Two Brothers Under the Sun
Chapter – XI
Tigers at the Gates
Part 2 – King of the Mountain
Southern Theluji Plateau, currently contested territory
Some Beasts live a simple life, either under the heel of another or by just confining themselves to their Home Ranges. While others bring down a rumbling storm that echoes across the land.
The stories of Shere Khan's first downpour trace back to his battle against men, where his mighty warriors tempered their claws in the blood of their tyrants and saw their once-great power reduced to dust. Overnight their old lives in bondage were swept away in a tide of war, which their Leader would later unleash throughout the surrounding wilderness. As the sun rose the following morning, the tigers stepped into the green jungles of Bukuvu for the first time in their lives. Having been brought from faraway lands and raised in captivity, they weren't sure of where they stood in the region's Food Chain, and neither did the locals. When the Leader of a great Leap came into the ruins demanding tribute and ordered the tigers to hand over the herds from overseas that were freed during the fight, the Khan taught him there was a great difference between 'exotic' and weak. From there, he led his kind to the most bountiful plains in Africa.
Now, he leads them north. Where the nights grow long and his Warriors grow hungry, their valor stretching thin. Yet they keep marching, for that is the will of the Great Khan. As they came into the plateau, the great tiger found himself in a rather familiar situation: him leading his kin into the unknown, away from the confines of their dens, outnumbered, somewhat oblivious to what exactly was in store for them, and being forced to teach manners to some really pesky neighbors.
"Very amusing." Intoned the Great Khan, despite the bodies of several fallen opponents surrounding him. Their attempt at an ambush hadn't managed to even wear him out. "But are those really the best hunters these mountains have to offer?" His taunting was aimed at their Leader, who could only growl in fury towards him. The tiger smiled at her and continued. "I suppose it's true how the saying goes: Only a King can challenge a King."
"Who do you think you are talking to?" The leopard snapped back.
"You?" The Khan laughed before replying. "I'm aware that no predator can truly call himself a King in these parts." He started moving slowly towards her. Chuluun kept herself on edge. "No, this is a land of rams and goats." He stopped in front of her, his instance becoming relaxed as if he was patronizing her. "Now, tell me: where is the one they call Chirin Son of Wolf?"
Chuluun growled in annoyance at the mention of that name but she wouldn't allow the tiger to get a rise out of her. "He's long gone by now, along with the rest of the Herds." An impish smile adorned her face, signaling her own taunt. "If you didn't know that, maybe your sources aren't as good as you think."
The Khan's poise didn't diminish one bit. "Oh, indeed. The Herds change their pastures when the Troops come by, I heard." He scratched his chin as he mused before looking back at her. "So, where is the King Gorilla?"
Her smirk immediately changed to a look of pure contempt.
"Oh, what is this?" Shere Khan questioned with a blood-chilling grin. "Oh, I see." He pointed with one of his claws at the snow leopard. "Somebody resents their lot in life."
"Shut up!" Chuluun snarled. "You know nothing about me!"
"I know that your kind has no love for the apes." The Khan stated with a sigh, unperturbed by the female's rising anger. "And that feeling is pretty mutual" He focused back on her. "That is something we have in common; I have my own grievances against the Troop. So tell me, have you reconsidered my offer?"
"Keh! I don't care one bit about this 'Khanate' thing of yours." She snorted at him. "I bow to no one, ape or cat."
"If you help me, I guarantee your assistance will be handsomely rewarded." He assured her in a bid to make her change her mind. "These mountains will be yours." Declared the great tiger. "Rule them under my name and anything else you care to do will be your own business."
"Huh? Ruling? Where is the fun in that?" She scoffed at his proposal. "I would have to make agreements with my own prey. No, thanks."
"Whether you enjoy it or not isn't the issue." He said before pressing on. "Restraint is a given in the Great Circle, but I can provide you a place in the pantheon of the great cat Kings, alongside myself and the most powerful lions in the Pride Lands." He propped up his offer for the last time. "Why content yourself with the monkeys and red pandas... when you can be feasting on mutton for the rest of your life?"
