The Jungle Book: Chapter 8

By: jungleboy69

Chapter 8: Meetings and Discussions

At Council Rock, Mowgli had told the wolves everything he and Bagheera had seen; about the Man-Pack and the strange lairs of cloth and stick they lived in, about the strange skins that they wore, and the strange tools they used like strange metal boxes that played music and spoke to them.

The wolves murmured amongst themselves while Akela listened silently. "Do they see you?" He asked. Mowgli winced a bit. "Well...I fell off the tree branch from where I was watching them and I fell into the river...and one of the girl-cubs saw me..." He confessed.

The wolves grew anxious, murmuring louder until Phaona spoke up. "You see, Akela!" He exclaimed. "The Man-Cub exposed himself to humans!" "Now, they will come seeking him out and hunt us all down!" He added.

The wolves gasped and talked louder. "Peace, friends!" Akela called out. "We still don't know if the Man-Pack are dangerous!" He turned to Mowgli. "Did the humans hurt you?" He asked. "No, she didn't!" The Man-Cub replied. "The girl...she...she just stared at me...she wasn't scared of me at all...she was more curious..."

The wolves were surprised. "It's a trick!" Phaona exclaimed. "No human can be trusted!" "Once they find us, they will wipe us all out!" He added. "I agree!" One wolf added. "We should chase them away!"

"They are not a threat!" Mowgli argued. "They mean us no harm!" "What do you know, man-cub?!" Another wolf shot back. "Humans mean death for us!" "Humans bring trouble to the Jungle!" A third wolf howled. "We should get rid of them!"

"Peace, brothers and sisters!" Akela cried. "It is against the Law of the Jungle to harm Man, you know this!" "Well, what do you want us to do?!" Phaona demanded. "Sit around like frightened goats and wait for them to kill us one by one!"

The pack was in an uproar until Bagheera spoke up. "Akela, may I speak?" The wolves grew silent. "I believe that Mowgli is the answer." The Panther replied. Everyone was surprised, especially Mowgli. "Mowgli?" Akela asked.

"While Mowgli was at the river spying on the human-cubs, I had a chance to observe the adults." Bagheera explained. "From what I heard, they are here to study the jungle, to learn its secrets and to...preserve...the creatures that live in it."

The wolves murmured among themselves. "I agree with Mowgli, these humans mean us no harm." The Panther added. "However, we must be certain that these humans can be trusted." "I believe Mowgli should meet them to see if they are friends."

The wolves couldn't believe what they heard. "Me?" Mowgli asked in astonishment. "Bagheera, no!" Raksha cried. "It could be dangerous!" "They will lock Mowgli in a cage or shoot him!" She added. "I agree!" Vihaan pointed out. "Who knows what they will do to him?!"

Some of the wolves agreed but others, like Phaona thought otherwise. "Why should we care about the Man-Cub?!" The latter pointed out. "If he wants to be go back to Man, let him!" "Phaona, how can you say such things?!" Leela asked in horror. "Mowgli is one of us!"

"I'm speaking for the good of the Pack!" Phaona argued. "The Man-Cub should be handed over to the humans!" "No! Never!" Raksha cried. "He is my son!" "I will not hand my own cub to be killed by Man!" She added.

"Better for him to die so we can live!" Phaona yelled at her. "Don't you talk about my family that tone!" Vihaan growled. "ENOUGH!" Akela declared, silencing the pack. "Arguing amongst ourselves will not help the situation!"

"I think the real one who should make the descion should be Mowgli." He pointed out. All eyes turned to the Man-Cub who was at a loss. "Mowgli, you had a chance to encounter one of the humans up close." Akela spoke. "What makes you think they mean us no harm?"

Mowgli was silent. "To be honest...I'm not really sure." He replied. "Something...was drawing me to them...Something deep down was telling me that they are friends...not a threat..." "I can't explain it...but...it's something I feel...in my heart..." He added. "These humans are not our enemies..."

Akela listened quietly. "Are you certain you are up for it?" He asked. "I am, Akela." Mowgli replied. "I know the humans will not harm me." "Besides, Bagheera will be watching me." He pointed out.

The Panther nodded. "I will be with Mowgli, watching over him." He agreed. "I'll make sure no harm comes to him." Akela nodded. "Very well." He replied. "If you are certain about this, I will not stop you." "If you can prove these humans are friends, we will consider their presense here."

