*When She Loved Me*
10-year-old Rayna was making a spear by sharpening it with a rock. The scars over her eye are visible to anyone in the wolf pack. Ever since that day when Shere Khan had marked her, Rayna decided to invent her tricks to defend herself if she ever bumped into that tiger again. After the tip is sharp, Rayna dropped the rock and held her spear with satisfaction.
"Now. Let's see if this works..." She aimed her spear at the tree to see some fruit hanging. Rayna let out a yell and threw the weapon. The spear got one fruit and it landed on the other side of the tree. And a cry of alarm is heard. Rayna rushed around the tree to see Bagheera in a position, ready to pounce. His eyes rested on the girl and made a stern look. "Bagheera! I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were there." Rayna said.
"Rayna, what is this?" Bagheera asked, poking at the spear.
"I made it." Rayna said, picking up the spear and pulled the fruit off.
"You made a spear?" Bagheera asked. "Man uses it as a weapon. And one of their tricks to get food."
"I got food right here!" Rayna exclaimed as she took a bite out of the fruit, juice running down her chin. Before Bagheera could speak, sounds of rustling are heard around them. Bagheera stood by the girl who readied her spear. Jumping out from the bushes is a wolf. She pounced on Rayna and playfully growled at her.
"Pinned ya!" She giggled.
"Hey, Lala! Let me up!" Rayna pushed the wolf off. The wolf, Lala, has light brown fur. She is the granddaughter of Akela. She and Rayna are close friends since Lala had been brought into the pack after Rayna was marked 3 years earlier. Rayna had thought of Lala as a sister she never had. Lala giggled at the girl as she stumbled back.
"I thought I'd find you here. Your scent is strong around this jungle." Lala said. Rayna rolled her eyes.
"I'm not a wolf like you or the pack. I'm gonna try to hunt like you."
"If you want to hunt like a wolf, you cannot use...tricks. Such as your spear you've got there." Bagheera spoke as he climbed up the branch to rest on.
"Why? It worked after I got the fruit." Rayna said.
"I'm sure my grandfather would approve. Rayna is a girl-cub, not a wolf." Lala said to the panther.
"Right." Rayna said with a nod, looking up at Bagheera. The panther sighed a bit. He didn't think that Rayna would have the talent to create a spear from scratch at this age. But this jungle has everything a human need to make weapons for their village. Bagheera remembered seeing a man using a spear to catch fish or cut the fruit down. But it can be used as a weapon most of all. Then again, Rayna was attacked by Shere Khan, and she wanted to protect herself. Bagheera doubts that a man's cub could face the tiger. "Bagheera? Bagheera!" Rayna's voice called out.
"Hm? What were you saying?" Bagheera asked, snapping out of his thoughts.
"We're saying that we are going on a hunt together. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Rayna." Lala spoke.
"Lala, the only ones who could keep Rayna close are Grey or-"
"Please, Bagheera? Lala and I will be very careful. I'll stay with her at all times." Rayna begged, cupping her hands together. "Please?"
"Well... It's alright by me. At least you said please." Bagheera said. "Stay together."
"Yeah!" Rayna and Lala exclaimed in excitement. The two ran off together through the jungle. Bagheera could count on Lala to keep Rayna safe. She is the most loyal in the pack and related to Akela.
Rayna and Lala are running on the log to get across the river to the other side. Rayna laughed as she climbed on the tree and grabbed a vine. She swung forward and grabbed another vine. Lala watched her as she is following closely behind. Rayna grabbed another vine, but it turned out to be a snake's tail hanging down. She slipped down and the snake fell alongside her. Lala gasped and halted next to Rayna. The snake is groaned and shook his head. Rayna sat up and got coils off of her.
"Are you okay?" Lala asked.
"I'm fine." Rayna said with a groan. She turned to the snake who slithered away, giving her and Lala a glare. Rayna smiled nervously at the snake. "Hehe...sorry."
"Do I look like a vine to you, girl-cub?" The snake asked. "Be lucky I have no appetite for you." He slithered away. After he disappeared in the jungle, both Rayna and Lala let out a giggle.
