Ariel and Mowgli#4 pt1: Bagheera Comes Back

                                              The Adventures Of Ariel and Mowgli#4 pt#1: Bagheera Comes Back



      “Come on Mowgli. You’re doing great.” Ariel encouraged him from the ground.
Mowgli was currently working on his climbing skills. It had been almost a week since Rikki the mongoose decided to stay with them. Now Rikki was living with them and had taken part in helping Mowgli with his lessons with Ariel.
“Yes, you’re doing better Mowgli,” Rikki said as he watched the boy climb.
Mowgli grabbed a branch and swiftly swung over himself over to the other side of the tree. He jumped up and grabbed the closest branch and staggeringly hauled himself up. His legs kicking back and forth wildly. Mowgli grunted as he managed to pull himself up where he elevated his legs and got up. He panted. He reached the top.
“Good job little brother. That’s a new time record.” Ariel said from down below.
“How long?” Mowgli called down.
“About seven minutes,” Rikki answered.
“Two minutes faster than the last time,” Ariel said.
Mowgli smiled a bit as he started climbing down. He was hoping he had beaten his last time a bit more. But again he remembered what Ariel told him: It’s not going to change all at once. Just need to keep practicing. Ever since the last encounter with Kaa, Mowgli had been listening closely to Ariel with the lessons she had started giving him. His endurance was starting to improve. Mowgli swung down with a vine and daintily landed on his feet.
“Alright? Do you wanna do some swimming or have something to eat first?” Ariel asked.
“Could we eat first? I’m hungry”
“Sure.”
Ariel led Mowgli over to the traps hidden in the bushes. Mowgli felt the smell of blood waft under his nose and knew there was fresh kill inside. Ariel pulled out one of the traps and saw two freshly killed rabbits.
“Fire-cooked rabbit?” Ariel asked.
“With bananas and coconut milk?” Mowgli added, making her laugh,
“Definitely. Can you help me with this please?” Ariel holding the trap.
Mowgli opened the trap and took out the rabbits while Ariel placed them back in their hiding place. Mowgli grimaced when the blood hit his hands. He was never a huge fan of it. Despite seeing the wolves bring back kills to council rock after a day of hunting. Ariel started gathering dry grass and leaves and Rikki did his best to bring over some twigs for the fire. Mowgli started skinning the rabbits with a knife. A technique Ariel taught him not too long ago. The furs were set out to hand on a vine that was nearby the cave. Those furs would be used for something else. The meat was on the rock slab, now ready to be cleaned,
“Hey, Ariel.”
“Yes, Mowgli?”
“How long do you think it’ll be till I’m as good as you?”
Ariel said to him, “You started only about a week and a half ago. It’s not going to happen overnight, little brother. I’ve told you this.”
“No, I know. I was just wondering.”
“Don’t know. You’re picking up some things fast, which is good. But remember: it’s not a matter of how fast it’s a matter of how long you’re going to keep at it.”
“What do you mean?” Mowgli didn’t fully understand.
“What she means Mowgli,” Rikki said as he brought some twigs to Ariel, “Is that if you keep doing what you’re doing then you will be at the same level she’s at with your lessons.”
“Ok,” Mowgli said slowly, trying to understand Rikki.
“Mowgli, I didn’t get to my level for a while. I had a lot to learn when I started.”
“You did?” Hard to believe what Ariel was telling him.
“Yes. It was hard at first because like you, I started not knowing anything. But once I started practicing and kept at it, it got easier.”
Mowgli started thinking about what his sister was telling him. It made sense. He kept practicing what Ariel taught him and he could get better. Like she did.
“Ok, I see what you mean now Sis,” Mowgli said.
“Good, the rabbits ready?”

--
   
  Bagheera was walking along the river. For the past few days, he had been searching. Searching for a certain boy wearing a red loincloth. After the outburst at the river, Bagheera abandoned Mowgli to his own devices and went off. He was fuming at the stubbornness of the boy. He knew why he had to go back to the man-village. Shere Khan was out for him. But…also Bagheera knew that sooner or later Mowgli wasn’t going to always be able to stay here in the jungle. He was human, not a wolf, despite being raised like one for ten years. The panther sighed as he tried to pick up Mowgli’s scent again. He had been running around in circles for almost a week. It was like the boy was constantly moving away with no real direction of where he was going. He sighed in frustration and a twinge of fear.
“I hope you’re alright Mowgli. Once I found you, I’ll make sure you’re going back to the man-village where you belong.”
With that Bagheera jumped away from the river and began running downstream, not realizing just how close he was to finding Mowgli.


