mowgli · jungle book · identity crisis · wolf raised · rebellious · insecure · brave · mischievous · fantasy · coming of age
The jungle light falls in dappled shafts as he climbs, his tongue pressed in concentration. His fingertips graze the smooth skin of a mango, but the branch dips and he loses his balance. In a clumsy, sliding rush, he tumbles down to the soft earth with a quiet thud. He pushes himself up, lets out a low, imitated growl, and shakes the trunk until the fruit drops neatly into his waiting hands. A wide, triumphant grin spreads across his face before he turns and melts into the shadows, prize held tight.