*Rayna's Village Visit*
After Rayna had stepped into the gates of the village, eyes of the villagers are on her. Men, women, and children are staring at her in awe. Rayna tried to ignore them, but she felt nervous. Everyone is staring at her like she's an animal. But she is raised in the jungle after all. Hunar, Sari, and Elias turned to see Rayna frozen at her spot. Hunar gave everyone a glare.
"It's rude to stare! Show respect to my lost sister!" He said. He walked over to Rayna and took her hand. "Don't worry. They were curious about you. Just stay with us."
"It's not that..." Rayna spoke. "I think...I remember this village. But it's all a blur." Hunar smiled.
"That's fine. The familiarity brings you back some memories. You were only 2 years old when we lost you. I don't know how you did it, but you're alive and well. We expect a story."
"A...story? About my life in the jungle?" Rayna asked. "I don't know if you all would believe me."
"Try me." Elias spoke as he walked over to her. Rayna chuckled a bit.
Rayna was shown around the village and said hello to the villagers. Sari took her baby back to their hut to feed her. Rayna couldn't believe that she is an aunt to her brother's baby. Her brothers never have mates and she thought she would never be an aunt. But babies are fragile and nothing like the cubs in the jungle. Rayna turned to see some children playing around with some goats. She smiled a bit. This village seems so peaceful. No predator would dare to enter it. Not even Shere Khan if he were still alive.
"So...this is her." A voice spoke from behind. Rayna and the men turned to see Buldeo walking up towards them. Rayna noticed a gun in his hands. She made a look and about to grab her spear, but Hunar stopped her.
"Buldeo, lower your weapon. It's making her nervous." He said. Buldeo half smiled and lowered his weapon and put it on his back with a strap. Hunar turned to Rayna. "It's okay. This is Buldeo. The hunter."
"So, that's a gun." Rayna said. "My friend, Bagheera, told me about it."
"Bagheera?" Buldeo asked. "Who might that be?"
"A panther." Rayna replied, crossing her arms. "He's my guardian. He taught me so much about man. And the Red Flower."
"The Red what?" Hunar wondered.
"She means fire." Elias replied. Buldeo chuckled a bit and stroked his beard.
"So, your animal friends have names and they call our fire the Red Flower? Interesting, child. How I am looking forward to hear your tale." Buldeo patted her head and walked away with a smirk. Rayna didn't like that old man. Not even a little. And she thinks using guns isn't a great way to hunt in the jungle.
"Don't mind him. He's not so bad once you get to know him." Elias said.
"Shall we...go back to my hut with my wife? I think that's enough for the tour." Hunar suggested.
XX
Sari placed the bowl of fruit down on the floor where the others are sitting. Rayna took the banana to feast. Sari sat next to Hunar and cleared her throat.
"Rayna. I would love to hear your story. Tell us how you manage to survive in the jungle all alone. Did the animals raise you?" She asked. Rayna chewed on the banana as she thought of her memories with the wolf pack. She swallowed and began her story.
"Bagheera was the one who found me in the jungle. He brought me to the wolf pack. Akela is the leader of the pack. They spoke for me to stay with him after Shere Khan threatened to kill me after he...killed my parents." She said. Hunar frowned. That night years ago was a nightmare. Shere Khan attacked the camp and killed their parents and made Hunar and the others flee. "When I was 7, Shere Khan marked me... He really wants me dead. For years, I've been learning how to make spears and some tricks of my own to survive. But Akela told me using tricks is not the wolf way."
"Strict one, isn't he?" Hunar joked.
"Well, yes, but...he means well. I'm a strange one in the jungle. But I don't care. As long as my wolf pack and friends care and love me for who I am, that's all that matters. And that journey I had with Bagheera, Tailsy, and Baloo, it's something I'll never forget. Well, there are some things go wrong." Rayna said.
"Like?" Sari asked.
"Like I was almost eaten by a snake named Kaa. Kidnapped by the monkeys and met their crazy ruler, Louie. But a wise snake named Shivani rescued me along with Bagheera and Baloo. And then, I finally got a chance to fight off Shere Khan." Rayna continued.
"We...are aware of that part." Elias said as he remembered the fire in the jungle. "Thank goodness it rained and put the fire out."
"Yeah...but I still feel guilty of accidently putting the jungle on fire." Rayna said with a worried expression.
