A/N: Unedited.

Another summer day, joyish and filled with warmth and soft texture from the moist air in the jungle. 

The sun bloomed once again in the jungle, giving a beautiful glow compared to all the land. 

On this particular day, it couldn't be any weirder. Tarzan and Brook are back at home while Archimedes is doing the usual experimenting. On the other hand, Terk and Tantor are...sharing their different views on food.

"Termites."

"Peanuts."

"Termites!" 

"Peanuts!"

"Termites!"

"Look, Terk. You're not going to convince me that termites taste better than peanuts," Tantor gave Terk a pointed look. 

"And you can forget convincing me that peanuts taste better than termites," Terk turned away, crossing her arms. 

"No, I can," Tanto nodded. 

"And why is that?" Terk raised a brow without facing him. 

"Because I'm an elephant. And elephants–"

"Never forget," Terk rolled her eyes, now facing him. "Fine, fine. Look, let's just agree to disagree all right?"

Tantor sighed, smiling at her. "Agreed. It's kind of a silly argument anyway. I mean, there are so many tasty alternatives in the jungle. Uh for example–"

"Honey!" Terk's eyes widened in glee and ran over to a tree, seeing the hive on the tree. She grinned as she started breaking through the shell and started eating the honey with her hands. 

"Oh, yeah. Honey's a good one, and then there's–" Tantor nodded, not paying attention to his friend. 

"No! Honey!" Terk grinned, showing the hive. "As in mmm! This honey is sweet! Want some?" she grabbed some honey and turned to him who stiffened in disgust as the honey clung to her hands. 

"Terk, uh...don't you think that maybe the bees might get a wee bit upset about you eating all that honey?" Tantor nervously looked around. 

Terk didn't bother stopping, knowing her friend was just scared. "Bees," she chuckled. "What are they going to do? Sting me?" she chuckled, unaware of the colony flying back and exactly stinging her.

Terk winced and jumped as she felt the pricks on her arms and back. She ran around as the bees followed. "Cut it out! That hurts!" she flung her arm back, hitting against the hive which was unattached to the tree, and landed on one of Tantor's husks.  

Tantor realized it too late as the bees now turned to Tantor and flew over to him. 

"Get it off! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!" Tantor shrieked as the bees started flying around him. 

Terk grimaced and slowly walked over to him. "Tantor. Calm down, hold still," she stood up slowly and goes to take it off but Tantor kept moving to try to avoid the bees. 

"How can I hold still, when stinging death is raining upon me?!" Tantor screamed and flung the hive back and off his husk. The bees followed the hive but stopped as it crashed against a tree, completely destroying it. 

Upset, the bees flew towards the culprit with menacing attempts. Tantor screamed as he ran away and left Terk behind. 

"Well, the important thing is he didn't overreact," Terk murmured, wincing as a stray bee flew over to her and started stinging her too. 

Meanwhile, Tantor kept running from the bees. He ran through the bushes and trees, unfortunately missing the small hill he stepped on and slid on the ground. He yelps at the speed, crashing onto some branches as he slid off a cliff. Tantor screams as he falls into a chasm.

The floor is getting larger and nearer as he goes and continues to scream in fear. Tantor yelps as he landed on a strong branch as it bounced him off to another branch and to a palm tree. The palm tree was strong as it flung Tantor back and off the chasm. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook smiles in glee as Tarzan wrapped an arm around her waist and swung them on a vine. They were currently on a small date and decided to head to the waterfalls for a little swim. 

She felt Tarzan stiffen and looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

Tarzan landed them on a tree and looked around. He could have sworn he heard a scream. The culprit was instantly spotted as both Tarzan and Brook's eyes widened in disbelief to see Tantor, a huge elephant, flying in the air. 

Brook was lost for words, her mouth gaping at the sight. "Well, now I've seen about everything."

"Let's go," Tarzan wrapped an arm around her waist once again and swung towards the lagoon. Seeing the elephants now drenched in water while Tantor was walking out of the river. 

 Just as Tantor met up with them, he aggressively shook his body to dry off the water which unfortunately landed on Tarzan and Brook. 

"Tantor, what happened?" Tarzan asked, seeing Tantor was done. 

