It was dawn. The sun's rays fell over the jungle and gently touched the structures of the man village in a warm blanket of gold. In a mud brick home, Mowgli was sleeping in his hammock, snoring lightly. The sun peeked inside the window and shined brightly on the boy. Mowgli scrunched his face as the light tried to wake him. Mowgli sleepily opened up an eye and sat himself up. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. A smile came across his face as he realized what today was: the day Bagheera would take Shanti and him to the swimming hole. Mowgli bounded out of the hammock, nearly falling out and went to the kitchen. He heard humming and saw his mother making breakfast.
"Morning Mowgli."
"Morning Ma."
"Ready for today I see."
"Shanti and I are going to see Bagheera and Baloo today."
His parents knew about his trips to the jungle. They understood how he would always want to visit so they came to an agreement: Mowgli would complete his chores and as long as he was with Baloo and Bagheera he could continue visiting them.
"I see. You are heading to the swimming hole right?"
"Yes. Shanti's coming with us too."
"Just remember your chores before you go, Mowgli." His mother placed a plate of food in front of him.
Mowgli frowned a bit but smiled, he was too excited to see his friends today.
"I will Ma."

After chopping some wood, fetching the water, and helping his mother with the laundry, Mowgli ran to go meet with Shanti. He came to the gate and stood against the woods. He didn't have to wait too long.
"Mowgli."
He turned and smiled to see his best friend running up to him.
"Hey Shanti."
"I thought Ranjan was coming with us."
"He's still a little sick so Pop has him in bed."
"Oh. Well we can always bring something back for him."
"There ya go. C'mon we don't want to keep Bagheera waiting."
Shanti laughed as she and Mowgli both scampered across the rocks and went into the jungle, laughing all the way.

A certain snake was sunning himself high in the canopy's sunning himself. He flipped himself over allowing himself to sigh blissfully as the sun's rays warmed him up. He heard laughing from below. A smell wafted under his nose, curious he stuck out his tongue to taste. Spirals came forth as he recognized the scent. Kaa rolled over and dropped down below out of the canopy. As he heard the laughing again, he stopped and slowly poked his head out of the trees. Mowgli and Shanti were down below him walking along the path. Both laughing as they made their way through the jungle. Kaa retreated back to the trees and greedily smacked his lips.
"Ohhh do my ssssnake eyesss deceive me. Its. The. Ssssculent man-cubs."
Kaa looked back at their retreating forms. The two were alone with no sign of the panther or bear nearby. There was no way he could pass up this opportunity. He knew the man cub would be difficult to take. The girl cub would not be easy as well given how she knew him. However…maybe there was a way to get them both. Kaa started to follow them, a dark smile on his face.

Shanti giggled as Mowgli told her more about what he and Baloo planned to do at the river. It was funny to see him get all excited about today. Shanti understood how much the jungle meant to Mowgli and started to enjoy it herself. She was starting to see Bagheera as a bit of a father figure like Mowgli had. Baloo was kind of a fun loving uncle to hang out with. Despite the rocky start, the two of them started to warm up with each other and became good friends. Shanti heard a small rustling up above and stopped. She looked around. Nothing. Shrugging it off she ran to catch up with Mowgli. This time, a slight hissing was heard making Shanti stop. She looked around again but nothing was there. Feeling apprehensive she started to walk away to catch up, but she failed to see a certain snake tail that was slithering behind her. Kaa brought his head out of the trees and lowered his tail some more and a noose of coils. His tail went up and in a quick movement slithered around Shanti's mouth. He dropped the noose around her and tightened his coils around her and began lifting her up into the trees.

