Ariel and Mowgli#3 pt2: Rikki Tikki Tavi

                                                 The Adventures Of Ariel and Mowgli#3 pt 2: Rikki Tikki Tavi



     It was late at night. Ariel and Mowgli were sleeping in their makeshift bed in the cave. Rikki was lying on the pillow between Ariel and Mowgli’s heads. Rikki sat up and feeling restless decided to go on a midnight walk. Rikki zipped off the bed being careful not to make too much noise. He didn’t want to awaken his friends. Rikki zipped around the area of the bed before he made his way outside. His ears caught the sound of someone digging some feet away and decided to investigate.
“Intruder?” He thought to himself.
Rikki started scurrying around for the sounds. He realized it was someone digging behind the cave. He turned from behind a tree and saw Chuchundra, the muskrat digging a hole.
“So he’s what I heard earlier.” Rikki thought to himself.
Rikki walked over to the plump muskrat and snapped his teeth. The muskrat stopped his digging and with a solemn but scared expression as he saw Rikki.
“No don’t kill me great mongoose, don’t kill me.” He pleaded.
“Do you think a snake kills a muskrat?” Rikki said putting his paws on his hips.
“Can’t be too careful. Especially with Nag out.”
“There’s no real danger over here. Nag is out near the fruit trees and flowering bushes further out there. And I know you don’t go in there.” Rikki said.
“Yes, well, my cousin, Chuia, the rat…told me-“ He put his paws over his mouth realizing what he just said or was too scared to say it.
“Told you what Chuchundra?” Rikki asked.
The muskrat was hiding his face in his paws putting his head in the hole he had been digging, slightly sobbing,
“Nag is everywhere. Oh dear, oh dear, you should’ve talked to him.”
“Well I didn’t so you must me tell me quick. Quick Chuchundra or I shall bite you.” Rikki said snapping his teeth in emphasis.
“Can’t you hear Rikki Tikki?” The muskrat whimpered.
The area was still, but still, he thought he could catch the faintest scratch, scratch at the rock. Like that of a wasp landing on a dense piece of tree bark.
‘That’s Nag or Nagaina,’ Rikki said to himself, ‘And they’re coming in from the back of the cave!’ Rikki’s eyes glittered dangerously red as he realized what was going on.
“You’re right. I should’ve talked to your cousin…” Rikki said to the scared muskrat as he leaped off the rat’s back and zipped back to the front of the cave to check on Ariel and Mowgli. He sighed in relief when he saw they were asleep. But that didn’t necessarily stop the growing dread in the pit of his stomach. Catching the sound of the scratching Rikki slowly made his way to the back of the cave. It was there he saw a very small opening, moonlight illuminating the hole. Rikki hid into a corner and cautiously tilted his head to hear who was outside.
“I will go. And I will kill the woman and the child, if I can then the cave will be empty. And Rikki Tikki will go.” Nag’s voice rang out.
Rikki Tikki backed away in horror as he realized what he heard was true. Nag and Nagaina were planning on killing his friends!


  “When the houssse is empty of people. The mongosssse will go away.” Nagaina hissed.
“Ssssso, do everything to kill the two humansssss,” Nag said.
“When the cave is empty, we again will be king and queen of the flourishing fields. As ssssoon assss our eggs in the flower bed hatch. Our children will need room.”
Nagaina hissed as she went back to the fields. Nag slithered into the hole he made and looked around.
“This is good,” Nag said to himself. “The female human has a pointy blade. But when she gets up in the morning, she will not have that blade. I shall wait here until she comes.”
Nag had positioned himself next to a clay jar, wrapping himself around the base, making him appear invisible in the darkness of the cave.

