The Jungle Book: Chapter 10

By: jungleboy69

Chapter 10: Strangers Like Me

Mowgli wasn't sure what would happen next. He found himself in one of their strange 'dens' called a tent and he was sitting in front of three adult humans, two men and one woman, while Cassie sat beside him. He looked around the strange den. "This den is made of cloth and sticks..." He thought. "I can tear it apart easily."

"I...I can't believe it..." Jacob muttered in shock at the boy in front of him. "Dad, Mom, you see?" Cassie pointed out. "I told you I met him." "C-Cassie...I don't know what to say..." Lydia added. "This is the...Jungle Ghost...?"

"Well, not exactly..." Cassie replied with a blush. "He's a boy..." "Extraordinary..." Alex muttered as he looked closer at Mowgli. "So...the fabled Jungle Ghost turns out to a boy..." The latter looked curiously at the strange man who seemed to study him wearing the strange 'lenses' over his eyes.

"Is he really a jungle boy...?" Davy asked as he peered at Mowgli curiously. "Yeah..." Cassie replied. "Isn't he amazing?" "Well, I wouldn't say that..." Lydia added, still blushing from Mowgli's lack of clothes. "He could at least put something on."

"Where are Shanti and Lindy?" Jacob asked. "They went to get their parents." Cassie replied. "They want them to meet Mowgli." "Are you sure about this?" Alex asked. "Maybe we should give them some time to get to know Mowgli..."

"We're here!" Shanti called as she and Lindy entered the tent. "He's in here!" Cassie held onto Mowgli's hand, the latter blushed at how gentle and warm Cassie's hand was. The warm feeling grew in his chest, what could it mean?

(A few minutes later...)

To say that the other parents were surprised to see Mowgli was an understatement; their eyes wide and their mouths agape. After Lydia and Jacob settled them down, they all sat down, staring at the strange jungle boy before them.

"So, Cassie was telling the truth..." Sean muttered, scratching his head. "I never would have thought it.." "I still can't believe this boy...is the Jungle Ghost..." Kabir added, looking at Mowgli up and down. "I guess I should have known better..."

Evelyn looked at Mowgli with concern. "Still, where are his parents?" She asked. "How long has he been living here?" "We don't know, Mr's O'Neil." Cassie replied. "We're not even sure he can understand us."

"He looks so cool!" Saavni squealed. "I've heard stories about children being raised by animals! Do you think he is one of them?" "I'm not sure..." Arya pointed out. "Still, who knows how long that poor boy has been here?"

"Richikk!" Rikki, who was perched on clinging onto Saavni's shoulder chittered, watched Mowgli with curious eyes. The Man-Cub noticed the mongoose and leaned forward gently. "Richikk!" To everyone's amazement, Mowgli imitated the sound of a mongoose's chatter.

"Richikk! Richikk!" Rikki-Tikki chattered in excitement before he nuzzled Mowgli's cheek and licked it gently. The Man-Cub giggled a bit, and so did Saavni. "Rikki seems to like him." She pointed out.

"Messua...are you alright?" Mohan asked his wife, who was staring at Mowgli with wide eyes. "I... may be seeing things...but he looks a lot like Nathoo..." The adults tensed a bit. "My love..." Mohan murmured gently as he took his wife's hands. "It's been 12 years...our son...is gone..."

"I know..." Messua replied, her voice trembling. "I still have nightmares about that horrible night...when our baby boy was taken from us..." "Matri..." Saavni replied as she hugged her mother, who returned the gesture.

Everyone looked at Messua with sympathy. "Anyway, what about our young friend here?" Kabir asked, gesturing to Mowgli. "What should we do about him?" "Maybe he can stay with us!" Davy pointed out in excitement. "It will be cool having a jungle boy around!"

"Hold on, Davy..." Jacob pointed out. "We have to find out where he came from...or maybe we can find his parents." *Rumble...* They were caught off guard by a rumbling sound and they all turned to Mowgli.

