Two Brothers Under the Sun

Chapter – XXVI

Return to Monkey City

He tried not to let it get to him. He said it wasn't bothering him. He promised he'd carry on even with the reminder of that day forever marked across his chest. But it was easier said than done.

Some days had passed and Tarzan of the Great Troop hadn't been the same since then. The memory was still fresh in his mind to the point he could almost recall it in vivid detail. Ironically enough, how he didn't end up dead was still a mystery to him and all with whom he had shared his story. The only proof of his altercation with the tiger was the wound that would remain with the boy for the rest of his life. It was a large one too: three prominent scratches, a bit darker than his skin, forming a triple streak on his breast. And he couldn't ignore the little changes that came with it.

Nothing major, the pain was long gone somehow. But there were still things he had to be aware of. He couldn't leave it exposed to the hot sun for extended periods of time, intense sunlight tended to agitate the wound. It wasn't uncommon to see the youth give a slight wince whenever something pressed hard against his upper body either. Not to mention the scar got really itchy sometimes.

Neither Kaa nor the mud pits of the jungle could rid him of it.

Shere Khan had marked him forever.

It hasn't been easy for him... but he had help.

###

Some days earlier

Outer Stems, Wakalu, northeastern Bukuvu

Tarzan sighed, he didn't know how long he had been staring at the lake, was it an hour or more than that? Allowing his internal thoughts to drift away, he gives out another sigh as his feet kick the water around. For the first time since he was a youngling, he was the topic of pity; as if everything he had done to prove his strength to the jungle had been in vain. Once again, there was reason for people to look upon him with sadness in their eyes. But whenever these swirling, whirling, deep dark thoughts threatened to take hold of him, Tarzan tried to remember a few things. That he's even alive at all is a blessing; considering he'd gotten face-to-face with death quite a few times that day, certainly more than he had in quite a while. Or how, as time went on, his scars hurt less and less; hopefully one day they wouldn't hurt at all. Or when his mother reassures him that he's been handling this situation amazingly well and that the side effects could've been far worse. Or how Simba or Terk tried to remind him that he's a "Goddamn hero!" whenever possible. The golden lion even remarked that he and Tarzan now looked like his father and uncle more than ever thanks to the scar on the latter's side.

...Yet, as long as he stared at those scratches, there was no escaping his fear of Shere Khan.

A large shadow casts over him, causing the Mangani to look over his shoulder to see an unusual sight, a frowning Baloo.

"Baloo?" Tarzan blinked and hishairy godfather sighed before sitting down next to him, actually tipping over the log with his weight. They both just stared at the lake in silence.

Finally, the ursine glances at the mopping ape. "Little Britches... listen, I'm not good at this like Baggy but I want you to know something." He finally spoke before glancing at the juvenile to make sure he was listening, "I understand what is like to be afraid of your own scars..."

Tarzan blinked before looking at him as Baloo rubbed his neck.

"...I know that every time when you see it, you start thinking of the bad stuff that's happened..."

"Yeah..."

"...Look," Baloo shifted, pulling his fur to reveal a faint teeth mark before revealing more scars: bites and cuts alike almost vanishing in his body, forcing Tarzan to squint his eyes to actually see them. "I got these back in the day. They ambushed me, dozens of them... I barely survived it."

Tarzan's eyes widened a bit, not surprised but concerned out of empathy.

"I still think of that day when I look at them, you know?"

The primate with mud-braided hair nodded slowly.

"It wasn't until a wise guy gave me a piece of advice that I got over it... when you look at your scars, forget how you got them, just take a good look on the lake and say to yourself... it's just a mark..."

"Just a mark?" Tarzan muttered, rubbing his chest.

"Yeah... just a mark." Baloo nodded before placing his hand on his godson's shoulder, "Something to show that you survived to live another day, that you went through some sticky situations and still walked out of it alive." His hand tightened before he grunted. "So don't be ashamed of your scar, just remember that it is a mark of your survival."