"And you're lucky he's not big enough to swallow you whole." Lala said.
"But animals in the jungle aren't allowed to eat or kill humans. That's the law." Rayna said. "Bagheera and Akela taught me so much about the laws of the jungle the past few days. I have to use the phrase to save myself or give the animals my word. We be of one blood. You and I."
"But Shere Khan is the one who doesn't follow the laws. He doesn't any right to claim king." Lala said as they walk forward. "After I heard what he did to your eye, it was...unforgivable. Simply unthinkable!" Rayna touched her scars in silent.
"They hurt. I could've lost my eye or...have a blind eye." She told her. Rayna walked over to the waterhole and looked at her reflection. "Those scars made me think of him. I feel more like a freak." Lala nuzzled Rayna's cheek to comfort her.
"You're not a freak, Rayna. You may be different, but you are special. You know what? My mother once told me: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Lala said. "You're getting stronger after you were marked. You made a spear and that is great. You do anything to survive. Don't let Shere Khan get to you. He is nothing but a lame tiger. He's nothing but all talk."
"Lala, he wants me gone. He wants me dead. He hates man." Rayna reminded her. Lala cleared her throat, making the girl look at her.
"Oh, I'm Shere Khan. I despise man and their cubs. I do whatever I want in this jungle because I am king!" She said, making her voice sound deep. Rayna let out a chuckle.
"Good one."
"I may not have met Shere Khan, but I believe he's afraid of you deep down. When you grow up, you will be strong enough to beat him." Lala said. Rayna turned to her. "When the time is right, you and the pack will face him. You can make as many tricks as you can to survive our home and fight any predator."
"You really think I can? Face Shere Khan when I grow up and strong?" Rayna asked. She held her spear.
"I know you can." Lala said. "Just practice with us to be fast, wise, and strong." Rayna wrapped her arms around Lala's neck, hugging her. Lala giggled a bit.
"Thanks Lala. You're the greatest." She said. She got on her feet and the two continued to walk through the jungle. Birds are chirping above them. Rayna climbed over the log as Lala jumped over it. But a twig caught Rayna's attire. The girl pulled onto her dress and caught up to Lala who told her to get down. They both crawl down in the tall grass to see a deer. "A deer." Rayna whispered.
"Perfect for both of us." Lala replied. "Rayna, shall I catch it or...do you want to test your trick?" Rayna gripped on her spear.
"Let me." Rayna quietly crawled through the grass and got in position. After learning how to hunt with her wolf pack, Rayna is ready to catch prey on her own. Lala watched the girl while listening for anything that is close by them. Rayna then let out a yell as she ran towards the deer with her spear. The deer saw her and leaped out of the way and ran off. Rayna sighed in annoyance. "So close." Lala chuckled as she caught up with Rayna.
"Good try. You're just not fast enough. Now, come on! The meal can't be far." Lala says as Rayna climbed on her back and they took off after the deer. Rayna grips on her fur as they dash through the jungle. They were chasing after the deer as it tried to avoid Lala who is not too far behind. Rayna let out a howl as she and Lala got close to the deer. Suddenly, something ran into Lala and Rayna, causing them to roll down the hill. Rayna rolled towards the bushes. She let out a groan as she got a scratch on her knee. Lala recovered quickly and looked up to see Tabaqui looking down at her and Rayna with a grin.
"Well, well! I didn't expect to see a girl-cub with a wolf in these parts! Lucky me!" Tabaqui chuckled.
"Who do you think you are! You caused us a meal!" Lala growled.
"Lala, that's Tabaqui!" Rayna told her as she got on her feet, collecting her spear. "He's Shere Khan's sidekick."
"Sidekick?" Tabaqui repeated, as if he sounded offended.
"If he's here...then that tiger must be close by." Lala said.
"Oh, my boss ain't around here. Lucky for you. But you still have me to deal with!" Tabaqui told them.
"But you're a scavenger!" Rayna said.
