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It must have been six months since the car crash. Six months since I suddenly found myself being a member of this wolf-pack after saving Bagheera. Since then things have been... Well... Magical, fairy-tale like, I could say. I've taken a liking to living amongst my adoptive, loving lupine family and friends. I've felt more at home than I ever did during my previous, human life, which now seemed a far and distant memory. Sura and Akru finally managed to kill big prey during the hunt. Though that was a reason to be proud and happy, even to celebrate, it also came with a sad consequence. They were seen as fully grown, mature wolves now. It meant they they had to move out of Luri and Alexander's den. Of course, either Luri, nor Alexander completely banned them. More often than not, the loving parents still welcomed them both in their big and cozy den. It just meant that they had to have a den of their own. On one day, I decided to call the little lake, where I always washed and swam, my home and make a makeshift den for me to live. But Luri and Alexander did not want to have any of that. They both acknowledged the little lake and the small beach to be my territory, but they wanted me back in their den for the night. Over the course of the months, I made a few more trips back and forth to the human village, using the Nissan Patrol which used to be of the poachers. With the cash that I had found at the camp, I bought some out-door clothing, a huge bowie-knife, some other useful tools to make my life in the wilderness a bit easier, and diesel to keep the car running. However, my funds were running out, and if I was to keep the convenience of a car, I would have to come up with a way to get more money.

With a big yawn, I stretched my arms out. "Well good morning there, sleepy head", Luri said with a smile, while grooming my scruffy, long hair. Sleep-drunk, I looked around the den. "Where is everyone?", I yawned. "You know Alexander", the white she-wolf replied, "He went out early to have his meeting with the hunters. Akru and Sura returned to their dens last night when you were sleeping and probably are at the meeting now too." "Oh", I softly mumbled. Luri licked my cheeks and said as if she could read my thoughts, "You miss sleeping with them at night, don't you? Why don't you go spend a few nights with them? I am sure they'd like that." I smiled. "Just as long as you won't sneakily sleep at the lake, we don't want you to sleep all alone. If I catch you sleeping there, I'll have Bacchus look after you again", she said with a kind, but mischievous smile. "That silly wolf just wants to turn me into an oversized wolf-cub", I said while chuckling. "He just wants to be a daddy. Even for those who aren't that little any more", Luri replied, "And he likes you a lot." I leaned against the wolf's flank and smiled, "He's very kind and caring, even if he takes it a bit too far at times." "Alright. Time to get going, you cuddle monster", Luri said. "So you're going spend the next night with Sura or Akru?" "Yes. I'll go see if they're done with discussing hunting strategies and ask." We both crawled out of the den and went our separate ways.

With another big stretchy yawn, I inhaled a lungful of the fresh, morning air. I took a few moments to savour the beauty of the forest, and I thought about how different this was compared to the suburban area that I once called home. "Yes, yes, human. We all know you're very big and tall", a familiar voice spoke behind me. Bagheera had sneaked up on me and stood there right behind me with a grin on his maw. "And ever so easy to stalk." After I turned around, he raised himself up on his rear legs and placed his huge front paws on my shoulders, "Here, now I am all big and tall too. Where are you now eh?" I just wrapped my arms around the black panther's shoulders and hugged him close. "In a place I really like, I have to admit." "Oh, you!", Bagheera smirked, licking my face with his raspy tongue. "So, my human, lupine friend. Do you have anything in mind for today?", he continued after getting back down on all fours. "I don't know yet. I was going to Council Rock." "Ah yes, I was there moments ago. Alexander asked me to bring you down. He has to ask you about something", the panther said, "Come, I'll walk along with ya."

We walked down the much treaded pathways through the Seeonee pack's territory, to what was known as 'Council Rock', a large, flat rock-formation where the pack's daily whereabouts were discussed. Akru, Sura, Lala and Alexander were still there. "Hmm. I should have waken you up to join us for the meeting", Alexander said. "The hunters all want you to reconsider joining in on the hunt. But on the other hand, you were so fast asleep that I could not bring myself to waking you up", the blue-black wolf added with a smile. "Yes, such a sweet little wolf-cub you are", Lala teased I sat down and gave the red-furred she-wolf a blank stare, "Oh hush." "What?", she continued, "You do know that I will always call you that since you've slept in Bacchus' den", she giggled. Bagheera, Sura, Akru and Alexander all chuckled. "Yah yah yah... Always picking on the human", I scoffed while shaking my head. Alexander stood over me and licked my face to greet me. Soon joined by the other wolves. I sprawled on my back and surrendered to the affection, happily letting them lick me all over my face and inside my mouth while savouring their scent and taste. Ever since I became a member of the pack, the wolves pretty much treated me as one of their own, which, amongst other things, meant socializing like a wolf. Face licking, sharing breath, and mouthing all were important activities practised amongst the pack members to establish and re-establish bonds, and as a way of showing affection. After a few last warm licks, the blue-black wolf stood up.

