"First time hunters, listen up!"bayed Phaona, Akela's second in command, summoning the attention of all who were gathered below him. "Tonight you will be partaking in the ancient rite of passage of the hunt. The Law of the Jungle says that every coat casts in its own season; the time comes when the yearling becomes a stag, a bird must one day leave the nest. For the Free People, a cub cannot become a wolf until he has hunted his first buck.

"I must remind you: hunting is an ancient and sacred affair, our way of life. For we who are born with sharp teeth, is our right, but we never do it for sport. Tonight is your chance to prove yourself." Here, the battle hardened veteran raised his voice for all to hear, "Look well O wolves! I humbly ask you to witness this cub's transformation into a full fledged hunter of the Pack."

With a nod of approval from the head wolf, the Gray Tracker's focus soon turned to the seniors of the Pack seated along the surrounding boulders. "The Pack Elders will be watching you from unseen vantage points. You will be judged according to your tracking skills, your teamwork, and how you finish the job. Those of you who succeed will have earned the right to join us in the hunt. And if you fail– well, better luck next time.

"Remember, we wolves, as individuals, are mighty hunters, but our true strength is the Pack. If you expect to hunt with the Pack, then you must learn to cooperate as brothers and sisters of the Pack. And like I always say, there's no 'I' in Pack." There was a twinkle of humor in the Gray Tracker's eyes as he said the last part.

A few chuckles could be heard within the gathering.

"Now then!" Phaona barked, cutting off any further laughter. "You may choose team members to accompany you on this expedition. Remember: choose wisely, you must trust your team with your life. For this we cannot help you on this hunt. You pass or fail on your own. Any questions?"

There was no answer and the Gray Tracker grunted in satisfaction. "Good."

For Mowgli, choosing his team was easy; it really came as no surprise that Gray, Dhwani, Sundari and Black Bane were selected for the upcoming expedition. The siblings were more than happy to accept the invitation. To everyone's surprise, their numbers were further boosted by the arrival of Raja.

"But, Raja. Your injury." Mowgli protested, remembering the snake bite all too well. "I think you should rest and get better,"

"And miss out on my little brother's first hunt? Not on your life!"the auburn wolf dismissed with a chuckle. "I'm coming along whether you want me to or not."

Mowgli smiled nonetheless. "Okay."

And then came Phaona's deep bay, crying: "Hurry up! The hunt waits for no one, not even the tiger."

"That's his way of saying 'it's time to go,'" the eldest cub told his foster brother gently.

"Yeah, he says that to all of us,"mumbled Dhwani. As the hunting expedition began to get underway, Mother and Father Wolf came to see their children off. Almost instantaneously, Mowgli flung himself between his foster parents, an arm around each big, shaggy neck.

"Mother. Father,"he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've waited my whole life for this day. I'll–I'll make you proud."

"I've always been proud of you, my Little Frog."replied Mother Wolf softly as she nuzzled her foster son. Turning to the rest of her children, she said, "Remember to look after each other out there."

The eldest nodded. "Yes, Mother."

"Keep your wits about you, son." Rama advised. "And always remember: there is only one justification for killing, and that's survival."

Mowgli nodded. "Yes, Pop."

"You have heard. There is no more." The father wolf used his snout to nudge the boy forward, urging him on. "Go now, and Good Hunting, Little Frog!"

Mowgli turned to his brothers and sisters, all eager for the upcoming adventure. The eldest wore an expression that said: Ready when you are. Turning to the Council, the young hunter stood tall as he declared: "We're ready!"

"Good Hunting!"boomed Akela from his place on the highest boulder.

"Good Hunting all!"the six hunters chorused in perfect synchronization.

Leaving the Council Rock behind them, the expedition of six traversed through the forest on silent feet, on a predetermined course for the open plains. Not a word was spoken as they tirelessly followed the various tracks and spores on the forest floor, which were, to the trackers, as clear as summer lightning. Unknown to them, a pair of yellow eyes was watching their every move, keenly observing the young boy's actions as he made sense of the riddles of the jungle understory.

Mowgli left no stone unturned as he analyzed every broken twig and footprint with all five of his senses. Once he found the trail he was looking for, the young tracker signaled his brothers and sisters before taking the lead, following the path as though it was the only one in all of India, placing himself into the mind of his prey as he went. They all fell into the quick, choppy trail-trot in and out through the checkers of the fading sunlight, following the telltale hoof marks of their intended quarry. The man-cub's eyes blazed with determination as they were locked forward.

Are you ready? Here I come now

Look out world, I'm the one,

standing tall like a tree, there's a new spirit born inside of me

I'll be fearless, I'll be strong. I know life is hard and long

Don't give up or you lose, it's the strong life that I choose

We will travel, Wolf and Man, we will hunt through all the land

Getting strong now, won't be long now, till I'm the strongest one of all!

I am Mowgli! I am Mowgli! I am Mowgli!

