Two Brothers Under the Sun
Chapter – X
Tigers at the Gates
Part 1 – Snow Day
Outer stems, Wakalu, northeastern Bukuvu
It's been a few days since the gorillas' incursion into the lands south of the Dirisha and the Clash at the Floodplains; now the drought season was approaching. While the sun shines brightly over the jungle, there are mornings when it can be an unwelcome guest. On days when even the rivers offer no relief for the thirsty, the denizens of the Bukuvu are forced to forage harder for food and water sources, as well as find shade from the sunlight and avoid intensive labor. It seems as if everything in the jungle stands still...
Well, nearly everything.
It's a good day to have some fun to run and play (oh-oh-way-oh)
Tarzan smiled, with a kasaba melon in his carry he ran across the jungle floor with Simba in hot pursuit.
The sun's so hot, it melts my worries all away (oh-oh-way-oh)
The lion cub had a similar expression as he chased after the man-cub.
I'm gonna take it easy, got no reason to work all day (oh-oh-way-oh)
Tarzan threw the melon at the kitten, who managed to catch it with his mouth.
Oh, I'm gonna keep on smiling, keep on riding all the way (oh-oh-way-oh)
The two cubs exchanged the melon with each other repeatedly as they raced through the undergrowth.
Come on, I tell you
They neared one of the few ponds left in this area of the jungle.
Ni siku njema matakwa yakubali
They scattered a flock of flamingos.
Ni siku njema mi pia nakubali
And kept running through the cloud of pink feathers.
Come play with me, and we'll run free (Whoa-oh-oh)
They arrived at the Inner stems, where the Troop was nesting.
Through the Lowlands, up to the highest tree (Whoa-oh-oh)
Tarzan sent the melon flying straight to Baloo's back, making it bounce away. The bear smiled as he watched the younglings play.
Gotta live for fun, it's the only way
They reached a mudhole and crossed it by hopping across the rocks in it.
It's a beautiful, it's a beautiful day (ni siku nzuri)
"Tarzan. Simba." Turns out one of those rocks was Pumbaa.
It's a beautiful, it's a beautiful day (ni siku nzuri)
Timon turned to see the commotion from an exposed tree root and quickly ducked down when the pair jumped over it.
Oh...
Terk captured the melon when Tarzan threw it at Simba.
It's a good day to have some fun to run and play (oh-oh-way-oh)
The pair mock-glared at the smiling girl before chasing after her.
I'm gonna take my time and live my life a different way (oh-oh-way-oh)
Terk jumped and ducked beneath the tree roots, laughing as the boys tried to catch her.
Come on, with me now
Simba jumped at the wrong moment and accidentally slammed himself on a root.
Ni siku njema matakwa yakubali
Her cousin tried to follow after her in the bamboo trees but failed to keep up.
Ni siku njema mi pia nakubali
From atop the trees, Bagheera sighed at the kids' antics.
Come play with me, and we'll run free (Whoa-oh-oh)
Tarzan was back to chasing Terk. They ran over a leaf filled with dewdrops and splashed Kerchak in the process.
Through the Lowlands, up to the highest tree (Whoa-oh-oh)
The Silverback looked more annoyed than anything else.
Gotta live for fun, it's the only way It's a beautiful, it's a beautiful day (ni siku nzuri)
On the side, Kala simply smiled at the sight.
It's a beautiful, it's a beautiful day (ni siku nzuri)
Terk ran with the melon when Simba suddenly pounced from the foliage, tackling her to the ground.
It's a beautiful, it's a beautiful day (ni siku nzuri)
They tussled quickly. Terk got on top and pinned Simba with the grasp of her feet, producing a resounding thump.
"I've said it once and I will say it again: Terk Rules!" she shouted before her cousin shoved her to the ground, making the two of them roll over Simba, who pushed them off in turn, starting a three-way tussle.
They rolled down a green hill and by the time they got to the bottom, Terk had Simba in a head-scissor lock and Tarzan immobilized in a noogie.