"Huh?! Who needs that junk?" She sneered him off and started ranting. "The Great Circle is for fools, I make my own rules." The more she spoke, the more emboldened became her tirade. "As soon as I get rid of the Troop and the Herds I will be able to go where I want when I want to. And I will eat, as much as I please." Her eyes turned savage. "Starting with those cheeky, little furballs."
The light breeze came from the west. The wind was the only source of noise around the now quiet area. Shere Khan lowered his head and kept his silence while the sun was setting beyond the peaks behind him, the evening light gleamed behind the powerful bulk of the great tiger, obscuring his face. Chuulun was a little unnerved by that. She had expected a reaction from the bigger cat by now, considering how much he seemed to like the sound of his own voice. Still feeling the effects of her speech, the leopard thought she had actually gotten the last word over him and gave a small smile of triumph. She was about to restart with her conceited remarks when he finally spoke.
"That's a shame. All that talent..."
His sudden words caught her off guard for a second. She rapidly blinked twice, took a moment to recompose herself, then smiled arrogantly at him. "Well, sucks to be you, sticking out even when standing in the middle of a blizzard. How about you join me-"
"Wasted on a pathetic little poacher."
Her words died in her throat.
A grim scowl now adorned the Khan's face. "I have grown tired of listening to your babbling." He spoke in a sinister tone and his frown deepened as he started stalking towards her. "In the end, you are nothing more than a nuisance in a leopard pelt." Chuulun could only stare stupidly as the massive predator strode nearer and nearer whilst throwing a barrage of insults at her. "A poacher playing King." She backed away and immediately stopped when she felt there was no ground left for her to recoil anymore. The tiger also stopped and glared at her with nothing more than pure disdain. "You are an insult to our kind, looking at you makes me displeased." He got closer to her and growled. "Contempt alone compels me to throw you off this crag."
Chuulun's face twisted in uneasiness, all the bravado had vanished from her face. But then she caught a glimpse of movement behind the tiger, which instantly turned her grimace back into a mocking grin. "Right back at ya!"
'SNIKT'
A peculiar resounding echo heralded a cracking that highly resembled the sound of rock breaking apart before the start of an avalanche. Chuulun was hit in the head by a red spray right after, leaving her slightly disoriented. The female was icy-frozen for a second before shaking her head stiffly, moving in stilted jerks, and her brain did a double-take before it finally could process whatever had just happened. The white snowy pelt of the Theluji in front of her was now stained with small scarlet droplets. The tiger was now scowling cruelly at his side with his paw extended in the same direction; her eyes traced his limb...
Only to find his claw deep into the throat of one of her best hunters.
"Consider this my last courtesy: a Wisdom from all my years of conquest." Chuulun's arrogance plummeted all over again, this time in favor of paralyzing terror. "Nothing lasts forever." He threw the corpse aside as he glared at her. "You loathe your lot but are too foolish to try and change it." He stated, and she just shuddered when he started walking toward her. "That was your mistake. Even the reign of a King comes and goes like the sun." She gulped and he stopped right in front of her, scowling the entire time. "That's the Great Circle of Life, no matter how much you try to fool yourself, you could never have changed it, for that's the way of things." He stretched his powerful body, fresh out of battle wounds thanks to Hista's treatment, then bared his claws "Had you joined me, you would have won so much."
Her face twisted with horror.
"But now, you meet your last defeat." He let out one last roar.
'SNIKT'
That day, the sun set with Chuulun's reign over the Theluji Leap and rose the next morning with the Khan's ascension as the Apex Predator of the mountains following his subjugation of the snow leopards. In the span of just a day, Shere Khan had led his kind away from their Home Ranges into a mysterious land, crushed his competitors, conquered new hunting grounds for his tigers, and was ready to unleash a storm over the entire region.
Indeed, the day had been pretty nostalgic.
###
Central Theluji plateau, Troop territory.