"Well, let's see," Tantor prepared. "First, it was the stinging. Then, the falling, then the bouncing, and then the splashing and the spitting, and now the explaining."

Brook blinked, turning to Tarzan in hopes he understood but Tarzan turned to her too, confused. They both turned back to Tantor, confused.

"Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up," Tantor nodded. 

"I'm not sure I follow but it sounds like you were lucky to be alive, Tantor," Brook's eyes widened at him. 

"Lucky?!" Tantor looked at her in disbelief. "You call that lucky?! I almost died!"

"Oh, it wasn't luck, Mr. Tantor!" Jabari spoke up, getting their attention on the baby elephant. "It was the All-Seeing Elephant!"

His mother sighed, "Now, Jabari. Don't bother Mr. Tantor with that."

"But it was, Mom! It was!" Jabari exclaimed at her. 

"The All-Seeing Elephant, did you say?" Tantor frowned. 

"Yeah!" Jabari walked towards him. "The awesome elephant lives on Mount Indigo! That's where he watches over all the elephants!"

"But," Tantor stopped. "I've never even heard of this All-Seeing Elephant."

"It's a legend," Jamila, Jabari's mother, explained. "From the Savannah."

Tantor nodded, "Well I don't get out that way too often. I'm kind of a–you know–sort of a whole body. So uh, Jabari. Tell me more about this All-Seeing Elephant." He turned to the child as Jabari gleamed. 

"Well, you never have to fear, Mr. Tantor because he protects us all."

"Now that's nice," Tantor grinned. "It's about time we have–" he stopped as he realized who he was talking to, remembering very well what happened to Mabaya. "Oh, wait a minute, Jabari. You fear all the time!"

"Well, the All-Seeing Elephant might blink and miss something," Jabari explained. "But statistically speaking, he has a very good track record."

"Huh. I wonder if this All-Seeing Elephant fella was protecting me..."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"That is the biggest pile of pup kiss I've ever heard!" Terk looked at all of them in disbelief. They have returned to Archimedes' camp and couldn't help but ask why Tantor's head was in the clouds and asked. 

Only to hear nonsense coming from him only to be further explained by Tarzan and Brook about what happened. 

"And if there weren't minors present," Terk indicated for the baby baboon who joined their conversation. "I'd use harsher language!"

The baboon rolled his eyes and walked away but not before urging Brook to pet him before leaving. 

"I'm quite inclined to agree," Archimedes frowned, taking out a book on myths and legends. "I mean, really? A mystical All-Seeing Elephant? Preposterous."

Brook was amused at this and turned to him, giving him a pointed look. "I seem to recall some similar words about Mangani, The Silver Ape."

Archimedes groaned, closing his book. "You just had to bring that up, didn't you?"

Brook chuckled and turned to Terk who started speaking to her. "Don't tell me you believe this All-Seeing Elephant stuff, too?"

Brook was unsure what to think. She refuses to say it but she also doesn't believe in many things. Well, save for Manganu who saved her husband's life from her mistake. She's still sore about the subject but an elephant who protects the other elephants? She's not sure. 

Brook's youth growing up was difficult for her as Jane and Archimedes would always tell her to pray to their religion to be and feel safe but she lost all hope when she was separated from her parents and didn't believe in their religion. She respects them of course, but she doesn't believe in them. 

Brook wasn't sure how to explain her reasoning as everyone turned to her, curious about what she would say. "I wouldn't go that far," she tried. 

"Why not?" Tarzan asked. 

"Why not?!" Terk snapped, agreeing with the girl. "What a dopey question. I'll tell you why not! Because! There's, uh...you know? No such thing as an All-Seeing Elephant, you know? So there!"

"My," Tantor deadpanned. "What a compelling argument."

"Ah, give it a rest," Terk glared at him. 

"Look," Tantor crouched down to her level. "I'm not saying there is an All-Seeing Elephant and I'm not saying there isn't. I'm just saying it's a possibility!"

"And I'm saying it's a possibility you are the most gullible elephant in the jungle!"

"Well, there's no need to turn this personal," Tantor took a step back, knocking over a table of chemicals. 

The beakers crashed on the ground as the substance was exposed to the air and dirt, causing it to react almost instantly.