"Got ya!" Terk smiled.
"You're heavy." Simba complained and both he Tarzan groaned while trying to get off her hold.
Terk put her free hand to her ear. "What's that? You say we can stay like this for as long as I want? Why you're just a couple of adorable little babies, aren't you?" She said with a baby voice as she tightened her legs around Simba's neck and pinched Tarzan on the cheek, much to the pair's chagrin.
Suddenly the lion cub choked, not just from the gorilla's tights tightening around his neck but also from the foul smell that suddenly invaded his nostrils. "Ew! Terk, my mouth was open!"
She blinked at him. "I didn't do anything."
Tarzan also got the scent and cringed. "Ew!"
"Pumbaa!" The cubs cried out in unison.
"It wasn't me!" The warthog shouted all the way from the mudhole.
The familiar sound of flatulence made the younglings draw their attention to the patch of grass ahead of them. Flynt and Mungo were standing across from each other, each holding a pangolin and having a staredown.
The brothers exchanged tense looks as they held the scaly anteaters by the tail. Mungo put the animal under his armpit and called to his brother: "Drop it, Flynt!"
Flynt did the same with his pangolin and replied: "You drop it, Mungo." He smiled mock-wickedly. "This one is a real stinker."
His brother mimicked his expression. "I know you are, but what is it?" Mungo started squeezing the critter under his armpits, making it spray a foul odor and causing the animal discomfort.
Flynt didn't even flinch as the gas reached him. He just squeezed his anteater, sending a cloud of stench towards his brother. Afterward, the two male gorillas guffawed heartedly.
By now, Terk had let go of her fellow younglings, her nose having also fallen victim to the reeking smell.
"Hey, can you cut that out?" Simba called out to the dullards.
They turned, stared at the cub for a few moments... then ran off screaming to the top of a tree, dropping the pangolins in the process. From the branches, they yowled.
"Make it go away!" Flynt cried out.
"Tell it's a bad dream." Mungo begged.
Terk came in, rolling her eyes at the brothers. "It's ok. This is Simba." Tarzan followed her. "He's with us."
Still clinging to the tree, they eyed the lion cub warily. "He is?" Flynt asked.
Mungo laughed uneasily. "Eh, how's it going, leopard?"
Simba frowned, having to repeat this so many times was getting annoying. "I'm a lion."
The two exchanged dumb glances. "What is that?"
Simba sent them a deadpan look. "What I am."
Realization dawned on their faces. "Ooohh... okay!" They laughed and climbed down to the ground.
Simba quirked an eyebrow at the retreating pair. "So, who are those two?"
Tarzan came to his side. "King Sokwe's sons, Flynt snd Mungo."
Simba flabbergasted. "Wait, so they're princes?" he glanced back to the Brothers, who were now making dumb faces at one another.
Terk smiled. "Eh, they're okay. They just took too many hits in the head from each other." She glanced at the pair again, Simba and Tarzan doing the same, and, sure enough, the Brothers were hitting themselves.
"Ah, yeah, take that." Mungo put his brother in a suplex but Flynt took hold of his fist. "Stop hitting yourself!" "Ow!" he started hitting his brother with the latter's own fist. "Stop hitting yourself!" "Ow!" "Stop hitting yourself!" "Ow!" "Stop hitting yours-ugh!" Mungo then put him in a noogie.
Simba could only stare puzzled at the scene before him.
"Flynt, Mungo, come along!" Their father's voice grabbed the young gorillas' attention. All younglings present turned their heads to see King Sokwe approaching the area. "We gotta get ready for the trip."
"Yes, papa!" The brothers responded as one and left in the direction their father came from. Sokwe turned his grin to the three younglings left.
"Hello, Uncle Sokwe." Terk greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning, Terk, Tarzan." He greeted them back.
"Good morning, sir." Tarzan replied, way more sheepishly than his cousin.
