AN: I do not own The Jungle Book or Tarzan. Both are owned by Disney.

Ch 3

~Dream~

Sand. Endless sand as far as they eye can reach. The sun beats down and there's no trees in sight. How Kerchak got here he doesn't know nor does he know where he's going but his feet moves regardless. How far he travels he knows not, but eventually he reaches his destination.

It's another jungle. One lush and full of life. It's completely different from their home and while there are similar creatures there are others he's never seen before. Just what is this place and why is he seeing this? There must be a reason. He pauses as he hears laughter, one of which he knew immediately. It's Tarzan, he knows that laughter of his. It's the one he uses when he's getting himself in mischief.

But the other one is completely unknown to him. He follows the sounds till he reaches a pond where he sees Tarzan playing with another creature that strangely looks like him, but taller and much skinnier. Besides their height and skin tone, they were pretty much the same. Could it be that it's the same creature as Tarzan, there are others like him? If so, then could there be others like him in other jungles? Before he could make himself know everything began to fade out.

~End Dream~

Kerchak woke up startled at what he dreamed about. It was bizarre but he couldn't help that his dream was telling him something. Though their home was destroyed there was plenty of room within their jungle where they could stay. However, something is telling him that this is not where they are meant to be. That there's another jungle out there that they are meant to go.

The problem is that he has no idea where or if that place even exist. And then if it does, how would they reach there? His family has many younglings that has never traveled before and there are too many unknowns to considered.

He looked up to see that the sun was starting to rise. Soom everyone would wake up and would be looking at him for answers, so he needs to make a decision and make it fast. He looked over to see Kala's peaceful feeling face and then look down to see Tarzan's. He softly brushed his hand over the boy's hair. He needs time to think about this. He carefully picked Tarzan up and set him on Kala before he rose and walked to the lake. Some alone time would do great to get his mind together.

Tarzan stirred and yawned as he began to wake up. He noticed that he was sleeping on someone different than he remembered. As he looked up to se his mother's face he wondered where Kerchak, his papa, went off too. Tarzan blushed a little at that thought. It's still strange to him to even think of the gorilla as his father, but he vividly remembers the events of last night. He'll never forget that Kerchak not only thanked him but called him his son.

He smiled thinking of all that Kerchak said to him as he climbed off his mom. He looked around to see that everyone else was starting to wake up too. He wondered what will happen to them now? Where will they go? Hopefully his papa will have the answer to that soon.

"There he is!" Tarzan tuned to the familiar voice of Terk and before he could brace himself, she had already barreled herself to him.

"Here's the hero! What a guy!" She praised while giving him a noogie at the same time. Even though she's always gentle when she plays with him she doesn't hold back on the noogies, and wowie they can hurt sometimes.

"Terk stop, got off me!" Tarzan mumbled as he tried to wrestle his way out of her grip to no avail.

"No can do! Gotta make sure our hero here doesn't get a big head." Hero? What does she mean by that? He thought as she finally let up on him.

"Hero?" He questioned her. He finally noticed that not only where her friends with her but they along with everyone else was looking at him. This time however it's different from the usual distrustful or annoyance that he would get. Everyone was smiling at him; he could see the warmth in their eyes.

"Yeah dummy," Terk said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "If it wasn't for you we all would be extra crispy by now!" At that she picked him up and brought him to the center of the group where everyone was thanking him and patting him on the back or head.

Kala stirred, blinking her eyes as she awoke to the sound of cheering. Cheering? Who would be happy in this situation? Didn't they all just lost their home? When she got up she immediately noticed three things. 1, Kerchak was nowhere to be seen. 2, Tarzan was gone too. 3, For some reason the whole group was crowding around someone.

"Kala! You're awake. Are you ok?" She turned to face one of the other mother gorillas holding her young child.

"Yes, I'm just fine. Have you seen Tarzan?" She asked hoping that the other gorilla has seen her son.

"Oh yes, he's over there with the other." She answered happily, which was strange to Kala because usually if anyone else was talking to her about her Tarzan it's usually with either dismissal or annoyance. This was the most positive tone she has heard from anyone. Hopefully Tarzan is ok.