They caught wind of their prey long before they saw them, the cool breeze blowing the scent directly towards the hunters' keen noses. The six dropped to their bellies as they stalked through the tall grass, breaking not a single blade as they kept well out of sight of their quarry, carefully placed feet muffling any sound that would otherwise betray their approach. After what seemed like an eternity, they stopped to gaze over the tall grass, where a large herd of Sambar deer were grazing. Mingled with the Sambar were an equally numerous company of chital, their spotted coats plainly visible against the dark brown of their larger contemporaries. Mothers and fawns of both tribes frolicked within the center of the herd, while sentries were posted on the outskirts, their sharp eyes and ears on high alert, ready to sound the alarm at the first whiff of danger. With so much meat on the hoof and great multitudes of eyes, choosing a single target was going to be a tall order.

A moment of silence. As the light continued to diminish, the only sounds to be heard were the snorts of the deer; the movements of multiple bodies ambling through the grass; hard hooves pounding on the soft earth, and the sound of smacking lips as the Eaters of Grass went on schlooping and grazing and chumping the green pastures. Occasionally the clashing of antlers could be heard as two young bucks playfully jousted one another in contests of strength.

Then Sundari whispered what was on everyone's mind. "There's too many in this herd to single out any one individual."

"Then let's go in there and cause some mayhem."growled the youngest, all too eager to begin the hunt, only to be stopped by his older brothers who blocked his advances.

"Psst! And just where do you think you're going, fur brain?"snapped Raja through his teeth, his paw standing firmly on Black Bane's tail.

"Hold it, Blackie. We're way outnumbered."the eldest rebuked lightly. "If we slip this up, we could be returning to Council empty handed."

"Besides, this isn't our hunt."said Dhwani, casting a glance at their foster sibling whose eyes never left the herd. "Don't ruin this for him."

In that moment, Black Bane remembered and began to feel guilty. For his brother's sake, he will try to be patient.

Mowgli thought hard, with his fingers playing round the haft of one of his daggers. "Actually," he finally said after half a minute of pondering, "Blackie might be onto something."

"He is?"

"I am?"

Using a dry twig, Mowgli began to draw lines and crudely drawn shapes in the dirt. The wolves followed the stick's movements as the man-cub devised a plan. "If we all jumped them at once, there will be a lot of confusion and we could trigger a stampede,"

"That makes sense!"whispered Dhwani with quiet excitement. "With the herd scattered, it would be so much easier to flush out any stragglers left behind." Mowgli nodded.

"And then?"inquired the gray brother, following the boy's train of thought.

The young tactician slowly peered over the tall grass to better understand the lay of the land, when his eyes fell upon a small stand of palm trees growing at the edge of the tree line. Mowgli beamed at the familiar landmark; he knew this place. "And then," he continued, once again crouched down to avoid detection, "Raja, Blackie, girls. You guys are gonna drive the buck to the bamboo grove where we used to play when we were cubs. Gray and I will wait for you there."

"And when you arrive with the buck, we'll be ready."the eldest finished seriously.

Sundari nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

"You can count on us."added Raja.

All the while, the boy or one of the wolves would take brief glances over the tall grass to make sure that they hadn't been discovered yet. The silent council was ended when the six hunters whispered to one another, "Good Hunting," and began to take their positions around the unsuspecting herd. Slowly, silently, they ringed the herd as a school of porpoises ring a steamer at full speed, until all were in place, each visible only to one another. The wolves were completely motionless with eyes of steel, muscles poised to spring into action yet waiting expectantly.

"Your call, Mowgli."whispered the eldest from Mowgli's right.

Without a word, the man-cub stood upright with the twig still in his grasp. Before the herd had even taken notice of his presence, Mowgli deliberately broke the stick in two with a sharp SNAP!

Every deer in the herd jumped up as if they had been shot, all eyes and ears facing the direction from whence that threatening sound had come, trying to see the danger through the thick brush. A distant Sambar gave a sudden alarm call, a "Po-onk, po-onk, po-onk!" while the chital snorted and blinked stupidly at the scrawny boy who had startled them.

Smirking a little, Mowgli gave tongue in a full hunting-yell. This was the moment the wolves had been waiting for; savage snarls filled the air as they erupted out of the tall grass, fangs bared, charging straight for the panicking herd which now ran as one deer away from the threat, and there was only the thunder of hooves, clouds of dust, and racing shadows. Sundari and Dhwani, being the fastest of the five, broke off from their litter mates and ran ladies'-chain fashion, in and out of the herd, which was beginning to to break ranks as the bucks swerved wildly to evade the jaws of death, while the anxious mothers harried their fawns to sprint full speed on untried legs, fleeing for their very lives.

No six men could have divided the herd so neatly. Unknown to either the deer or the hunting party, six sets of eyes were watching all the action unfold from a high rise not half a mile away.

"Ya-la-hi Yalaha!"howled Blackie, taking great delight in the thrill of the chase while his siblings continued running to and fro to keep the herd scattered and divided.