The King merely chuckled at the man-cub before turning to the only non-ape of the trio. Simba faltered a bit as he looked at the mega-sized male gorilla, still getting used to the mighty form of the Silverbacks, utterly foreign back in the Pride Lands. "And how's our new guest enjoying his stay in our humble home?"
The lion cub replied with a sincere but lightly strained laugh. "It's amazing." He looked around the surrounding area. "I have never seen anything like it."
Sokwe chuckled as he nodded. "It's something, alright? But wait until you see the Theluji; it's even more beautiful there."
"The Theluji?" Simba asked curiously.
"Yep, that's where we come from." Terk answered before she pointed ahead. "Waaay over there."
Simba followed her pointing finger all the way up the green hills of the Bukuvu and to the white-capped mountains on the eastern horizon, the farthest one could see in that direction from the jungle. "Wow! That's a long way."
"My mom told me about it." Tarzan was gazing in the same way, his expression looked eager. "That's where the Troops lived before coming to the jungle."
"That's right." King Sokwe turned to Simba. "And soon enough we're gonna pay a visit to my kingdom."
Simba's ears perked and he looked at the Silverback with fascination in his eyes. "Your kingdom?"
Again, Terk couldn't hold herself from answering for the grown-up. "Um-hum, Uncle Sokwe rules all the mountain."
Simba raised an eyebrow at that. "But, how can he be king if Kerchak is the leader?" That question had plagued the young lion's mind ever since he heard some of the Troop refer to Sokwe as King, yet everyone seemed to treat Kerchak as the leader, or Chief as they called it here.
"That's because my Troop lived closer to the mountains." Sokwe explained to the youngling, his tone conveyed a great sense of pride as he raised his head to look at the hills on the far horizon. "You see, young Simba, the animals of the Theluji have always respected our kind, even after we moved to Bukuvu. The leaders of my Troop, the Donlumangani, have been Kings of the Mountains for many generations." He turned to them. "That's why they call us the Ice People."
The younglings kept silent, absorbing the lecture with a mixture of awe and interest. Terk always liked hearing the stories of the Troop from her mother, her surrogate uncle, or her maternal aunt, and Tarzan often dreamed of one day becoming a great ape worth of glory alike those of the heroes from the stories. Simba, on the other hand, was hit with a small wave of nostalgia as his mind recalled the memories from his father's lectures about their kingdom.
"Whoa, cool." Still, he had one last doubt: "But then, why did you leave?"
King Sokwe remained silent before he turned back to look at the nesting area. The younglings followed his gaze to Kerchak, his expression always fierce as he led a patrol around the area. The trio shifted their stares to the Donlumangani leader; his eyes were equally intense but tainted with sadness and regret that surprised two of the young ones, not accustomed to seeing such an expression from him.
"I just had to." He simply responded. It only took a moment for him to turn back to the younglings and regain his smile. "So, are you both eager for the great trip?"
Tarzan and Terk perked at that, their expressions growing excited. "Oh, yeah. It's gonna be awesome!" Terk exclaimed.
"I can't wait to see the mountains and the snow!" Tarzan beamed.
Sokwe gave a light chuckle as he nodded. "Then you better get ready." He started making his way towards the area where his Troop had settled for the night, not very far from the Mangani Troop. "We leave first thing in the morning." He reminded them before going back to walk.
"Oh, wait! Can we bring Simba?" Tarzan asked.
"What?" the two younglings called out in surprise from behind him while Sokwe hummed questioningly.
"Come on, It's gonna be really fun." Said the man-cub to the little lion.
Simba hesitated with his answer. "Tarzan, I-I... I don't know. I..."
"Come on, it's gonna be an adventure." Insisted the hairless ape. "Without any predators this time."
The little lion thought hard. He was a bit shaky after his arrival in the jungle and his last adventure with Tarzan; the idea of leaving his new home so soon didn't sound very appealing.
Still, a part of him was really curious to explore this new place with his new friend.
"I mean... can I?" His voice gave away some of his hidden excitement.
"Sure you can!" Tarzan declared.
