The undergrowth shifted, disturbing the hazy afternoon air. A brush parted, revealing a curious small, four-legged creature with four stubby horns atop its head. Some variety of antelope, the creature paused, cautiously sniffing the air around it before sauntering over to a patch of grass, atop which lay a pile of berries spread out on a plate of leaves. The antelope, drawn by the scent of the fruit, began nibbling gently at the offering. They were not alone.

Hidden under a shaded canopy of leaves, a pair of bright green eyes observed the animal. Long, flowing brown hair lightly brushed tense shoulders, before ending just above an arched back. A bow, fitted with an arrow and string pulled taut, held sturdy in arms marked by the scars of hunts long past. The woman, one of the people of Man, was dressed strangely, though fittingly for the jungle. Woven Elephant Ear leaves bound her breasts in a firm yet comfortable embrace, while a string of longer-yet-thinner leaves circled her hips, woven together by strands of young creeper vine. She was otherwise naked, having eschewed footwear or any further coverings in the warmth of the jungle. As her prey continued to gobble up her carefully-placed bait, the girl grinned. Soundlessly, she drew a bead on the creature, steadied her aim, and released the arrow.

Jewel sat, staring into the flames of her cook-fire, and took another bite of venison. With the heat of the day rapidly falling with the onset of dusk, the flames’ warm glow felt nice against her skin. Still, she kept a respectful distance, having learned how easily this red flower could burn.

The Red Flower…

It was a name spoken in hushed reverence, and often fear by the jungle’s many inhabitants. Jewel had learned its name and the power it held many moons past, though it was still some time before she had discovered how to create it. Back then, she was still new to the ways of the jungle, and learning all she could from those denizens who would deign speak with the strange “Man-cub” that had so suddenly appeared. Jewel rolled her eyes to recall the nickname she’d been given by the jungle tribes; she knew full-well that she was no cub – she was strong, agile, capable, mature. Nonetheless, she had been ignorant to all but the most basic aspects of the Law of the Jungle, and so the animals had called her a “cub” in jest. She would have to earn their respect, bit by bit.

It hadn’t been easy. Many of the tribes wanted nothing to do with Jewel – despite her willingness to learn and respect their ways, every pack, flock, and herd was rightfully wary of consorting with Man. They were rare enough in this part of the jungle, and most of the tribes were happy to keep it that way. Nonetheless, Jewel did inspire her fair share of curiosity. For one, she looked different than many of the men the tribes had seen: her skin was fairer than the hunters and villagers than the oldest elephants recalled, and her eyes shined an unusual bright green that intimidated and fascinated all at once. Not to mention that her attire was nothing like anything the jungle denizen had seen before: makeshift coverings made from various leaves, bound by vines and tied together by some clever trickery. All in all, most of the older animal, especially those who had had dealings with Man, opted to shun the girl, and encouraged others to do the same.

Despite this, the jungle girl had managed to win some of them over. Some of the wolf pups had taken a liking to her, especially after Jewel had shared some spoils of an early hunt. The bumbling old sloth bear, Baloo judged her earnest in her professed desire to live as one of the jungle-peoples. After that, opinions softened, for Baloo did not give his approval lightly. Bagheera himself, who had been the first to encounter Jewel in the jungle, spoke up, vouching for the girl’s character. That had settled things, and while no tribe would agree to take in the “cub”, she would be allowed to live amongst them, providing she learned and respected jungle law.

It had been during one of her lessons with Baloo – for the old bear had agreed to help her learn the ways of the jungle, as he had for many a young wolf pup, that trouble happened. Having learned many of the calls and responses for various jungle-peoples, Jewel’s head was full to burst for the day. She had ditched the remainder of her lesson, shimmying up a tree while the bear had his back turned. However, before she could set off, several pairs of long-fingered hands had grabbed her, covering her mouth and pulling her arms behind her back. Then, she was whisked away by those hairy tricksters, The monkey-people. The Bandar-Log, as they were known, were treated with universal contempt by the other jungle tribes. They had agreed to ignore them at every turn – perhaps unwisely, as had they warned her of them, Jewel might have been more on her guard. As it was, they had brought her halfway to their “city” before Baloo realized what had happened, and rushed to Bagheera for help.