"Hai, hai, hai!"shouted the boy in the dialect of the village rather than the talk of the jungle, and the human words further skyrocketed the herd's panic. Mowgli was doing his best to follow the action as he continued whooping and yelling, when Gray raced to his side.

"On my back, Little Brother!"coughed the gray wolf over the thundering din of hundreds of hooves. Mowgli complied without a word; four legs outraced two any day. Once his foster sibling was securely seated on his back, the eldest took off at full speed adjacent to the stampeding herds, taking off like a gray bolt of lightning across the open plains until they reached the shadowy cover of the jungle canopy. And it wasn't long before the pair arrived at their destination; a good sized clearing ringed by groves of bamboo.

Back on the plains, Raja, Black Bane, Sundari, and Dhwani continued harrying the frightened droves of deer until the auburn wolf found what they were looking for: a young Sambar stag away from the safety of his herd. Although not yet in his prime, the juvenile buck made a fine physical specimen, crowned with a decent rack of antlers.

"We got a runner!"the middle wolf bayed, quickly closing in on the chosen target. Upon realizing the danger he was in, the buck tried to rejoin his herd, only to be blocked off by a snarling Raja, further widening the gap. He tried veering to the left, but the youngest was already there, cutting off any chance of escape. He was further goaded on by the two she-wolves snapping at his heels, driving him towards a predetermined course somewhere in the jungle ahead. Galloping for dear life, the young Sambar bolted for the forest, unaware of the fate that awaited in the dark green depths.

In the bamboo grove, Mowgli and Gray stood in readiness for the prey that was to come their way.

"Don't worry, Little Brother. He's not gonna get away."said the gray brother calmly, his eyes never leaving the edge of the clearing, ears twitching, senses on high alert.

Just then, a thought occurred to the boy. "No. He won't." Grabbing a stick from the edge of the clearing, Mowgli got on his knees, digging up the earth just at the glade's entrance. Gray looked on, tilting his head in confusion as his foster sibling continued to dig deeper, striking the ground with his stick.

"Mowgli, what are you doing?"he asked.

"Help me dig this hole."the man-cub replied, "You'll see..." That last part was said with a wink. The wolf's curiosity got the better of him, and in no time he was crouched by Mowgli's side, using his front paws to shovel away piles of dirt. "C'mon, Gray! It has to be much deeper than that!"the boy goaded playfully. "Even the dogs in the Man-Village dug bigger holes to bury their bones."

"Oh really?" Gray questioned slyly, playing along. Before Mowgli could say more, a clump of dirt smacked into his face.

"Hey!"the boy cried out, turning to the culprit who played innocent. But the gray wolf could tell from his tone and mock glare that the man-cub was far from angry. The work continued for a good half minute when a cloud of soil struck Gray's muzzle, causing him to shake his head, snorting and sneezing. It was enough for Mowgli to clutch his stomach, laughing to his heart's content.

The eldest narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. "You are so gonna get it."he growled in mock severity; two could play at this game. Soon the bamboo grove was filled with laughter as the two brothers, radically different species though they were, continued to shuffle newly excavated dirt away from the pit, oftentimes aiming at each other while they also exchanged taunts and idle threats.

Hidden in the dense undergrowth, the Pack Elders, including the head wolf himself, watched curiously while Mowgli and Gray continued digging, rolling their eyes in amusement over the playful banter. After a good while, the hole was wider than an elephant's footprint and two or three feet deep. Their interest was peaked when the man-cub covered the pit with dry twigs and leaves, hiding it from view. Had they not seen the progress made in the glade, it would have been easy to forget that the hole was ever there. A few puzzled wolves cocked questionable glances to Akela, their thoughts very evident in their eyes: Was the boy allowed to do that? But Akela said nothing; the alpha never even twitched his ears as he continued to watch, thinking many things.

In that moment, the boy and the wolf could hear the howls of their brothers and sisters, followed by a great crashing in the forest undergrowth, and the sound of hard hooves coming ever closer. The pair exchanged knowing glances. It was time.

The noise increased—crash on crash, plunge on plunge—with the thick grunting of a hotly pressed Sambar, flying in panic terror and taking no heed to his course. Suddenly, a large shape blundered out from between the tree-trunks, snorting and gasping for breath. But the stag, white eyed with fear, had hardly entered the bamboo grove when the earth gave way under his feet!

Fortunately for the petrified deer, the hole wasn't very deep, but even where he was, the young Sambar's shoulders and forelimbs were cramped for want of room, as a man's would be if he tried to fight in a barrel. As the buck struggled to free himself, a shrill yell was heard– before a horrible pain shot into his exposed right flank!

It was this pain that caused the trapped deer to shriek in agony, breaking out of his earthen prison like a shell exploding, kicking and thrashing. The minute his hooves were once again on solid ground, the buck wheeled around, antlers lowered to face his attacker. To his surprise, his assailant was not a wolf, but a scrawny man-cub armed with what appeared to be silvery claws in each hand, one pair dripping with bright crimson. To make matters worse, a gray wolf stood at the human's side, his yellow eyes cold and calculating.