"Eh, sorry to bust your bubble, cuz." Terk grabbed the man-cub's shoulder and brought him to her. "But do you really think Kerchak is gonna let him come with us?" Her tone seemed apprehensive.
"Well, I don't think he's going to like it very much." The trio turned to King Sokwe. "But I don't think he will complain about it for long." he chuckled before pointing to himself. "After all, I am the one who's gonna lead the group there."
The Man-Cub beamed again and the lion cub perked his ears. "So can he come?"
Sokwe smiled. "I don't see why not." He said before the youngling could celebrate: "But you will have to ask Baloo, he's coming as well."
Standing tall and robust beneath the shade of the tallest trees, the great sloth bear prepared to face his opponents. He narrowed his eyes in a challenging smirk, raised to his hind legs, and flexed his paws for the incoming scruffle as he seized the challengers. He assumed a defensive stance, his paws waved in front of him, ready to intercept any attack. He noticed his adversaries growing restless and finally gestured for them to come at him.
"Get him!"
It was on.
The trio of little gorillas charged at him, throwing fake punches in his direction and smiling the entire time. Baloo started bouncing and weaved his arms as he moved. "All right, kids, loosen up." He instructed them as he circled around the trio. "Get real loose, then start to weave. Weave a little. Now, move. That's it." The younglings followed his tips and copied his movements. "Look for an opening. Keep movin'. Keep-"
"Hyah!" Chulk, the only female of the trio, managed to get on his side and jumped on his back.
Baloo struggled to get her off, giving Taug and Gozan an opening to get on his back, the two baby males refusing to let go. "Oh, no! Attacking gorillas! Please! I can't take it! There are too many of you!" He screamed playfully and allowed the trio to bring him to the ground. "Come on! Pick on somebody your own size. Stop!"
Kala walked by, giggling at the bear's little 'lesson.'
Baloo let out an overdramatic moan as he laid on his back, twisted his head to the side, and threw up his tongue, his eyes now closed.
"Baloo?" Chulk asked as she, Taug, and Gozan moved on the 'unconscious' bear's back. "You're not dead."
"No!" He suddenly exclaimed right on their faces, making them shriek and jump off him. The bear chuckled before looking to see another trio of younglings running down to him.
"Baloo!" Simba and Tarzan pounced at the bear, who patted their heads and held them up.
"Hey there, Little Britches." He smiled and put them back to the ground, he turned to catch the little gorilla. "Terk!" He spun around with her, making her laugh even after he let go and she fell backward on her butt. "Where y'all off to in such a hurry?"
"We're gonna see the Theluji." Tarzan answered eagerly.
"Oh, that's right." Baloo got up. "I need to pack for the trip."
Still smiling, Kala went over to her son. "...You nervous?"
Tarzan shook his head. "Whew. Excited."
Kala laughed warmly. "Ooh, you should be. The Theluji Mountains are a wonderful place."
Tarzan grinned before glancing at Simba then back to his mother. "Uh, Mom, can Simba go with us?"
Kala paused to think for a moment. "Hmm, I suppose he can. But will that be okay with you, Baloo?
"Well..." The bear trailed off, turning away from them and stroking his chin, pretending to be in deep thought about it. But if one looked closer, they would see his sly smile.
Terk brought her cousin to huddle with her and the lion cub. "Time to start begging, boys. Get your game faces on."
The three younglings nodded. The moment Baloo turned back to look down on them, he came face-to-face with a trio of adorable little ones smiling broadly at him with huge, pleading puppy-dog eyes. The bear's smile gradually crept back to his face and he finally gave in.
"It's all right with me." He said nonchalantly but still smiling.
The younglings were now completely overjoyed as they jumped up and down in celebration. Despite the initial hesitation, Simba really wanted to see the mountains.
Tarzan launched himself to give the bear a hug. "Ah, Baloo, thank you so much."
Baloo, in turn, chuckled and patted the man cub's head. Kala was giggling on the side. "All right, all right." Tarzan let go of him. "But try to understand this, kid: I'm a bear. That means I have to eat my weight, and I have to keep eating or I'm going into hibernation halfway through the trip." He told the boy before smiling. "So, Hakuna-in-training, how about you and I use that vine thing of yours to round up some lunch for the Voyage?"