After spending the entire afternoon playing in the snow, the younglings and their mothers rounded up with the guides sent by Tafu and pushed towards the interior with Baloo in tow. Onward, ever onward, marched the group into the open plateau until they finally came by a sequestered valley, nestled deep in the low rolling hills. From there, they discovered a large patch of bamboo and pine woodland that stretched across the vale, where Kerchak's group was waiting for them with the locals at the forest's entrance.
Tafu greeted them with his flying squirrels. There were also snow monkeys with fur brown-gray in color and small little critters known as red pandas. After clearing out a case of mistaken identity between the locals and Simba (with them having to explain that he was nothing like the snow leopards that terrorized the locals whenever they could), they all made their way into the forests. The group from Bukuvu was shown to the hot spring, a source of steaming water surrounded by flat rocks for basking where the denizens muck around when the wind stings so they stay warm and avoid the freezing cold.
Tarzan was carried bodily into the hot spring by the Donlumangani Brothers, both of whom were singing cheerfully. With a heave, he was thrown into the steaming pool of water. He came up sputtering a moment later, just in time to get his head pushed back under the water by his cheerful lion friend. He tried to come up on the other side, but Terk was waiting to pounce. The man-cub was hauled up out of the water by his female cousin, who suspended him up in the air, and cheerfully tossed him back into the hot spring almost before Tarzan realized what was happening. The hairless ape got an evil glint in his eyes and grappled his cousin underwater. With that, the other younglings inside the pool began to mercilessly splash wave after wave of water at one another. Eventually, they all lost track of who was splashing who. All they could use to identify each other was the sound of laughter resonating from behind the waves.
To Tarzan, the fact that they were treating him just as they would any other youngling of the Troop, as just one of them… was a satisfying experience in itself.
Yes, once again, The Troop's return to their homeland was a happy occasion. Melodies hung sweet upon the air, younglings and adults alike played games in and outside the pool, challenged each other in competitions, and shared stories as they feasted on the offerings given by the locals. Hearts were happy and spirits were high.
In the vicinity of the hot spring, only one spot was untouched by the cheer of the festivities.
Not too far from the clearing, was a protruding rock that towered over all the trees of the forest. Rigid, stony, imposing, and the chosen spot of the Chief Silverback of the Troop for many seasons past. Today was no different. As Kerchak stood on the edge in self-imposed solitude, his only company was the memories of times bygone. The blizzards had come and gone but it was not enough to make him feel like a stranger in what was once his second childhood home, the years that he passed without coming on the trip also didn't change that. He still could find his way around with his eyes closed, Sokwe had actually challenged him to do that once.
The Silverback sighed. His times of playing games and engaging in silly challenges were long gone. He had more important things to worry about: organizing the routes, settling quarrels, attending meetings with the other Leaders of the jungle, protecting the Troop... leading the war. It was as if his duties followed wherever he went, and that wouldn't be different here; sooner or later, the celebration would slow down and he would have to speak with the Theluji Leaders; 'A Leader has his subjects, but a King has many.' That's how Sokwe had described it when he turned down the position of Chief Silverback in Kerchak's favor before the other Troop Leaders. Since the Donlumangani now answered to him, Kerchak was partially entailed to act as King of the Theluji, a fact that Sokwe exploited to finally convince him to come.
In fact, it shouldn't take long for them to come to see him, so he probably should get going to receive them in person; he had spent enough time standing guard (mostly because of how accustomed he was in doing it rather than for an actual reason). Kerchak slowly climbed his way down the rock before marching in the hot spring's direction. He eventually stopped when a rustling sound came from behind, his war instincts putting him on the edge. Chulk, Taug, and Gozan burst out of the foliage right after, running and rolling as their laughing quickly put Kerchak at ease. The Silverback watched as the trio went to the bamboo stems with a watchful expression. When Chulk started climbing one of the plants, she lost her grasp and almost fell down but Kerchak caught her.
"Whoa, there. Be careful." He warned while looking down at her.
Chulk just stared at him. Suddenly, she started laughing again and started wiggling in his hands.
At that moment, the sides of the Silverback's mouth pulled upwards.