A cold wave of fear washed over the Sambar as he tried to find a way out of his predicament. But all he could see was bamboo shoots in every direction. The panicked deer soon found himself face to face with flashing fangs as the four other wolves arrived on the scene, wasting no time in surrounding the Sambar, blocking off any exits or means of escape.

"Go ahead."snarled the auburn wolf. "Make my day."

Escape no longer an option, the young stag summoned whatever courage he had and stood his ground, hooves stamping on the leaf littered floor, formidable antlers lowered in readiness, if any of his attackers would only stay still, to charge down and trample the life out of them, especially the two-legged interloper that wounded him. Said interloper was now standing before his prey, Iron Claws held in readiness.

The younger wolves snarled as they began to close in from all sides when– "Stand down."ordered the eldest, causing the others to freeze in their tracks. "This is Mowgli's fight." The other four were reluctant at first, but they nonetheless complied, slinking off to the sidelines but still remained near enough to be of their brother's aid should things take a turn for the worse. Gray was the last to stand aside, but not before whispering to the man-cub, "Good Hunting, Little Brother. He's all yours."

For what seemed like an eternity, both hunter and hunted were locked in a battle of wills, one determined on preserving his life, the other bent on taking it, neither side wanting to be the first to strike. Then with an angry snort, the Sambar began to charge the man-cub head on!

Mowgli quickly read the signs and jumped to the side, narrowly escaping the buck's hooves and antlers. The stag wheeled around to call his enemy's bluff when a flying stone found its mark on the grazer's face. With a grunt of irritation, the deer charged a second time, his rack of spears poised to skewer the boy.

This time though, the boy did not dodge, but dropped to his knees like a big cat preparing for his pounce. At the last minute, when the buck was but a few yards away from tossing him, Mowgli pulled out a sharpened bamboo rod from under the dirt, strategically buried for this precise moment, and yelled as he thrust it into his enemy's chest with all his might. The Sambar belled as he reared back in pain, the bamboo biting deep into his hide, but not deep enough for fatal penetration as the spear promptly fell out of its target. But it only left the young buck torn and angry as he attacked with renewed vigor.

Mowgli, for his part, dodged and sidestepped the stomping hooves that were bent on trampling the life out of him. As he rolled out of the way of another barrage, he grabbed the discarded bamboo and quickly jumped to his feet. The man-cub raised the stick high and whirled it above his head as he had done many times while herding the buffaloes back at the Man-Village. Mowgli was now on the offensive, striking, hitting and pricking the deer with his spear, momentarily dazing the animal and keeping him at bay. But the boy's defense was short-lived as the Sambar managed to catch the stick with his rack. One mighty heave of the stag's antlers wrenched the bamboo from Mowgli's grasp, disarming him. After tossing the rod away in the thicket, the enraged herbivore reared up on his hind legs, ready to drop his antlers upon the hairless primate.

Unfortunately for the stag, the man-cub managed to roll between his legs, evading the lethal blow. Mowgli was on his feet in no time, and before the Sambar could retaliate, the young hunter slashed the deer's unprotected rear, drawing out a cry of pain. The Sambar staggered back, wounded, while his attacker retreated a safe distance away.

An animal is most dangerous when it is wounded, Mowgli recalled a warning from Bagheera some days past.

Blinded by pain and rage, the injured stag wheeled around to retaliate, head lowered, sweeping his antlers from side to side, intent on finishing the fight. Claws to the ready, the man-cub delivered a rapid slash to the deer's face, leaving an angry gash in its wake before dashing off to evade an upward sweep that would have sent him airborne. Another attack, this time aimed at the left flank, the young hunter limboed under the flying hooves aimed for his head before disappearing into the bamboo thicket.

Unable to see his enemy among the dense foliage, the Sambar remained on guard, relying on his heightened senses of hearing and smell to anticipate the man-cub's next move— when suddenly, a single bamboo rod, as though on its own accord, shot forward, delivering a resounding SMACK! across the herbivore's face. Just then, a small figure erupted out of the shoots, landing square on the unsuspecting Sambar's back. Taken completely by surprise, the deer wheeled and thrashed wildly in an attempt to shake off his opponent.

Here we go again, Mowgli thought, clinging to the stag's antlers as the grazer shook and pranced like a bull stung by a hundred hornets. Once he had a firm hold on his prey, the boy wasted no time in burying his daggers into the Sambar's hide again and again, each time deeper than the last. With each agonizing blow, the stag's efforts increased sevenfold, even though his strength slowly left him. Bellowing in pain, the buck reared back on his hind legs, sending his unwanted passenger flying off his back.

Mowgli was quick to recover and seized his chance to rush in from behind. But this proved to be a mistake as the buck's sensitive hearing picked up the man-cub's movements, and he willed his powerful hind legs to deliver a strong kick that sent his foe flying.