"Yes, sir." Tarzan saluted him and rushed to complete the task.
"Hey, slow down kid!" Baloo called out and went after him.
Chulk, Taug, and Gozan cheered, eager to pick some monkey berries for the trip, and followed the pair. Simba and Terk decided to do the same while Kala shook her head; this was going to be an exciting trip.
Considered the birthplace of all of Bukuvu's gorillas, the Theluji Mountains are one of the most important cultural sites to the Great Troop, second only to the Wakalu itself. The great apes congregate there annually to freshen up and frolic, just before the heat peaks in the jungle. When the younglings reach a certain age, their parents may bring them for the trip; meanwhile, the infants and their parents would stay in the Bukuvu under the joint protection of the pachyderms and those tasked with guarding the Green Mother while the others were away.
By the next dawn, Kerchak was overseeing the departing group getting ready for the Voyage. Amongst the gathering of gorillas were a man-cub, a lion cub, and a bear.
"And remember," Bagheera addressed the man-cub. "I want you to stay in sight of the group at all times."
"Yes, Bagheera."
"Did you bring your lunch?"
"Yes, Bagheera."
"Did you remember to bring your own grub?" Pumbaa asked with Timon on his back. "I heard there ain't no bugs up there."
"Yes, Pumbaa." Simba answered from Tarzan's side.
"And don't go wandering off on your own, keep following Baloo and the Troop." Bagheera said.
"Yes, Bagheera." Tarzan finally interjected his teacher. "We remember everything, we'll be careful."
"I just want you to be cautious. Accidents can happen, you could easily get hurt or stepped-"
"Hurt or stepped on or even get lost." Tarzan finished for him. The panther had become kinda overprotective since they had returned to the Wakalu.
"Don't worry, Baggy." Baloo came to reassure the panther. "The kid is in good paws, I gonna stick to him like stink on a warthog!"
"Hey!" Pumbaa resented the metaphor.
Timon simply shrugged from atop his head. "It's a hard truth, Pumbaa. Live with it."
Baloo turned to the hog-mongoose pair. "Alright, guys. You're in charge of the place till I get home."
The duo looked over their shoulders as they strode towards the bear. Once they got in front of Baloo, they hailed him.
"Aye, aye, mon capitán!" said Timon.
"We'll take care of everything." Pumbaa promised.
Timon jumped off the warthog's mane to stand before the boys and lifted a finger to make sure they paid attention. His tone was serious. "And remenber boys: Hakuna Matata."
The younglings responded with smiles. "We'll be back soon." Tarzan swore.
"You better." Timon warned before the four shared a farewell hug. After they separated, the grownups watched as Kala received the kids and led them to join the group that was about to leave.
"Goodbye, kids!" Pumbaa called out, trying to keep his sobs in check.
"Be mindful of strangers!" Timon shouted.
Baloo turned to Bagheera. "Hey, you're doing pretty well for a first-timer."
The panther shook his head; nevertheless, he accepted the bear's compliment. "Well, I can't hold on to him forever." He turned his eyes to focus exclusively on Baloo. "I'm counting on you." He said as he looked from left to right. "Danger could be lurking behind every rock."
"Don't worry, Baggy. It will be fine." Baloo turned to get his supplies before following the now-moving Troop. "I promise."
"I hope you're right." Bagheera was still worried but tried to maintain a straight face. The moment he turned back, he remembered something. "And before I forget: Don't Call Me Baggy!"
###
Theluji mountain base, Great Troop territory.
After a few minutes of walking, the Troop started making its way up the steep slopes of the highlands. King Sokwe was in the front, leading the travelers into a path through the trees with Kerchak following close behind. They strolled their way uphill, not in much of a rush, with some of them carrying good quantities of food that they had picked from around the Wakalu in sturdy, interlaced vines they now were dragging on their backs. Tarzan, Simba, and the trio of baby gorillas were all playing with Baloo as the Troop wandered by a slope with leveled ground.