"I think I kind of get it..." Tarzan chuckled, weak but genuine. "Thanks, Baloo..."

The bear gave a smile of his own before they both got up on their feet.

###

Present time

Outer Stems, Wakalu, northeastern Bukuvu

From that day forth, he put it on display, never hiding it for even a moment, and willfully talking about it with anyone who asked. Treating it like a reminder of a great deed. The only times his scar was concealed from view was when it was quite sunny in the jungle, and that was just for his health. In any other instance, it was there for the whole Bukuvu to see. And slowly but surely, he felt a bit more confident about it. It was proof. Proof that he'd survived impossible odds. So Tarzan wore it proudly.

...

...

...

...But he still looked blue.

Sure he missed Bagheera and worried about his health. Right now he was sitting in the dingy, dark shadow of his teacher's favorite spot. This had become a common occurrence for the young man ever since that fateful day; he would come to the panther's mohwa tree every morning and evening so he could be alone for a while and think about past events, for it made him feel connected to his godfather in a way, despite the latter being in a coma.

The Khan had escaped... vanished from the swamp before Basi and Colonel Hathi arrived to drive him off. His surprise raid had surprised everyone in the northern jungle. The parrots, never ones to keep their beaks closed, spread the message to everyone until it eventually reached Tarzan's ears. The youth's fury was only subsided by the news that Simba was healing well. According to Kaa, his brother would be back to roaming the panther's ranges in a few days or so.

If only Kerchak had shown as much emotion once he was told of Bagheera's condition compared to when he learned that the tiger had crossed to their side of the river.

Overall, nothing had changed... except for the Bukuvu's hairless endling.

Even though his body had miraculously recovered from the battle, Tarzan felt an itch whenever he got too absorbed in his thoughts and something was definitely wrong with his mind, specifically his confidence. Every time he had any of his fangs in hand, he felt his grip shaking and found himself hesitating and doubting his own capacities when he sparred with Simba, Terk, or Baloo, something that he had never done before even when he was a tiny cub. After the Dum-Dum, many had commented on how strong he was and he began to believe that was true. That he could protect his family and friends from their enemies... but after his fight with Shere Khan, Tarzan feared that wasn't true at all.

"Damnit, what's wrong with me?!" He inwardly shouted to himself. As the youth thought more on the matter, he was suddenly waked from his musing by a familiar voice.

"You know, there is a saying in the jungle: if you scratch your scars, they won't ever heal."

Turning around, Tarzan saw that someone had joined him on the tree, it was Kala. "Mother, I... I didn't hear you come up, you surprised me." His sigh sounded tired. "I wasn't scratching my scar, I was just getting a better look at it in the water to see how it was healing... that's all." He aimed his gaze back at the puddle below.

Although he tried to put up a front, Kala knew by his breathing that something was troubling her frog. One look was all it took for her to spot that unmistakable glint of sorrow and regret. "Come now, Tarzan. You know I wasn't talking about the scar on your chest. I was talking about the one in your heart." She sat across from him. "The same one you have been scratching every day since it happened."

The boy hung his head at that. "I am sorry, mother. I wasn't doing it on purpose. It's just... every time I close my eyes... I can't help but relive what happened." He said, eyes wandering aimlessly around the scenery before them. "That horrible memory just doesn't go away... and I don't think it is gonna get any easier."

"My dear cub. It won't get easier because you never let it go." Kala spoke softly. "I know that it hurts you, young one. But the wound on your heart is no different than the one on your chest, it will heal in time if you give it a chance."

Tarzan closed his eyes with another sigh. "I wish it was that simple. I try to look past the visions and not let them affect me... but no matter how hard I try, when I see my reflection, I don't see myself anymore."

The puddle proved his words true: gone was the lively juvenile, brimming with confidence and determination, he had now been replaced by a hesitant young cub who seemed unsure of himself.

His mother saw it too.

"Now, Tarzan, Baloo told you that scars are not marks of shame. They are merely symbols and reminders of the battles fought. The one in your heart is not different."

