"I must go, I promise I'll be right back," Brook laughed as Tarzan had his arms wrapped around her waist, stopping her from leaving the house.

Tarzan chuckled and nuzzled his nose on her nape, making her shiver and laugh. She gently pushed his chest and smiled up at him. 

"I promise. It's just laundry...my laundry," Brook chuckled. 

On this particular day, Tarzan had planned on having Brook explore the jungle but she insisted on postponing the date as she had chores to do before preparing lunch. Although it was useless as Tarzan would always bring fruits for their lunch. She wanted to use lunchtime to get meat for dinner. It would take time to have it prepared just right. 

But before she could do that, she need to do laundry. Although she has little clothes, she can already feel the bugs biting her skin and she needs it washed. 

"Stay safe?" Tarzan asked, tightening his hold on her. She nodded. "Yes, now please move. I still need to get my clothes."

With that, Tarzan let go of her and rushed to her basket. He held it above him as she tried getting it from him and failed. She huffed as she stood on her toes. "Tarzan..." she whined as she reached up. 

He chuckled at her failed attempt and smirked down at her, teasingly. She raised a brow at him and smiled slyly. Brook raised herself taller and pecked his lips, making him stop. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. 

Tarzan falling for it, dropped the basket lower to wrap his arms around her waist, kissing her back. Brook moved back and snatched the basket from his hand and smiled. 

"Thank you, darling," she chuckled as she walked to the entrance. He huffed and followed her out. "Are you coming?" she turned to him in question. Tarzan shook his head as he cupped her cheek. 

"I'm going patrolling, I'll be back for lunch."

Brook nodded, "All right. Be careful."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook walked to the nearest river and placed her basket on the ground next to a flat rock. She hummed to an old melody as she rinsed the clothes. Grabbing a blue shirt, she rinsed it with the water and scrubbed it onto the rock's surface thoroughly.

She sighed at the stains on the clothes and started rinsing them. "Vine stains. Some scrubbing, and soaking."

After leaving some clothes on a branch to leave it to dry, she heard a thump behind her. Her eyes widened as she sat paralyzed. She left her bow and arrows at the house and internally cursed herself for not bringing anything to protect herself. 

Brook heard a thump again and swallowed bile as she turned around. She gasped as her basket was tilted over and her clothes were on the ground. She frowned, standing up. 

"How on earth?" she tilted her head in confusion and started picking up her clothes. She huffed, "Wait till I catch you, you little rascal."

Brook stopped as she saw movement slightly close to her. It seemed something was struggling underneath one of her skirts. She smiled mischievously as she grabbed a branch and picked the shirt off it. 

Her eyes widened at the leopard cub. The cub spotted her stick and jumped on it, chewing on it. Brook cooed at it and wanted to grab it but then realized what animal it was and shivered slightly. 

The mother leopard could be nearby. She grimaced at the thought and grabbed the skirt off the cub. "That's mine if you don't mind," she smiled now getting her clothes to her basket and going back to washing. 

The little pitter-patter was heard behind her and saw the cub following her. She nervously laughed, waving her hand. 

"Go on! Go on, go home. Back to your family–" Brook yelped as her skirt was being pulled by the cub. She placed her basket on the ground and crouched in front of it.

"That's mine, thank you," she chuckled grabbing it in front of her. Her eyes widened at its gorgeous emerald-golden eyes. The cub meowed and slashed its claws at her but she just chuckled at it. 

"You're just a kitten!" she cooed as she rubbed her cheek on its face, making it purr. Her eyes saddened as she looked at it. "Have you lost your mum? Do you need a home?" The cub meowed at her and purred against her chest.

She cooed at it. "Who could resist such an adorable little leopard cub like you?"

Brook chuckled as she found herself familiar with a kitten when she was younger. 

Flashback

Little three-year-old Brook sat next to the window as the sky cried on the kitchen's window sill. The thunder roared loudly and light flashed brightly at her. She trembled slightly as the lightning clapped loudly close to their homes. The sun was gone once again, leaving everything in darkness and candles being lit in the house.

