Tailsy went up to the tree and found some fruit for Rayna. He drops some for her to catch. Rayna caught a mango fruit and took a bite out of it. Bagheera rests on a tree branch as Rayna and Tailsy are helping themselves to find food. Tailsy has found acorns for himself to feast on. Rayna placed her spear down and went off to find herself some water.
She has found a pond in a quiet spot. She grinned and rush over to the water. She cups her hands together and gather water to drink. The water is nice and cold. Rayna took off her shoes and put her feet in the water. It wouldn't hurt to have a little swim, would it? Rayna got in the water and start to float on her back, looking up at the trees blocking the sunlight. She closes her eyes, enjoying the relaxing moment. Rayna dove into the water and see some fish swim pass her. She reached up, gasping for air and shook her head a bit. She swam back to where her shoes are, but she hears a rustling sound. Rayna got out of the water and put her shoes back on and quietly went behind the tree. She poked her head out and see Shere Khan and Tabaqui appear. Rayna's eyes widen.
'Shere Khan and Tabaqui. What are they doing here?' Rayna thought to herself. She had to stay still and silent since she doesn't have a spear with her. She must wait till they are gone. Shere Khan was drinking water as Tabaqui caught a whiff of a scent. The tiger looked over at him.
"What is it now, Tabaqui?"
"You should know this smell, boss." Tabaqui spoke as he sniffs the ground. Shere Khan caught a whiff of a familiar scent.
"Ah." Shere Khan smirked. "The girl-cub was here. She should be close by." Rayna had to get out of here somehow. Shere Khan slowly approaches the tree where she is hiding. Rayna shuts her eyes tight, hearing his purr. A menacing purr. Shere Khan was about to get around the tree until a voice is heard from the tree behind him.
"Well, well! If it isn't the scariest cat in the jungle!" The voice laughed. Shere Khan slowly turned his head towards the vulture. Lucky.
"Ugh. It's you." Tabaqui uttered. "What do you want, Lucky?"
"Oh, I was in the neighborhood. And I did see that girl-cub you were looking for!" Lucky told him. Rayna's eyes widen in fear. Shere Khan let out a chuckle and walk away to be next to his hyena sidekick. Rayna took a peek at Shere Khan and Tabaqui as their attention is on the vulture. Lucky gave the girl a wink as he started talking. Rayna will have to thank him later. She silently walked away. "Now, uh, where did I see her?" Lucky wondered, pacing on the branch. "She was here, and then...not anymore!"
"Where is she now?" Tabaqui asked. "Her scent here is fresh."
"Right, right. She, uh, uh...she went to the...the grassland! Yeah, that's it! The grassland!" Lucky said, hoping the trick will work. Shere khan raised a brow.
"The grassland, eh?" He asked.
"Think about it, boss. We could easily hide in the grass, and you could tackle her down!" Tabaqui said with a grin. "She won't suspect a thing."
"No, she won't, Tabaqui. Let us go there." Shere Khan said, turning away.
"Ooh! Ooh! Can we also snatch on a water buffalo while we're at it?" Tabaqui asked, following the tiger. "Can we? Can we? Please?"
"Shut up, Tabaqui!" Shere Khan growled at him, making the hyena yelp. Tabaqui lowered his ears, telling the tiger he is sorry. The two walked off. Lucky wiped his forehead in relief.
XX
Rayna hurried back to her friends. Tailsy dropped his acorn as he watches Rayna shake the panther awake. Bagheera grumbled and woke up to see Rayna.
"Wh-what? What is it?"
"We have to go!" Rayna said, catching her breath. "Shere Khan is here." Bagheera's eyes widen. Tailsy whimpered a bit. Bagheera didn't think that the tiger could come around these parts. He figured Shere Khan must've followed Rayna's scent.
"We got no time to lose!" Bagheera said, getting down from the branch. Rayna grabbed her spear and Tailsy hopped on Rayna's head as they started to leave. "He didn't see you?"
"No. I was hiding. Lucky arrived and distracted him and the hyena." Rayna replied.
"Wise of you to hide, girl-cub. And thank that vulture who has the brain to help you." Bagheera said. He is relieved that Rayna is all right. "Second of all, do not wander off by yourself!" He said, noticing her wet clothes and hair.
"I only went for a swim!" Rayna argued back. "I didn't think Shere Khan could be out here!"
"Yeah. Rayna did just fine while we were looking for human stuff." Tailsy said. Bagheera halts and look up at the flying squirrel. Rayna's eyes widened again. "Oops." Tailsy said, covering his mouth.
"Human stuff? What is he talking about, Rayna?" Bagheera asked, looking up at the girl. Rayna twiddled her fingers nervously. There's no using of lying to him now.
"Well...Tailsy and I go out exploring in the jungle that is outside our territory." She said. "We recently found the old temple and we were almost attacked by a leopard."
