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11.

This time, I didn't bother to stay clear of the road and pathways. The thought of running into Shere-Khan could not bother me any more. Mentally, I felt on top of him now. The confrontation with him had strengthen my desire to kill him, but I would respect The Law. Again, I stoped for a little while after the city noises has completely died away in the distance. I hoped not to return to Balaghat for the foreseeable time to come. I debated over what to do. Part of me yearned to be reunited with Bagheera, Vermillion, Mowgli... And hopefully the pack. But I felt too insecure to simply walk straight back. I decided to go back to Vermillion and Bagheera's den first, to meet up with Tabaqui. If things had not worked out between Bagheera, Vermillion and the pack, they would be there as well by now. After a look on my GPS receiver, I took a sharp turn to the right, and left the road behind me. Those few days in hospital had done me good. I had a good rest, and my body had an opportunity to heal without the stresses of life in the forest. My stitches stung a bit, because they pulled on my skin, but that was all. The day went by. During the first few hours of the hike, I was vigilant, because I crossed straight through Shere-Khan's territory. But there was no trace of the tiger. This either meant that he had grown cautious of me, or that he was too badly hurt. Did he perhaps take a hit from Bawa's revolver? It all happened too fast for me to see anything. Hours later during the late afternoon, I arrived at the little stream. I waded through to the other side and continued the short walk that was left to Bagheera and Vermillions den. The dense collection of trees and brushes appeared in the distance, and I stopped, wondering how I would announce myself, but that wasn't needed. I saw the hyena sitting at the pathway leading into the overgrown area in the late afternoon sun. He had picked up my scent and ran towards me. I threw my backpack off and sat down on my knees. The striped hyena sat upright with his paws over my shoulders and enthusiastically licked my face. "I am so glad that you're back", he smiled. "I was worried about you. Come, let's go to the den."

I leaned back against my backpack that I had placed against the rocky wall. Tabaqui leaned into me and pressed his muzzle against my face. I rubbed my cheek against his lips and felt a familiar desire. "How do striped hyenas say hi to one another? Do they do the same as wolves do?" "We usually just sniff each other. But I know what wolves do. Would you like that?", Tabaqui asked. I nodded. The striped hyena parted his lips and gently placed his muzzle over my nose and mouth, licking over my gums and tongue. A blissful few moments later, Tabaqui let go and lapped at my cheeks and lips. I leaned against the hyena, exhaling contently. "Do humans do this?", Tabaqui asked. "Not really as a way of saying hi. Only when being in love or showing affection with a mate or someone you like a lot." "Uh, like. When mating?" "Also when mating, yeah. So you can understand the surprise when a wolf did that with me for the first time." Tabaqui chuckled. "But I've grown to like it as a special way to bond. It feels nice to be so intimate with each other." Dusk fell, and Tabaqui nudged my shoulder "Do you want to go into the den for sleep?", he asked. Even if my physical shape had improved over the last few days because of all the walking, the trek from Balaghat to here still took a toll, so I nodded. The striped hyena walked into what was Bagheera's den, and gestured me to come with him. I hung my clothing over the rocky outcrop in the wall and sprawled onto the soft vegetation on the den's floor. Tabaqui lay down against me and I rest my head against the hyena's chest. He softly nibbled my hair and ears.

"You've not heard of or seen Bagheera and Vermillion since we left?", I asked. "No. They've been gone since." I exhaled. "That is good to hear. It means they've probably been accepted by the pack." "Does that mean you're going to go back as well?", Tabaqui asked, with a tone of concern in his voice. "I would surely want to. I don't know how welcome I am there though, after what has happened. But the only way to find out is to go there. At least Mowgli should be there now as well." "Mowgli? He's back in the jungle?", the hyena asked. "I met up with him in the human town. After I told him what happened here, he decided he wanted to return the the jungle to be with his family. When we were hiking through the forest, Shere-Khan tracked us down and attacked us. I held the tiger up long enough so that Mowgli could escape to safety." The hyena now eyed me over and nosed at my new bruises and stitched up injuries. "So you and Shere-Khan fought?" "Yes. He wanted to kill me slowly for helping Mowgli get away. He clawed me badly and threw me around a few times, but I managed to injure him and in the end, he withdrew." Tabaqui softly nuzzled. "You were willing to give your life for Mowgli. That says something about you." "The pack is all Mowgli has. He was orphaned when he was young. If someone deserves to be with them, it's him. After Shere-Khan backed off from me, humans found me and took me to a hospital where I spent a few days to heal. That's where my wounds were stitched up." "You won a fight with him and wounded him. He'll want revenge." "Let him come. I'll make him hurt. He now knows that picking a fight with me will have consequences." Tabaqui soothingly licked over the stitches and bruises on my chest and flank. He was so gentle and caring, it made me feel a bit like I did when Luri was tending to me. It made me feel affectionate towards him and I buried my nose in his fur. He licked my cheeks and ears softly. "But yeah, I know the man-cub's history in all detail. Shere-Khan made us pester him and the wolves, and spy on them ever since Alexander and Luri adopted him." "That is in the past. I am absolutely sure that Bagheera and Vermillion will put a good word up for you. And so shall I." "Thank you so much. I need a clan. I don't fare too well all by myself. I feel lonely and it makes hunting a lot more difficult." "After tomorrow, we'll go to the pack's grounds and see how it goes." The striped hyena gave my face a few more warm licks. "Let's go sleep."