She shrieked at the sound and ran under the table, covering her ears and closing her eyes shut.

"Please go away," she whimpered. 

Brook shivered as she could still hear the thunder from under the table. She wasn't sure how long she stayed under the table but every passing minute felt like an eternity. 

"Brook?"

Brook shook her head and brought her knees to her chest. It was muffled but she smelled the oily scent next to her and instantly welcomed her papa's hug.

Gray's eyes softened as his daughter trembled like a leaf and clung to him. He moved under the table comfortably as Brook sat on his lap. Rubbing her back softly, he started humming an old lullaby. 

Brook lets go of her ears and listened to his humming and the vibrations from his chest to her head. 

"Papa?" she whispered. 

He hummed and hugged her to his chest and she welcomed his warmth. 

"Papa..." her eye wilted to a close but stubbornly tried to keep her eyes open. 

Gray saw this and chuckled at the cute scrunch on her face and kissed her red locks. "Are you going to sleep on the surprise I got you?"

Broo's eyes snapped open and grinned up at him, all the sleeping leaving her body instantly. Gray laughed at the light shining in her eyes and whistled at the quiet kitchen. 

A little pitter-patter was heard and Brook gasped at the small cat. Its fur was white but the dirt was covering its beautiful white blanket of fur. It couldn't be more than a few days old. It was so small. 

Gray chuckled and carried it in his palm and nearing it close to her. "Be careful with him, he's fragile."

Brook didn't hear him as she solely focused on the kitten. She cooed and rubbed her finger lightly on its head. "Where did you find him?" she whispered. 

"He was out our door when I came from work. Poor thing was shivering from the cold. I gave him something to eat before letting him sleep in the hall."

"It's adorable," Brook cooed. They heard footsteps coming to the kitchen and saw the familiar slippers. 

"We're here, darling," Gray spoke as Fiona crouched under the table and saw her family with a kitten. She raised a brow and Brook giggled, smiling up at her. 

"And what are you guys doing under the table?" she smiled, getting under. Her head was out of the table just like her husband but she softly laughed as her daughter was able to fit nicely under the table. 

"A kitten!" Brook grinned. 

"Really? That's cute, dear," she smiled, turning to her husband who nervously smiled at her. 

Brook grabbed the kitten, making it cry. Her eyes widened and gave the kitten back to her papa as Gray laughed. "Let him be comfortable with you, he deserves someone special to take care of him for a while."

Brook gasped lightly and carried it lightly in her arms carefully as it snuggled into her arms. She smiled and started petting it. "Can we keep him?"

Gray's eyes faltered and saddened. Fiona saw his expression and sadly dampened too. He can barely afford for his family and he will have to work harder if he does wind up keeping the cat. Brook saw her parents' slight behavior and sadly smiled. "It's okay, I just wanted to ask. Can we keep him until the rain is over?"

Gray chuckled, ruffling her locks now feeling bad that she knows him well. He nodded.

They stayed all night conversing and making jokes as the kitten slept in her arms. As soon as the rain stopped, they saw the kitten running back to its family in an ally.

Flashback over

"You might as well give up," Tantor smirked at his friends. "You guys are never going to beat me."

"One of these days, Tantor. We're gonna surprise you," Terk spoke as she gripped onto the vine tighter. 

Terk had her friends play tug-o-war with Tantor. Except Tantor had it by himself as they hovered over a puddle of mud. Tantor was very confident in succeeding. 

At the count of three, they both pulled. It was going both ways as Tantor was surprised by their strength and pulled harder. 

Brook went back to the treehouse, dumped her laundry in her room, and walked back outside. She was hoping to see her husband but he was nowhere to be seen. She spotted Tantor and the others and smiled, hugging the cub. 

"Look what I found!" she smiled, showing them the cub. 

Tantor and Terk stopped to see what she has but they visibly tensed in what she had in her arms. Tantor was the first to react as he jumped back, releasing the vine. Terk's friends screamed in fear and climbed up the nearest tree. 