In the midst of dilapidated ruins, the remains of some ancient man-city, Jewel spent the afternoon being forced to hear about the greatness and genius of the Monkey-People, soon coming to the same conclusion as everyone else in the jungle about their actual intellect. The Bandar-Log had taken an interest in her, for one simple fact: she was Man, and Man had something that made him great. They called it The Red Flower, and spoke of it as a powerful thing that would finally earn them respect. Jewel, momentarily forgotten, managed to slowly back away to the edge of the trees, and was elated to see the outlines of Baloo and Bagheera waiting for her. Quickly making their escape, Jewel vowed to never have anything to do with the monkeys ever again. Once out of danger, she asked Bagheera about the “Red Flower” they had been going on about, but he would only say that it was a powerful tool for destruction, one that Man possessed and the wise animal feared.

For many moons, that was the end of it. Jewel learned, and hunted, and gradually earned the respect, if not quite the trust, of the jungle tribes. But something gnawed at her, and confusing blank in her memory: Where had she come from? How had she come to the jungle, and why? No one had answers for her, as she had simply “turned up” one day, dressed as she was. She knew very little of Man, her supposed “people”, for none but her had been seen in the jungle for a very long time. She possessed only two clues as to her origins, and one was the fire cracking in front of her. It had taken time to learn and master, and isolation too – for Jewel dared share the knowledge with none, not even her friends. A cool breeze blew through the trees, and the jungle girl shivered, hugging her arms.

“I—I just don’t want to be lonely again. I can’t tell them about this…” she spoke to the darkening sky.

“Can’t tell them about what?” a familiar voice replied from somewhere nearby, causing Jewel to nearly stumble in shock as she reached for her spear, a handier weapon of her own design for closer encounters. A light chuckling proceeded the question, and up in a tree a black shadow stretched and leapt to the ground. Bagheera looked at Jewel and spoke once more.

“So you have learned one of the secrets of your people. Is that why you come all the way out here to hunt?”

“I—Uh-yes. Please, Bagheera, don’t tell anyone about this, please..!”

“Jewel, jewel! It is okay – your secret is safe with me.” The panther sidled up, nuzzling her hand.

“ Many moons I have known you, and I knew your curiosity would be too much not to learn of the red flower…just promise me to be as cautious with it as you can, can you do that?”

“Oh-of course, Bagheera” Jewel patted her companion, a heavy weight dropping from her shoulders.

The sun began to set, and the two old friends talked until the fire had sunk to embers. At long last, wishing the panther a good hunt, Jewel set off, making her way home. As she went, the moon began rising behind her, the edge of its crescent poking over the trees.

Her lean-to was a welcome sight, weary from the long walk as she was. Still thinking on her mysterious past, Jewel removed her leafy coverings and set them neatly aside, washed herself in the nearby stream, and got ready to bed down for the night. The evening was still young, however, and with her mind still occupied by the mystery of her past, Jewel found sleep elusive. Sitting up, she rummaged under her sleeping grass, finding her second clue folded right where she’d left it.

Walking over to the stream by the moon’s light, Jewel slipped the items on. A bright red cloth bra, ripped in places but still functional, comfortably covered her breasts, fitting snugly around her back. A matching pair of panties, stretched from their original shape and tied into a loincloth to fit adorned her lower section. Looking into the pool, the woman admired herself, happily observing how well these cloths fit her, and wondering if they held the secret to how she had come to the jungle. They were indeed a mystery – one morning, after a moonlit night much like this one, Jewel had awoken to find the undergarments placed carefully in front of her shelter, like a gift. She stared into the pool, remembering that morning.

Stretching herself awake, the sun shining overhead, Jewel felt incredibly well-rested, though a bit sore.

“ooooooh, last night’s hunt must have been more tiring that I thought..oof. What did I do, again..?”  she thought, thinking back. Suddenly, she noticed the clothes.

“Wait, what? What are those…What was I doing last night?” The evening prior had been a blur, although as she groggily stared at the bundle before her, she recalled certain…feelings…?