My full bladder woke me up early the next morning. While being sleep-drunk, I staggered out of the den area and wandered in between the brushes to relieve myself. The early morning dampness made the air feel cold, and me shiver. Seeing the droplets of dew on the tips of the branches made me realize that I already had gone through all of my water. I had most of it during my hike yesterday, and I also had shared some with Tabaqui, removing the need for him to leave the den to walk to the stream to go drink. As I wasn't feeling thirsty now, I made a mental note to get some water later that day, after a few more hours of sleep. Back in the den, I lay down next to the striped hyena and fell asleep again. A few hours later, I woke up to him licking my chest and stomach, tending to my wounds and scars once more. "You've saved me from my wounds getting infected when Shere-Khan grabbed me that first time by looking after me like this." "We always look after each other when we're wounded. It's very important. Apart of companionship, it's also a matter of survival. if a clan member is down, hunting and defending ourselves will be harder. And I know humans can't really clean themselves like we can." "I would return the favour if I could", I smiled, stroking the mane on Tabaqui's flank. The hyena sprawled out, stretching his limbs. I ran my hand up and down his chest and stomach. "You surely are an affectionate one", he softly said. "A thing I've grown to love while living with the pack", I said while resting my head against the hyena's. "During my human life, I hardly ever had any of it, except when I was a cub myself, but I hardly have any memories of that. I never had a mate, I've always been alone all the time. But when with the pack, I never slept alone. I was always kept warm and safe." "Wolves are like that. They form very tight bonds. Life in a clan is similar. We all need each other. We cuddled up and snoozed for a while longer.

"I have to go get water. I'll walk up to the stream we had to wade through. Do you want to come along?", I asked Tabaqui. "I will stay here and wait for you. I think we need to go hunt when you get back. I'm feeling hungry." "I'm carrying some food with me, if you can stomach the thought of eating human food", I said with a wink. "Well, I can try!" I smiled, grabbed my back-pack and walked out of the den area. I utilized the short walk to the stream to loosen up my muscles a bit. I ran a few paces, stretched my legs, arms. Tried out how far I could bend my body before my bruises started to hurt intolerably much. Bawa had given me two extra bottles, and a package of purification tablets. Those would be stored for later use. I trusted the water in that stream enough to drink it as it was. After filling all three bottles, I stored them away in my backpack and walked back.

A distant, agonizing scream chilled me to the bone, moments later followed by the distinct deep, loud roar I had only heard once before. I threw my backpack away, and ran... Ran as fast as my legs would carry me. My mind had switched in overdrive as I approached the dense group of trees and brushes. There, where the pathway to the den area started, stood what I feared most, Shere-Khan. His head and chest covered in blood. In a flash I saw the look in his eyes. The blood-thirst. But also the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt me where it hurt me the most. Feet first, I launched myself in the air. I hadn't even bothered to unsheathe my knives. With a hoarse scream I threw myself onto the tiger. I slammed into his rib-cage and shoulders. I was beside myself with raging anger. I bashed his head, hit his jaws with my elbows and fists as hard as I could. I kicked his legs. His chest. His head. He snapped at me. I couldn't feel anything. Another kick right against his jaw. Blood. Teeth broke off. Claws. I was flung away. Seen from the corner of my eye, the tiger readied himself to jump on me one final time. I had my bloody hand firmly around the handle of my machete. He leaped, I drew. A huge brown mass flew by me and intercepted the tiger mid-flight, fully crashing into him. Shere-Khan made a few full rolls over the forest floor, before getting back on his paws, numbed, and staggering. Black fur obstructed my view and I felt a pressure bearing down on me. "Stay down!", Bagheera said. "Let me go! Let me at him!", I yelled. But I was unable to move. From under Bagheera's belly, I saw Shere Kahn limp away. The weight bearing down on me lifted off. I jumped back on my legs and looked around for the tiger, but he had gone. There were vague silhouettes of wolves, a bear, but my brain filtered everything out. All I could clearly see was the pathway leading to the den area. Without even winking or looking at anything or anyone, I sheathed my machete, and walked to where my intuition pointed me to go.

Down in between the two dens, in the common area, I kneeled down in front of Tabaqui's remains. I held my head with my hands briefly before punching my fists into the sandy soil in front of me. I was traumatized. Shocked. This massacre wasn't just a kill. This was a statement. A message to me. And Shere-Khan had been gruelingly thorough with its delivery. It became painfully clear to me that, In stead of just killing me, his mission would be to destroy me, by taking that what was dearest to me. "I had him. He would have jumped into my machete", I growled to Bagheera who had sat down next to me. "Like Tabaqui, you would have been dead, my good friend", he quietly said. "So what? This was -my- fight. I had every right to finish it, whatever the outcome! Doesn't that Law you're always talking about state not to intervene? He has killed Tabaqui to who I owe my life. You've taken away my chance to give that tiger what he deserved!", I snarled while getting up. The black panther looked at the striped hyena's remains and sighed. "Where are you going?" "I am going to put him to rest." "There aren't enough rocks here to seal off the den." "Then I'll bury him in the ground. I will not leave him here like that."