"Hit the deck!" Archimedes and Terk immediately shoved themselves under the table. 

Tarzan grabbed Brook's wrist and pulled her along to hide behind the tent, making sure to shield her. Tantor's eyes widened as everything happened so fast as the chemicals started to spark. 

The chemical exploded, causing the table to explode too, and fly in their direction. Tarzan closed the tent tightly and hugged Brook to him as they heard something hit the tent.

One of the wood pieces landed on the windmill and it exploded too. The blades of the windmill flew off and landed near Tantor, shielding him from the incoming sharp wood pieces. 

The commotion stopped as it has gotten quiet. Tanto's eyes widened and took a step back. "I'm alive," he gasped and turned to the others who saw the whole thing. "I'm alive! And you know who I owe it all to? Do you? Do you?" he grinned as Terk deadpanned. 

"Here it comes."

"The All-Seeing Elephant!" Tantor grinned but Terk had enough. 

"Tantor! Listen to yourself!"

"Terk, leave him alone," Tarzan stood between them, knowing there will come an incoming argument between them but Terk wasn't done. 

"No! No! Someone needs to say it! Grow up, Tantor! There's no All-Seeing Elephant! It's a children's story! Give! It! Up!" Terk snapped at Tantor. 

Tantor's eyes narrowed and glared at her. "Says you!" He scoffed and turned away from her and cursing her under his breath as he started gathering Archimedes' things into a bag. 

Everyone frowned, unsure what he was doing with all the muttering. Tantor dropped a bag in front of them and turned back to gather the supplies. 

"Tantor?" Tarzan frowned at the bag. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to the top of Mount Indigo," Tantor explained while he shoved stuff in the bag. 

"Right now?" Brook's eyes widened in worry. 

"He's delusional," Terk sighed. 

"Do not mock me!" Tantor snapped at her. "I'm going to prove he exists by going up there."

"Do you mind if I come too?" Tarzan asked, worried for his friend. 

Tantor grinned, nodding at him. "Absolutely not, Tarzan. The more, the merrier. Anyone else?"

Brook frowned, looking up at the mountain. It is a clear day but if Tarzan taught her anything, was to taste and smell the air. She can already feel a bad feeling coming and wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go. 

She turned to Tarzan, grabbing his hand. "Tarzan, I'm not quite sure–"

"Well," Archimedes interrupted her. "I don't expect you truly meet the All-Seeing Elephant but a nice hike is always welcome there."

"How about you, Terk?" Tantor turned to her. "Or you can't handle the truth?"

Terk scoffed, "Oh, I can handle the truth! Can you?!"

"You bet!"

"Then, let's get a move on!"

"Let's go!" Tantor grabbed the bag and started walking towards Mount Indigo. 

Everyone looked after him. "He's certainly fired up," Brook commented. "Indeed," Archimedes nodded. 

"Yeah, well the river will put out his fire and then it's back to being the old petrified Tantor," Terk smirked as she followed after him. 

Brook rushed to grab anything for the trip. Archimedes followed and helped her as they would need plenty of water and jackets from the cold elevation. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Nearing the mountain that took most of the afternoon, they found themselves in their first obstacle. Between the mountain and their journey came a large flowing river. 

"Oh, dear me," Archimedes gasped. "Looks like this pilgrimage ended in record time."

"If your All-Seeing Elephant wanted you to visit, he should have made a way for you to get across, Tantor," Terk taunted but Tantor was having none of it as he walked away from her and back into the jungle. Tantor faced the river with determination in his eyes. 

"Don't worry, Buddy," Terk faced Tantor. "Just admit that I was–" she stopped as she saw Tantor bolting towards and jumping into the water. Tantor resurfaced from the river and yelped as the water current was strong and started dragging him down. 

Tarzan was quick to run after him with the others following. Tarzan climbed up a large stone and grabbed the vines, tying them into a knot and throwing it to Tantor. "Tantor, grab this!"

Tantor reached for the vine but the current was too strong as it dragged him faster and completely missing the vine. 

"You missed!" Terk gasped in horror next to Tarzan. Tarzan gritted his teeth and gripped the vine as he bolted once again towards Tantor when something unexpected happened. 

