pack, he still upheld their law of strength together. He raced past all the other wolves as he entered his home territory and made a straight beeline for Council Rock, where Baloo, Bagheera and Rocky were in the midst of Baloo's newest lesson.

" Hey, little fella." Baloo called as the cub scampered up. "Thought you'd be late to see your lesson be-"

" Mowgli's gone!"

" WHAT?"

Bagheera carefully lifted Grey by the scruff of the neck, as he would his own cub, and placed him in the center of the group.

" Calm down, little one. Now, tell us everything."

" Mowgli got taken by some hunters, and now they're taking him away in this big dark box."

Rocky shuffled closer " What'd they look like?"

" Well, one had really white skin and a ton of shiny things on his chest with a funny looking top and the other one had his thick bear coat and rhino dagger-"

" I knew it!" the rhino stamped. " That same poozer who took my horn took Mowg."

" Got any clue as to where they'd take him?" Baloo asked in a nervous tone.

" Some where it a big port, with a ton of other animals to ship out. They all got loaded onto this big boat and weren't seen again never. I barely managed to escape, so who knows the kid's chances. "

By now, all the other wolves had gathered around, mortified at the news. Rama and Rakesh especially, who now may loose their son for a second time.

" Those chances will be greater in the boy's favor." Akela said as he took center stage. " We may have lost the boy once to a cowardly hunter before, but not this time. Now, we will hunt these fools down to ensure the boy's' safety."

" Akela, that plan will just ensure the culling of the whole pack. Let Baloo and I go after him. The two of us will be better able to be unnoticed than the whole pack." Bagheera countered.

" If the whole pack can not go, them let us." Raksha said. Her eyes were full of motherly protection, as were her mate's. " The cub is ours, ours to us. It's our right to protect him."

" You'll probably need me too, tabby." Rocky counted. " I know where to go, and it's high time I got some vengeance of my own."

" So be it." Akela stated. " Now hurry, there is no time to waste. Good hunting to you all."

Together, the small menagerie of animals began shuffle off in a hurry, except for Baloo. He had been stopped by Grey who was begging to come along.

" Aw, come on kid. You gotta stay behind. Just in case he comes back on his own, you know?"

The little cub looked cross, but seemingly understood. Baloo gave him a friendly rub on his head and set off with the others to their mission to save the the man cub they all loved.