The Jungle Book (2016 fan-version)

Many strange legends are told of these Jungles of India. But none so strange as the story of a small boy named Mowgli. It all began one day, when the silence of the jungle was broken by an unfamiliar sound.

On this day, in the vines and leaves of the trees, a shadow crawled through the branches. It was Bagheera, the panther, black as night all over. Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his path, for he was as cunning as a Jackal, as bold as a wild buffalo, and as reckless as a wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down.

As Bagheera slunked silently, a high-pitched noise caught him by ear. It appeared to be a screech, though it was not of any bird. Such a sound had never been heard before in the jungle. Bagheera turned, and followed the sound through the trees, eventually arriving at a river. On the river lay a shattered boat, with a small basket inside. The screaming sound bulged from the basket, as Bagheera went to see for himself. As the creature inside kicked it’s legs, Bagheera looked back in shock.

It was a mancub. All alone in the jungle. Bagheera scoffed. Had he known how deeply he was to be involved, he would have obeyed his first impulse and walked away. Yet, something stopped him from leaving. He stayed, and looked down at the gurgling mancub inside.

This mancub would have to have nourishment and soon. It was many days travel to the nearest man-village, and without a mother’s care, the child would soon perish. Bagheera thought to himself, and eventually, he had an idea.

A family of wolves nearby had been blessed with a litter of cubs. Bagheera took the basket in his mouth and brought him to where the family lay. Two of the cubs played together with a stick, as the others slept on top of their mother, Raksha. The loving mother got up and led her cubs inside. Now was the perfect opportunity for the panther. Checking to make sure he was alone, Bagheera crept over to the cave and left the basket on the ground, before running off into the bushes.

Bagheera turned and saw the basket, though the mancub made no sound. The panther, after checking a second time, crept over and nudged the basket, and suddenly...

WAAAAHHH! the mancub wailed, as Bagheera ran back into the bushes. He looked over to see, as the wolves came outside to see the basket and the infant inside it. As the father wolf, Rama, came outside, he sniffed the basket suspiciously, looking up to his mate. Raksha smiled, as Rama looked into the basket and saw the mancub. Rama smiled at the infant, while Bagheera watched happily as Raksha took the basket in her teeth and led her cubs back inside.