--

   Lunch went by without a hitch. Ariel and Mowgli ate rabbit and Rikki had himself half a mango. After spending some time relaxing, Ariel had Mowgli back on his lessons: Identifying certain plants.
“Ok, for this lesson, we are going to be identifying certain plants again. Knowing which ones can help you, and dangerous ones.”
Mowgli nodded as he listened, he knew this was a lesson he had to pay real close attention to.
“What’s one plant you don’t want to touch because it gives you an itchy rash?” Ariel fired a question,
“Poison ivy,” Mowgli answered.
“Good. What’s another that’s similar you want to avoid?”
“Poison oak?” Mowgli asked.
“Good job.” Ariel praised, “Ok, now can you go into the jungle, find a Tiger lily?”
Mowgli nodded and ran off to go find a Tigerlily. Not realizing he was going o run into a familiar face.

--
 
 Bagheera jumped over a broken log and padded swiftly down the stream. He sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes. The scent was human, that much he could tell. He followed the scent. It was leading him away from the river and towards the deep brush of the jungle. As he got closer he felt the scent getting stronger. His eyes went wide when he realized who it was.
“Mowgli.”
With that Bagheera broke into a run and headed off into the jungle.

--
 
 Mowgli scanned the foliage in front of him. He was focused on finding the Tigerlily, but he kept his ears sharp and eyes open for anything else. His last encounter had made Mowgli nervous whenever he was now by himself sometimes in the jungle. Ariel told him that even though the jungle seems harmless for now, it doesn’t mean something isn’t out there with you. He took that to heart, not just from Kaa, but also from the cobras and how they nearly lost Rikki. Mowgli learned some harsh lessons but gained good insight from them. Now, he was determined, determined to show that he could make it out here on his own, just like his sister.

   
  Mowgli looked around and smiled when he saw the orange petals of the Tigerlily. He ran for the flower and picked it. He was about to leave but a rustle in the brush got his attention. Mowgli looked around for something to use as a weapon. His eyes caught a broken branch and a rock next to it. It wasn’t much but he could use it. Mowgli put down the flower and got the branch, quickly sharpening the point on the rock. He held it up defensively. The jungle was quiet again. Mowgli looked around,
‘I hope it’s not Kaa again.’ He thought.
He had enough of that snake already.
Mowgli’s ear caught the sound of more rustling and held his branch high near his head, ready to use if he had to. He held his breath. That was when the last animal or panther jumped out of the brush shocking him.
“Bagheera?” Mowgli gasped.
The panther turned and saw Mowgli and sighed in relief. He noticed the tense movements and the branch. Furrowing his eyebrows,
“Man-cub, its’ me.”
Mowgli sighed, laughing a bit weakly as he put the branch down. He walked up to Bagheera and hugged him. He hadn’t seen the panther since he ran off. Bagheera placed his paw on the boy’s back rubbing it up and down. Mowgli pulled away frowning, remembering what happened between them,
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“You left me,” Mowgli stated flatly. Feeling the betrayal from him resurface.
Bagheera winced. “I know and I shouldn’t have done that. But Mowgli, you need to understand. You have to go back to the man-village.” Bagheera insisted.
“I’m not going back Bagheera,” Mowgli said.
Bagheera felt his frustration come back. ‘This boy is so stubborn!’ He thought.
“Mowgli, I will drag you back if I have to.” Bagheera threatened.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still not going.” Mowgli grabbed the fallen Tigerlily and started walking away. He had to get back to Ariel now.
Bagheera watched for a moment as the boy started leaving. Growling Bagheera ran and stopped in front of Mowgli.
“No more games Mowgli. We’re going.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He insisted.
Bagheera tried to grab him, but Mowgli darted out of the way. Realizing he was serious, Mowgli leaped over the panther and leaped again for the closest tree branch. Bagheera shook his head and went for Mowgli. He pounced and grabbed a bit of his loincloth and started to pull. Mowgli felt himself being pulled by his pants and realized Bagheera was doing the same thing he had done before.
“ARIEL!” Hoping his sister would hear him.

--
 
 Ariel was wondering, ‘Where was Mowgli?’
He should’ve been back by now.
“ARIEL!” His yell echoed across the jungle.
Her eyes widened. Was he in trouble? Rikki heard it too, looking worried. Ariel got up, grabbed a spear, and ran in the direction of her little brother’s voice, with Rikki trailing right behind her.