"But how do you overcome something like that?" Tarzan asked, his voice half-broken. "How do you keep the pain inside from growing so much that it aches worse than any cut?" Tears threatening to spill, he turned to her. "How can you be so strong, mother? I don't understand!"

Kala lowered her head at that. "I am not as strong as you think I am, dear. I feel the same sadness and experience the same tears you do more often than I like to admit." Her tone grew quieter and serene like leaves carried down by the wind. "And there are some nights that I can't even sleep... but what helps me during those times is remembering that everything happens for a reason... including this."

Tarzan sighed, his mother's words stroke a chord and reminded him of Bagheera's maxims about the Great Circle of Life.

"And I still have you, the Troop, and the others here with me at all times. Yes, my first son is gone... but, in a way, he is still alive." The second son paid attention in respectful silence. "I may no longer see him, but those you love will be in your heart forever. No matter what happens, the good memories will stay with us, and for me... that's enough to smile."

"...I guess you're right." He let out a deep breath. "I shouldn't be surprised, Bagheera would always go on and on about how we should strive to be the best we could be... he wouldn't want our family to become weak and wilt in his absence."

Kala offered him a kind smile. "You have his fighting spirit, he's always been proud of you. As long as you stay strong, that scar in your heart will heal in no time."

Slowly but surely, Tarzan returned her smile with a nod. Though his was smaller.

"I think you have spent enough time here, my son. Go with Simba and the others and have a bit of fun. Spending some time with them will be good for you. It should get your head out of your troubles for a while."

Tarzan landed on the floor and started walking, but not before sparing his mother a parting glance for confirmation. One nod from her was all it took for him to get going.

"Guys, wait up!" The group was far ahead by the time Tarzan caught up with them.

"Little Britches!" Baloo beamed upon seeing the hairless ape running towards them.

"Took you long enough," Timon remarked, putting his arms on his sides. "What made you change your mind?"

Simba cut in. "Let me guess: Auntie Kala got through to you?"

"Yeah... I guess she did." Tarzan responded simply.

Pumbaa stared up at him. "So... you're feeling better?

"I-I think so."

"You haven't really been yourself lately, bro." Simba pointed out in concern. His brother hardly smiled now and it doesn't even look like he wants to have fun anymore.

"Come on, T, cheer up, Baggy will be fine. It's no use worrying about it." The meerkat then came to his godson. "You gotta take your life one day at a time, you know? Don't think about the past or the future. Purge your mind! Blank it out!" he whispered to him the next part: "It's easy, Pumbaa does it all the time."

"What?" asked the warthog in question.

"See?" Timon grinned.

"What?"

"See?"

"What?!"

"See?"

Pumbaa blew up: "WHAT?!"

Tarzan laughed for the first time in quite a while, joined by the others.

Leave it to his pals to cheer him up.

Baloo came into the huddle. "And if you gotta think about something, think about us. Better yet, you should think about the bare necessities." He told the Mangani. "The simple bare necessities."

Simba wrapped an arm around Tarzan's shoulder. "Forget about your worries."

Pumbaa beamed: "And your strife."

Tarzan, smiling brighter, clapped his palms together. "You mean the bare necessities. Old Mother Nature's recipes that bring the bare necessities of life." He got with the beat and started dancing. "Wherever I wander, wherever I roam, I couldn't be fonder of my jungle home."

Simba bounced on all fours. "Don't spend your time filled with doubt over things you can do nothing about."

"Yeah, that's it boys, come on, shout it!" urged Timon.

Tarzan and Simba, shoulder-to-shoulder: "Let's go along not thinkin' about it! Bare necessities. The simple bare necessities."

Baloo, Timon, and Pumbaa sang in unison: "Forget about your worries and your strife."

"Oh, yeah. I mean the bare necessities." The bear leaned on a tree to scratch himself. "That's why a bear can rest at ease."

"With just the bare necessities of life." Pumbaa swayed from side to side.

