An analysis of Kaa and Mowgli's other encounter: 🧵
Sliding on top of a rock, Mowgli is ready to nap for a bit while basking under the sun, maybe even tan a bit.
He is completely carefree, safe with the knowledge that both Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear are nearby and will protect no matter who shows up.
Not that he needs their protection, anyway.
After all, he can look out for himself!
Of course, little is he aware that he had just laid down right under a tree inhabited by a dangerous predator, who had caught hold of his scent.
Sensing someone, Kaa the snake slides down from the branch he had been perched on, curious to see who it could be.
His eyes widen in disbelief, recognising the rarest delicacy in the jungle.
A man-cub!
Kaa doesn't even bother to look at his surroundings and check if he's alone.
He immediately strikes!
He approaches the man-cub, chuckling at how helpless he is, not even rousing with his presence.
Kaa can't believe this kind of meal is being served right in front of him in a silver platter!
Such a miserable fool.
The boy may be a bit too skinny and scrawny for his tastes...
But he has such cute, succulent-looking feet!
He'll do just fine...
As man-cubs always do!
Kaa knows he's going to have to wake up the poor thing for what comes next.
But no matter, for it will be just a matter of seconds before he goes back to dreamland.
Poor, helpless thing.
Well, no matter.
It's not like any other predator would give him the kind of compassion Kaa generously grants his.
The boy should even consider lucky to run into a predator like him.
Anyway, time for the hunt.
If it can be called one.
And Kaa knows just the thing to try with this succulent morsel!
Poor thing won't know what hit him.
Kaa addresses the man-cub directly, telling him to look into his eyes.
And, with some focus of his own...
His eyes begin to pulse with rings of red and blue.
Normally Kaa prefers taking things slow, but he has no time to waste here.
He gives the boy no quarry at all.
And, as Mowgli's sleep is disturbed by the python's words.
His eyes open wide in shock as he beholds the stranger that voices belongs to.
But it's too late.
With how close the python is to him, the man-cub's eyes pick up the colours in Kaa's and begin to reflect them.
His body remains perfectly still despite his increasingly more confused expression, his own eyes pulsing with rings of colour of their own, mirroring the python's.
The boy is being carefully hypnotised without ever realising what is going on, at which point Kaa is ready for the next part.
The python's tail stretches in preparation to wrap around the boy and pick him up so he can pull him to the safety of the tree's higher branches, hiding him away from any possible rescue.
With his eyes being as strong as magnets, Kaa begins to pull back.
Almost hungry for those colorful eyes, the boy props himself up by pressing his hands against the rock.
The python is unable to contain the sheer giddiness in his expression, anxious to feast on the man-cub's flesh.
He loves the sheer absence of discomfort on the boy’s face despite his awkward position, knowing this feat of strength would have been impossible under any other circumstance.
The rest of the jungle has become a misty blur; the only think the man-cub is able to focus on is those bright colours, and how he can't get enough of them.
With victory assured, Kaa then returns his eyes to normal, ready to feast on his prey.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
I hope you enjoyed this little gift I had on my drafts. Please like and retweet if you do!
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