The wind became strong and knocked over an old tree. The roots from the tree ripped as it fell and landed on the river, stopping Tantor from going further. Brook's eyes widened and sighed in relief to see Tantor was all right.

Tantor climbed on the tree and crossed the river to the other side. The others stopped and looked at him in disbelief. 

"Well, I'll be dipped in quicksand," Terk's eyes widened. Seeing as Tantor crossed, everyone followed with caution as they stepped next to him. 

"I made it! Did you see?!" Tantor turned to them. "Did you–Oh! Of course, you saw that tree feel just so I could grab it!" He then turned to Terk who looked at the tree, confused. It has to be a coincidence. 

"How about that, Terk? You still doubt the All-Seeing Elephant is watching over me?" Tantor smirked.

"This proves nothing," Terk slyly smirked at him. "Except maybe that you're incredibly lucky."

Tantor chuckled, amused at her excuse. "Well, you could tell that to the old ASE (All-Seeing Elephant) when we get to the peak." He started walking towards the mountain but stopped as no one followed this time. "You coming or what?"

Brook furrowed her brows as she looked up at the mountain, seeing as it started to darken. 

"We're choosing not, right?" Terk looked up at Brook. 

"Tantor, those thunder clouds look quite foreboding," Archimedes spoke Brook's thoughts as he pointed up at the sky. "Perhaps we should turn back, eh?"

Seeing Tantor hesitating but filled with determination, Brook spoke up in hopes of not bringing him down. It has become his mission to prove to Terk but it can turn dangerous later on if they weren't careful. 

"Mr. Porter may have a point, Tantor," She frowned worriedly.  

"Well, you guys can turn back but I'm on a mission to meet the All-Seeing Elephant, and nothing is going to stop me." Tantor huffed as he walked away. The group looked at each other before looking back at Tantor.

"We can't let him go alone," Tarzan turned to Brook who nodded. 

"Yes, he'll need our help."

"Then, we follow Tantor," Tarzan nodded as he grabbed Brook's hand as they started following after Tantor. 

"Agreed," Archimedes nodded, following after them. Seeing as they were leaving, Terk sighed in exasperation. "Curse my desperate need to prove I'm right and then gloat." With that, she followed too. 

They caught up with Tantor and they had several breaks as they kept walking. Brook made sure to give everyone water and fruits for the road. She walked behind the others as she grew accustomed to walking behind. Tarzan accompanied her, not wanting her to be alone. 

Brook couldn't help but look at Tantor. He looked different. He felt strongly confident about this journey and he doesn't look afraid to do anything.

"I've never seen anything like it," Brook spoke up next to Tarzan. "There's not a trace of the old timid Tantor. He's absolutely sure of himself."

"Why shouldn't he be?" Tarzan smiled. 

Brook stopped, glancing at Tarzan. "Well, we're not sure if the All-Seeing Elephant is not present in Mount Indigo."

But Tarzan saw through her words and smirked amusedly at her. "You don't believe in the All-Seeing Elephant."

Brook sighed, rubbing her wrist. "In a word...no? Do you?"

Tarzan stopped, making Brook stop next to him. "I don't know," he frowned and looked up at Brook from his crouching position. "But I believe in Tantor."

Brook smiled softly at him and looked back at Tantor. Tarzan nudged her as they followed the path. Reaching up high into the mountain, they can hear the loud echoes of the sky. 

Brook couldn't help but recall the last time the weather was like this and stuck close to Tarzan. Her bad feeling was growing in the pit of her stomach as she looked around. 

"Did you hear that?" Tantor grinned, hearing the thunderclouds clap. "Do you know what that means?!"

"Oh yes! It means that opposing electric charges in the clouds have created lightning which has superheated the air, forcing it to expand with such force," Archimedes explained but that wasn't what Tantor meant. 

"No!" Tantor interrupted. "That's the All-Seeing Elephant saying 'Come on, guys! Keep going'!"

Terk looked at him unamused, "Really? See, I think it's the All-Seeing Elephant saying 'You're going to get wet'!"

The thunder clapped loudly, bringing everyone's attention but Terk kept going. " 'And this whole trip is silly'!"

She looked back at the sky as the thunder clapped louder. 