"Now if you pick a pawpaw, or a prickly pear, and you prick a raw paw, next time beware." Baloo demonstrated, plucking the figs from the cacti with his claw. "Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw, when you pick a pear try to use the claw." Following his example, Tarzan used a stick to get himself a lunch. "But you don't need to use the claw when you pick a pear of the big pawpaw." Pausing, the bear turned to his sinewy student. "Have I given you a clue?"

Tarzan took one to his mouth, savored the taste, then smiled and gave the bear a thumbs up.

"The bare necessities of life will come to you." Simba strolled.

"Let it come to you." Pumbaa pranced around.

"They'll come to you!" Timon howled.

Finally, they all sang together: "No matter where we go, we'll find the bare necessities of life!"

With their song over, the group in fervor exchanged hugs, pats, handshakes, and noogies.

"You guys are the best." Tarzan chortled/stated.

Pumbaa blushed. "Ah, shucks."

"We are glad to help." Said Timon. "Now, tell you what: we're entrusting you to make a plan for us today."

"This is important." added the sloth bear. "Think about all you've been taught."

"What do you wanna do?" asked the swine.

"...Absolutely nothing!"

"Now that's more like it!" Simba glowed.

The mongoose cheered: "Our Hairless Wonder is back!"

Hearing this, Tarzan was easily able to hide his sad smile from them, knowing his family was well aware that he was hurting and were trying their best to comfort him. They just wanted to have fun with their manling... and he too wanted to have fun with them again.

Life flows lazily around Hakuna Matata Falls. Water, air, love, house with a roof above, wisdom, food, sleep, all of the bare necessities of life for a family of five to keep their good health... although Simba complained that he wanted to gauge on wild hares even as he messed around in the waterhole with Baloo and Pumbaa. Still, his brother decided that a trip to the mystery hot spring was in order. Thus here they were, the bear with his head underwater and blowing several bubbles in a tune loud enough so his companions could make out what it was. From their natural hot tub, the trio also watched as Tarzan and Timon played their new game.

"So this is how it goes: I throw the fruit and you strike at it." The meerkat found a stout stick and a round, sun-dried fruit. Then he stood on a flat rock, tossed the makeshift ball into the air, and whacked it with the stick in a swiping blow.

The fruit rocketed off even better than he had dared to hope.

"Now I'm cooking! How's that for a swing?" cried the happy mongoose before he looked over at his curious, tawny godson. "If you are game, Simba, I will show you how to play later."

"Simba is big game!" laughed Pumbaa. "Get it?"

Tarzan was ready for his turn, eager to work up the sweat before he too took a dip at the bubbling lagoon. However, the game between them was soon broken as a strange rustling in the nearby tree line caught the boy's attention. "Timon, did you hear that?" he asked, his tone suddenly tense.

Timon poised an ear towards the forest and listened intently for a moment or two before a startled shout abruptly cut through the wind,

"Hey, wait! Where are you going?!" a known, yet worried voice called out from the woods close by.

But, before any of them could react, Tarzan and Timon were both taken by complete surprise when a large feathery blur emerged from the thicket. And even more surprising was that, between the brief millisecond in which it was rushing straight into the clearing, Tarzan saw this blur was, beyond all explanation, a giant vulture with the legs of an adult stork. The next thing he saw was the figure mounted upon its back, holding on for dear life as their ride trailed off their original course. Regardless, the beast was undeterred as it bounded up and down, viewing his passenger as little more than an attacker who failed miserably at pinning him to the jungle floor. Tarzan's reflexes were sharp enough to leap well out of the bird's path before it ran him over. The orangutan, meanwhile, was trashed to the ground, knocked down with little effort. Now free, the gorilla bird squawked and barred its huge beak as it glared at Louie.