"Whoa!" Simba exclaimed as he, Tarzan, and the babies ran from the bear. Baloo let out a playful roar as he chased after them.
Terk laughed from her mother's back when they passed by them. "Ooh, teeth. Look out for the big scary teeth." She exclaimed before jumping to join their fun. They all rolled and played with each other until came the time to reach the higher slopes.
In order to get there, they had to climb a tall, winding tree. Kerchak and Sokwe went first to test its strength, then came a contingent of Black Backs followed by Kala, her fellow mothers, and finally the youngsters. Simba was right behind Terk, his claws made it easier for him to climb. Tarzan was the only one having trouble, some parts of the tree were stripped of bark and thus more slippery. He fell off once but got up again. His teacher, mother, cousin, and best friend stayed behind to catch him once he made it. When he was almost getting to the edge of the slope, he slipped again. The Man-Cub tried launching himself up to grab the hillside, only to lose his grip and almost fall before Terk gave him a helping hand. The smile Tarzan sent to his cousin disappeared when he was pulled up and found Kerchak's mighty form staring down at him, initially in disapproval before sighing and shaking his head out of pity.
"Quit playing around, Tarzan." Terk said, trying to cover for her cousin as she pulled him to her. "So, what're we waiting for?"
The group continued. As they moved up the mountains, the thick vegetation started dwindling, making room to rocky terrain, and blooming clumps of white flowers that those who were there for the first time had never seen before. The temperatures dropped and the air got thinner as the landscape became dotted by many raised mounds and hills, with a variety of different plants and bushes adapted to survive the cold weather throughout the year. Beneath the mountainous terrain was a network of tunnels connecting to extinct vulcanos, strewing the land with gas-spewing geysers and natural hot springs. Soon, the entire land became truly unrecognizable to the first-timers.
The Troop eventually went up a rocky cliff, that was when Sokwe and Kerchak emitted a sound that vaguely resembled a deep prolonged rumble or a throat-clearing noise.
From behind, Simba could hear the rest of the group perk up at the Silverback's call and raised an eyebrow at Tarzan. "What is it?"
"The Theluji." Kala answered, both she and her son looked just as excited as the rest of the group. "It's just over that hill!"
"Ha-ha!" Baloo cheered full of energy. "We made it!"
Tarzan ran to get ahead. "Come on, Simba!" he called to the lion cub. "Let's go see the snow!"
Simba trailed after the man-cub, passing some of the younglings who had the same idea. As soon as they peeked over the hill...
"Whoa..." Was the little lion was able to say.
The top of the ridge overlooked the mountain plateau covered in what Simba could only assume was the famous 'snow' he had heard so much about on the way there. From the fields to the surrounding trees, to the taller mounts in the far distance, everything seemed to be covered in a bright white coat. To the lion who had never ventured so far from the Ranges of his Pride, it seemed as if the clouds themselves were sprawling all over the mountain.
Kala joined the Silverback duo as Sokwe presented the place to the first-timers, his demeanor shone with glee more than usual. "The Theluji, realm of hills and snow. Our home away from home."
The youngsters jumped to the lower ground, Simba took a moment to do the same. Once he got a proper feeling of the cloud bits beneath his feet, he felt as if he had landed on a bunch of cold dandelion seeds.
"W-Wow!" He smiled as he launched some snowflakes up in the air with his nozzle. "It's so beautiful."
"Bet you have never seen snow before." Mungo said to the group of young newcomers.
Terk was the one who responded, the others being too busy experiencing snow for the first time in their lives. "It's cold." She shivered, then she grabbed some of the substance in her hand. "And wet." Then she smiled sparkingly. "And neat!"
Tarzan licked some snowflakes. "So these are cloud bits?"
"Yep." Flynt responded from beside his brother in a slightly puffed-up tone and a haughty expression. "I know all about it."