" 'Because I don't exist'!" she finished but stiffened as the sky clapped louder, making everyone flinch. The thunder clapped nearly where they were and immediately hid to avoid it. 

Tarzan stayed back and looked everywhere while shielding Archimedes and Brook. Terk and Tantor peeked out and looked at the sky wearily. 

"I think you made him mad," Tantor grimaced at Terk. 

"Well, you know what? I don't care! I'm tired and hungry, and I want to go home. What do you think of that?!" Terk glared at him, crossing her arms. 

But at her words, the thunder clapped loudly. She turned back to the mountain, somehow offended that the thunder did it again on purpose. 

"Oh yeah?! Oh yeah?! Well, try this!" Terk grabbed a rock and threw it at the mountain. She and the others walked out of their hiding spots. 

"There, that'll teach you to rumble at me!" Terk dusted her hands. "You non-existent elephant!"

She failed to realize that the rock she threw fell on other piles of rocks as they have now started to fall in their direction. It wasn't until they heard thumps did they see incoming rocks falling toward them.

"Quick! This way!" Tarzan shouted as he ran back and pushed Brook and Archimedes away from the incoming disaster. Tantor followed but stopped when he didn't feel Terk's presence next to him and turned back to see her paralyzed on her spot, looking up at the rocks. 

Tantor didn't know what came over him but he jumped on top of Terk and shielded her as the rocks fell over them. 

Tarzan's eyes widened in horror to see his friends in the disaster. "Terk! Tantor!" Brook's eyes widened and held on to him to prevent him from going further. 

"No, Tarzan! It's too late!" she held onto him as they hid back behind the rock, shielding themselves from the disaster. 

Tarzan gritted his teeth in frustration but held Brook tightly and shielded her while the disaster subsided. 

As it went quiet, Brook moved back slightly and checked on Tarzan, making sure he wasn't hurt before running out to check on Terk and Tantor. "Oh, please! Please be all right!"

Tarzan and Archimedes followed her and stepped next to Tantor. They were shocked to see that there was not a single scratch on Tantor. 

"That was absolutely astounding!" Archimedes gasped.

"Where's Terk?" Tarzan asked as Tantor stood up, surprised he didn't feel hurt. He looked around but couldn't find her anywhere. He turned around, only to hear groaning from behind. 

Terk gripped onto Terk for dear life. Brook looked back at Tantor and sighed in relief to see her but frowned as she was in shock. 

"There you are," Tarzan walked over and peeled her off of Tantor. 

"It's all right, Terk. It's safe now," Brook cooed as she patted her shoulder.

Terk babbled, no words couldn't express how she felt at the moment, and loudly wailed as she hugged Tantor, clinging onto him tightly. 

Tarzan looked back, seeing the rocks continuing to fall far from them, and looked back at the group. "I don't think continuing is a good idea."

"I agree," Brook nodded. "We've been terribly lucky so far but this trip is just too dangerous."

Archimedes looked back at the storm, seeing it darken. "And that storm is looking worse," he agreed. 

"I'm sorry, Tantor," Tarzan apologized. "But I'm afraid today is not the day to climb Mount Indigo."

Tantor frowned, understanding where they were coming from. He nearly lost Terk coming here. It was for the best to leave. They were so close and yet so far.

"Maybe you're right," Tantor sadly frowned. 

"Come on," Tarzan nodded. "Let's go home."

The others started to follow when Terk's voice stopped them. "Go home?! Tantor can't go home!" she shouted in disbelief. "If my dearest bestest buddy who saved my life wants to see an All-Seeing Elephant, then buckle up because, by golly, he's going to see an All-Seeing Elephant!"

"Actually, Terk," Tantor grinned. "I bet it was the All-Seeing Elephant himself who saved us!"

"You know what, Buddy?" Terk grinned. "Whatever you say!"

"Whatever I–are you saying that you believe?" Tantor's eyes widened in glee. 

"Sure!" Terk exclaimed. "Why not?! Now go on, you big log! You go see that All-Seeing Elephant! I'm right behind you all the way!"

Tantor grinned, excited that his friend finally believes in him. "Okay, Terk! Thanks, pal!" he turned around and started heading up the mountain. Terk grinned behind him before her smile slowly dropped, looking back to the others. 