"Thank you, Akela." Mowgli replied. The Council dispersed, leaving only Mowgli, his wolf family, Baloo and Bagheera behind. "Mowgli, are you sure about this?" Vihaan asked worriedly. "Yes, Patri" Mowgli replied. "I know I can do it."

"We can come with you!" Akru spoke up. "Yeah! If those humans try anything to you, we'll teach them a lesson!" Sura added. "Cubs, calm yourself!" Baloo grunted. "The Law forbids us from attacking Man!" "Besides, we don't know for sure if the Man-Pack is dangerous." He added. "We need to patient and plan."

Raksha nuzzled against Mowgli. "You don't have to do this..." She murmured, worriedly. "Maybe, I can talk to Akela and he'll..." "Mata, it's alright." Mowgli replied. "I will be fine, Bagheera will be with me."

"You do not have to worry, Raksha." Bagheera added. "I'll make sure no harm comes to him." Raksha grew more worried. "Mata, don't be scared." Mowgli replied as he hugged the She-Wolf's furry neck. "It will be alright..."

"I hope so..." Raksha replied.

(Meanwhile...back in the human camp)

"I'm telling you, he's real!" Cassie exclaimed. "The Jungle Ghost is real!" Her family and the others could only look at her in stunned disbelief. She had been telling them everything about her encounter with the strange jungle boy at the river.

When Cassie returned to the camp, an excited and flustered look on her face, everyone knew something was up. However, her explanation was a bit far-fetched for them. "Let me get this straight..." Sean asked. "You saw the Jungle Ghost at the river while you were bathing..."

Cassie nodded. "And he spoke to you...?" Evelyn asked as well. "Yeah...he did..." Cassie replied. "He wasn't like anything I've seen..." "Evelyn...we...we don't know what to say..." Messua pointed out. "Are you sure you saw it?"

"It's not an it!" Cassie protested, much to their shock. "It's a...he..." Everyone grew stunned. "What?" Shanti asked. "The Jungle Ghost..." Cassie added, with a blush. "It's a boy..." "Wait...Wait...first you say you saw a ghost..." Her father, Jacob pointed out in confusion. "Now you're saying you saw a boy...?"

"No! The Jungle Ghost is a boy!" Cassie explained. "He's a real boy!" Silence followed. "You sound like you've been reading Pinocchio..." Davy pointed out. "I'm telling you!" Cassie replied. "I met with the Jungle Ghost!"

"Sweetie...maybe you were seeing things" Lydia replied gently. "Maybe it was just a trick of the light." "I wasn't seeing things!" Cassie insisted. "I did see him! I saw the Jungle Boy!" "I thought you saw the Jungle Ghost." Saavni pointed out.

"I did see him!" Cassie repeated in exasperation. "The Jungle Ghost is the Jungle Boy!" "Yeah...!" Davy replied, snickering a bit. "Next, you'll say you saw Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster!"

"I'm not making it up!" Cassie yelled. "I really did see him!" Mohan raised his hands to calm her down. "Cassie, you're not saying you are making it up." He replied. "We just want to be sure you know what you saw."

Cassie sighed tiredly. What would it get to make everyone believe her? "Tell you what..." Alex spoke up. "It has been a long day and we are all getting hungry." "Arya, how about you and Messua get the fire ready while the rest of us prepare the table?" He suggested.

The former nodded. "I guess..." She replied. "We could all need something in our bellies right now." "Yeah." Jacob replied. "I'm getting hungry already!" "What?!" Cassie complained. "How can you think about food now?!"

"Cassie, we don't have time for this right now." Lydia replied in a rather stern manner. "Get yourself changed and help me with the table." "But..." Cassie began to protest but Alex placed a hand on her shoulder. "Better do as she says, kiddo." He pointed out. "You wouldn't want to make her mad..."

Cassie grumbled as she joined her mother while everyone else went off to get ready for the evening meal. The America girl couldn't get the strange jungle boy out of her mind. His lean body, his long wild black hair and his sparkling blue eyes...

Cassie's face blushed at the memory of that. Damn that boy for being so handsome! She had dealt with boys before back in her school but she didn't care about having a crush on any of them. So why...why was she feeling this way about the jungle boy?