The beige and black wolf stood a little distance away from where the pathway cleared the densely grown area. I drew both my bowie knife and machete, and walked towards him. Sura cautiously took a few steps back. I threw both knives on the ground in front of him. "Go ahead if you want to kill me. You were right. There is nothing left here for me." The silence was deafening. The wolf slowly stepped over my knives and walked towards me. He raised himself on his rear legs and placed his strong, muscular paws over my shoulders. "You are one of us, brother. We'll always be here for you."

Tears ran down my face. I lay my hands on the wolf's paws. "I have to say my last goodbye to a dear friend and lay his remains to rest." Sura nodded softly and solemnly. "We shall wait for you here." I walked to where I had dropped my backpack. With the shovel in my hand, I went back down to the den area, followed by Vermillion and Bagheera. The red wolf was visibly shocked when confronted with the horrible scene. I dropped down on my knees and started to dig out a grave in front of where Bagheera's den was. Carefully, I picked up the remains of the striped hyena, gently placed them in the dug out trench and covered them up with soil. After the last scoop of sand, I threw the shovel away against the rocky wall, sat on my hands and knees, and broke down. I cried out. I had to. There was no mental power left to hold back, nor did I feel any obligation to. Vermillion stood over me, licking up tears from my face and Tabaqui's blood off of my arms, chest and hands. Bagheera sat next to me. "I... I am so sorry, We thought you had died helping Mowgli escape. I was broken because I thought I had lost you. When I saw you here alive, I just... " The panther couldn't finish his sentence and he looked away. "You are to me what Mowgli was to me when he got in the jungle", he continued. "I can never let anyone hurt you. I couldn't bear the thought of Shere-Khan..." he stopped again. "Before I could jump on him, Baloo took care of it." I clenched my jaw. "Shere-Khan must have picked up my scent while I crossed through his territory. All he had to do was lay down low and wait until the opportunity arose to hit. Bloody coward." Vermillion took my right hand in his muzzle and gently tugged. "Come. We're done here. We should leave." I grabbed my shovel and followed Vermillion and Bagheera out of Tabaqui's tomb. The haze my mind had caused had cleared when I got back out in the open where Baloo, Akru and Sura were waiting for us.

Like Sura, Akru had reached full maturity. They both were tall, fierce, and muscular wolves, just like their father was. Baloo pretty much was like I remembered him. Brown, massive, and strong. Akru stood up against my back and Sura against my front. I was no match for the two strong brothers, and I lowered myself to the ground. Two huge bear-claws suddenly went around my chest from behind, and I felt a soft mass against my back. Baloo licked my ears and cheeks with his huge tongue. "It is so good to see you again. We all thought you died", he softly said. "Mowgli said that you sacrificed yourself so that he could escape when Shere-Khan attacked you. After Vermillion and Bagheera told us how Tabaqui helped you, and that he was without any clan-mates, we came here to meet him and ask him if he would like to join the pack, in your honour." The two wolves nuzzled and licked my face when my emotions got the better of me again. "This is too much. I... don't want to be here any more", I exhaled. "Are you fit enough to walk?", Vermillion asked. I leaned against Baloo. The bear helped me to get back up. Only now I felt the pain of the fight with Shere-Khan. I had wounds on my arms and legs were the tiger's teeth had scraped me, and where he clawed at me. Thankfully he did not bite me directly. "I've dealt with worse", I answered while rubbing my eyes. . "Let's go back to our territory then", Akru suggested. "Everybody will be so happy when seeing you. I am sure mother will be all over you", he smiled. I leaned heavily on Baloo, who accommodated me with his strong shoulders. "Mother?... Luri? She's alive? But... The den. It was sealed.", I stuttered in disbelief.

Sura looked to the ground. "I am sorry, brother. When you returned, I was so upset. I truly thought you had left us favouring your life in the human world over living with us. I didn't believe that you were captured. After you, father and Bagheera did not return, we were devastated, Mother didn't want to be in the den any longer because of all the memories there. We assumed you were dead, and sealed the den as a symbolic tomb and for closure. I... should have told you that, but I was too angry. Because mother was in such a bad way in the beginning, I offered to take up the role of alpha and lead the pack. I was leader for two years. But mother was very upset after she found out that I had banned you from our grounds after you had come back. So she made me stand down and took over. I failed. I should not have been so harsh to you. Then all of this would not have happened." "Did Bagheera tell you about... You know." "Yes", Akru answered softly. "If mother knew you were here, she surely would've joined us. She's looking after Mowgli, helping him to sort out a den. After he returned and told us about Shere-Khan, she didn't want to leave him alone."

We walked back to the pack's territory, Akru and Sura in front of me, Baloo to my left, and Bagheera to my right. Despite my grief, I couldn't help but marvel at the realization not just to be walking in this kind of company, but that I could call this company my family.