*Chapter 3: Difficult Decision*

Elias and Evak are walking around the village with Narvi in Elias's arms. Evak smiled at the sights and sounds of the village and its people. Maybe this place won't be so bad to live in if the chief accepts him. Rayna returned to them with a troubled expression.

"Rayna? You alright?" Elias asked.

"We...we need to talk." Rayna said by taking her son out of her husband's arms. "But...we need to talk to Evak first." The boy is nervous, but Rayna needs to know about his situation.

They returned to their hut and Evak sat on the chair while Rayna and Elias stood in front of him while Narvi was put to bed early for this. Evak told the two about his vision powers, and how he ended up in the jungle. Rayna listened intently to his story. She was shocked to hear that the group of people are looking for the treasure, the Golden Tusk. Samesh is planning to sell it for money for a wrong reason. Evak's city will be in danger.

"What was he going to do?" Elias asked.

"He will ruin everything! But the jungle and this village will be in trouble if he shows up. I don't know where Samesh and his people are now, but I get a feeling they will be looking for me. I took their map." Evak took the map out of the bag and show it to Elias and Rayna. Elias took the map to examine it. He turned it over to see the image of the Golden Tusk.

"So...you're saying I'm the only one who could help you find the treasure and put a stop to Samesh?" Rayna asked, crossing her arms. Evak nodded. "I...I don't know. I'm retired from having crazy adventures in the jungle. I have a family now."

"Rayna." Elias spoke.

"But you have to help! You know the jungle more than anyone! I can't go out there by myself!" Evak said.

"This sounds like a risk!" Rayna told him.

"Rayna, may I speak with you for a moment?" Elias pulled her away from the room. They are in their bedroom where their son sleeps. "Are you seriously not going to help this kid?" Elias asked in a hush tone.

"Elias...this isn't our problem. Evak will be safe here, but again Samesh will come in to look for him sometime. Why me though? I don't know where the Golden Tusk is." Rayna said.

"I don't like this either, but whoever this Samesh is, he sounds awful." Elias said. "Look, if you can't do this, then I will."

"What? No!"

"It's a matter of life or death to Evak. If nobody is gonna help him, who will?" Elias asked. Rayna let those words sink in. This mission sounds risky. Though she does want to see her friends after a long while. And she did say that she will see Akela again. If she doesn't, she will regret it. "Well?" Elias asked, staring at her.

"I told Grey and Bagheera I would see Akela again. They said he isn't doing so good. He might not have much time left." Rayna said. "Afterwords, I will help Evak find the treasure."

"You would? Seriously?" Elias asked.

"Yes. After that, Evak can stay in our village." Rayna told him. "And I want us to go to the jungle tomorrow morning and see my pack. I would love it if you joined us and bring Narvi." Elias smiled at her and held her hand. How could he say no to that? Evak smiled as he overheard everything. The adventure will begin!

"Is Rayna coming back?" Tailsy asked as he followed Grey and Bagheera. The other animals came around them after hearing the rumors of the man-cub in the jungle and Rayna may return to see Akela.

"Oh man! I can't wait to see her!" Baloo spoke as Kit walked next to him.

"Is Elias coming back with her and bring their baby?" Hiro asked. Bagheera sighed and jumped on the boulder and have everyone's attention. Grey paced around and began to speak.

"Look everyone! I know you're all excited to see my sister, but...her reason of coming to visit is...urgent. First she's going to see Akela, and then help Evak find the treasure that is out there somewhere in the jungle." He exclaimed. "And some of us will do anything we can to help them out. Or terrible things might happen."

"It shouldn't be hard to look for this treasure, right?" Kit asked. "I mean, was it in the cold lairs Whitehood lived in?"

"I wouldn't know for sure." Grey said. "Evak showed me a map and there is the treasure man is looking for. The Golden Tusk."

"The...what?" Bagheera gasped.

"The Golden Tusk?" Hiro wondered. Bagheera didn't misunderstood. He hasn't heard that name in ages. That treasure is a hard find.

"Baggy, what's eating ya?" Baloo asked, noticing Bagheera's troubled expression.

"I've heard that name. And it is located elsewhere. It wasn't close." Bagheera told the animals. "I...I can't remember where it is."

"Well, why don't we ask the wise old snake then?" Baloo suggested.

"You mean Shivani?" Kit asked.

"Of course! Who else would possibly know?" Baloo laughed. Bagheera rolled his eyes. The panther tried to remember where the Golden Tusk can be found. It's been years. He's starting to think that this new journey could be dangerous. Rayna doesn't even know where the treasure is, but Evak does since he was born with vision powers. Both Rayna and Evak can't go out deep in the jungle alone.

'I'm getting too old for this...' Bagheera thought to himself.

Evak was sitting by the fire with his book with animals. He is reading the page about a tiger. A drawing of a tiger in the grass, making a snarl. Rayna came out of the hut to see him there. She walked towards him and looked over his shoulder to see the book.

"Whatcha got there?" She asked. Evak looked up at her.

"Some jungle book." Evak said, scooting over to let her sit next to him. "Wanna see?" He hands her over the book. Rayna saw a page with a tiger on it. She frowned a bit. The tiger almost looked like Shere Khan. She flipped the next page to see a drawing of the elephant.

"Funny that it has the animals that remind me of friends, families, and enemies." Rayna said as she flips more pages. "Monkeys, panthers, bears..." She turned the next page as it reveals a python that looks similar to Kaa. "Of course. Snakes. But...what this thing never told you about these snakes is that they have hypnotic powers."

"Oh?" Evak wondered.

"Yeah." Rayna said by closing the book and gave it back to the boy. "Anyway, tomorrow morning, we are heading out into the jungle to see my wolf pack. I'm sure by then they will be expecting you. Maybe the whole jungle would be by now. You stick with me no matter what. Got it?"

"No problem." Evak told her. "And Rayna?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks." Evak said with a smile. "You're saving my life." Rayna smiled back at him. She got a feeling that they will get along just fine. Evak has a lot to learn how to survive in the jungle.