   
  Rikki was watching the cobra and trying to silently move closer.
“IF I don’t break his back at the first jump,” Thought Rikki, “He can still fight. And if he fights…Oh Rikki. It must be that head, the head above the hood. Once I have him I must never let go.”
Rikki’s eyes glittered from behind the chest near Nag. Rikki then silently moved and positioned himself right on top of the jar where Nag was coiled. Rikki’s eyes glittered and he chittered before he launched himself onto Nag’s back. The old cobra didn’t see it coming. He threw his head back in pain as Rikki dug his teeth into his hood. He began smacking around trying to get him to let go. Ariel and Mowgli both jolted as the clay jar fell over. There they saw Rikki holding onto Nag as the snake kept bucking him. They watched as their friend kept holding on. Mowgli was still, unable to move, but Ariel was panicking and started looking for a weapon. She immediately saw her knife by the chest off to the side and started to move for it.
“Mowgli stay put.” She said.
Ariel kept an eye on Rikki as he kept holding onto Nag. The cobra kept trying to throw him off. Ariel managed to find her knife in the blinding darkness and saw Nag near the edge of the cave. With precise accuracy, Ariel threw the knife and it went right into Nag’s hood. The cobra fell to the ground dead. Rikki let go and sneezed a bit.
“Rikki?” Ariel asked as she came closer to him and the cobra.
“I’m alright Ariel. You and Mowgli?”
“We’re fine. What was that?”
“Nag. A cobra he and his wife were planning on killing you two so the cave can be used for when their children hatched.”
“Cobras? Nag and Nagaina? The names sound familiar.” Ariel said.
“I met them earlier today. Two cobras out living in this field of large flowers and fruit trees.”
“OH!” Ariel snapped her fingers, “Those cobras! Not ones you want to get to know personally. I’ve heard rumors of them and always stayed clear of the area.”
“And a good idea too,” Rikki said, glancing at the dead Nag.
Ariel fished a long stick and slipped it under Nag and walked out of the cave. She placed the dead snake over to a heap of fruit peelings that she used nearby. She dropped the lifeless body of Nag into the heap. Ariel took a deep breath and walked briskly back to the cave. Mowgli was still in bed waiting for her,
“What did you do with Nag?” Mowgli asked.
“He is now among the fruit and coconut peelings heap. He’s gone.” Ariel said.
“Gone indeed,” Rikki said then scratching himself behind the ear.
Ariel and Mowgli smiled. If it hadn’t been for Rikki Nag would’ve killed them. Ariel walked over and picked up Rikki gently in her arms. As she got back into bed, she placed Rikki near her both hers and Mowgli’s head. She nuzzled her chin close to Rikki and said,
“Thank you, Rikki...for saving us.” Ariel began to drift back to sleep.
Rikki blushed only a mongoose could and it deepened as Mowgli pet him gently behind his neck making him rub into the boy’s touch. Rikki was very happy with himself. He had kept his friends safe, but this was just the calm before the storm.

   
 Rikki was up early with Ariel and Mowgli. Ariel and Mowgli had themselves an early breakfast of roast rabbit and mangos over a fire. Rikki ate some of the roasted rabbits Ariel set out for him, but he didn’t it all because he knew that now he would have Nagaina to face. She must have known that Nag hadn’t come back last night and would be acting out for revenge. After all, any animal that loses a mate would swear vengeance and Nagaina would be no different. Darzee was zipping around in circles singing a song in triumph over Nag’s death.


Darzee: Who has delivered us, who?

Can you tell me his nest and his name?

Rikki the valiant of true,

Tikki with eyeballs of flame,

     
 Darzee then dived-bombed, making Rikki flatten himself to the ground. Rikki stood up angrily,
“Oh, you stupid tuft of feathers! Is this the time to sing? Where is Nagaina?” He chittered eyeing the tailorbird who continued to dart in and out of the trees. Darzee continued to sing and then he dive-bombed Rikki again. After the second time, the poor mongoose had enough,
“Stop! Stop it Darzee. Where’s Nagaina?” Rikki said, his tail growing brushy as he stared down the little bird.
“For the great Rikki’s sake,” Darzee, made his descent and settled on a small tree branch above Rikki’s head, “I will stop. What is it? Oh, the great destroyer of Nag?”
“Where is Nagaina? For the last time!” Rikki said, sounding very agitated.
“Over by the heap pile waiting for Nag.” Darzee said, but he flew off again and resumed singing,


It’s Rikki Tikki with the white teeth

 
 “Enough, where does she keep her eggs?” Rikki asked as he tried to get the tailorbird’s attention but failing.
Rikki groaned and gave up. Darzee wouldn’t be any help right now. Rikki looked up and pushed further into the flowering tree beds and saw who he was looking for: Darzee’s wife sitting in their nest.
“Excuse me, but would you know where Nagaina’s nest is?” He called up to her.
“In the melon bed near the furthest flower tree next to the river banks.”
“Quickly. Fly down and pretend your wing is broken and let Nagaina chase you. I must get to the melon bed.” Rikki said quickly. He had to be careful and act with extreme caution.
Darzee’s wife flew out of the nest and placed herself near the heap pile where she knew Nagaina would be. She started to hop up and down and began shouting in a distressed voice,
“Oh! My wing! It’s broken. The jungle boy broke it with a stone. It’s broken!”
That was enough to bring the female cobra out. Nagaina poked her head out of the bushes where she was hiding. The voice of the bird caught her attention and began slithering after her.
“You dare help Rikki Tikki with all that he has done, soon you will be gone alongside him.”
“The boy hit it with a stone! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!”
“What is the use of running away? I am sure to catch you. Little fool, look at me.” Nagaina hissed with a sickening smile as she slithered after the bird.
Darzee’s wife knew better than to turn around and look. She would be too scared to not move and then Nagaina would catch her. She kept hopping away, but she noticed that Nagaina was no longer following her. Feeling fear grip her heat the tailorbird took to the air and started looking for Nagaina.