He put her down on the ground so she could go back to join her cousins. From there, he 'escorted' the trio as they all returned to the hot spring, the younglings playing with each other the entire way. Following the sounds of the jamboree, they kept walking till the path cleared out for them to see the others. The trio turned to him and he gave them a nod, granting them permission to go the rest of the way on their own. If one was watching close the Silverback as he observed the happy, fun-driven kids make it back to their parents, one would be able to catch a glimpse of his small smile.
"It's nice to see you play with the children." He heard the voice coming from behind him. He turned, it was Kala.
Her soft, innocent smile was always a welcome sight around the Wakalu, but even after everything that happened since that day at Zulu, he would only greet her with quiet resolve. Today was no different. "Why do you say that? I do it all the time."
Kala shook her head somewhat sadly. "You don't." He merely turned to look back towards the hot spring. Kala checked his back. "Ugh, what a mess." She stated before getting to scratch his fur. "Birds could nest on this fur, and probably do."
The Silverback rested his backside on the snowy floor, his eyes not changing direction. "Well, it happens." He said mostly stoically. "And I do worry a lot."
"I know too well how hard it must be." She said, keeping her tone.
Kerchak turned to look at her. He seemed to be processing her words. Then his expression. turned disappointed and he shook his head. "You don't." He turned back. "You can't imagine the weight on my shoulders."
She stopped grooming him. A contemplative look now adorned her face before she sighed. "But I do." Kerchak glanced at her as Kala shifted herself and strode away.
The Chief watched as she wandered away from the cleared path and stopped in front of a thick wall of bamboo stems. His eyebrow rose when she started pulling and bending off the foliage as if she was looking for something. Curiosity got the better of him, and it peeked once he saw the resolve in her eyes when he approached to get a closer look. What was she doing that earned such a reaction?
She finished her work, he turned his eyes forward... and immediately found his answer.
The Theluji Sunset. Ask the local denizens and they will call it the most beautiful in the world, and no one shall call them liars. The Great Bright Circle was slowly fading towards the hills, lighting up skies in red, orange, gold, and purple. The white coat of the valley below was reflecting the light of Evening, giving the impression that the entire mountain range was facing towards a massive Red Flower; one that brought heat but didn't burn. Definitely a sight to behold.
But it was not the glint of the sun that flashed in his eyes. For as much as he proud himself in his knowledge of his own lands, the Silverback had allowed this exact spot to bury down in the depths of his mind like the plants beneath the snow. And this was a very special place for him.
It was here where he first courted Kala.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see her smile again.
"But a little chink in your armor might be nice." She told him. "Why don't we go get some dinner?"
He was silent, taking his time to answer her offer. In the end, he gave in. "Maybe I could get my mind off things for a bit." Indeed, he was getting tired and it would be unbecoming of him to miss his meals.
Either way, that served to increase the warmth of her smile.
It did the same to his.
At this time of the year, the ice melts down from the glaciers in the topmost peaks due to a combination of the summer heat and the network of tunnels connected to the dormant volcanoes, turning the land ragged and jagged.
Or, at least that's how the brothers had said it, perfect for their favorite game: tobogganing!
"LAST ONE IS A ROTTEN MELON!"
Sliding down from the summit of a slope atop flat, slick rocks were Tarzan, Simba, Terk, Baloo, Flynt, and Mungo. The group rushed up and down the white mounds at top speed, screaming in excitement the entire time.
Except for Simba.
"THIS IS INSANE!" Cried out the lion cub as he crouched low on his rock and held on for dear life.
"Stop Fighting it, Simba! Just let it go!" Flynt said as he surfed atop his.
"Let it go?! Are you NUTS?!" He exclaimed back right when they started cascading down a steep slope leading to the side of the mountain, prompting him to scream at the top of his lungs.
"Yeah!" Flynt yelled.
"All right!" Terk shouted.
"I'M A FLYING APE!" His brother shouted, skidding down beside him.
Suddenly their makeshift toboggans began to flatten out and careened them down the slanted side of the mountain through a trail forged by nature towards two ramp-shaped rocks.