"Mowgli!" From the sidelines, it was all the wolves could do to stop from interfering, helpless as they could only watch their foster brother crash into the bamboo shoots, the wind knocked out of him.

Several minutes had passed when Mowgli drifted back into consciousness, a hand on his head to ease the throbbing within. With a gasp of realization, the boy was now fully awake, with only one Katar dagger in hand. Peering through the tangles of shoots, he was able to catch a fleeting glimpse of his missing blade when his view was completely blocked by a crown of antlers crashing against his only line of defense, their owner's breaths coming in ragged snorts, hooves furiously pawing the ground. With six hundred pounds of enraged Sambar deer slowly smashing his bamboo shelter to splinters, the man-cub felt his options quickly depleting. Very few wolves, however strong and cunning they may be, cared to take on such formidable game head on.

One thing was desperately clear; Mowgli was trapped. Young and inexperienced though he was, the Sambar stag was just too powerful to defeat alone.

But wolves never hunt alone, the boy realized. His memory drifted to the failed hunt that now seemed so long ago. The only way they could possibly overpower such powerful prey was by working together. In a flash, he also remembered the Gray Tracker's words of wisdom earlier that evening, Like I always say, there's no 'I' in Pack...

With a look of determination, Mowgli knew what he had to do.

The silence of the bamboo grove was shattered by an eerie barking call, not unlike that of a wolf. The Sambar halted his assault upon hearing the frightening sound coming from human lips, and before long, his attention was soon drawn by deep growls rumbling from behind. The stag was immediately on the defensive as five wolves formed a half circle around him, hackles raised, fury blazing in their golden eyes. Trapped by the barricades of bamboo behind and the gauntlet of wolves ahead, the young buck prepared to make his final stand, snorting as he waved his antlers in a threatening manner, daring his enemies to come closer. Then, without warning, he felt a searing pain as Mowgli dashed out of the bamboo grove, delivering a deep laceration to the grazer's left side with his remaining blade.

As the Sambar reeled and grunted in pain, the boy quickly rejoined his brothers and sisters, battered and bruised, but fortunately no worse for wear, much to their relief.

"Are you okay?" Dhwani asked, instinctively checking her foster brother for any signs of injury.

"I'm alright, sis."the boy reassured, but accepted several licks from the she-wolf's tongue nonetheless. "Really."

"Took ya long enough," Raja remarked, before looking at the boy's handiwork. "But you sure messed him up pretty bad. The Black One himself couldn't have cut that cud-chewer up worse. Great job." The last part was said with a wink.

"The meat is very near the bone,"said Sundari, eying the wounded buck.

"But the bone is yet to be cracked,"replied Gray. Even though the Sambar was on his last legs, he wasn't about to go down without a fight.

"Hey, Mowgli! Catch!" With a quick sideways jerk of his head, Black Bane threw the missing set of Iron Claws to their owner's outstretched hand.

"Thanks, Blackie!"cried Mowgli, once again fully armed. Staring around slowly, he addressed all of his brothers and sisters. "So what do you guys say we finish this the way we started: Together!"

"Did you need to ask?"asked the middle cub with a knowing grin.

"Spoken like a true wolf hunter!"said the gray brother with pride. "The strength of the Pack is the wolf,"

"And the strength of the wolf is the Pack!" they all bayed aloud, now springing into action!

Mowgli led the charge, claws ablaze. "Yeah man!"

The attack came from all sides, with the faster she-wolves literally running circles around the confused and frightened Sambar to prevent his escape, while the four brothers bit and slashed relentlessly, never attacking the same place twice, Mowgli with his Iron claws, and the wolves with their rending fangs. The hunters took turns harassing the stag, weakening their prey with each attack.

While Mowgli and Gray targeted the buck's vulnerable flanks and sides, biting, tearing, thrusting and jabbing, Raja attacked head on, grappling the thick neck and mane, while Blackie locked his teeth into their quarry's rear. With his attention now divided, it was impossible for the Sambar to hold them all off, and his chances of survival were dwindling by the second. The young stag had succeeded in tossing the auburn wolf with his antlers when Sundari and Dhwani joined the fray, biting and nipping at the grazer's heels all the while keeping away from the stomping hooves. Slowly and surely, the deer was becoming overwhelmed by his enemies' quickness and sheer numbers.

Gray raced in a wide arc through the clearing, carrying his foster brother on his back, before making a beeline straight for the Sambar. At the last minute, before they had come within a couple of yards, the gray wolf dropped with his haunches under him, ready for his leap. Gray made his bound before he stopped himself in mid-spring. The result was that he shot up straight into the air for four or five feet, landing almost where he left ground, while Mowgli glided through the air like a bird of prey, honing in on his target with outstretched talons. Upon landing on the stag's back, the boy wasted no time in grabbing the shaggy neck before plunging his right dagger in deadly quick succession before the wounded stag summoned just enough strength to throw off his attacker.

Mowgli was was shot away half a dozen yards, but quickly regained his feet.