"When have you been sneaking out there?" Bagheera asked.
"For a while." Rayna said. Bagheera gave her a look.
"And the wolf pack doesn't know about it?" He asked. Rayna shook her head. "Rayna, you know you are not allowed to leave the wolf's territory! What if Shere Khan had found you then?"
"But he didn't!" Rayna said.
"Guys, don't fight! Shouldn't we keep moving so the tiger and the hyena won't find us?" Tailsy spoke. Rayna and Bagheera stare at each other with glares. But they know the squirrel is right.
"Let's go." Bagheera said. "And stay close!" Rayna didn't say a word as she follows the panther. Tailsy felt bad for opening his mouth earlier. "We will discuss this later, girl-cub." Bagheera continued. Rayna sighed a bit. Tailsy owes her big time.
Meanwhile, they arrived at the grassland and see water buffalos grazing. But what they didn't know was that they were being watched, and a sinister plan was being put into motion. Bagheera stopped as he senses something. Rayna turned back to see him standing there, not moving. Tailsy looked around the grassland in silent. Something isn't right.
"Bagheera, what is it?" Rayna asked in a whisper.
"Rayna, listen carefully. Go to the north where the sky glows at night. I'll find you on that path." Bagheera told her.
"Bagheera, what are you talking about?" Rayna asked.
"Rayna, please just listen to me. Go."
"I'm not leaving until-" Before Rayna could finish, Shere Khan lunged for her with a roar. Just in time Bagheera roared as he stopped the tiger's attack. Frightened by this, Rayna quickly got onto her feet while Tailsy was beside her feet after Rayna had ducked down from the attack. Rayna gripped on her spear and about to charge at Shere Khan, but Tabaqui jumped in and grabbed the weapon with his mouth, snatching it away.
"Nice try, girl-cub!" He giggled. Tailsy run up to the hyena and jumped on his face. "Ahh! Get off me!" Elsewhere, the water buffalos got spooked and ran making a huge stampede from Shere Khan's attack. As he got up and regained consciousness, Shere Khan angrily face Bagheera getting ready to fight.
"Stay out of my way, Bagheera! The girl-cub is mine!" Shere Khan roared.
"She will never be, Shere Khan. If you want to go after her, you must face me!" Bagheera said, snarling at the tiger. Shere Khan snickered as his claws are out.
"Very well, old friend." The two started to clash each other. Rayna picked up her spear as Tabaqui tried to get the little squirrel off him. Rayna gritted her teeth as she grips on the spear. She must face Shere Khan.
"Hey!" She called out. Shere Khan turned around to see her.
"Girl-cub." He smirked. "You think you can challenge me?"
"Leave Bagheera alone, Shere Khan! Now come on!" Rayna yelled. Before Shere Khan could charge at her, Bagheera stopped him, clawing on his sides. "Bagheera!" Rayna gasped.
"Run, Rayna! Run!" Bagheera yelled before Shere Khan smacks his head with his paw. Rayna turned away and started to run. Shere Khan started to chase her until the buffalos rammed into the tiger while Rayna jumped and rolled into the muddy gorge. Tabaqui got Tailsy off him and growled at him. Tailsy backed away in fear. Just as Tabaqui was about to snatch him, he hears Shere's Khan's roar. Tailsy found his chance to escape from the striped hyena.
As she rolled down to the bottom, Rayna got up and wiped the mud from her body. But she saw the ground started to shake as she looked to the top of the gorge. Rayna soon saw the water buffalo herd running towards her and gasped. As they made their way towards her, Rayna ran for her life, but the herd caught up to her. She dropped her spear and see the herd had broken it in pieces with their hooves. Now she is defenseless. From the top of the gorge, Shere Khan tried to find Rayna from the stampeding herd. He can't risk going down there. As Shere Khan found Rayna, he makes a piercing scowl, Rayna scowled back as she waited for the right moment. She soon found an upcoming water buffalo and grabbed it by the horns climbing up onto his back. Seeing this, Shere Khan ran after her until he reached the end of the gorge. Rayna turned her head back to see the tiger not following her anymore. She made a side smirk. Shere Khan roared in anger as his enemy got away.
"Next time, girl-cub. You won't be so lucky." He said to himself. Tabaqui appeared next to him.
"Well? Where is she?"
"To the north." Shere Khan replied. He turned away. "Tabaqui, go there. If you happened to find her, inform me."
"Me?" Tabaqui asked. "Why can't you go?" Shere Khan gave him a sneer. "Okay. I'll go there. I mean, how far could she go?" Tabaqui asked as he went down the muddy gorge. He follows the tracks of the buffalo herd. Shere Khan forms a smirk and let out a chuckle. He will get his claws on Rayna sooner or later.