The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story Page #3

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OK, wolf boy, you take round one.

But one day, when you don't have

the pack watching,

or a fat bear or a confused cat

around to defend you,

I'll be waiting to even the score.

They say revenge

is a dish best served cold.

Ooh!

Revenge is ice cream.

I'll admit it. When he roared

and licked his chops, I was shaking.

But couldn't show fear

if I was gonna be made a hunter.

Brothers, you heard Share Khan

threaten my son.

That's why it's important

that Mowgli be trained as a hunter.

Mowgli, are you ready to join the

pack and to honor our traditions?

Yes, Dad. I'm ready.

- Good.

As leader of the Seeonee Wolf Pack,

I welcome Mowgli and Li'I Raksha

to the hunt.

Alright!

I can't wait!

I was definitely up

for learning to hunt.

It would earn me

the respect of the pack

and help

when it came to Shere Khan.

Bagheera got me started.

A big part of hunting is trickery.

Let's try and fool Chil

into flying over here.

Try the vulture call.

What was that? It sounded like

a pregnant water buffalo.

What? Sweetie,

I'm gonna be a dad?

You might want to work on that.

- Don't worry, I'll get it.

Forget trickery for now.

Focus on stalking and catching.

The key, Mowgli,

is to use all of your senses.

Your sense of sound.

Your sense of sight.

And last, but not least,

your sense of...

I got it! Pretty good one.

- ... Smell!

Bye, Mowgli.

Bag heera?

Kid, you need a bath!

- Bagheera!

That was a lesson

I'll always remember,

and a smell that I will never forget.

Exhausted from hunting lessons,

I'd collapse

in the safety of our cave,

hoping for a good night's rest.

But there was no escaping

my fear of Shere Khan.

As time Went on, Baloo Worked me

harder than Bagheera.

Snack time, kiddo.

- That guy left no log unturned.

Grubs, maggots and worms

are a great source of protein.

And they're delicious.

This is heavy.

What do you see under there?

Sorry, Baloo, there are no bugs

down under this one either.

What? Are you sure?

- Yeah.

Alright, come on.

I can't believe this.

How can I teach you to hunt

grubs and slugs and mealy worms

when there aren't any left

to eat? I mean, hunt?

I don't know. Maybe you should

just teach me to hunt fruit.

Hunt fruit?

Catwoman, are you spying on us?

Baloo, what are you doing? Mowgli

needs to learn hunting, not eating.

Well, hunting and eating go together

like bugs and honey.

That's right.

- He's been doing his homework.

Show her what you can do

with the bird call.

I've been working on it.

- I can tell.

Look!

I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming!

I'm here. Oh, it's you.

It's not nice to fool Mother Vulture.

That was darn good, man-cub.

And you know what that means?

School's out. Time to get wet!

- But, Mowgli.

Don't worry. I'll head for the water,

teach him how to eat fish.

I mean hunt! Hunt fish, yeah.

Baloo, if only your brain

was as big as your stomach.

Alright!

There he goes again.

Whoa!

Incoming!

Nice face flop.

See that bush-league dive?

What a splash. Let's eat him.

Not yet, brain-free.

See you.

- Good hang time.

Bad entry.

So, exactly what is the plan, boss?

To separate the boy from his family.

I did it once, I can do it again.

Yeah, but that was humans.

This is wolves.

The pack sticks together.

They're strong, like a chain.

And you will find the weakest link.

Right after you win the gold.

Win the gold? For what?

- Face flopping.

Oh, yeah!

- Now that's a dive.

Not bad.

Man, if I only had a lemon.

So, boy, what's the catch of the day?

Missed again! I've decided

I don't like fish any more, Baloo.

What? Fish is good.

It's brain food.

Don't you want to be a genius

like me?

I'm never gonna get the hang

of catching fish.

They're just too fast for me.

- They're too fast for me, too.

But you can outsmart them

if you work at it.

Practise, and you'll be

a master hunter, like me.

Like you?

You couldn't sneak up on a log.

Maybe not, but think positive,

You get lazy,

and Shere Khan'll surprise you.

Like that.

- Yikes!

Darn you, woman!

I nearly wet my fur.

Gee, Baloo, thanks for sharing.

Baloo is right. A good hunter

never lets his guard down.

Something could be hunting him.

And we know who's hunting you.

Shere Khan wants his revenge.

But I don't get it.

I didn't shoot him. It's not fair.

We know that, but Shere Khan

doesn't play fair. Never has.

A tiger can't change his stripes.

Mowgli, look into my eyes.

Your eyes? Why?

I want you to see what it's like

to be caught in a big cat's gaze.

Shere Khan's eyes hypnotise his prey.

Maybe if you practice on me,

you won't fall under his spell.

Bagheera wasn't kidding.

Something about

a cat's cold yellow eyes

sends a shiver down your spine.

I finally had to look away.

Not bad, Mowgli.

It was a good lesson, but one

I hoped I'd never have to use.

"J" Four little, three little,

two little Indians

I One little Indian boy

Yo, Shere Khan. Over here.

Greetings, gentlemen.

Tabaqui tells me you're unhappy.

Yeah, we don't like the man-cub.

Come on, he's not a wolf.

Akela has no right

putting him in our hunt.

I couldn't agree with you more.

You know how eager he is

to be a hunter.

Maybe a little push from you guys

could launch him

in the wrong direction.

Mowgli, this is so exciting!

- Shh! Muzzle it, sweetie.

We don't want to spook the deer.

Alright, troops, gather round.

Here's the plan.

We'll split into three groups.

Raksha and I will hide behind

the left of the ridge.

Li'I Raksha and two others

will come from the right.

OK, Pop. I mean, yes, sir.

Mowgli, you and some brother wolves

will come up this hill

to cut off their escape. Understood?

Yes, sir.

Me and my two pals

volunteer to run with Mowgli.

Yeah. Like Biranyi said,

it would be an honor.

Totally.

- Good. Wait for my signal.

Move them out.

This way, buddy.

Get ready to eat my dust.

Half the legs, half the speed.

You're just jealous.

I can outrun you and you know it.

Maybe in your dreams, man-cub.

You're afraid. I knew it.

Afraid? Tie two legs behind my back

and I'd still beat you, paws down.

Yeah? Want to see who's faster?

I bet I can get to the deer

before you.

You're on. The loser has to eat last,

even after Chil.

On your mark, get set.

Go.

A hunter!

- Run for your life!

After them. Now!

- We'll never catch them.

What was the boy thinking?

- He wasn't.

Gotcha.

Keep going!

- Head for the trees, we'll be safe.

Alright. Hold up. Save your strength.

We'll never catch them now.

Nice going, man-cub.

Man-cub, we're curious.

Does Mowgli mean Little Frog?

- Or Big Goat?

Mowgli?

Son, what happened back there?

What else? He panicked.

Shere Khan was right.

He doesn't belong with wolves.

Nonsense! Mowgli's family.

Maybe your family, but not ours.

Thanks to him, we're going hungry.

We need a new leader.

One who's got a son

with four legs, fangs, some fur.

And a brain.

- Let's go, I'm hungry.

Let's scare up some food.

- Before Mowgli scares it away.

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