"Hey, there's uh...there's no All-Seeing Elephant up there, is there?" Terk frowned. 

Brook frowned too, not knowing how to answer that. "I fear not."

"So Tantor's going to be...crushed, right?" Terk looked where Tantor left, seeing him humming happily, and looked back to the others. 

"Almost assuredly," Archimedes sighed, not wanting to see his lab partner upset. 

"Also now than ever," Brook frowned worriedly. 

Terk grimaced, now realizing her mistake. "Oops." She groaned, "Tantor's going to crack like a coconut! He'll be crushed!"

"What should we do?" Brook asked but stopped as everyone turned to her expectantly. "What?"

"Well, you give most ideas, Brook dear," Archimedes spoke. 

Brook nervously bit her lip and looked around. She found trees, vines, and bushes not far from where they stood and paled at the sudden thought in her mind. 

"Oh goodness," she murmured. 

"What is it?" Tarzan asked. 

Brook's eye twitched as she couldn't believe what she was thinking but it can work. "I have an idea but it may be ridiculous and even ill-advised but it can work if we play it right."

"I'll take it!" Terk stepped forward. 

Brook placed her hands on Terk's shoulders. "Good. Terk, catch up with Tantor and stall him. Do whatever you can but take all the time that you need. Just slow him down."

Terk saluted, "Yes, Miss!" She ran off to catch up with Tantor. Brook looked back at Archimedes and Tarzan and blushed embarrassingly. 

"Whatever we are going to do, please don't make fun of me for it, now follow me!" she ran off to where the trees and bushes were and put herself to work. Tarzan and Archimedes looked at each other before following her. 

As they tied the bushes and branches together, Archimedes couldn't help but laugh at the crazy idea but was quickly shut down but Brook's dark glare. 

"It can work," Tarzan tied the branches and bushes together with the vines. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

After finishing preparing everything, the three started climbing up the mountain. They were surprised to see they were the first ones but were relieved to finish preparing. Brook urged Tarzan to do it but Archimedes pulled her along and shoved her in the makeshift elephant.

Tarzan sat against the wall and waited. He waited for a while but waved as he spotted a heaving Terk and Tantor finally meeting with them. 

"Tarzan!" Tantor panted. "Where did you come from?!"

"I just came up the trail," Tarzan explained as Terk and Tantor blinked, realizing their "Shortcut" but a longcut. Tantor gave Terk a pointed look but she just nervously smiled at him. 

"Is he here?!" Tantor turned to Tarzan. 

Tarzan smiled, "I don't know, Tantor. Maybe you should call his name."

Tantor grinned, "Hello! All-Seeing Elephant!" he called out but no sound or presence was heard or seen. 

"Tantor!" A deep voice echoed in the mountain. "Welcome! I've been expecting you–I mean, of course I have! After all! I'm the All-Seeing Elephant!" 

Terk's eyes widened as she gaped at the sight. There was a green elephant but she wasn't stupid. It was made of branches and leaves and she could tell Archimedes was the one speaking and facepalmed. 

Tantor, on the other hand, was amazed by it. The All-Seeing Elephant was green and old from age and wise. 

"It's him!" he awed and took a few steps close to the elephant. "I knew you'd be here."

"Right, well–well, yes. Here I am. Well? Tata!" The All-Seeing Elephant turned around to walk away but stopped. 

Terk and Tarzan sweatdropped as they can hear the faint voices from inside the elephant, knowing Brook wants Mr. Porter to talk to him more before leaving. Tantor was just confused about where the whispering voices were coming from. 

Terk snorts as she heard Brook's voice deepen to speak to Tantor. "Is there something I can do for you before you leave and never return?"

"Well," Tantor started. "I was thinking, um, maybe you don't have to watch over me anymore."

"Oh, really?"

"It's not that I don't appreciate it, it's just that you know, if you didn't watch over me, you'd have time to watch over my friends. Like my best pal, Terk who isn't an elephant."

Brook's eyes softened and awed quietly at them. 'That's so sweet' she smiled and raised the elephant's head to make it nod. "I will watch your friends and I will watch over you."