"And now, here you are." Hunar said, taking her hand. "I was so happy to see you alive. I never gave up on you like everyone else. If only..." He paused. Rayna tilts her head to the side. "Oh, I'm sure they've been watching you."
"Who?" Rayna asked.
"Our parents." Hunar replied. Rayna frowned a bit.
"Oh." Rayna tried to remember what her parents looked like before she ran into Shivani. "Hunar, what are they like?"
"Our father is a brave man. Always looks after our mother. And our mother is beautiful and kind. I remember the songs she used to sing to us to help us sleep. And you look like her a little." Hunar said as he stared at Rayna. The jungle girl couldn't help but to smile a bit. "They may not be here with us, but they will watch over us from above. They must be proud of you." Hunar continued.
"Same with my father wolf." Rayna said. "Now Shere Khan won't torture or kill anyone ever again. He's gone because of me."
"I'm sorry about your father wolf." Elias told her. Rayna smiled a bit. "Maybe someday I'd like to meet your pack if it's alright with them."
"Yeah. I'm sure they will like you." Rayna replied. "I could show you around the jungle. But be sure to use a phrase if you encounter a predator. We be of one blood. You and I."
"Why is that?" Sari asked.
"It's something I say to those who try to pick a fight. It's a meaning of I mean no harm." Rayna said. "Bagheera taught me. Any animal would listen to it. For those who broke the jungle law will die."
"Well then. That's...interesting." Sari said, feeling uneasy a little. Rayna cleared her throat a bit, trying not to make things more awkward. Then, they hear someone coming in. They turned to see a chief. Muhammad. "Good afternoon, chief." Sari said with a smile.
"Is this the jungle girl I have heard so much about?" Muhammad asked as his eyes are on Rayna who stood up. "So, you're the wolf girl. Rayna."
"Yes. Are you the leader of this village?" Rayna asked.
"A chief." Muhammad corrected her. Rayna bowed her head respectively to him. "No need, child. It is I who shall bow to you." He made a bow. Rayna blinked at him. "Elias told me you have defeated the tiger out there in the jungle." Muhammad exclaimed. "The one who had caused so much trouble years back. If only I were there with your family and the others that day..." He frowned a bit.
"It's not your fault." Rayna said, walking over to the chief. "Shere Khan hates humans. And I'm the only one in the jungle who got away, and he kept trying to kill me. It's why he gave me these scars..." She pointed at her scars over her eye. "I was marked for a reason. But I finished him off. He won't terrorize the jungle anymore." Muhammad placed his hand on the girl's shoulder.
"You have a brave heart, Rayna. You are fearless. The wolves raised you well." He said. Rayna stared at him. Even the chief believed her story. She couldn't help but to give the chief a hug. Elias and the others watched in silent. Hunar was shocked to see his sister hug Muhammad. Muhammad chuckled and gently embraced Rayna. "You are welcome to visit the village anytime. Or you are welcome to live here if you wish."
"Thank you, chief." Rayna said as she pulled away. "If there is anything I could do for this village, let me know. Send a word."
"I will."
"Well...I should be going." Rayna told them. Hunar frowned a bit.
"You're leaving?" He asked.
"Yeah. But I'll come back and visit." Rayna replied. She walked over to her brother to give him a hug. Hunar held her close. All it matters is that his sister is alive and well. If only she could stay in the village. Someday she will.
XX
Rayna walked across the bridge to return to the jungle where her friends await. She turned back and give Hunar, Sari, and Elias one last wave. They waved back and told her to come back soon. Rayna smiled and walked in the jungle.
"It's where she belongs. She is feral." Buldeo spoke from behind the gate. Hunar turned to the old man.
"Excuse me?"
"Raised by wolves. She could speak to animals. She could be a witch." Buldeo said.
"Rayna is not feral!" Elias said. "It's not her fault that she had to run away from the camp. The wolves took her in and raised her!"
"She's my little sister. I'm happy she is alive after all this time." Hunar said giving the old man a glare as he walked past him with Sari. Buldeo kept his mouth shut. He overheard Rayna's tale from outside their hut earlier. He couldn't believe such a tale. But everything was true. Rayna killed Shere Khan, and the jungle is at peace. Buldeo turned to the gates to see the jungle across the bridge.
"The girl is a lucky one."