Okay, so I could not get Mulan's "Make a Man Out of You" song out of my head as I wrote this, and with some tweaks, I added it to this chapter. I'm so sorry, I couldn't resist! Anyway, I hope everyone likes the chapter, I know its been long awaited. Thanks for sticking around.
The Gunda family screamed and ran as fast as they could as two leopards followed in hot pursuit behind them. They ducked under shrubs and bushes and tried to make sharp turns to escape the leopards, but the large cats remained at their tails, pouncing off the trees and gaining speed on foot.
Finally, the gorillas ran past a herd of elephants, who startled at the roar of a leopard and began charging the cats aggressively while circling their young.
The cats yowled and retreated.
Mama Gunda and her sons paused to catch their breaths as they watched the elephant herd relax and finish drinking from the waterhole. They shared a look before Mama Guda growled under her breath.
"We've been fooled!" she snapped, pacing in front of her boys. "Kerchak purposely led us in the wrong direction and we took his word for it. We should have dragged him along with us and fed him to those felines."
"What do we do now, Ma?" Uto asked.
"We head back the way we came." Mama Gunda walked past her boys and peered ahead through the trees, looking up at the mountains on the farthest side away from them. "I have a feeling Kerchak put us in the exact opposite direction of his family. If we move back and keep heading straight. We should come across them. And then, we will take it over."
Her two boys roared and pounded their chests in agreement before they moved through the trees, back the way they had come.
Tarzan tied the last bit of the vine he had around the sharp rockhead and the nice, straight stick he had found. He used his teeth to cut the end and looked up, smiling at all the fruit. It was very hard for him to climb all the way up the trees without slipping, and more often than not, his arms were too short to actually grab the fruit anyway.
After watching a rhino dig its horn in a tree, Tarzan realized how sharp some rocks were and had taken the time to really sharpen a nice one he had found. He tested it on the tree the rhino had dug into, then speared a mango. Now, he figured if he could throw it threw the trees, he might bring down some fruit for himself without struggling again and again.
Tarzan eyed some fruit, then gave his makeshift tool a good throw. It flew through the air, stabbing a variety of fruit before striking a tree in the distance. Tarzan's smile vanished when he saw who else was at the same tree.
Kerchak still had his arm stretched out for the fruit that was now smushed on his head along with the rest of the flying fruit, all dripping down his neck and back. The spear had barely missed striking Kerchak's face. Angrily, Kerchak turned his head just enough to spot Tarzan, glaring at the child.
Tarzan winced, then offered a submissive smile as he backed away, then took off down the tree.
Kerchak grumbled as he climbed down himself. He shook the fruit off, then picked at what did not dislodge itself from his fur, like the drying juice and the small seeds. He struggled, and with a frustrated growl, he stalked back to the family's nesting grounds. He was going to give that boy a piece of his mind.
As he neared his and Kala's nest, Kala snorted as he approached. She rose to help remove a peel stuck in his fur.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
"Where's Tarzan?" Kerchak shot back.
"Oh dear." Kala smiled as she licked Kerchak's fur a few times. "Probably hiding somewhere. You know he didn't mean to cover you in fruit. He's just a child, he was most likely playing."
"That was not playing," Kerchak growled. "He had some strange . . . thing. That was him being . . ."
"Different?" Kala supplied as she stepped back and looked up at Kerchak gravely.
"Different," Kerchak agreed. He sighed at her look. "When do we tell him?"
"Tell him what?" Kala frowned, though she knew exactly what. She simply did not want to fathom the idea.
"You know what," Kerchak said.
"No." Kala shook her head, turning away. "I'm not ready for that."
"What if he is?"
"He's not."
"How do you know?"
"I just want him to be happy. Please, Kerchak. Not yet."
Kerchak sighed, then nudged Kala gently. He used a hand and gently tilted her chin toward him, catching her eyes as he said, "Fine. We'll keep it quiet for now."
Kala smiled at him before nuzzling her head against his.
"Thank you."
"He still needs to learn that he can't be doing things like . . . that around the family if he doesn't want to end up hurting someone."
"He wouldn't do it intentionally."
"Which makes it all the more worse." Kerchak glanced up as he heard rustling in the trees above them before adding, "I know he doesn't mean to endanger anyone, but that thing he had was sharp enough to cut down fruit and pierce a tree. It could have hurt me. Or worse."
"Oh my," Kala said, looking down in thought. "He was playing with a couple rocks not that long ago. He was making one rather sharp. I don't think he meant for it to hit near you."
"No, he was aiming for the fruit I believe," Kerchak said. Kerchak glared up at the trees, the rustling sounds moving closer to his nest. With a grunt, he rose and shook a branch, knocking Tarzan out of the tree with a yelp. Tarzan grunted himself as he hit the nest, then gave a nervous smile to his parents.
"Eavesdropping?" Kerchak asked, glaring down at his son.
"No," Tarzan said. He shook himself off as he got up and faced Kerchak. "I was going back to the nest when I saw you were here first. I thought you might be mad still."