A miraculous intervention prevented things from escalating: Tarzan leaped into action. Standing in front of the ungainly fowl whose gender eluded him, he got a good look at the creature's scraggly feathers as well as their bushy eyebrows and the patch of ruffled plumage on top of their head. They had a strong, flexible neck and sharp beak as well. Long legs ending in blunt toes which Tarzan, squinting his eyes, figured out they used for digging but also as weapons during a fight.

Nevertheless, he raises his body and voice to challenge the feathery giant. That was, thankfully, enough to make the bird back off and go on his way.

Once the danger was gone, the pals approached Louie.

"Are you alright, Lou?" asked Baloo.

The King of the Bandar-log shook his head till he stopped seeing circles of vulture storks flying in front of him. "Yeah... I guess so. I was on my way to see you, wanted to introduce you to my new steed... but looks like he ain't fond of parties."

His mount was long gone. Yet, Louie looked jolly as always... especially when he saw his savior.

"Well, I will be a monkey's uncle, except I already am." Grasping his temples, the monarch smiled at the Black Back. "Tarzan? Is that you, cousin?!"

Tarzan responded in kind, happy to see the orangutan after so long.

Suddenly, Louie's expression diminished. "I am sorry about Bagheera. How are you holding up?"

The young man stared despondently at the ground again. "I'm okay... though sleeping's been hard."

"If you can't sleep, why don't you get that old Witch Doctor Kaa to hypnotize you and put ya to sleep?"

Tarzan's face scrunched at that. "Everything a snake puts to sleep, they eat." He remarked, not trusting that creepy-eyed serpent to not gobble him down. Even if he was doing his best for Bagheera.

"Eh, that's fair." replied the primate. "Well, I know a place that can help you with that."

The pinkish ape meets the red ape's gaze once more, "Real quiet, huh?"

"Quiet?" Louie, self-proclaimed men expert, scoffed. "If you want quiet, go back to The Chief's turf. This place is happening. When we're done you'll sleep like a puppy."

"Did I hear you say 'party'?" Timon perked up.

"Yes, party!" Louie addressed him and the others. "You are all invited!"

"Can we go, Timon?" Pumbaa asked/begged.

"Pfft! Of course. As if we would miss it!" declared the meerkat.

Baloo, who normally would never say no to such an invitation, grunted unsurely: "Gee, Bagheera won't like this."

Undeterred, Louie came to his side. "Come now, Baloo. You wouldn't deny Simba a chance to enjoy himself after his run-in with the tiger, would you?"

"Hey, did you guys forget? Tarzan is the one leading us today." The feline pointed out, then turned to his brother. "We are with you, T, whatever you decide."

The naked ape thought it over for a moment. Conflicting emotions battled it out inside his head: Baloo's right, Bagheera wouldn't want him to go... but he was not here, his pals were, however, and they definitely wanted to. Besides...

"It does sound like fun." Very much so. In fact, it was taking much of Tarzan's willpower to keep him from glowing like the others; he had long dreamed of a chance to visit the monkey's city again.

"That's because it is." Louie strutted to his side.

"...Alright then." nodding his head, the youth answered.

"Great, we're off then." triumphant, Louie clasped his hands together. "Monkey City, here we come!"

Monkey City. The finest home in the jungle, at least King Louie was tremendously proud to boast so. On the far side of the group's path was the mighty den, its great walls, its lofty spires, its turrets, minarets, and domes showing red and yellow in the green jungle. It made Tarzan's place look like a hole in the ground. Did his kind truly make all of this? The curious juvenile didn't pay much mind to the marks of ruin-to him, it appeared a wonderful place of magnificent beauty with broad avenues and huge temples occupied by a throng of happy, active people.

Recognizing their guests, especially Tarzan's brother and godfathers, the monkeys welcomed the group with shouts and laughter. Not much had changed in Monkey City since the pythons' siege, Tarzan could tell despite how long it had been since he dwelled in those ancient ruins. There was always music in Louie's domain. Somebody, or several somebodies, would feel inclined to pick up a makeshift instrument and start playing. It made their forest feel as if it had a language of its very own, at times. And while a bit jarring at first, Tarzan had come to appreciate it.

