I saw the second Jungle Book movie at theaters with my younger sisters and when I was there, I thought a nice little fanfic could maybe spice things up a bit. So, let me know, okay? Thanks! Slightly edited 07/13/2009

OoOoO

Dark eyes watched from a safe distance as a couple wished their two children goodnight. A slow, small smile crept across the spy's mouth as he licked his lips, crouching further down in the thick grass. The spy's eyes stayed glued to the hut with the couple and the two kids until the candles were blown out and darkness engulfed the little hut. The creature in the grass slowly rose from his hiding place unnoticed by the rest to the world with the exception of the few fireflies that buzzed about nearby.

Yes, sleep well, child, sleep well, because you'll need to be all rested up for tomorrow. A snarl found itself on the animal's face.

Because tomorrow we're gonna play a little game...The animal's tail swung back and forth a couple of times causing some fireflies to scatter away in panic at the sudden movement of the orange animal with black stripes. Shere Khan's eyes wandered around, as he thought through his plan of sweet revenge one more time. He stalked off into the night satisfied that that his plan would work very nicely.

Very nicely, indeed. The tiger's mouth curled upwards as he continued off into the dark night.

OoOoO

"G'morning," Ranjan, a small, dark boy, shook Mowgli's arm a couple times, then, frustrated when the older boy didn't stir, jumped on the hammock and pounded on the older boy's stomach, "I said 'G'morning'- that means wake up!" Ranjan hollered. Mowgli groaned and winced in pain as the toddler continued to pound on his bare stomach.

"Okay, okay, Ranjan, I'm up," Mowgli cried, gently pushing Ranjan off him and hopping out of bed. Ranjan smiled, happy that he had been successful in waking Mowgli. Mowgli stretched and picked Ranjan up off the hammock. "Okay," Mowgli spoke to Ranjan like an older brother, "let's go out and have some fun!" Ranjan giggled happily and nodded his head.

Soon both boys were out in the village surrounded by bustling villagers trying to complete their daily chores. Ranjan trailed Mowgli through the village and nearly bumped into the boy when he came to a sudden halt. Ranjan looked around, confused as to why they stopped, and then saw the reason and a broad grin broke out across his face.

"Shanti!" Ranjan called, waving his small, chubby hands at the older girl. She stopped with a bucket of water balanced on her head and acknowledged both boys with a small smile.

"Hey," She greeted them as she continued to expertly carry the jar of water atop her head. Mowgli nodded in response and fell in step beside her with Ranjan still trailing him.

"So, are you having fun with that bucket of water?" Mowgli asked casually, glancing around and avoiding eye contact with Shanti. She gave him a funny look before answering slowly and uncertainly.

"Yeah, I guess..." She started when Mowgli's hand suddenly made contact with her bucket of water and it came crashing to the ground, soaking her on the way down. She stood still for a moment in shock, then crossed her arms and glared at the boy feeling anger build up in her. Mowgli and Ranjan both unsuccessfully tried to hide their smiles.

"You little.." Shanti let her voice trail off and just growled and hissed instead of assaulting her water assassin with an array of insults. She made a little "hmmph" sound before marching off to get more water. The boys, naturally, followed her to the river by the edge of the jungle. Shanti made it well known that they weren't too welcome to follow her around, but neither boy paid much attention to her protests. It was silent as she scooped more water out of the river hoping that she might actually get this water back to her home.

Mowgli soon took his eyes off Shanti's jar and allowed his eyes to scan the jungle that was just across the river from them.

Like I could just reach out and touch it. He felt an odd feeling of wistfulness do a tiny flip in his stomach as he continued to scan the jungle remembering when he lived there. He wondered what his old jungle friends were doing and felt a since of longing within him. Ranjan grabbed his hand and he quickly pushed the feeling away.

"Mowgli?" Ranjan asked looking up at Mowgli. He looked down at the toddler and waited for the younger boy to continue. "Shanti's done. See?" He pointed to Shanti who had already started to go back towards the village away from the little trail that led to the river. "Aren't we going to follow her and knock the jar off her head again?" The toddler continued to stare at Mowgli, confused as to why the older boy had not yet moved. Mowgli glanced at the jungle again, then smiled at Ranjan.

"Yeah, let's go get Shanti even more wet!" He exclaimed still trying to ignore that longing feeling that had planted itself within him. The two started to walk off when a rustling from the grass caught their attention. Both boys stopped and looked towards the tall grass curiously. The grass shook some more as the boys slowly approached the thicket of grass.

"Do you think it's a snake?" Ranjan whispered waddling up to the grass.

"I don't know," Mowgli muttered, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. The long thick blades of grass shook violently once more before becoming very still. Mowgli raised an eyebrow at the odd occurrence and stopped just feet away from the grass. Ranjan was right beside Mowgli and stopped as well. He looked up at the older boy curiously.

A quiet, deadpan laughter took place of the still silence that had surrounded the boys.

That laughter, Mowgli thought horrified. I've heard that before! Small shivers ran down his spine as he remembered the last time he had heard that laughter. Laughter that belonged to that terrible, carnivorous tiger. The name unwillingly escaped his lips in a whisper.

"Shere Khan." Mowgli watched, shock as the tiger made his presence known by stepping out of the thicket of grass. Ranjan stared wide eyed not sure what to do. He glanced up at Mowgli but the older boy was too shocked to move. The tiger smirked at Mowgli and slowly began to circle the boys.

"So, I see you remember my name mancub," Shere Khan stated in a rather amused voice. "And I seem to recall that you were involved in a little incident that cost me my dignity," he hissed, "Well, mancub, no one does that and lives to regret it." Shere Khan barred his teeth in an evil grin, and showed his claws to the stunned boys, "They don't live at all."

OoOoO

Please be sure to leave a review and I thank you for doing so!