Mowgli turned and noticed his friend hadn't been responding,
"Shanti?"
when he heard nothing he turned and…she was gone!
"Shanti!" Mowgli called, "Where are you?"
Mowgli looked wildly around and saw no sign of his friend anywhere. He did though hear a slight chuckle from the trees. It was a laugh he was vaguely familiar with. Mowgli felt a shiver go up his spine as he then heard slight hissing.
"Kaa!"
He started looking around and saw a tree trunk with a low hanging branch, low enough for him to grab and climb. Mowgli clumsily pulled himself up and started to climb. He heard Shanti whimper and realized with dread that she was in danger. If Kaa had her there's no telling what he was doing to her. Mowgli stopped as he heard the hissing grow louder. He cautiously poked his head out from the branches and saw a sight that made his heart stop. Shanti was looking at Kaa who was not only hypnotizing her but coiling her up! Mowgli felt the effects of Kaa's eyes beginning to affect him and turned away ducking back under the brush. He felt someone had grabbed his heart and squeezed it. Kaa had his best friend.
"Oncssse the man cub finds out your gone he'll have no choicsssse but to look for you and when he doesssss, I'll finally get my meal."
Mowgli felt scared. Kaa was using Shanti to get to him. Feeling a bit angrier than scared, Mowgli started to move closer to Kaa. Mowgli maneuvered so that he was behind Kaa and he could clearly see Shanti. Her eyes were now closed and was coiled to her neck. Mowgli realized he was gonna risk a lot seeing his coils nowhere else around for him to push out of the tree. Mowgli slowly curled his hand into a fist and raised himself out of the brush. He gulped and said,
"Kaa."
The snake turned ready to face Mowgli but didn't expect the oncoming punch. Mowgli awkwardly punched Kaa in the face and went back into the nearest tree branch. Shanti snapped out of the trance was disorientated but when she saw Mowgli she was relieved.
"Mowgli!"
"Come on." Mowgli helped her out of the coils and they both slid down some vies to the ground.
Kaa shook his head and realized the man cub had punched him and the girl cub was out of his coils. He had two man cubs to chase down.
"Shanti, come on!" Mowgli urged as they ran as hard as they could.
Shanti beside him puffed hard while the sounds of slithery chuckling was heard from above.
"You have nowhere to go cubsss."
Mowgli and Shanti ducked under the brush, both running at high speeds. Shanti tripped though and coils tail wrapped around her ankle, pulling her back,
"Mowgli!"
Mowgli turned in horror at the sight. He raced back and tugged on her hand, trying to pull her back, but that left Kaa with a gold opportunity. Kaa's tail left Shanti's ankle and zipped around Both Mowgli and Shanti, coiling them together tightly. Kaa hissed as he came from the tree tops and looked in glee at the two struggling humans.
"Well issss thissss a treat? Two for the pricsssse of one. Mussst be my lucky day."
Shanti whimpered in fear. Mowgli felt himself scared unable to do anything. Both had their eyes tightly shut. Mowgli felt his fear increase as the coils got tighter and he heard Kaa open his mouth.
"KAA!" A familiar voice rang out.

Bagheera and Baloo had been expecting Mowgli and Shanti to visit them. However, after not showing up, a growing sense of dread started to accumulate. Both heard shouting and accompanied by the slight hissing. they knew at that moment; both their cubs were in trouble. Kaa. As Baloo and Bagheera saw the saw Mowgli and Shanti coiled, they lost it. Baloo went for Mowgli and Shanti while Bagheera took on Kaa.
"Kaa, hold it." Bagheera smacked Kaa on the head, sending him into a tree trunk head first. Both Mowgli and Shanti were free from the coils as Baloo grabbed them both.
"Baggie, lets split."
"I agree."
Both animals left with Mowgli and Shanti in tow. Kaa, on the other hand now had a black eye from hitting the tree trunk. Glaring at the spot of where his two meals had run off.
"One of thesssse daysss. I'll get you mancub and your little friend too."