Pleasure

Bliss

Arousal

Unbidden, Jewel’s hand began wandering towards her legs, her eyes unfocused as a warm haze settled over her mind…

Forget

Wake

Suddenly, Jewel’s eyes blinked back to focus a look of pure confusion crossed her face.

“What the heck was that?” She thought, looking down at herself. “I guess I just needed some relief…

She had gotten cleaned up, washing herself off before trying on the mysterious clothing, and finding it a perfect fit. She suspected Bagheera, or one of her other friends might have procured it for her, but how or from where she could not say. Not wanting to pry, Jewel kept her gift to herself, using the clothes primarily as padding for her pillow, and on certain nights -- like this one -- curiously trying them on by the light of the moon.

Back in the present, watched the pale light reflecting now on the water, letting her thoughts wander. Idly, she turned to glance at the rising crescent moon above the trees. The night was quiet, serene…blissful…

The Moon…

Curved Moon…

Jewel slackened as she stared, a blank expression washing over her lovely face.

When Curved Moon Rises Above Jungle Skies…

Come Seek Out His Tree…

And Return To…

His Eyes…

Jewel left her camp in a daze, stumbling and shuffling along as words rang through her head, like a mantra.

Return to his eyes

Return to his eyes

Return to his eyes

Her thoughts, muddled though they were, pondered the words.

“Wh…what is happening…? Who…is….he? I…I….I….d-doesn’t matter. I mussst return…Return to hisss eyessss…”

Clad in her red underwear, Jewel stepped unsteadily towards her unknown destination, her head nodding as her eyes glazed over. As she drew closer, she half-fancied that she could hear singing – a most melodious voice drawing her closer with a strangely familiar rhyme…

Jungle’s treasure, born of Man,

Hear and obey my words again,

Keep always to this jungle’s law,

As does each tribe of tooth and claw,

Wash nose to tail, each day to prepare,

Hunt only to eat, and only your share,

Drink from the streams, but never too deep,

And balance your hunts with safe, blissful sleep,

Keep peace with the wolf pack, the panther, the bear,

Disturb no elephant, nor boar in his lair,

Forget all your Man-past, for now you are here,

Life in this jungle suits you better, my dear,

Until bound in my coils once more, precious Jewel,

Know me not, but obey most of all this last rule:

When curved moon rises above jungle skies,

Come seek out my tree and return to my eyes.

As this last line rang through her sleepy head, Jewel glanced up to find herself in front of a familiar tree – a sturdy-looking teak that somehow filled her with warm comfort at its sight. A smile played on her lips, and she craned her head upward, seeing for the first time a long, scaly tail swinging in the breeze like a pendulum. Giggling drunkenly, the Jungle Girl reached out for the tail, giving it two gentle, but firm pulls.

“Aaaahhh, yessssss, it isssss our night onssssse again, isss it not, my dear Jewel…?”

A sibilant voice addressed the sleepy woman. A serpentine head descended from the branches, its eyes alight with swirling colors of purple, teal, and yellow. The tail, loosened from the girl’s grasp began to snake down and wind around Jewel, wrapping around her hips snugly and forming a seat behind.

Kaa’s head bobbed up and down, prompting the girl, whose vision now swam with the same colorful spirals, to follow, her dreamy grin now a wide smile as she gazed lovingly at her master.

“Yessss, Kaa…your jungle girl is ready to obey….” She sighed, sinking back onto the coils winding luxuriously around her.

The sly serpent chuckled, keeping up his colorful display to further seduce his sleepy plaything.

“Exsssselent, my dear…and you even wore your ssspecial clothesss, as I asssked. For your Trusssst and Obediensssse…I think you desssserve sssome pleasssssure, he hissed, bringing Jewel slowly up into the trees. The mesmerized girl could only nod along, a deep blush spreading across her face as she felt a warm pleasure below.

“Ohh, y-yesss, pleaaaassssse K-Kaaa!” she moaned, squirming in his coils, her mind awash in a sea of Pleasure, Bliss and Obedience to her seductive serpentine master…