For a brief moment, the deer struggled to stand. With his last remaining strength, the Sambar was able to break free of the wolves restraining him before making one final charge for the man-cub. This time Mowgli was ready; both blades held in readiness, the boy met the Sambar's charge head on.

Time seemed to slow down as he quickly dropped to the ground, sliding between the herbivore's legs and altogether evading the antler sweep that would have impaled him.

SLASH!

Mowgli's final strike was delivered deep into the Sambar's vulnerable underbelly. The young buck fell to the ground, mortally wounded. The wolves dropped out of sight as soon as they saw that the buck had no fight left in him, his breath coming out in ragged snorts. Only Mowgli advanced forward.

CLICK! The man-cub stood over his prey, his right hand raised high, poised to deliver the final blow.

But then, he froze as the once proud Sambar gave one piteous look at Mowgli. Death begins in the eyes, said the black panther philosophically one day, as all hope drains out and fate is accepted.

Above the fallen stag, his harbinger of death was quiet for a little, thinking of his adversary's former strength and drive to fight. He scarcely saw that now; the Sambar before him was defeated. Damaged. Broken. Looking at his blades, now stained red with crimson, a sudden thought came to the boy as he suddenly recalled a distant memory echoing from the past...

****Flashback...****

"... and then the leopard pounced! And he had me underneath his paws."

Four tiny, scruffy wolf cubs and a little boy, no more than a child, sat enthralled as they all listened to Rama recounting a story from his youth. Mother Wolf lay out at full length, using her shaggy body as a cushion for her cubs to rest upon, and outside, the moon shone into the mouth of the cave where they all lived.

The father wolf continued, "But before he could gobble me up in his jaws, I bit him on his paw, forcing him to let me go. I wasn't about to become his supper. No, so I fought back with all my might, until my fangs found his throat! And that was the end of him,"

"Wow!"exclaimed the six cubs, wide eyed in amazement. Even though their lair father had told them this story countless times, it never failed in making the hair on the back of their necks stand up, their little hearts beating wildly.

"You were really, really brave Daddy!"yipped little Black Bane, wagging his tail.

"I wanna be a great hunter, just like you, Pop!"said Mowgli cheerfully.

"Yeah! And fight and slay all kinds of beasts!"added Raja, baring his minuscule fangs.

"Guys. Guys, remember the Law." Gray interjected. "We should never kill for fun,"

"Hmph. Killjoy."snorted the auburn cub, earning a giggle from the youngest.

"Your brother is correct. We do not kill for killing's sake." Rama confirmed with a nod. "We simply do what we must in order to live to hunt another day."

Raksha closed her eyes thoughtfully. "And there is more to the hunt than killing. In time, you will learn that dying is as sacred as living. And so, there shall be no time that you kill that you have not been given permission."

"What about when I catch a deer from behind and he doesn't know I'm there?"asked Sundari.

"He has given you permission by playing a deadly game of carelessness, and he has lost."the mother wolf replied. "Another time, he could get away. It is Good Hunting."

"Oooh. I think I understand now,"said the little gray sister in new found understanding.

"I think that sounds fair for both the hunting folk and the Eaters of Grass." noted Dhwani. Their mother nodded her approval to her daughters' open mindedness.

"I took no pleasure in taking the leopard's life."said Rama rather seriously. "But if I didn't kill him, he would have surely killed me. Luckily I was faster than he was."

"Maybe he was a very old leopard."snarked Mother Wolf.

The cave was filled with the laughter of both young and old voices alike.

"Perhaps he was, Raksha, perhaps he was."said the father wolf before turning to his children. "But he taught me that there's only one justification for killing: survival. Never forget this, children."

****End of Flashback...****

Back in the present, Mowgli looked into the fallen Sambar's eye. Thinking back, he didn't understand it then, but he understood it now. Some must die so that others can live. That was the price of becoming a hunter. He knew what had to be done.

Taking a deep breath, he drove his blade into the stag's throat. Then stillness claimed the valiant grazer as his eyes closed shut forever.

For a brief moment, the jungle was silent... before it was broken by a long howl from Mowgli, not to proclaim victory, but to honor the fallen.

"Sleep now, O Sambar."the boy whispered to the now lifeless ear. "Go in peace."

Another moment of silence.

Before too long, Akela made his presence known, along with the Pack Elders, the Gray Tracker, Mother and Father Wolf, as well as Bagheera himself. Moving on silent paws, they formed a wide circle around the sight of the kill, facing inward. The five cubs watched from the outskirts while Mowgli stood in the very center of the ring, with the black panther at his side. "Bow your head."he whispered. The man-cub didn't need to be told twice as he quickly bowed his head in reverence.

After what felt like an eternity, the head wolf stood before the dead buck, placing a paw upon the crowned head. And then he spoke. "We pay homage to your strength, to your fleetness, and to your courage. We are sorry to have been the instruments of your death, Brother. But we are grateful for the bountiful gift of your flesh and hope that you are juicy and tender. And with your passing, it is with great pride that we welcome a new hunter into the Pack. Good Hunting."