Bagheera noticed Mowgli had been acting off since they rescued him and Shanti from Kaa. After the encounter, they all continued with their plan with going to the swimming hole. However, Bagheera noticed a change in Mowgli. On the way over, he kept looking over his shoulder, as if expecting for Kaa to have followed them. It got even more curious when Bagheera noticed Shanti was playing in the water while Mowgli seemed more subdued. He was barely going into the water or even playing with Baloo. He Kept looking at Shanti. He barely interacted with Baloo and Shanti for the time they were playing together, and he kept looking over his shoulder. Bagheera leapt from his spot in the tree and padded over to where Mowgli was watching from the banks.
"Mowgli, are you ok?"
The boy looked at him with haunted eyes. Bagheera had never seen anything like this, but he gave him a strained smile and said, "I'm fine Bagheera."
"No you're not. Does this have anything to do with Kaa?"
Mowgli shivered at the mention of the python. He had come close to not just eating him, but also Shanti, his friend.
"Mowgli." Bagheera pressed, "What's wrong?"
"Kaa used Shanti to get to me. It's because of me she was nearly eaten."
Mowgli buried his head into his arms, unable to look at his guardian. Bagheera was shocked at the emotion. Normally Mowgli would have shrugged it off but this was not the case. He had come so close to losing his friend today. Bagheera nudged Mowgli's side making him stumble.
"Mowgli, Kaa will not hesitate to use anything to his advantage. Remember what happened when he tried the same thing to me when I was taking you to the man-village?"
Mowgli nodded.
"All he cares about is getting his meal. He doesn't think of anything else. IT wasn't your fault he came after you."
Mowgli tried to understand but his mind only registered one sold fact: Kaa went after his friends to get to him. As long as he was around them, they were in danger.

Shanti noticed something was wrong. She saw Mowgli was not himself at all. Ever since they got away from Kaa, he seemed cautious of everything around them. Almost like how she was when she went after him and Baloo into the jungle. He barely went into the water today and barely played with her or Baloo. He didn't seem to notice to much but Shanti did. Apparently so did Bagheera as she saw them talking. She came up to him as they walked back inside the village.
"Mowgli? You ok?" Shanti asked.
"I'm fine. Just…got a lot on my mind." He said.
"Ok, if you're sure…it's just ever since what happened with Kaa you've been, quiet."
"It was a close call for us and just kinda scared me more." He quietly admitted.
Shanti placed a hand on his shoulder, "Hey, it's alright. Baloo and Bagheera got us out. We're ok."
Mowgli nodded numbly and felt his guilt take over. He had been so close to losing his best friend today. All because Kaa wanted to get to him.
"See you tomorrow Mowgli. Good night."
"Good night Shanti."
Mowgli watched as she walked home. He knew by now his parents were wondering where he was. Sighing, he trudged home, his mind heavily weighing on the events that happened earlier today.

Dinner had been scarce, as Mowgli did not have the energy nor the stomach to eat anything. Everywhere he went, something reminded him of Kaa. Colorful baskets, his spirals and blankets sometimes his coils. IT was driving Mowgli insane. He was currently tossing and turning in his hammock unable to get what happened out of his head.

"Mowgli!"
Mowgli turned in horror at the sight. He raced back and tugged on her hand, trying to pull her back, but that left Kaa with a gold opportunity. Kaa's tail left Shanti's ankle and zipped around Both Mowgli and Shanti, coiling them together tightly. Kaa hissed as he came from the tree tops and looked in glee at the two struggling humans.
"Well issss thissss a treat? Two for the pricsssse of one. Mussst be my lucky day."
Mowgli dared to open an eye and saw Kaa opening his mouth for Shanti
"NO!"

Mowgli bolted out of the hammock, he thrashed at the blanket that was wrapped around his waist and fell out. He groaned as he hit the floor. His side throbbing. Mowgli got up and ran his fingers through his hair, groaning. Sweat trickled down his brow. He wiped it away and looked up at the sky. It was still night. The moon was shining brightly over the village, making the jungle seem eerie tonight. Mowgli stared openly at the river that separated the village from the jungle. He made a decision. Kaa wouldn't go after his friends if he stayed here, so he would leave. Leave so he wouldn't hurt his friends, or his family next.

Mowgli hastily put on a white long sleeve shirt, his sandals, before grabbing a backpack and throwing in a blanket, some small parcels of food, a water drinking cup, and a knife. He put on the backpack and got out a piece of paper and grabbed a pencil. He wrote out a goodbye and placed it on top of a clay pot next to the wall and headed outside. He glanced back at his home one more time and said,
"I'm sorry guys...but its better this way."
With that, he turned away and never looked back as he started heading down for the pathway that would take him away from the village and out to the road that would take him far away from the man-village.