"I want you to go to the human settlement to find Mowgli and bring him here." While pushing myself back up with my arms, I looked at Alexander in disbelief. "Yes, you've heard me, and I've been meaning to ask you this for a while now. You've been there quite often with that automobile of yours, and we've never seen or heard any signs of Shere-Khan finding out about it. "Do realize that you'll be breaking the truce that Mowgli made with Shere-Khan", Bagheera worryingly remarked. "IF he finds out, he'll come back here for retaliation." "If he does, he'll be killed by my pack", the blue and black wolf said with determination. "At the cost of how many of our pack mates?", I sighed. "Please, we've missed him so much", Akru sighed, "Even if it would only be for a short visit, that would be wonderful." "What does the pack think about the matter, Alexander?", Bagheera asked. "I've asked, and most share your concerns. But we are eager to see him again after all this time." I exhaled and stared into the void for a few moments.

If I would find him and bring him back here, it would mean that Sura and Akru would have their initial human brother back. What would that mean for my relationship with them? And with Alexander and Luri? Even if this was a very selfish thought, the idea bothered me. On the other hand, I've heard how heartbroken they were when Mowgli had to leave the pack. So why would I deny them that happiness, if I had the means to get him here safely? "Do you want any of us to accompany you?", Alexander asked. "No. Who knows what would happen if the people in that town would see a wild wolf, panther or bear in the open. Authorities would be alarmed and you'd be either captured, or shot." Sura grumbled bitterly, "I don't understand humans. Why would they kill us?" "Humans are afraid of wild predators, Sura", Bagheera replied. "And selfish. They want everything for themselves." "Alright. I have to go to that town to get fuel for my vehicle anyway. I can have a look around to see if anyone there has heard of a boy appearing out of the forest a while ago. If he lives there, people will probably know. I might be gone for a bit longer, as I am running low on money, something I need to keep that car running." I stood up and walked off.

On my way to the old camp-site of the poachers, I pondered about how I would go about getting money. Despite living here for over half a year now, I could hardly consider myself familiar with the locals. Because I lived with the pack, who communicated with my in my own tongue, I didn't speak the native language, and knew no one in the town I was going to. Landing myself a few small errands would be hard to say the least, and the amount of money I'd be able to get would probably not be enough to even buy me one tank of diesel. I gazed upon the camp-site. During the months since I got here, I cleaned most of the place up. Any useful materials I brought to my den. To dispose of other, smaller items, I dug a hole in the ground. Only the steel bars of the cage where Bagheera used to be in were left, leaning against a tree, exposed to the elements to slowly rust and decay. A powerful reminder of that fateful day when my life changed entirely. I managed to put my mind at ease about any possible consequences for me killing these two poachers, their remains probably lost forever, decomposed and scattered by the wild waters of the river. With a few turns of the starter, the V6 turbo-diesel engine of the Nissan Patrol fired up again. An electronic 'ding' sound and a small red LED on the information display notified me of the fact that it was high time the diesel-tank got filled up. While steering it down the narrow, bumpy forest trail, I wondered for how long I would be able to keep this car. Despite its reliability, it probably was long overdue for a service. I just did not have the money for it. I smirked when I realized how quickly and easy my mind snapped back to the 'human mindset'. The campsite functioned like a portal in my mind. Everything beyond was part of this magical land where animals spoke and where I found happiness. Everything on the other side was part of the human world, a place I've found myself increasingly alienated from.

I lifted my foot off of the accelerator to coast to city-limit speeds after seeing the familiar buildings appear in the distance. Two right turns, a narrow left, and I'd be at the fuel station. Not a moment too soon, as the fuel level indicator almost buried itself in the plastic edge of the gauge to the left of the ominous 'E'. The counter of the diesel pump went into the 90 liters range, and with a loud clack, the pump disengaged. "Oof, a bit too close for comfort", I mumbled to myself while walking to the kiosk to pay. After greeting the guy behind the till, I paid the last of my dollars and walked back to the car. I drove a few kilometres and pulled over at the edge of town. 'Going back to the hospital where I went to get the anti-biotic to treat Sura's blood poisoning would probably be a good idea. Surely they would've heard about a boy from the forest?' My thoughts were interrupted by a few loud taps against the window of the driver's side door. I looked up to my left and saw two police officers standing next to the car. I winded the driver's side window down. "Sir, please step out of the car and stand to the side", one of the police officers ordered in fluent English while showing me his badge. Wondering what it was they wanted from me, I obeyed.aa "Take off that knife and put that on the ground, Sir", the officer on the right ordered while holding his hand on the holster of his fire-arm. "Are you a mister de Berg?", the other officer asked me. "Uh. Yes. That is my surname", I stumbled after realizing this was the first time in months that I heard my name. I threw the sheathed knife onto the ground. "I'm afraid we'll have to put you under arrest, Sir", he continued. "But... How? F-For what?", I stuttered after being flabbergasted for a few seconds. "You are suspected of committing a double murder, Sir", the officer firmly said after putting my wrists behind my back and handcuffing me. My insides started to panic. My stomach turned to jelly and my legs grew weak. Not a moment too soon, I was put in the back-seat of the police car. My head was spinning. The drive to the police station went by in a haze, and before I knew it, the barred door of the station's jail slammed shut and locked behind me.