Chapter 15

Soldiers walked through the corridors of the containments, nightsticks in hand. Their heads swiveled side to side, keeping a watchful eye on the animals. They couldn't care less about them, but damaged goods don't sell as well as perfect materials.

" Where you gonna go once you get your cut for the job?"

" Me? Uh, nowhere near a jungle, there's where. Stories of these jungle freaks becoming too often. First there was that apeman in Africa, now this kid-"

" Well, I'm heading far north. I can't take the heat. I hear Arendelle's really-"*

Suddenly, a wheezing sound broke the conversation between the two. Both turned their heads over to a mesh box shaking about lightly. They both eyed each other suspiciously and pulled the box out onto the floor. The cover was pried open by hand, revealing a sickly pile of coils.

" Aw, man. Don't be telling me this thing's dead! Man, we won't get as much now."

" You think we should show him to Buldeo?"

" You kidding me? You want to get yelled at in Hindi? Forget it, let's just skin this thing right now real quick."

But then, the moaning started up again even louder. They lifted the snake up to eye level to get one final look at it. And what a look it was, as the snake began to hypnotize both men with his swirling big eyes. Their limbs began to get woozy, barely able to keep them on their feet. And through it all, both could swear they heard a soothing voice say: " Trussssst in meeeeee."

Soon, both men fell unconscious to the floor with a soft thud. The snake gave himself a metaphorical pat of the back and began to rummage through one or their pants.

" Oh, this is the only part of the plan I dessspise. Could you have done this part, man cub."

" No way, I can't reach that far from this cage."

" Mhmmm, that'sss what they all say."

Kaa finally grabbed a pair of keys and sent it up Mowgli's way. In no time, he had found the right one and bursted out of his cage.

" Good, now I suppose we make our way out now."

" Not yet, Kaa. We gotta free everyone else here."

The snake just rolled his eyes, but he knew the man cub was right. The two split apart, each with a pair of keys and began the long process of freeing all the animals. Mowgli looked through, daunted by the whole mountains worth of them. No way he could get them all out in time. But as he was pondering, Mowgli was snatched into the shadows by a large hidden figure. The boy struggled within its grasp and bit down hard to get free.

" Ow! Geez, little britches, this ain't no way to say hi to your best bud."

" Wha- Baloo? Is that you?"

" Ha, ha! Who else?"

The boy leaped into his best friend's arms, the bear holding him close to his heart. " Oh, it's so good to see you. How'd you find me?"

Just then, a slick black figure came beside Baloo with two ecstatic children on top. " Ha, he did little to none man cub. I on the other hand.."

" Hey, don't you mean us?!"

" Bagheera! Shanti, Ranjan! You guys are all here!"

" That, and your wolfy family and Rocky, too. We split up to find you, thought it would take forever in this maze."

" Well, either way, that's great. Cause right now, I need all the help I can get free everybody else here."

The bear winced a little, rubbing his forepaws " Aw, man. Just when I thought I could rest my paws."

" Baloo…:

" Alright, alright. Let's get cracking."

And cracking they did get going to. In no time at all, the little band had freed a zoo's worth of animals from cages and boxes. Some were starving after days with no food, but overall not too worse for wear. As soon as they were free, they springed out diligently out of the scene, careful not to set the alarm.

And then, all that remained was the box William and Buldeo had demanded be hauled in. For some reason, however, Mowgli had this sinking feeling in his gut that he shouldn't open it.

" C'mon, little britches. Spring that one last guy out and lets vamoose."

The boy took a deep breath and hopped to the top, pushing hard at the top of the lid to pry it open. Mowgli tried and tried, but he just couldn't open it up. Baloo and Bagheera tugged along too, trying their best to help Mowgli get it open.

" Oh man, this better be worth it."

Suddenly, the lid snapped off, the large piece of wood landing hard on the cold floor. The dust slowly settled to the ground, allowing the darkness inside to be visible to the three.

" Odd, there's nothing in there." Bagheera remarked.

" No way, this thing was going crazy when it was being hauled in here."

" Maybe it was just a dud."

GRRRRRR

Mowgli snapped his head back to the box. Two large, yellow eyes were piercing back at him in pure bestial rage. They began to slink side to side in synchronization with its gait. The outside light revealed a series of faded light orange and black stripes on a long stocky frame, claws glistening in the light as they were unsheathed to grip the wood underpaw. The square lined jaw opened up, revealing four prominent golden canine teeth as well as sharp molars in the back.

" The only dud is you, you big oaf." the figure snarled.

" No, no, no. It can't be. Not you." Shanti cried as she and Ranjan huddled together behind Bagheera at the sight of the tyrant of the jungle, killer, the Maneater, king of tigers: Shere Khan.

Author's Note:

Really wanted to save up Shere Khan, as he's one of my favorite villains and I wanted to use him right. Some of you coaught on to him appearing last chapter, to which I say... good one you all for being good with details ( I'd give you guys a reward, but that's gonna have to wait til updates with portals, lol) Sorry this chapter is late, been a little busy with guests coming and going this summer. But like always, review, comment, and favorite if you want.

* P.S, anyone catch those two little Frozen and Tarzan references in here yet? I've been working crossovers between the two cause I love both films, so I figured I could subtly bring them up in another one of my fics. I'm debating as to just leave it as a fun little nod to the larger Disney universe, or if I sound tie it into the same world. You guys let me know if you'd want to see anything like a crossover between the things I referenced and this fic or not.