They entered the broad avenue where Louie's throne was located, on the opposite side of which crumbling hills of hollow granite loomed high around them. Trees had grown upon the crumbling debris along the face of the colossal hives, and vines wound in and out of the hollow, staring windows; but the building directly opposite to them seemed less overgrown than the others, and in a much better state of preservation. It was a massive pile, surmounted by an enormous dome. At either side of its great entrance stood rows of tall pillars, each capped by strange rock formations in the shape of numerous images along the monoliths.

"Like I told ya: turn the thinker off a minute and just dive in," Baloo told his mannish godson as they made their way to the dance floor. "Step aside, and I'll show you what a real rug cutter can do."

Tempted as he was to see that, Tarzan couldn't resist first climbing to the top of the tower just to behold the view from up there.

"Watch your step, cus."

Louie's voice prompted him to halt upon a high ledge. He turned around and, sure enough, the king of the monkeys was in his natural habitat: surrounded by his favorite fruit.

"You almost bruised a choice, fat banana."

Confirming the older ape's alert, Tarzan moved his foot away from the delights on the floor. "Oh, sorry."

"Cool it, cus. You just arrived in time for the banana season." The monarch grabbed the treat and extended it to him. "Here, have it. It will quiet your nerves."

Tarzan accepted the snack, he hadn't eaten yet and could use some good fruit.

"Take it easy, slow it down. Relax, get yourself unwound. And I will show you the world." The Bandar-log King asserted before happily stuffing himself with his bananas.

They were both apes, yet Tarzan could hardly think of someone more unlike Kerchak than King Louie.

After their last proper meeting so long ago, the Black Back had grown very curious by the prospect of finally seeing the long-armed primate again. He had only heard a thing or two about him from the boys over the seasons, including how the monarch tended to overdo things when he got carried away with his 'manias'. The newest of which was, apparently, rampaging about the jungle mounted on a... gorilla bird.

Yeah, Tarzan still wasn't sure how he felt about that name.

Either way, Baloo insisted Louie's heart was in the right place and that he was his friend, the best one outside their little family. On his end, Tarzan couldn't understand Bagheera or Kerchak's views on the 'chattering monkeys'. They liked their trees and music, just like the Ugani. And they looked a little like him too, being skinny and all, except smaller in size and better at swinging in the vines. But they like to have fun all the same.

"What's in your mind, cus?" Louie spoke with his mouth full of bananas, snapping the manling out of his thoughts. "Are you well?"

Tarzan hesitated, caught without words to answer him.

"Come on now... you can tell your friend Lou what all the fuzz is about."

"...We are friends?" The naked ape contemplated in doubt. Appreciative as he was of the hospitality, he was equally skeptical thanks to all those times Bagheera stressed for him to not have anything to do with the Bandar-log.

"Course we are, and just to prove it to you, I'm gonna let you come visit my kingdom whenever you feel like it. As an honorary Bandar-log."

Following that proclamation from the top banana, Tarzan smiled too, although his was brief. "Thanks, but I really shouldn't be here."

"I told you before, back when I saved ya from those dholes, didn't I?" Louie retorted, tossing the eaten fruit's peel on a hollowed-out tree stump down below, adding it to the stack inside, which was now so high one or two elephants could slip on it. "Every primate belongs in Monkey City." He peered to the party downstairs, where the others danced to their hearts' content. "Besides, any friend of those four is a friend of mine as well."

"We are family, actually." Tarzan corrected.

"And we aren't?"

The juvenile honestly didn't know what to say.

Louie's smirk persisted anyhow. "Pull one of my thrones and kick back. Don't ya think you've been working too hard lately?"

Tarzan shook his head at that. "I swore to Kerchak I would become a great ape."

"You already look like one to me." retorted the king, long gone were the days when his monkeys could carry the boy through the treetops.

The youth stared away. "Doesn't feel like I am."

"Probably 'cause you are missing something important: you are a man."