Mowgli yawned as he trudged down the road keeping himself alert. He didn't know where he was going, only that he had to put some distance between himself and the village. He was sad to go, but maybe it would be safer for Shanti, Ranjan, his parents, Baloo, and Bagheera if he was gone. No more Kaa or Shere khan would go after them or hurt them if he left. There be no need to. Mowgli sighed deeply and let out a jaw breaking yawn, he had to find a safe place to sleep for the night. At least until he deemed himself far away from the village to do so. The air was humid and it was hard to see, but enough to see in front of him and that he hadn't been strayed off the beaten path. Mowgli sadly looked behind him for a moment. A lone tear making its way from his eye, down his cheek. He shook his head and continued with walking. He still had a long way to go.

Mowgli's mother woke up bright and early, humming to herself as she went to the kitchen. She started to gather ingredients for making breakfast when she saw the piece of paper on top of the pot. Curious she grabbed it and started to read,

Ma, Pa,
If you get this, it means that I've left. I'm leaving because I see that now it is not safe for me to stay here. Or for you. When Shanti and I went to meet up with Baloo and Bagheera, Kaa attacked Shanti and was using her to get to me. She was put in danger because of me. I'm a danger to you guys if I stay in the village. Kaa or Shere Khan might come after you next. I'm sorry but I'm doing this so I won't hurt you. I'll always love you and think of you as my family,
Mowgli

Mowgli's mother dropped the note in shock and started to cry. A heavyset man raced into the room wearing a white shirt and brown pants.
"Messua, what's wrong? What is it?"
"Mowgli." She sobbed.
"Mowgli? What's happened?"
"He's gone." She sobbed out.
She shakily handed him the letter. The man read it and paled.
"Oh no."

-

Far away in China, A certain panda was sleeping in his room. His dreams were surrounded by delicious dumplings and other food. His dreams started to change as he found himself in a deciduous jungle. The air was humid and he heard all sorts of animal calls from everywhere. He then heard someone groaning and turned to its source.
"Hello?"
No answer.
"Hey. You ok?"
Po curiously walked to the groaning figure. He was trying to lift his head but was barely able to do so.
"Are you hurt?" Po asked.
The figure looked up and said, "Help me."
Po slammed back into reality as his dream ended. He breathed hard as he tried to comprehend what he just saw.
"Po?" Crane stuck his head into the room, "You ok?"
The Furious all opened the door and came into the dragon warriors room.
"I need to see Master Shifu." Po said.
"Why? What's wrong?" Viper asked.
"I think I had a vision."

"You're sure that is what you saw panda?" The red panda asked.
"Yes. Everything down to every last detail."
"Hmmm. It would seem you were met with a cry for help. From where I don't know, but it's possible judging from the dream, it might have been someone not from China."
He turned to his warriors, "If this dream happens again come and see me. There is something about this I must consult first."
"Yes master." They all said.
Po couldn't help but think, in the back of his mind, that it was more than just a dream. He had this feeling just like when he was told of his parents and something made him believe that something similar was about to happen.

-

Shanti was humming as she went to go and fetch the water. Something felt different today in the village. She wasn't sure what it was but something was different. She was also worried about Mowgli. Ever since what happened with Kaa she knew he was acting strangely. When she tried to ask him if he was alright, he seemed to grimace when she said he was fine. She was planning on talking with him today, hopefully things have calmed down. It was as she was coming from the river holding her pot of water that she aa heard crying. She turned and saw Mowgli's mother being comforted by her husband, but what also got was when she saw him holding Ranjan who was also crying. She didn't see Mowgli and wondered if something happened. She put her pot down and ran over.
"What happened? Is everything ok? Where's Mowgli?"
Shanti watched as Mowgli's mother handed her the letter. Confused she grabbed it and started to read. As she did her face got pale and started shaking, "No. No. He didn't. He's playing a trick right? He didn't really leave!"
Both parents looked at her sadly, nodding their heads. Shanti found herself dropping the letter and falling to the floor. She started crying. Mowgli, her best friend, was gone.