"Thank you! Thank you, All-Seeing Elephant!" Tantor grinned. 

Brook grinned at Archimedes and urged him to walk as they made the elephant walk into the mist. What she failed to realize was that Archimedes wasn't aware of the rock in front of him and tripped over it, causing the elephant to split in half. 

Tantor's eyes widened in horror to see Archimedes peeking out of the bushes and turned to the front to see Brook still walking into the mist. 

"Uh, Brook?" Archimedes pled as their plan didn't work and Tantor is witnessing everything. 

"Not now, Mr. Porter. I can still see color," she whispered and stopped as she felt a brush of air on her back and stiffened. She slowly turned around and gasped as the elephant fell apart. 

"Oh, goodness," she murmured worriedly and turned to Tantor who was now visibly upset. Tantor didn't have words to describe the ache in his chest. He turned around and walked away. 

Brook's eyes saddened and ran after him, stepping next to Tarzan and Terk. Tantor sat on the floor as he looked up at the sky, just in time for the rain to fall and set the sad mood. 

"Tantor," Brook frowned, guilt filling her chest. "I'm sorry. You have come so far and we didn't want you to be upset. I'm deeply sorry."

Tantor was quiet for a moment, not looking back at them, and stood up, walking back home. "Just, just leave me alone."

The others could only watch in silence as Tantor disappointingly walked away. 

"Well, at least he's headed toward home," Terk spoke up. 

"Smart boy," Archimedes agreed. 

Tarzan looked up at the sky, seeing as the storm was coming. "This storm is going to get worse." 

He took a step forward as he goes to guide them back when lightning struck close to them, causing Brook to pull him away. 

"I think it just did," Terk grimaced. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tantor walked ahead of them as the others followed with caution. Tarzan gripped Brook's wrist protectively as they pressed their backs against the wall to prevent them from falling off. Archimedes followed them as Terk made sure to check on him. 

Tarzan looked down at the chasm and tightened his hold on Brook. Brook cautiously followed after him when lightning struck down in front of them. She yelped at the sound and pulled Tarzan towards her as their path was destroyed. Not only that, Terk immediately stepped next to Archimedes as the path behind them crushed too. 

Tarzan pressed Brook back against the wall as he thought of a plan. Brook looked to where Tantor was leaving, unaware of what happened. 

"Tantor!" she called out but Tantor was still upset, unable to hear them from the storm. 

"Tantor!" Tarzan shouted louder, getting his attention. 

Tantor's eyes widened in horror at what happened and ran towards them. What can he do? They are very far. "I'm coming, guys!" he stopped in his tracks and looked around, finding a tree. He can make a bridge for them to pass, it can work.

Tantor pushed the tree with his head, hearing the cracks from the roots but the tree wouldn't move. He pushed and pushed but no results. The others noticed his struggle and quickly shouted their concerns. 

"Tantor stop!" Tarzan shouted but Tantor kept going. He took a step back and ran to push it again when lightning struck the tree, close to meeting his face. The tree broke apart and fell down in front of the others.

They looked up and found Tantor's face covered in soot. Terk was the first to step on the bridge. Brook followed behind her, making sure to stay balanced. Tarzan went next and then Archimedes. They met up with Tantor and sighed in relief to see that everyone is all right. 

The storm slowly subsided and the sun peeked through the clouds. Tantor looked up as the sun blinded him and gasped at the sight. "Will you look at that..."

"You saved us, Buddy," Terk smiled in relief. 

"It wasn't me," Tantor smiled, still looking up at the sky. 

Brook, Tarzan, and Archimedes frowned. They looked up at the sky and smiled softly at the view in front of them. Terk was confused at Tantor's words. "What are you talking about? You knocked down that tree and–"

"No, I didn't. He did." Tantor smiled, pointing up at the sky. 

Terk turned around and looked up at the sky. Her eyes widened as she saw the clouds in a shape of an elephant, looking down at the jungle. 

"Well, I'll be," she gasped. 

"It's impossible," Archimedes gasped too. 

"He's watching us," Tarzan smiled as he grabbed Brook's hand but she was still in awe at the elephant. 

"He always was," Tantor smiled. 

Published: March 14, 2023

Word Count: 5322