Mungo did a perfect impression of his father's guffaw and shoved his brother hard on the back. "Yeah, right! You can't even tell a snake from a stick."
Flynt sent him a glare without spite. "That was one time. How was I supposed to know?"
Mungo quirked an eyebrow. "Cause sticks don't talk?"
"...Oh, well. Kuishi ni Kucheka." Flynt shrugged.
"What does that mean?" Simba asked.
"It's our motto." Flynt answered. "It means 'to live is to laugh'."
"I don't know that one."
The brothers gasped. "Never heard of it?!"
Once the lion shook his head, Mungo looked genuinely perplexed. "How can he not?" Then he remembered. "Oh, right. He's new around here."
His brother nudged him with a mischievous smile. "Guess we will have to teach them."
His Flynt blinked before a similar expression crept to his face. "Yeah."
Simba looked on confused as the princes walked further into the snowy lands. He exchanged glances with Tarzan and Terk, who had similar expressions to his own. The group of curious younglings followed the brothers' trail...
'THUMP'
...And were greeted by a barrage of snow raining from above.
"Kuishi ni Kucheka!" The brothers laughed out loud from beside a snowless tree, clearly having used it to hurl the white shower.
They turned back to their 'targets'... and stopped laughing.
Simba shook off the snow and glared at them fiercely before he smirked. "Oh, it's on." He sprinted down the white-covered fields, gathering speed as he approached the pair, then made a sharp turn, launching a wave of snow right into the princes' faces. "Kuishi ni kucheka!"
'VOOOSH'
The Donlumangani brothers busted out of the white pile and hooted cheerfully. Simba followed them as the other younglings and Baloo came to explore and enjoy their newfound fun. Sokwe sighed happily at the sight, wishing he could join, but first he had to take care of some business. He gestured to Kerchak, who nodded in turn and called to the other grownups to move. Kala and some of the mothers opted to stay and keep an extra eye on the children.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
Baloo sled down on his belly down the hill.
Live with a laugh and a smile
Tarzan beamed and sled down the bear's trail.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
The man-cub howled in excitement at the rush.
Stays with you all the while
Baloo turned in time to be hit in the head full force by him, bringing both of them to the ground. Bear and boy got up and laughed contentedly.
Some may say that life's a joke
Terk led Taug, Gozan, Chulk, and the other youngsters in a bouncing run across the snow.
Might be funny, but it's true
She fell into a hole hidden by the snow and the toddlers bounced over her.
Cause if you live life with a frown
Simba heard a sound and saw a huddle of snow fall from a tree's branch.
Then the joke's on you
He heard the sparkling of the ice crystals above and looked up in time to escape from a pile of falling snow.
Furahi, furahi!
He smiled, thinking he had escaped, but another white shower dropped right on top of him.
Happiness is all around you now
His head popped out and he heard the distinct sound of drumming. Turning to the tree, he saw Tarzan aiming sticks to the trunk, his sheepish smile gave away his little prank.
Furahi, furahi!
Simba sent him a feral smile and sprinted at the man-cub.
Just one phrase to show you how!
Tarzan couldn't run fast in the snow and Simba pounced at him. The two of them rolled down a small hill.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
They separated as they kept rolling, gathering snow around their forms.
Live with a laugh and a smile
By the time they stopped, Tarzan had gotten on top of Simba, the pair looking like two giant snowballs.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
Flynt and Mungo bolted by them and jumped to a part that looked more like a slick, blue rock rather than snow.
Stays with you all the while
The brothers tried to teach the others how to slide on the ice (under the watchful eyes of the mothers), with varying degrees of success.
Joy and hope can all be yours
They left the ice, laughing at the fun they were having.
Look closely and you'll find
Then, Tarzan, Simba, and Terk were suddenly hit by snowballs.
Whether you are glad or sad It's just a state of mind
They all turned to see Baloo laughing as he prepared more white spheres.
Furahi, furahi!
The little ones laughed and ran to do the same. Soon, a free-for-all started between the younglings.