"You don't say..." He muttered dryly, Shere Khan was the last person to remind him of that.

"I mean you're trying too hard to be like the Chief." Coming to him, the orangutan put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you try being the best of your kind as you can be?"

After processing his words, Tarzan ultimately shot down the idea. "No, I can't do that. Fire is dangerous."

"Then how did you escape the Khan?"

...

Tarzan is silent, pensive as he searches for a specific memory, then:

"There was a light... so bright my eyes burned before I passed out. Shining blue like the sun." He stops, realizing what he's said. "I'm sorry, that's crazy." After scoffing, the Mangani puts on a softer expression, trying to recover. "A blue sun..."

He trailed off once he noticed that Louie wasn't paying attention anymore.

At least, it didn't look like he was: his unblinking eyes stared off at nothing, the strangest of twinkles flashed across them whilst a wide smile threatened to take over his face.

"Oh believe me... it is cu-ray-ze." Suspending himself in his arms, he leaned to look directly into the eyes of his 'cousin'. "But what if you really did see something extraordinary? More than that: miraculous?"

Tarzan's eyebrow cocked. "Impossible."

King Louie's smile morphed into a mischievous grin. "Really?" He asked. "Have you seen all there is to see? Are there no mysteries left for you?"

"Well... well, uh, um, no."

"Don't you ever wonder what's out there? Beyond the horizons, out past the smallest light that's twinkling? Where you cannot even have an inkling of what is going on?" Hand latching onto Tarzan's noggin, the orangutan guided the youth's gaze towards the endless distance. "There's so much more to everything than anyone thinks. Imagine what we could find out there. Oh, how I wish you could have seen it: travel, change, excitement, and all the stuff I could show you! Like this flower that shined like the sun itself, only blue, and it made a crackling sound like fire in the trees."

Tarzan felt his throat seize up. "A Blue Flower?"

Louie nodded, letting go of him. "If stars can fall and mountains bleed fire, red flowers can be blue." He went on to elaborate: "These can shine light without heat. I have seen men use it in the craziest of ways: to heal the sick and other miracles. It doesn't make much sense, but I saw what I saw... and, by the looks of it, so did you."

Was that how his wounds healed? Could his kind truly make such incredible things, like how they raised these cavernous mountains? Tarzan, taken aback, stopped and gathered his knowledge from the jungle, trying to make sense of such things. He had seen blue in the skies, the rivers, in some blossoms, in that light burst... and in the Bright Creeper spreading through the storm clouds before coming down to plant the Red Flower.

Was there a relation between them, perhaps? Could his kind create and control lightning as well?!

While he still found it baffling, Tarzan couldn't deny the eccentric ape's curiosity was very contagious... and so was his enthusiasm.

"Party time!" Timon cheered as he led several monkeys in a procession, all blowing on their hands clasped around the nose as if they were pretending to have rhinoceros horns.

"Come and get it, I'll just whip up a little something." 'Chef Pumbaa' was making a shish kebab out of grubs, much to the anticipation of the Bandar-log sitting around the ruins.

"Oh yeah. This old bed of soft ferns feels might good." Baloo rested on top of the leafy pile. To him, ants are quite a tasty dish. He ate as many as he wished, loving the way they tickled inside. "Come on, Simba. Simmer down or you will singe your whiskers."

Coming from the roof, Tarzan and Louie spotted the golden lion reclined on a rock table to sun himself, the roof above him allowing the sunlight in through a wide hole.

There was feasting all around them, for the hunters and foragers had brought many trophies of their skill, and lots of gourds filled with all types of juice were consumed. Fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, leaves, stalks, herbs, bugs, honey, and other things besides. Truly the arms of the Bandar-log are long and many, there's hardly anything Louie can't abide. Tarzan found the beetles selectable. In fact, they are delectable.

No cares, no strife, no wonder why they liked this place so much.

"Tarzan, there you are!" The bear eventually took notice of his godson and best friend. "We were wondering where you wandered off to!"

