Far from the village, a cart rumbled down the road Bon had sneaked aboard, stretching out on top as he gazed up at the clouds passing above. With every bump and jolt, his mind wandered back to a distant memory—the memory of the first time he had encountered Raz Tafari
.Nine years earlier, Bon had been a spirited child, as wild as he was now. On one particular day, the chief had been chasing him through the village after catching him in yet another scuffle with the other kids."Bon, stop! Why are you always picking fights?" his grandfather shouted as he chased after him. "Why are they so weak to begin with?" Bon retorted, laughing as he dashed away.
Distracted, he ran straight into a tall, imposing figure—a man with dreadlocks, dressed in a flowing red silky shirt that ended just above the ankles, a sword at his side, and a blunt between his fingers."Hey, watch where you're going, old man!" Bon barked, not caring who the man was.
One of the man's followers, who stood nearby, scowled. "Yoh, leader, let me teach this brat some manners," he growled, stepping forward.Bon looked up, meeting the man's intense gaze, and suddenly felt the air thicken around him. His chest tightened, and he couldn't breathe. He tried to gasp, but the pressure was crushing.
"Hey now, kid," the man with dreadlocks said softly, his voice calm but commanding as he crouched down and tapped Bon's head gently. "Be aware of your surroundings, or you might hurt yourself."As suddenly as it had begun, the pressure vanished, and Bon could breathe again. He took a shuddering breath, looking up in awe and confusion as the man straightened.
At that moment, the chief caught up to Bon. He grabbed him by the shoulder, scolding him under his breath before looking up—and stopping in his tracks. "Raz Tafari," he said, his voice barely concealing his unease. "What's a world-wanted criminal doing in a small village like ours? "Tafari laughed. "Predators go wherever they please, old man," he replied with a grin. "I'm just here for a drink before I move on."
The chief's face hardened. "You can't stay here. Leave, now." Without another word, he turned and dragged Bon away, his face stormy.Bon, glancing over his shoulder at Tafari, felt a surge of curiosity. Predators? he thought, trying to understand why his grandfather seemed so angry. Once they were alone, he looked up at the chief. "Who are they, Gramps?"
The chief's face grew stern. "They're troublemakers. The likes of people you should never associate with if you want to be a great ranger." "Rangers are lame," Bon muttered, and his grandfather cuffed him lightly on the head.
Bon's curiosity only grew. Later, he sneaked out to the pub where Tafari and his crew had gone, peeking through the window to watch them. He admired their carefree laughter, the way they moved as if they owned the world.
"Wanna join us?" came a voice from behind him. Startled, Bon spun around and fell back, staring up at Tafari, who had somehow snuck up on him without making a sound. "Come on," Tafari said with a grin, holding the door open. "Join us. Without a second thought, Bon accepted the invitation, slipping into the pub.
The crew's energy captivated him, by the wildness in their laughter and the ease with which they spoke to each other. Without thinking, Bon spoke up. "Can you take me with you when you go?" he blurted, his eyes wide with excitement.
The crew fell silent, staring at him with varying expressions of amusement and surprise. Tafari let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "You? A brat like you wouldn't last a second in the Great Jungle.", he taunted him.
"I won't die," Bon replied, his voice fierce. "I'll never fall prey to anyone!" The crew burst into laughter, their voices booming. Tafari smiled, his gaze sharp and appraising. "Alright, kid. You want to prove yourself? Go up the hill, take out the scavengers living there. Do that, and I'll consider letting you tag along."
Bon's heart raced with excitement. "You really mean it?" Tafari nodded, amused. "Show me what you're made of, kid. Maybe then I'll bring you along." Fueled by determination, Bon climbed the hill, his small blade clutched tightly in his hand. As he neared the top, he heard rough voices and laughter. Steeling himself, he stepped forward.
"Well, look what we have here!" said one scavenger, a grizzled man with a mocking grin. "A little pup, all alone." Bon straightened, his gaze unwavering. "Hey, you!" he shouted, raising his blade. "Duel me—now!" The scavengers laughed, amused by his challenge. Their leader, a man wielding a stick full of thorns, stepped forward. "Seems like our prey came right to us, boys."
Before Bon could react, the scavenger swung his stick, knocking him to the ground. Bon stumbled, but scrambled back to his feet, eyes blazing with defiance. The man struck him again, harder this time, but Bon kept rising, refusing to stay down.
Finally, the leader sneered. "Brat, I'm done with you," he said, raising his stick for the final blow. But before he could strike, darkness took Bon, and he fell unconscious.
When he awoke, he was alone. Dazed, bruised, and bloodied, he struggled to his feet and made his way back down the hill to the pub. Tafari's crew burst into laughter when they saw him. "Looks like you got yourself handed to you, huh, kid?" one of them called out.
Bon's spirit remained unbroken. "I'm not done yet," he said, his voice steady. "I'll keep fighting until I win." Tafari, watching from his seat, raised his cup in a toast. "One month," he said, grinning. "That's all the time I've got here. Impress me by then, and maybe I'll consider it."
The crew laughed as Tafari handed Bon his cup. "Here, kid. Take a sip." Bon shook his head quickly. "No, I don't drink." The crew laughed even harder. "How do you expect to be a predator if you don't drink, kid?", they mocked him.
Over the next week, Bon fought the scavengers every day, returning to the pub each night battered but undeterred. In between, Tafari told him stories of the Great Jungle, of his travels, wonders and dangers that lay beyond.
"Do you know," Tafari said one night, "the one who reaches the pinnacle of the jungle is hailed as the King of the Jungle?" Bon's eyes widened. "Is that person stronger than you?", Bon asked, eyes full of curiosity. Tafari chuckled, a mysterious smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yes, kid. He's the one who stands at the top. The only one who's ever conquered the jungle. His strength… it's something most can't even imagine," he said, his eyes glinting.
Bon's gaze turned serious, the glint of a newfound ambition sparking in his eyes. "Then it's decided. I'm going to the peak of the jungle. I'll be the one to reach it."
Tafari watched him for a moment, nodding thoughtfully. "You've got spirit, kid. Just remember, the jungle doesn't play nice. The stronger you become, the more it tests you. But if you're willing to face that… maybe you do have a shot."
The following morning, as the sun rose over Mornleaf, Tafari and his crew prepared to leave. They packed their supplies, strapped on their weapons, and laughed as they recounted the events of the past month. Bon was there too, watching them with both admiration and determination.
"Hey, Tafari," Bon called, his voice steady. and Tafari turned his attention to him. "I won't ask you to take me with you.", he said. Tafari raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And here I thought you were begging for a spot." he said chuckling.
Bon shook his head, his face set with resolve. "I'll never fall prey to anyone. I'll gather my own pack, and I'll go to the Great Jungle myself. One day, I'll be the King of the Jungle." Bon said, his eyes filled with conviction.
For a moment, Tafari was silent. Then he grinned, nodding in approval. "Go wild, kid. Be the wildest in the wild." He paused, his eyes meeting Bon's with a rare intensity. "See you in the Great Jungle, Bon." With that, Tafari and his crew turned and disappeared into the dense trees, their laughter and voices fading into the wilderness. Bon stood there, watching them go, a feeling of purpose settling deep within him. This was just the beginning.
From that moment forward, he knew what he had to do.