Terk's eyes widened. "Wait, don't take the left... TARZAN!"
"Whoooooaaaaa!" The Man-Cub took off from the white mantle of the mount, in the opposite direction of his companions. He was enjoying the rush way too much to notice that. Ah, he could almost taste the exhilaration of it: the flight through the air with the grace and beauty of a bird on the wing. Perfectly balanced. A complete master of his own destiny.
Until he noticed the tunnel. Crying out in alarm and following his reflexes, Tarzan jumped off his rock before it smashed against the mount and he dived into one of the many passages beneath the Theluji. He kept screaming as he slid on his back through the cave on his bottom. The speed carried him up a path that lead him towards another jump. Miraculously, he managed to land on his feet and was able to keep his balance. Again, he was enjoying the rush.
And once again, he didn't notice where the path was taking him.
"Ha!" Mungo took the lead. "Second born, second place!"
"Not for long!" His brother exclaimed as he tried to catch up to him.
"Where did he go?" Terk asked as she looked around from her sled for any signs of her cousin.
"YAAAAAAA-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOEEEYYYY!"
Baloo moved in a millisecond after he turned and saw the boy falling. "I got ya! I got ya!" He extended his arms and grabbed Tarzan, but the force of the impact knocked him off his rock, making him slide down the mountain with the boy riding on his belly.
"Whoa!" The brothers exclaimed in unison as the bear's body rammed through the path in front of them, showering them with snow in the process. From there, it was a smooth trip down to the bottom that ended with the entire group crashing harmlessly on a pile of fluffy snow.
Though there was a blast.
'BOOOM'
They poked their heads out of the pile soon after. Simba, who was the most shaken, took a moment or so to regain his bearings. "That was-" he then grinned from ear-to-ear "-AMAZING! Let's do it again!" He was quickly pacified when Terk tackled back into the snow.
Baloo emerged from the pile with Tarzan on his head. "Hey, Baloo. We won!"
The bear shook his head. He took the brunt of the impact, and his eyes were still spinning like swirls. "Yeah," His voice sounded dizzy. "Horray for us."
Terk pinned Simba to the ground and started gathering up saliva. "No. No, don't." The lion's pleading fell on deaf ears as a trail of spit left her mouth and inched closer to his face. "No. Come on, don't. No!"
Fortunately for him, Baloo regained his bearings and got Terk away from him by putting her in a headlock. "Okay you two, knock it off." Simba tried to advance on the female for payback, only to also get caught by the ursine, who proceeded to knock their head together like a pair of coconuts. "Hey, I said knock it off."
"Well, Flynt," Mungo said as he knocked the snow out of his ears. "I guess we lost this time."
His brother shook himself to get off the pile of snow. "Oh, well. Kuishi ni kucheka!"
"Sonnesen Khun!"
The siblings quirked their eyebrows and turned to see a small group of snow monkey younglings, who were staring at them with admiration. "Sonnesen Khun."
The brothers chuckled and Flynt turned to the others. "Hey, guys, look! More monkeys."
The rest of the group spotted them, Baloo having already let go of Terk and Simba. The younglings suddenly shrieked in fear at the sight of the lion and ran off toward the side of a hill.
Baloo scratched his chin. "Not much of a cat people, are they?" He commented.
"Guess they really don't like big cats," Tarzan remarked.
"Hey!" Terk called out to the adult snow monkey that was poking her head to look at them. "You don't have to be scared of Simba. He's a nice cat."
"Oi, Yuki!" Mungo called, referring to the mother by name. "You can come over, it's safe."
Yuki stood in front of her family with her mate by her side. She seemed unsure but ultimately decided to trust the Princes' words. "Okay, but tell him to stop staring at us."
Simba tilted his head at the monkey's words. Terk whispered to him: "Snow monkeys don't like to get stared at. These guys are really shy."
The lion cub found that a bit weird but didn't comment on it and complied, everting his gaze away from the Family. That served to calm the matriarch down and she approached them with her Troop.