"You're right, I am," Kerchak agreed.
"Kerchak," Kala scolded lightly. She sat next to Tarzan, and arm around her son as she smiled softly. "I hear you were playing with your rock today. You attached it to a stick to collect fruit?"
"I made a fruit picker," Tarzan said. "It works too."
"But it could have hurt someone," Kerchak argued sternly. "Me, specifically."
"I didn't see you there."
"Which is why you shouldn't be throwing that thing around family grounds. You shouldn't be using it at all."
"But I'm not good at picking the fruit myself," Tarzan said, frowning back at Kerchak. "You know that. You both do. You know something about me that I don't. I heard you talking about it."
Kerchak eyed Kala, who swung her head away from his look. She smiled softly at Tarzan as she said, "What we know is that you are a late bloomer compared to the other gorilla children. Things will get easier for you as you grow, you'll see. It's not a bad thing to need the extra assistance now and then."
"But even the younger kids can do it easier than me."
"You're just growing slower. There's nothing wrong with that." Kala hugged Tarzan, her eyes meeting Kerchak's, and they shared a look that clearly said Kerchak did not approve of putting off the conversation. She ignored it, however, and focused on Tarzan. "You're going to be the best ape ever. In a few more years, you'll be stronger than us all. The best fruit picker around!"
Kala tickled her son, earning some squeals of laughter. Kerchak sighed and decided to let the incident go for now. He could send Tarzan off with a warning this time.
"I'm really sorry about the fruit picker," Tarzan said to Kerchak.
"Do not let it happen again," Kerchak said as he sat next to Kala in the nest. "And no more fruit picker. Or anything sharp and dangerous like it. Pick your own fruits."
"But its so hard to reach the fruit sometimes," Tarzan complained, jumping out of Kala's arms and crawling over to Kerchak, hopping up into the great ape's lap. "My arms are too short."
Tarzan motioned to Kerchak's massive arms.
"You're still growing. All you have to do for now is get closer to the fruit."
"But I try," Tarzan collapsed over Kerchak's legs in a very defeated manner. "I don't know how. I'm no good at getting my own fruit."
"Hmm," Kerchak hummed. He picked Tarzan up and settled him on his back, moving back into the trees. "We'll have to fix that."
"We're are we going?"
"To teach you how to properly collect fruit. Don't you worry, son, I'll make an ape out of you yet."
Tarzan smiled, then grinned back at Kala, who waved him off.
Let's get down to business
To increase your tone
You have much to live for
As the heir and my son
You're the saddest thing I ever met
And you can bet before we're through
Mister, I'll make an ape out of you
Kerchak eyed a mango way up on a curved branch. Looking down at Tarzan, he told the boy to retrieve the fruit. He watched Tarzan's first attempt, which was to climb haphazardly straight for the fruit, which ended with him sliding all the way back down to Kerchak. Kerchak helped Tarzan up, then adjusted his grip on the branch, showing the child how to grip the vines and moss.
Tarzan tried again, and he managed to get up to the curve, and he struggled to figure out how to go about it. He reached for a small branch sticking out, but as he grabbed it, the branch broke and Tarzan fell with a shout.
Kerchak leaned forward and spotted Tarzan caught on a lower branch. The child pulled himself up and smiled up at Kerchak, who sighed in relief and offered a small but hopeful smile back.
Tranquil as a forest
But a fire within
Once you find your center
You are sure to win
You're a weak and pale pathetic cub
And you haven't got a clue
Somehow, I'll make an ape out of you
Kerchak stood on his hind legs and pounded his chest as he roared. The leopard that had been stalking through the trees hissed and leaped away. Kerchak dropped down to all fours and grunted with approval before resuming his watch of the territory.
Tarzan, who was assisting today to learn these skills, watched as a frog leaped by. Tarzan copied his father, rising and pounding his chest, roaring at the little frog. The frog croaked and hopped away faster. Tarzan grunted.
Then, a bunch of frogs came leaping out of the nearby pond and charged Tarzan, who ran away with a shout of surprise, much to Kerchak's amusement.
Later, while still trying to reach the same fruit the gorilla way, Tarzan had managed to get above the fruit and was stretching his arm for it. He loosened his hands and feet more before stretching out for the fruit again.
He lost his hold on the branch however and fell to the branch below. Kerchak winced at the hard thump. He shook his head. It was going to be a long day.
And a long day it was. Tarzan had had enough of trying to get the fruit. The next day, when Kala had told him Kerchak would like him to practice more, Tarzan took off for a new hiding place. Kerchak had spotted him, however, and was following.
I'm never gonna catch my breath, Tarzan thought, how much does he expect from me?
Tarzan made it to Elephant Falls, where he ran into Terk and Tantor near the waterfall.
"Terk, I could really use an escape from him," Tarzan said.
"This guy's working you to death," Terk said, punching Tarzan lightly in the shoulder.
"I think he might have gone a little crazy," Tantor added, swirling his trunk near his head.