The Man-Cub clutched his rumbling stomach and pointed to his mouth to show that he wanted food. Alex chuckled. "It would seem our new friend is hungry..." He pointed out. "Maybe we can talk this over after some tea..."

(At tea time...)

Mowgli sat at a table with Cassie beside him. He looked at this strange object that had four grey legs and its surface was smooth like stones in the river. "Here you are..." Evelyn replied gently as she gave him a honey bun and some milk. "For you."

Mowgli looked at the food strangely. Cassie smiled and picked up the bun. "Here, Mowgli." she replied. "Bun..." "B-B-Bun..." Mowgli repeated. "Milk..." Cassie added, holding up the mug. "M-Milk..." Mowgli repeated again.

Cassie handed Mowgli the honey bun and the latter sniffed it before he gave it a lick. His eyes widened in delight and he devoured it with gusto. Everyone watched in surprise as Mowgli ate. "Seems like someone likes your honey buns." Jacob pointed out.

Evelyn giggled. "Well, they have been a big hit." She replied. "Sean could never get enough of them." Her husband blushed a bit as he cleared his throat. "Well, I think we should address the matter at hand." He pointed out.

"True..." Alex pointed out as he looked at Mowgli who was lapping up the milk like a dog. "Cassie, were there any other humans with Mowgli when you found him?" He asked. The latter shook her head. "No, he was alone..." She replied. "I couldn't see anyone else."

"Cassie..." Mowgli spoke up, much to everyone's surprise. "Cassie..." He spoke again. "Did...he just speak...?" Kabir asked in surprise. "Yeah..." Cassie replied with a smile. "That was the first thing he spoke when we met."

"Cool!" Davy squealed. "Say my name! Say my name!" "He can't understand you, Davy!" Cassie replied. "He can only repeat words he's heard." "Well, maybe you can try talking to him, Cassie." Alex added. "He seems to understand you the most."

"Me?" Cassie asked. "Yeah...he seems to be rather close to you." Shanti replied. Cassie was a bit unsure but she decided to give it a try. "Mowgli...?" She asked, causing the latter to look at her, his mouth covered in milk and crumbs. Cassie resisted the urge to giggle. "Do you have any family nearby?"

"F-Family...?" Mowgli asked. "Yes...your family..." Cassie replied. "Your mother...father..." Mowgli smiled and nodded. "Family..." He repeated. "Free-People...my family..." Everyone grew confused. "Free People...who are they?" Sean asked.

"I never heard of a village called the Free-People before" Mohan replied, a thoughtful expression on his face. Mowgli shook his head. "No...Free-People...not men..." He replied. "Free-People...wolves..."

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. "Wolves?" Jacob asked. Mowgli nodded. "Wolves raised me...Wolves family..." He replied. "Incredible..." Alex pointed out. "I've heard stories about children raised by wolves...but never believed them myself."

"Aren't wolves dangerous?" Evelyn asked, a hint of concern. "Nonsense, Miss O'Neil." Alex replied. "Wolves are more afraid of us than we are of them." "That's so cool!" Davy squealed. "It must be cool being raised by wolves!"

Mowgli continued to eat the honey bun and drink milk. "What was it like living in the jungle?" Saavni asked, just as excited. "Jungle...good..." Mowgli replied. "Plenty...food..." "Have you met with people before?" Lydia asked.

"Man-Village..." Mowgli replied. "See...Men...Don't...trust...them..." Everyone grows concerned. "What do you mean?" Messua asked. "Man...build...traps..." Mowgli replied. "Traps...kill..."

"Oh, of course..." Alex sighed. "I've heard about traps...some hunters are careless with their traps and they end up hurting many innocent creatures." Mowgli looked at Alex. "Are...you...hunters...?" He asked.

"Oh heavens, no!" Evelyn replied. "We are here on vacation!" "Va-cat-ion?" Mowgli asked, confused by the word. Alex cleared his throat. "Well, looks like we have a lot to teach you...Mowgli..." He added.