The shade of night was falling over the Theluji plateau. As the wind begins to sigh and the great peaks are silhouetted against the dark blue sky, the light of the full moon shone through the trees and reflected on the water of the hot spring below. The area surrounding the pool was almost deserted; most of the animals had retired to their dens in anticipation of slumber hour. A serene whistling sound could be heard in the vicinity of the waterhole, so enchanting that it was close to putting the few critters still lounging in the rocks by the pond to sleep.
Kala shifted her fingers as she blew into her clasped hands, emanating a calm melody. Kerchak was allowing himself to relax by her side as he listened to her tune. The Chief Silverback caught a gourd of juices and drank for a bit. Once he put it down, he gave out an uncharacteristic, satisfied sigh. The refreshment coupled with his current state was clearly pleasing his mind if the small smile adorning his face was of any indication.
Kala moved to catch something from behind her before extending her hand to offer it to him. "Termites?"
He shook his head. "You can keep them. I'm not hungry." He answered honestly. Those were his favorites but he had supper just a while ago, right after finishing the talks with the Leaders. The thought of asking where she was able to find termites in these frigid lands crossed his mind but she spoke before he could.
"You know, it's nice to see you smiling and laughing," Kala commented with a smile.
"Well," The Silverback sighed and threw his head back. "I guess I just needed a change of air." His eyes drifted across the pool and the woodlands around it, and a nostalgic expression slowly overtook his face. "Can't believe I almost forgot about all of this."
Kala nodded. "It's beautiful." She now sent a sympathetic look at him. "I know the weight of your responsibilities bogs you down but still, I wanted you to remember our times of joy." She glanced up to the moon, Kerchak turned in the same direction but he never shifted his glance away from her. "When there was sunshine, just our families, and our life side by side." She turned back to look at him. "When this was as much our home as the jungle."
'When there was no war.' Kerchak almost spoke out but decided against it. He now noticed the look she was sending his way, her eyes shone with the light of the full moon but he could see some expectations as well.
Taking a moment to think, he finally gave his response. "I... don't want to forget about that either."
Her smile met his smaller one once again.
"Sonnesen Khun!"
Kerchak perked at the sound of that name. 'Sonnesen Kuhn', the 'Chosen One', a title bestowed to those of his kind all the way back when the Troops left for the Bukuvu. Before his departure, Leader Zugor of the Donlumangani called the Leaders of the Theluji Community and the Herds to meet with him. In this same hot spring, he swore the Oath that put the locals under his protection, choosing to uphold his duty to them even as his Troop changed its Home Ranges. Since then, the denizens of the mountains have called the Donlumangani Leaders their Kings, and the great apes, Sonnesen Kuhn. King Zugor's example was eventually followed by the other Gorilla Troops, including the Mangani. But the name Sonnesen Kuhn, till this day, was mostly associated with the Ice People and Kerchak had no intention of taking that way from them, even after they declared him Chief Silverback.
He and Kala watched as Baloo, Terkina, Flynt, Mungo, the Man-Cub, and the lion cub accompanied a small Troop of snow monkeys into the lagoon. Kerchak quickly recognized the one who called him was the female snow monkey standing in front of the group that he presumed to be her Family, so he addressed her. "May I help you?"
She moved to stand before him and bowed. "My lord. I'm Yuki, this is my Family." She pointed to those of her kind, confirming Kerchak's thoughts. "The Great Circle has brought me to you." She lowered her head. "Please, I ask you to hear my plead."
Deciding to leave the question of names, for now, he gestured for her to continue. "Go on."
"We lived in a hot spring, not far from the Dark Mountain." She started. "Early today, we were attacked by the Ghosts and an avalanche forced us out of our home." Kerchak tightened his jaw at the last bit. "We were hoping you could find us a new one." She bowed again, waiting for his decision. "Onegaishimasu."
Kerchak looked at the mother before him before turning to her family, her children in particular. He turned to Kala as if he were asking for permission, to which she nodded; break time was over.
He turned to Yuki. "Walk with me?" She nodded and he did the same in response. "Bring your family too. I wanna ask a few questions." Kerchak moved to the shore, left the water, and took off with the snow monkeys following right behind him. Kala also came to the solid ground and watched them go from beside the younglings.