Tarzan looked back and gasped, then took a deep breath and jumped in the water, thinking I'm so glad he doesn't know how to swim.
Kerchak approached the waterfall, scanning the area for Tarzan. Terk smiled and waved at him nervously while Tantor scuffed his feet and avoided his gaze. Kerchak huffed and walked off, searching the trees. Tarzan came up from the water gasping for air, sharing a grateful look with his friends.
Be an ape!
You must be swift as the coursing river
With all the force of a great typhoon
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
As the family relocated to an area with more food, Tarzan swung on the vines above them until Kerchak had managed to catch him and pull him down. Tarzan hit the ground with an oof, and Kerchak reminded him they weren't monkeys. Sighing, Tarzan followed on foot, quickly falling behind his family.
Kerchak led his family up a tree that gave them access to a ledge on the mountain. It was quicker to take that path to the new tree groove they would occupy for a while. Kerchak went up first and grabbed the ledge and pulled himself over. He waited for the rest of his family to do the same, watching everyone closely as they easily crossed over from the tree to the ledge.
Tarzan was last, and he stretched his arm out for the ledge, leaning further and further until he stretched out too far and slipped, falling. Kerchak reacted quickly and grabbed Tarzan by the arm, setting him down on the ledge. Tarzan muttered a thanks as he kept his head low in embarrassment. Kerchak stared at him for a long moment before walking to the head of the group, Tarzan following.
Time is racing toward us
Till more floods arrive
Heed my every order
And you might survive
You aren't suited for
The rage of this world
I should give up, give in, you're through
How could I make an ape out of you?
Rain poured down on them later that week, and water quickly flooded their new nesting ground. Kerchak mad ethe quick decision to retreat to the mountain trail they had used to get here. The family moved swiftly up the trees and to the ledge once more.
Tarzan slipped on the wet, soggy bark. He struggled to find a good hold to climb up the tree and fell back to the ground at Kerchak's feet. Kerchak looked back at the flooding land, then picked Tarzan up to his back, then crawled up the tree and swung over to the mountain ledge. The family had already settled under what few trees there were on the trail. Kerchak checked on everyone and took a head count as he moved to Kala, pulling Tarzan off his back and handing him to her.
Tarzan shivered in the cold rain and Kala wrapped her arms around him as they curled up together. Kerchak watched the child still shiver even in his mother's arms. He sighed and laid next to his family, curling up around Kala and Tarzan, sharing his warmth as well.
Be an ape!
You must be swift as the coursing river
With all the force of a great typhoon
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
The rain stopped halfway through the night, and Tarzan was still awake lying in between his parents. He had managed to warm up and stay dry in between the two apes, and he thought about the last few days and his many failures. He wriggled out of his parents grasp and shuffled over to the trees. The flood waters were steadily sinking into the ground or trickling downhill.
Tarzan looked up into the trees and spotted a lone fruit. He backed up, then jumped for the tree, landing on a branch and pulling himself up. He eyed the fruit and began climbing up the damp back for it, only to slip back down.
Tarzan caught himself on a vine wrapped around the tree. He caught his breath for a minute before studying the vine in his hand. Using his teeth to cut off a piece, he wrapped the vine around the tree, swinging it up higher and pulling himself up. He kept climbing, using the vine until he reached the top of the branch where the fruit was. He lassoed the vine around the branch above the fruit and pulled himself up to it, grabbing the fruit when he was close enough.
Grinning, Tarzan loosened the vine and allowed himself to slide down the tree, jumping for the mountain ledge when he was close enough. He landed at his father's feet.
Kerchak had woken abruptly when he realized Tarzan was missing, flashbacks of his first child rushing to his mind. When he spotted Tarzan in the trees, he was relieved, but then he had stayed to observe the child. His technique was still different, but it was far better than the fruit picker.
Tarzan set the fruit and vine down in front of Kerchak, backing away from it and sitting down. Slowly, he glanced up at the silverback.
Kerchak offered a smile to his son and nodded his head in approval.
Tarzan smiled back.
Be an ape!
You must be swift as the coursing river
With all the force of a great typhoon
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
On the way back to their usual grounds, Tarzan ran at the head of his family, jumping around at Kerchak's feet. Yes, it was tiring trying to keep in the front, but he had the opportunity to amuse his father on the way with his games, and it was worth the extra speed.
Back on familiar turf, Tarzan helped Kerchak and the rest of the family knock down fruit using his new strategy when he needed to. After enough fruit had been collected, Tarzan swung down from the trees, jumping from branches, and swinging on the vines until he landed on Kerchak's back, wiggling his ears at the great ape, who shook his head at him fondly.
So he couldn't turn Tarzan into an ape like them, but he was as much ape as the child would ever be, and that was fine with Kerchak. Tarzan was still learning. He was still a child after all, and Kerchak would always be there to set him back on the right track.
Kerchak pulled Tarzan off his back, setting the child on the ground, and with one last nuzzle to Tarzan, Kerchak moved over to his nest with Kala, sitting next to her as they watched Tarzan playing with the other children as the adults ate.