--
   
 Mowgli held onto the branch as Bagheera kept tugging. He was getting tired of this.
“Bagheera! Let go!” He yelled.
“Not till you see reason and-“
Bagheera was caught off as a high-pitched trilling interrupted him. Bagheera turned to see a red-haired girl jump out of the brush followed by a chittering mongoose. Ariel pounced on Bagheera, making him let go of Mowgli. Mowgli watched as Bagheera got Ariel off of him. She was circling him with a vicious expression on her face. Rikki was next to her chatting viciously. Bagheera got up and was dumbfounded. Another human was living in the jungle!
“Another man-cub?” Bagheera questioned.
“I’m a girl panther and what I’d like to know is why you were hurting my brother,” Ariel said with spitting venom.
“Your brother?” Bagheera parroted.
Mowgli dropped down to the ground and got between them.
“Ariel. Sis. I’m alright. He’s alright.” Ariel just stared at him before going back to the panther,
“Mowgli, you-“she tried to speak,
“That’s just my friend. Bagheera. He won’t hurt me or you.” Mowgli said.
Ariel looked back at the panther who just stared at her. Ariel backed down and Mowgli walked to her. She immediately started checking him out.
“Are you alright? You’re not hurt?”
“I’m ok sis,” Mowgli said.
Rikki came zooming over and went to Mowgli’s shoulder and started sniffing him.
“You seem to be ok. No injuries?”
“No Rikki I’m fine.”
Bagheera got up to his paws. The trio turned back to the panther who realized Ariel and Rikki were here now.
“Ariel, Rikki, this is Bagheera. He was the one who found me in the jungle-” Mowgli introduced them.
“-And the one who left you alone.” Ariel finished, remembering who Mowgli was talking about.
“I apologize for that. It was wrong of me to do so. I’ve been looking for him for the past week so he can go back to the man-village.”
“So you thought it was a good idea to just barge in and take him,” Ariel said flatly.
Bagheera raised an eyebrow, “I wouldn’t hurt him.”
“Oh really? Giving to how you left him to defend himself when he knows nothing about how to live on his own was a good idea?”
Bagheera winced. He hadn’t thought of that. But really, what kind of trouble did he already get into? It couldn’t have been much by now…could it?
“When I found him. He was by himself and nearly got himself taken by Agnita, the female naga.” Bagheera winced when he heard that, “And he also almost got eaten by Kaa, a second time.” Those words made Bagheera feel ashamed of himself. In a way, he practically left this boy to die. No wonder the girl was angry with him.
“But he’s alright now,” Bagheera said.
“Because of me,” Ariel stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I can see that. It is good that you two found one another. And maybe it will be easier too.”
“Easier? Excuse me?” Ariel asked, not liking where the panther was going with his words.
“It means you both come with me and I’ll get you to the village together.”
Ariel looked at him like he grew a second head, “Are you not hearing yourself? No. Mowgli is staying with me and we are staying here in the jungle.”
“You’re humans.”
“And that means what?” Ariel said a bit snarkily.
“It means you both cannot stay here. You have to go.”
“You heard Ariel Bagheera, we’re not going to the village,” Mowgli said.
“Mowgli, you don’t understand. Shere Khan is coming back here.”
“We know.” Ariel said, making him look at her, “We know the tiger is coming here, but forcing a boy to leave his home is not the way to do things. Mowgli has been with me since you left him and we have been doing very well considering.” Ariel stated.
Bagheera was a bit floored. This girl was just as stubborn as Mowgli. He noticed the boy smiling at her and stuck close to his side.
“How long have you been in the jungle?”
“For a while. Since I was a little kid.” Ariel said.
“Impossible. No human could last that long on their own out here.” Bagheera said.
“Well, I’ve been here for almost my whole life. So since I’m still here, that should still be proof enough for you.” Ariel said. This panther was getting on her nerves right now.
Bagheera shook his head, “Well either way or not. You still have to go to the man-village. You’ll be safer there.”
“We’re not going,” Mowgli said.
Bagheera was about to retort, but Ariel stopped him, “Bagheera, I know you’re worried about Mowgli’s safety, but forcing him to leave a place he has lived in his whole life isn’t going to do anything. I’ve been training him since he’s been with me and he is capable of taking care of himself.”
“Impossible. He is just a cub. He wouldn’t be able to stand up against Kaa or Shere Khan.”
Mowgli shivered as he remembered all too well what Kaa did to him when he was blind-sighted.
“I didn’t get away from the naga or Kaa on my own. If it hadn’t been for Ariel I would’ve been eaten or…something.” Mowgli said meekly, making Bagheera look at him pointedly. Mowgli’s eyes hardened though, “But I understand that I need to understand more about how to handle myself out here and Ariel has been teaching me that. I know because of what she has been showing me I can learn to look after myself.”
“Mowgli-“ Bagheera started to talk, but Rikki beat him to it.
“Bagheera, why don’t you come with us back to the cave? Ariel can show you what she has been teaching Mowgli as well as myself.”
Bagheera looked at Rikki then back at Ariel and Mowgli. Groaning, he shook his head.
“Very well, I’ll go with you back to the cave. You show me what Mowgli has been learning…and then we’ll go from there.”
Everyone agreed, but that didn’t stop Mowgli’s paranoia. He didn’t want to go back to the village he wanted to stay in the jungle. Stay with his sister.