"See? I told you she wanted to see Kerchak." Mungo said to his brother.
"Well, but he said Papa was still the King." Flynt retorted.
Tarzan joined his mother's side. "Will they be okay?"
Kala nodded to her son. "Yes, Kerchak will consider their plea and decide what is to be done by morning." She looked over to the others as well. "It's too dark now, we should get settled in."
Baloo stretched and yawned. "Yep. We gonna get first dibs on the monkey berries tomorrow."
The group started making their way to a cave where the Troop had settled around to pass the night when Simba asked: "Hey guys, what was that the monkeys were saying about a ghost?"
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Not just the group walking in but also those who were already inside the cave. All eyes turned to Simba, making the cub look around in confusion. Terk exchanged a look with Tarzan who shrugged, while the brothers smiled darkly. The lion turned to Kala who sighed and shook her head in anticipation. Simba turned back the moment Terk mimicked the brothers' look and aimed it at him.
"Let's tell this ignorant cat the story of the Ghosts of the Theluji." She said before gesturing to the brothers. "Hit it!"
Simba blinked owlishly as the Troop started playing a beat and those still outside started rustling the pine trees as if they were rattlers. King Sokwe appeared from the cave's depths and started marching rhythmically towards the lion cub as he sang: "The legend begins not too long ago. The red pandas met an invisible foe,"
Simba recoiled as the great gorilla approached, only to be spooked by Flynt. "It came and destroyed what they treasured most: their homes and their peace." The Donlumangani youngling stated with bulging eyes and a deep voice. "And they named it the Ghost."
Terk led Chulk, Taug, and Gozanin a chorus. "Ghost, Ghost, Ghost of the mountain. Who knows where it will appear? Ghost, Ghost, Ghost of the mountain, has the denizens all living in fear."
"With greater numbers, they came back." Mungo started the next part. "The ghosts don't give up 'cause they like to attack." He jumped across the cave. The infant trio hid with Tarzan behind Kala, who only shook her head at the older youngsters. "Living in hiding is all that the critters dared." Terk pounced from behind, scaring them off. "They were tired and hungry, and so very scared."
She restarted the chorus with Tarzan and Baloo, the three of them starting a file. "Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. They could be anywhere. Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. They live behind every scare."
Tafu and his squirrels looked around from atop a rock. "The leopard is a threat that you can't see." Some of the snow monkeys also joined in. "Who knows where they could be?" The red pandas did the same. "Lurking behind every tree," The Leader of the Pack surveyed the area in fear. "Is it coming for me?"
Baloo chased after the younglings around the cave and out into the bamboo woods, pretending to be a 'Ghost'. He cornered Simba and Tarzan when a thundercrack was heard. The bear turned to see King Sokwe, standing tall and proud atop one of the rocks on the shores of the lagoon, the full moon shining behind him. "So now they wait for their hero to come." He leaped to the ground to confront Baloo. "Blocking the skies in the rising sun," Now Baloo was the one running. "I drive out the ghosts and act like it's fun," The Silverback chased him back into the cave. The younglings came inside to see the King of the Theluji victoriously standing over the 'defeated' foe; through the sprawled bear was clearly smiling. "I'm Sonnesen Khun!" All bowed down to the monarch. "The chosen one!"
The younglings sang with Simba joining in this time. "Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. Who knows where they will appear? Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. They have the denizens all living in fear. Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. They could be anywhere Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts of the mountain. Live behind every scare."
The Troop gathered in a circle around King Sokwe as he sang the last verses. "So be aware and prepare for the ghost!" Everyone spoke the last part:
"Ghost of the mountain!"
A/N: Sorry about the late update. Losing most of my archives with my pen drive, plus the fact that didn't have much of a 'blueprint' for this arc and I went on an impromptu vacation with my family, caused quite the delay. I probably should have waited a bit longer to start this arc, but, oh well.
A/N 2: Whoever gets me a Tv Tropes page will forever have the Household's gratitude.