"True. But since you are here, I'll bring you to Shere Khan and he will reward me big time!" Tabaqui laughed. He started to run down the hill. Lala growled and pounced on him as soon as he arrived at the bottom. They are having a brawl as Rayna kept her distance. Lala bit Tabaqui's left ear, making him howl in pain. The female wolf then started to bite down Tabaqui's neck and pinned him down. "Okay! Okay! I yield!" Tabaqui cried out. Lala released him and kept her paw on him.
"You messed with the wrong wolf, hyena. Now go!" She said as Tabaqui squirmed out. "And stay away from Rayna!" Before Tabaqui could speak, a low growl is heard. He looked behind Rayna to see Shere Khan is getting close to her. The striped hyena let out a chuckle. Lala turned around and her eyes went wide. Rayna turned her head back to see Shere Khan. He let out a roar and lunged! Lala acted quickly and pushed the girl out of the way and got pinned by Shere Khan.
"Lala!" Rayna gasped as she rolled onto her stomach.
"Rayna, run!" Lala grunted as Shere Khan's massive paw kept pinning her down. "So...you're the famous Shere Khan." She growled as she looked up at the tiger.
"Delighted you have heard of me." Shere Khan responded with a smirk.
"This is not your hunting grounds, Shere Khan!" Rayna said, bringing her spear up. "You better leave now!"
"Ah... The girl-cub has made a weapon like man did. How interesting." Shere Khan said as he turned his attention to Rayna. "How do you recover with those marks, hmmm?"
"Shut up!" Rayna said, gritting her teeth, trying to look menacing as he is.
"Leave her alone!" Lala snapped. "She's just a cub!"
"A cub like her will grow! She will grow and kill us all!" Shere Khan said. Lala squirmed out of Shere Khan's grasp and got in front of Rayna to protect her. "Man is forbidden in my jungle!"
"Your jungle? You're no king!" Lala said with a look. "Everyone deserves freedom in this jungle! You're the one who brought chaos! Every time you kill for thrills, the worse it gets for you."
"Foolish wolf. You understand nothing. You defend the girl-cub, you will be in my teeth!" Shere Khan roared. He lunged towards Lala who lunged at him. Rayna gasped in shock as the two started to fight. Tabaqui laughed as he is enjoying the show. Rayna ran towards the tiger with her spear and swung at him, giving him a scratch on the side. Shere Khan growled and took the spear in his mouth and crushed it in two. Rayna slowly backed away in fear. "Meet your fate, girl-cub. No one will save you." Shere Khan said as he slowly approached her.
"Hey!" Lala barked and bit his tail. Shere Khan roared and turned towards the wolf, gripping onto his tail with her teeth.
"Let go, you fool!" Shere Khan yelled. "Tabaqui, deal with this pest!"
"No!" Rayna yelled.
"Rayna, just run! I'll handle them!" Lala said, keeping her distance between her and Tabaqui. "Get help!"
"I'm not leaving you!" Rayna said.
"Go!" Lala ordered as she bit Shere Khan's back paw. Rayna watched the wolf fighting both Shere Khan and Tabaqui. The girl picked up the sharp end of her broken spear. As the tiger was distracted by Lala, Rayna let out a scream as she ran towards Shere Khan and jumped on his back and stabbed his side with the sharp end. The tiger let out a hiss and tried to get the girl off of him. "Rayna, no!" Lala gasped.
"That was a big mistake, girl-cub!" Shere Khan said as he felt Rayna jump off of him, leaving the sharp end on his side. Tabaqui managed to pull the sharp end out for Shere Khan and spit it out. Lala growled and lunged at the tiger. Tabaqui is approaching Rayna with hunger in his eyes. Shere Khan suddenly bit down on Lala's neck, sinking his teeth into her skin! Rayna's eyes went wide in horror.
"Nooooo!" Rayna screamed. "Lala!" The wolf didn't respond as she felt sharp teeth into her neck. She was dropped down on the jungle floor and she looked up at Rayna.
"Rayna...run..." She whispered.