Louie stepped in. "Sorry I kept him for so long, Baloo. But I really wanted to show my home to my new guest."

"Don't sweat it, Lou." The ursine waved it nonchalantly before regarding the naked ape. "T, you're just in time to learn my secret for relaxation."

"Oh, and what is that, Papa Bear?" Tarzan asked though he could already guess.

"Don't trouble yourself with troubles." Not surprised whatsoever, Tarzan simply laughed and joined Baloo on the rock table when the latter gestured for him to do so. "Also, we thought you might like one of Pumbaa's famous recipes."

Tarzan's eyes grew bigger along with his smile as soon as he saw what grub the swine was shaking up for the salad. "That is..."

"Utamu, the most de-bob-i-licious grub you ever tasted? Yes."

The caterpillar-like bugs were violet in color, with paler violet stripes and lavender undersides. Their eyes a vibrant pink and their legs fourteen in total.

"I thought you only could find them in the Pride Lands during the rainy season."

"You want the rarest, most delicious grubs that ever crawled on a rotten branch?" The Bandar-log King cut in with a laugh. "Just say it and old King Louie, that's me, will fix a banquet for you!"

Admittedly, Tarzan thought that sounded very nice.

Pumbaa presented the grubs in front of him.

"Yum!" He admires and drools at it. Tarzan devours the bugs in glee, cleaning up the table in seconds. Done, he blurts out a loud, satisfied bug belch.

'BURP'

"Guys, that hit the spot." The young Black Back, slurring rather blissfully, pats his brother on the back. "I'm feeling better already."

"Only the best for our boy," Baloo stated.

Timon shouted. "Hey, Pumbaa, we need another round over here!"

Soon came the warthog, holding a leaf full of appetizers which he placed in front of his pals. "There you go!"

They attack the meal as one, grub going right down their throats like squishy goo.

"Oi, Pumbaa, a few more, please.!" Baloo banged a fist on the 'table'.

Along came the next course—this one with a rich and bold taste.

"Oh, Mr. Pig! Two more, please!" It was Simba's turn to make the order.

Pumbaa sets down another bowl of bugs.

Tarzan: "Pumbaa."

Pumbaa sets down a coconut filled with grub mush.

Balo, singsong, without even bothering to wait for the others to finish: "Oh, Pumbaa."

Pumbaa sets down a leaf bowl filled with worms.

Timon, slurring and supporting himself against Tarzan's side. "Pum-baa!"

Pumbaa sets down a snail shell filled with grub salad. The warthog scats as he works.

"Take some refreshment too!" Louie brought a bunch of slushies. "Enjoy some of our treasures."

"You are so kind!" "Lou, you're the best!" "Come and Join us, Pumbaa!" "You heard Tarzan, boys, give the hog some space!"

All of a sudden, the orangutan eagerly put two identical gourds in front of Bagheera's boys. "Here, try it."

Daring as he had been so far, Tarzan hesitated until he looked over and saw Simba drink half of his gourd in one gulp so he assumed it was safe and took a sip himself, just missing Baloo moaning something along the lines of "Oh boy, I am never gonna hear the end of this". The drink went down like water. It burned the back of his throat but in a good way, and it left a honey aftertaste in his mouth. A nice blend of bitter and sweet.

Tarzan didn't know when he climbed the ledge, how long their food binge had been going on, who took the last piece of that pudding of berries and fruit, nor why the monkeys called it by such a strange name. All he knew was that his 'cousin' knew how to bring out the party of anyone and that his mouth was amazed by a myriad of tastes that it most certainly won't forget for the rest of its days!

"Alright folks, this one goes out to my bestest friends in the whole world!" Tarzan hooted at his audience, the others, Louie included, were on the impromptu stage too, equally wasted. "My family, and especially my big red cousin!" He waves his arm at the monarch. "It's a little diddy called..."

All six of them: "PUUUUUUMMMMMBBBAAAAA!"

Then they fell over.