Kala headed in the direction towards the center of the crowd greeting the others in passing. Each one saying their thanks to her and Tarzan. When she reached the middle, her heart almost melted at the scene in front of her.

Tarzan was playing with Terk and the other younglings. They were actually playing and her Tarzan, she never saw him so happy. She looked around and could see the approval on everyone's face, usually they would look at her son with indifference, distrust or displeasure. However, now it's as if he's one of the younglings. One of them. Her Tarzan is finally being accepted.

"Mom!" Her son called out seeing her. She couldn't help but chuckle as he maneuvered himself out of a pile of younglings.

"Mom, guess what?!" He asked excitedly when he trotted up to her.

"Yes, my son?" She answered him with a warm smile which he responded with the biggest smile she has ever seen from him.

"Everyone's been calling me a hero, though I don't really get it. But that not the important thing, Kerchak thanked me! Can you believe it mom?" No she really couldn't. She remembers what he said last night, though she figured it was in the heat of the moment when everyone's emotions were high so she didn't honestly think he would live up to it. Apparently, she was mistaken.

"And now everyone's being nice to me. It's actually kinda weird." She chuckled again. Listening to the other gorillas it seemed that Tarzan somehow saw the raging heat coming and warned everyone before it spread to their once home. They say it's thanks to him that everyone is alive. She was so proud of her son and now everyone can see just how wonderful her Tarzan is.

"Yes, but that is wonderful sweetheart. Now they see you for who your are, as you have always been." At that her son grinned at her.

"Yeah, you were right mom!" He said enthusiastically. Then he grew quiet which worried Kala, but he still had his smile on his face as he spoke quietly this time. "And listen to this, Kerchak said I was his son and that he was proud of me."

Now she couldn't help as the tears came down her face. Kerchak, the most stubborn gorilla she has ever known. The one to oppose Tarzan the most at every turn. To actually acknowledge him as his son, was something that Kala never thought she would see one day. Her long-awaited prayers has at last been answered. Now there's only one question left, just where did that said male go off to?

"Where is Kerchak mom?" Tarzan asked. Even he has noticed the gorilla's long absence and as much as he wanted to call Kerchak papa, he doesn't know if he would like being called that. His mom had a worried look on her face telling him that she didn't know either. The others had heard him and they started questioning where their leader could have gone to.

"I'm here son." Everyone turned to the strong voice of Kerchak as he walked in. Everyone else was completely shocked by what they had heard. Did Kerchak really call Tarzan his son? Tarzan was the only one that wasn't fazed as he happily ran up to the larger gorilla.

When he stopped in front of him, Tarzan thought on what he should do next or say. Before they didn't have any interactions with each other, so this is completely new to both of them. The thinking didn't last long as he decided to just go with his gut, which brought another surprise to the whole group.

"Morning papa." Tarzan said with a smile leaving everyone including Kerchak speechless. Papa. Kerchak though. That was something that he didn't think he would ever hear again, especially not from Tarzan. And the way the boy look up at him now adoringly instead of nervous or in fright brought a warmth to the gorilla's heart. Yes, he has a chance to be a papa again.

"Good morning, Tarzan." Kerchak said warmly causing the boy to smile even more. He looked up to see that everyone is still frozen in place seeing the two addressing each other so familiar. However, now's not the time for that.

"Everyone!" He announced loudly, gathering the group's attention. "As of now you must know that we cannot go back to our home." As he spoke, he could see the nervousness and weariness of his group. The question lingering on everyone's mind of where they will live now.

"We must find a new home. I ask you to trust me. We will find a new home, a better home. For our family." He said as he gathered Tarzan in his arms and holding Kala's hand in his. The demeanor of the group changed from anxious to determined. As long as they have Kerchak with them they'll be ok. Seeing that everyone is in agreement he nodded his head.

He moved Tarzan so the boy was resting on top of his back, usually that would be Kala's duty but something in him wanted the boy close to him. Kala smiled warmly at him which he grinned back at her. He moved his way to the front of the crowd as the group began to follow him. It's going to be a dangerous journey, but he knows his family will be able to make it. The feeling he had in his dream, it's somehow pointing him in the direction of where to go. He will follow it so that his family can live in the paradise that he has dreamed of. And perhaps, they can start again.