 
  Rikki found the cobra eggs easy and began crushing them. All but one. Darzee’s wife came fluttering,
“Rikki Tikki, Nagaina has gone to the cave where your family is,” That made Rikki stop crushing the eggs and he came up with one tightly clutched in his mouth, h come quickly, she means killing.”
That was all Rikki needed to hear as he ran out of the nest with the egg. He had to hurry.

   

  Ariel and Mowgli watched wearily as Nagaina was close to Mowgli’s leg. They had been training next to the fire and got ambushed by the cobra. Ariel was a few feet away from Mowgli from falling over and Nagaina had slithered over to the boy.
“Stay still, Mowgli. You mustn’t move, Mowgli. Stay still.” Ariel said with a quiver in her voice as she kept her eyes on the cobra.
“Brother of the human that killed Nag. If you come closssser, I’ll sssstrike, if you do not move I’ll sssstrike. Oh, what foolish humans.”
Rikki came up from behind and put the egg down, “Turn around Nagaina, turn and fight.” Rikki said.”
Nagaina kept her eye on Mowgli who refused to move, despite how close she was. The cobra knew the mongoose was behind her,
“Ah so you came well it won’t matter, but if you value your friendssss life…you should know you take a step nearer I will ssstrike to the boy.”
“What price for a cobra’s egg?” Rikki said, rolling the egg in her direction, “For a young cobra?”
That snapped the female cobra out of her victory tirade as she abandoned her attention on Mowgli, turning to Rikki and seeing her egg by him.
“Give it to me, Rikki Tikki.”
Ariel took the hint and leaped forward and pulled Mowgli to her chest and pulling them away from Rikki and Nagaina. Rikki was taunting the cobra by chittering and hopping around before he marched and got into her face.
“And Nag was dead before Ariel hit him with the knife, I killed Nag. Come and fight me Nagaina.”
Nagaina struck at Rikki, but he dodged out of the way in time. Rikki took the opportunity to go for her throat, but the cobra managed to evade his jaws. Nagaina hissed, and Rikki chattered as they both went into another stare down. Nagaina moved, Rikki jumped and tried to strike but the cobra got away again. Nagaina tried to go for Rikki, almost snagging him in her coils, but he managed to evade them, not realizing Nagaina had moved them closer to her egg. She hissed, till she turned around and picked up the egg in her mouth and slithered as fast as she could. Rikki, realizing what Nagaina had done, ran after her. The cobra was fast but Rikki kept speed with her. Rikki managed to bite and hold onto her by the end of her tail as she dragged Rikki into her hole underground. Both Ariel and Mowgli watched in horror as their friend disappeared into the cobra’s den.
“Rikki!” Mowgli yelled out, Ariel kept a firm grip on his arms as he tried to go help him.
“Mowgli! It’s too late!” Ariel said.
Both siblings watched where Rikki had gone. Ariel knew that any mongoose who ended up in a cobra’s den would have little chance of surviving. She was hoping for both hers and Mowgli’s sake Rikki was alright. It wasn’t long before both siblings heard something climbing out of the snake hole. It was Rikki! He shook his head covered in dirt and sneezed the rest of himself out of Nagaina’s hole. He looked at everyone around with a smile and said,
“It’s all over. Nagaina will never come out again.”
Ariel and Mowgli cheered happily and Darzee flew out of the tree singing again,


Who has delivered us who,

Tell me his nest and his name,

Rikki the valiant of true,

Tikki with eyeballs of flame,


 Ariel and Mowgli ran forward and picked him up hugging him tightly. Rikki nuzzled between Ariel and Mowgli, happy they were safe,
The scene faded into the night where Ariel and Mowgli were eating Dinner over a campfire. Rikki was eating a cooked rabbit. He chittered happily as he ate.


Rik, Tikki, Tikki,

With eyeballs of flame,

     
 Ariel and Mowgli looked at their friend enjoying his dinner.
“So Rikki, what are you going to do now?” Mowgli asked.
“You know. I haven’t thought about it.” The mongoose admitted looking up at the boy.
“Rikki, if you would like, you are more than welcome to stay here with us.” Ariel offered.
“It’d be nice to have you around Rikki,” Mowgli said, he had grown attached to the feisty mongoose and in truth, so did Rikki with Mowgli.
Rikki looked up at Ariel and Mowgli, who was hoping he would say yes. Rikki thought about it for a moment. He’d be with his new friends. The ones who helped him after being separated from his home. Chances are his family must have thought he was gone or something. Besides…he did enjoy the human’s company. Rikki contemplated a bit more and looked back to Ariel and Mowgli. He smiled lightly,
“I’d be honored.”
Both Ariel and Mowgli smiled big. Rikki then zipped around stopped on Mowgli’s head, making the boy giggle. He then zipped some more and stopped on Ariel’s shoulder. Making the red-haired girl giggle as his paws ticked her skin. Both humans and mongoose were very happy. They were now part of a family, an odd-looking family, but a family nonetheless. And Rikki knew he had made the right choice. He would enjoy being with Ariel and Mowgli…with all the adventures that were waiting for each one of them.