In that moment, the bamboo grove was filled with a chorus of howling as the wolves lifted their voices in honor of their latest addition to the hunting ranks. At his side, Bagheera cast the boy a proud smile, marveling at how far he had come since his discovery all those seasons ago.

Presently, Akela came before the young hunter. "Rise, Mowgli. The moment the boy lifted his gaze, the head wolf continued sagely, "Every wolf is born twice. The second time is when he kills his first buck. Congratulations, Mowgli." Taking a glance at the kill, he stated his approval, "He is a fine prize."

"To tell you the truth, Akela, I couldn't have done it without my brothers and sisters."said the man-cub honestly.

The head wolf nodded in understanding. "Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable." he said philosophically.

"Huh?"

"Did I not say that you pass or fail on your own?" Phaona snapped. "Teamwork and cooperation among the Pack is something all young wolves must learn. To underestimate your quarry is a deadly weakness, trusting in your allies is a great strength. And as far as I'm concerned... you passed with flying colors."

"I did?"

Akela nodded. "Yes. You've displayed cunning, tenacity and strength in unity. The makings of a true wolf hunter. And you've deployed skills learned from the wits of Man. It was cleverly done."

The boy stood aside from the carcass to allow his family to gather for the feast. But Rama shook his head. "He's your kill, so you eat first."

Akela and Bagheera nodded. After a moment's hesitation, Mowgli crouched down to dispatch the buck, making short work with his blades. To everyone's surprise, the boy saved the choicest cuts for Rama, Mother Wolf and Bagheera, the portions usually reserved for the victorious hunter who made the kill.

"To my teachers."he said humbly. Surprised though they were, the selected three accepted the gifts nonetheless. The offering given, the man-cub then joined his brothers and sisters to the fruits of their labor, savoring the flavor of the raw, hot flesh. The surrounding Elders continued to sit motionlessly, patiently awaiting their turn. The young hunters had only just eaten their fill when–

"Code red!"

"Code red!"

"This ain't a drill!"

Everyone looked up to see where the voices came from, and there was the company of vultures, Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy, and Dizzy, sweeping down with the setting sun shining on the upturned flanges of their wings. As a rule, their kind would normally find somewhere to roost for the evening, but they had ranged all over the jungle looking for Mowgli and the wolf pack and had missed them in the thick foliage.

"Beat it, carrion birds,"mumbled Raja between mouthfuls. "You'll have to wait your turn."

The rest of the company below was immediately on full alert.

"What's wrong?"asked Mowgli, standing up straight to face the circling scavengers.

"The Red dogs have come, they have!"squawked Buzzie, feathers ruffled in alarm as he hovered before the boy.

"What?!"thundered everyone gathered in the clearing.

The vultures were about to say more when suddenly, from somewhere within the woods, a wolf called.

"It's one of the sentinels!"bayed Phaona.

They heard rushing feet on the forest floor, and a gaunt wolf erupted out of the dense undergrowth, flinging himself into the circle and lay gasping at Mowgli's feet.

"Akela! I– I have terrible news!"the sentinel panted. "The Red dogs have reached our southern borders–and they're attacking the herds!"

"It appears we have uninvited guests."growled the Gray Tracker.

"How many are there?"inquired one of the Elders.

"Many."came the hurried reply. "Perhaps a hundred, perhaps more. I didn't stay around to count them. If we don't repel them, they'll overrun our hunting grounds!"

The alpha wolf was quick to take command. To the vultures, he bayed: "You four! Sound the alarm to every corner of the Seeone."

"Yessir!"

"You got it, chief!" With that, the vultures flew off.

"Bagheera, you go and send for reinforcements and hurry!" The panther only nodded before disappearing into the shadows. To his second in command, the alpha declared, "We need to launch an immediate counterattack! There's no time to lose!" He was going to spring downhill when his right hand hunter stopped him.

"Akela, wait!"bayed Phaona. "You and the Elders help protect the Pack, I'll take my warriors to engage the dholes!"

The head wolf looked deep into the Gray Tracker's determined gaze. He grunted approvingly. "Good Hunting, old friend."

"Good Hunting." No more was said as the scarred wolf bounded away to rally his fighting force.

"Raksha!"cried Rama addressing his mate. "Take our children home. I will help Phaona and the others in any way I can."

"Let us come with you!"cried Mowgli, followed by the rest of his siblings. "We can help."

The father wolf shook his head. "No, son. I want all of you to stay with your mother."

"But Dad–"interjected Raja before– "This is not up for discussion! Now go!" Upon seeing the hurt expressions on his children's faces, Rama immediately regretted his initial outburst. Heaving a long suffering sigh, he said softly, "I need you all to look after each other should things... take a turn for the worse."