Happiness is all around you now
Baloo was on the offensive for most of the snowball fight.
Furahi, furahi!
Tarzan, Simba, Terk, and the brothers decided to join forces and moved the snow to make a barrier to protect them from the bear's onslaught.
Just one phrase to show you how!
They launched a counter-attack before scattering in the fields of white.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
Terk came from the left, catching the bear's attention and distracting him from a snowball thrown by Flynt.
Live with a laugh and a smile
Shaking off the snow off his right ear, Baloo turned to Sokwe's youngster, only to receive another ball to the back of his head from the oldest.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
Tarzan and Terk gathered snow behind the barrier and sent it to Simba.
Stays with you all the while
The lion cub laid with his back to the ground and rolled the ball in the air, shaping it into a large ball.
Oh! Kuishi ni Kuchheka
Baloo turned his eyes away from the brothers and grimaced when he saw a large snowball coming down to him, its shade obscuring the area around him.
Live with a laugh and a smile
The projectile hit him right in the head with full force.
Kuishi ni Kucheka
The great body of a now groggy bear fell to the ground with a powerful 'thump'.
Stays with you all the while
The younglings cheered and gathered around his form. Tarzan and Simba got on his back, tickling him mercilessly. Baloo's howling laughter mixed with the younglings' and the chuckles from some of the present mothers, including Kala.
This was a nice day.
###
eastern Theluji plateau, Troop territory.
Theluji. Here, the cloud bits whisper histories of old, simpler times. Here, Kerchak felt the history of his kind from many Seasons ago upon his shoulders. These highlands have long provided for the troops; before his grandfather's grandfather was born, this was their land. These are good places; their friends lived here, in the mountains and plateaus, and the Troop watched over them. Long ago, when the gorillas moved down to Bukuvu, Long Zugor made an Oath to the denizens of Theluji: Forever binding the mountain range as the Troop's territory, placing its inhabitants under their protection.
And now, every Drought Season, when the great apes come to visit the land of their forefathers, Kerchak was expected to meet with the local Leaders.
Marching alongside his best fighters and officer/friend he trusted most, King Sokwe, The Chief Silverback of the Great Troop finally spotted their destination: a forest that seemed to be made partly of tall grass (or trees of specially lanky stems) and trees that had peak-shaped crowns. As the group made its way to the woodland, subtle sounds of movement brought their attention upwards, where they noticed flying creatures gliding in the trees above.
Sokwe bounced on his feet and laughed. "Tafu!"
At the King's call, one of the creatures came down to the ground in front of the two Silverbacks. Like the others of his kin, he had reddish-brown fur, while his chest was a bright brown. His paws and ears were black and gray, and his eyes yellow-brown. But the most peculiar aspect of him was what appeared to be a web of skin between his legs, which his kind used to glide between the trees.
'Tafu' sprang up and proudly proclaimed. "Welcome, my lords, to the Theluji!"
Sokwe approached the Leader of the flying squirrels and the two embraced each other, with Tafu clasping to one of the ape's muscular arms as the King enveloped him with the other one. "My friend, we thank you for the welcoming committee."
"Oh, there is plenty more awaiting you." Tafu replied as he pulled back and turned his attention to Kerchak. "Great Chief, how was your trip?"
"Took a little longer than expected, but all went well." Kerchak, as usual, didn't elaborate in his answer but still addressed the squirrel cordially.
Tafu, by now accustomed to the perpetual stony mood of the Silverback, just nodded. The Leader of the Scurry then looked between the two beasts. "If you will follow me, I will gladly show you to the meeting spot, the others are already there."
Kerchak nodded, they would later send scouts to lead the others to the appointed location. With that, Tafu turned, emitted a short, high-pitched chirp to communicate with his fellow squirrels, and started making his way back into the woods. The Troop followed him at a steady pace.
A/N: Welcome to Arc 2
A/N 2: Sorry about the drastic update.
A/N 3: Due to a dreadful incident with my pen drive, I had to write the next chapter all over again. Please be patient.