"No! Lala! Get up!" Rayna pleaded as Tabaqui blocked her from going towards the wolf. "Please stop!" Rayna said as Shere Khan placed his paw on Lala's back. "Don't do this! Lala, please get up!"
"This is what happens when someone tried to protect you, girl-cub." Shere Khan spoke.
"Finish her, boss!" Tabaqui said. Shere Khan brought his paw up, his claws extending...and swung it down on Lala!
"NOOOOO!" Rayna screamed on the top of her lungs. She got on her knees and started to cry uncontrollably. Shere Khan and Tabaqui watched her weep. The tiger can sense her vulnerability. He would just kill her right now.
"Boss...kill the girl-cub." Tabaqui said. "What're you waiting for? She's weak and helpless!"
"Silence, Tabaqui." Shere Khan spoke. He walked towards Rayna with an emotionless expression. Rayna looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Consider this a warning, girl-cub. Next time you bring your pack along, they will meet my wrath. Akela's pack will blame you for this wolf's death. One day, you will be abandoned. And I will catch you." Shere Khan turned away to take his leave. Tabaqui was surprised by the tiger's choice. "Come, Tabaqui. We're finished here." Shere Khan spoke to him. The two left the girl alone with Lala's lifeless body. Rayna walked over to Lala to see bite marks and scratch marks.
"Lala..." Rayna spoke as she started to place her hands on Lala. "Lala...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." She wept. She cried over Lala's body.
Bagheera and Rama were looking for both Rayna and Lala after hearing the birds about Shere Khan wandering around this part of the jungle. Rama was worried about his daughter and Akela's granddaughter being out there alone. They hear footsteps coming towards them. Rayna ran towards Rama and embraced him with tears in her eyes.
"Rayna? What's wrong?" Rama asked as Rayna cried into his fur. "Rayna? Where's Lala?"
"I'm sorry..." Rayna murmured.
"What?" Rama asked.
"Rayna, where's Lala?" Bagheera asked. Rayna turned to the panther, wiping her tears away.
"She's...she's...she's dead!" Rayna blurted out.
"What?!" Both Bagheera and Rama said in shock.
"Shere Khan killed her!" Rayna said. "It's all my fault! Lala was protecting me! Father, I'm sorry!" She cried into his fur. Bagheera couldn't believe what he just heard. Lala was killed by Shere Khan so she can protect Rayna. That tiger is heartless. Akela is going to be in distraught when he hears the news about Lala.
XX
Later that night, Rayna was sitting by the river, looking down at her reflection in silent. She couldn't be at her den to listen to the council meeting about what just happened. She is afraid to approach Akela or anyone in the pack other than her father and mother. Rayna made a look and hit her hand on the water.
"Daughter." Rama's voice spoke. The wolf is approaching her from behind. "You need to come back. It's getting late."
"Do they hate me?" Rayna asked.
"Who?"
"The pack. Or does Akela hate me?" Rayna asked.
"Rayna, the death of Lala isn't your fault. Shere Khan shouldn't be around our part of the jungle. He's the one to blame, not you." Rama said as he sat next to her. Rayna wanted to cry again, but she forced herself not to. "Akela was heartbroken, but he doesn't blame you." Rama continued. "Everyone dies, Rayna. Either we get killed, eaten, starve, or from old age."
"It wasn't fair." Rayna said. "Lala doesn't deserve to die. I tried to fight back."
"You are close to ready to face Shere Khan. You're still too young." Rama told her. "Yet, Bagheera told me you made an invention. A spear."
"Yeah...it didn't work." Rayna said, looking away.
"Don't give it up. You could use it. Only to hunt certain prey." Rama said with a small smile. "Now, come back to the den. Your mother is worried." Rayna nodded and got on her feet. She climbed up on Rama's back as they head back home. "Remember, Rayna. Lala may be gone, but she will be with us in spirit." Rama told her.
"Right." Rayna said with a nod. As Rama is leading them home, Rayna turned back with a look in her eyes. She will make Shere Khan pay for what he has done. He has caused a lot of damage in Rayna's life. She will make another weapon and more tricks to experiment on. One day, she will be ready to face the tiger.