Suddenly Mowgli ran up to Rama and threw his arms around the shaggy neck, burying his face deep into the thick fur. The four cubs soon followed, nuzzling the strong wolf whose long white teeth had guarded them from harm, who laid between them and the cold at the mouth of the cave in their youth. The wolf that they called father. Rama stiffened at first, but accepted their affections nonetheless. "Have no fear my children. I will be back. I promise."

It didn't take long for Raksha to see her mate off, burying her head into his neck as a silent plea to come back. The family reluctantly parted, allowing Rama to spring after the war party, determined to protect his land and family at all costs. In the bamboo clearing, Mowgli remained motionless as he watched his foster father disappear into the jungle's green depths, as if charmed to the spot by some magic spell. The moment that the wolf's dark coat blended into the foliage, he felt the gentle nudge of Mother Wolf ushering him and his siblings away from the glade. The man-cub took one last into the darkness.

"Good Hunting, Father."

**** Meanwhile...****

All was complete and utter chaos as the Red dogs were running rampant across the southernmost stretch of the Seeonee jungle, spreading mass panic among the herds and killing all who were unfortunate enough to be in their path. Many creatures large and small, young and old, fled for their very lives; the smaller denizens retreated into the earthen depths of the Middle Jungle as they call it– the life that runs close to the earth or under it, the boulder, burrow, and the tree-bole life; the hunting folk stalked away from the carnage as swiftly and quietly as their padded paws could carry them. Amidst the pandemonium were terrified cries of animals trapped by the ravenous before being silenced altogether. In the highest branches of the forest canopies above, the daytime birds squawked and screeched in frenzied alarm, while the bats refused to leave their roosts. And over the deafening din, one word could be heard.

"Dhole!" it said. "Dhole! dhole! dhole!"

Surveying the land from a rocky outcrop, one dhole lifted his nose to the wind. "Fear."he exhaled, savoring the metallic aroma of blood and wanton death. "The jungle is rank with it."

Below him, on an open meadow, a herd of chital and a band of Nilgai were being harried by a platoon of twenty or thirty canines snapping viciously at their heels.

"Run! Run for your lives!"bellowed the herd leaders as they desperately tried to lead their charges to safety. But in their haste and panic, the weaker animals were left behind in the dust and overtaken by the dogs who sealed their fate. Of the slain, the slayers squabbled and fought one another for the choicest cuts, even inflicting grievous injuries on their own.

"Gorge on the spoils of war, my brethren!"bayed the red leader over the thunderous chaos. "What we want is ours, and we take what we want!"

As the night got darker, so too did the ferocity and bloodlust of the Red dogs swell as they continued their onslaught. The horrible pheeal could be heard echoing in the darkness.

"Let these lands run with blood!"

Suddenly, a spine-tingling howl pierced the air, bringing the terrified uproar to a halt. A moment of silence... before a war party of twenty wolves erupted out of the underbrush, with Phaona leading the charge!

From his vantage point, the alpha dhole was scarcely surprised by the wolves' arrival, almost as though expecting them. "So they have arrived."

In the meadow below, Phaona wasted no time in barking orders to his comrades. "Help these people get out of here! The rest of you, with me!"

No time was wasted as six or seven wolves corralled the herds away from the carnage. "Stay together!"urged one wolf. The deer complied without question; it was far better to take their chances with the noble wolves than to be at the mercy of the ruthless marauders. Only the dead were left behind. With the Eaters of Grass shepherded away from the threat, Phaona and the other wolves charged forward to meet their enemies head on.

The two fighting forces met in a crashing wave, thrashing, tearing, gnashing, and biting. The wolves fought with all their strength and bravery, but for every dog that they exterminated, more swarmed in to replace the fallen. Even without the full force of the red plague, they were severely outnumbered.

In the midst of the battle, Rama had just downed a dog when he narrowly escaped a set of snapping jaws aiming for his neck. His attacker snarled angrily for missing his prey.

"Where is your leader?" demanded the cur.

"So long as we draw breath, you will never find him."replied the father wolf sharply, baring his fangs.

"Then breathe your last breath!" The Red dogs went on full attack!

**** Done! The moment you've all been waiting for: Mowgli becomes a full fledged hunter of the Pack! Sorry for the really long wait. I wasn't counting on the challenges of writing action sequences and fighting choreography. But in the end, the end results are rewarding. Originally I was gonna have Mowgli defeat the Sambar on his own, but then it occurred to me that I wanted to convey the message of cooperation and unity, as those will be important in the future. There's no shame in calling for aid when it's needed, especially among family.

"While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a Great blessing." -Iroh

Mowgli's song is derived from a song from an old anime movie called Ringing Bell, where an orphaned lamb lives in the wild, trained by the wolf who killed his mother. It's a sad tale of vengeance and the laws of nature. *sniff* you were warned...

I forgot, Phaona, Akela's no-nonsense but faithful second in command, is voiced by the one and only Harrison Ford.

PS, everyone stay safe and watch your personal hygiene in these crazy times. It may not be a Red dog invasion, but it's every bit as dangerous. No storm lasts forever, and remember: we're all in this together...

Good Hunting!