Terk grunts as her friends climbed over her and glare up at them. She turned to see Brook holding the cub very close to her and yelped, climbing up the tree too. 

"Make it go away!" they whimpered. 

"Tell me it's a bad dream!"

"Get that thing away from here!" Terk shouted.

Brook blinked at their reaction and looked down at the cub. "It's just a baby kitten," she tried as she smiled at the cub.

"Please, Mrs. Tarzan. I happen to have a very delicate heart," Tantor walked to her, making sure he was far from the monster. 

Kala happened to be around and heard noises coming from their direction, walking to them. "What's all the commotion out here?"

"I found this cub in the jungle as I was doing laundry," Brook explained, grabbing its paw gently.

Kala's eyes widened at the cub and turned to Brook. "A leopard? Brook, leopards hunt gorrilas. They're dangerous."

Brook smiled, "Yes, grown ones are dangerous. But this one is harmless." She placed the cub on the ground next to her and frowned. "Besides, I didn't know what to do with him, he was all alone."

Kala smiled as the cub started chasing its own tail. "I know that feeling. I once found someone who was all alone," a certain wild man appeared on her mind. 

"I gotta admit," Tantor started. "It is kind of cute," he neared closer to the cub, but its large frame was enough to frighten it and run to Kala for protection. "What?" Tantor asked. 

Terk's friends jumped down the tree and couldn't hold in a coo as they kept observing the cub in Kala's arms. 

"Maybe he could stay with us," Kala suggested, making Brook gleam. 

"Yeah! We could teach it how to be a gorilla and stuff!" Terk's friends grinned. 

"And I could use my trunk as a cradle," Tantor smiled. 

Terk's eye twitched at what she was seeing and spoke up, bringing everyone's attention. "Let me predict the future for a moment," she dropped to the ground and walked to the cub and pointed at it. 

"That cute little face is going to eat one of us someday! And I'm not–I'm not..." she stopped as she saw how cute the cub snuggled to Kala and prepared to sleep. She struggled as she cannot give in to its cuteness. 

"Don't fall for it," she gritted her teeth to herself. She looked away but couldn't help herself look back at it and grin, snatching the cub from Kala. 

"I got big plans for you! Auntie Terk is going to teach you how to fetch bananas and–"

"Brook!"

Terk stopped as she heard Tarzan not far from them and flinched as she remembered what she was doing and basically threw the kitten to Brook. "Your problem!"

Brook blinked in confusion, hugging the cub to her. "W-What?"

"You know how Tarzan feels about leopards!" Tantor grimaced. 

"Not his favorites," Terk winced.

"I'm afraid that's true," Kala spoke.

Brook looked at them and down to the cub. She smiled, "Well, I'll just have to soften him up." She handed the cub to Terk and turned to hear bushes ruffling behind her as Tarzan appeared, limping. 

Brook gasped in horror, running to him. "What happened to you?" she worriedly asked. 

Tarzan gritted his teeth, "A leopard."

Brook's eyes widened seeing the anger in his eyes, now realizing how he detests leopards and couldn't help herself to think it could be difficult to ask him. But communication is important in marriage and she won't give up on the cub, she just can't.

"Brook, you go take care of Tarzan. We'll take care of things here," Kala urged as Terk tried her hardest in hiding the cub from Tarzan's view. 

Brook nodded, gently grabbing Tarzan's arm and wrapping it around her as they walked away to the treehouse.

"This happened as you were patrolling?" Brook asked as she apologized when Tarzan flinched from her movement. 

He nodded. "I managed to lure him to the waterfalls." Brook sighed as she caressed his face, seeing the anger still in his eyes. Tarzan turned to her slightly and his eyes softened as she smiled at him. 

"As long as you're all right, that's all that matters to me," Brook whispered, kissing his cheek. 

Tarzan sighed and rubbed his nose to her cheek, making her smile. They walked to the treehouse. They arrived as the setting sun hovered over the green jungle, coloring its green leaves red. 

Brook guided Tarzan to sit next to the window as she gathered her medical kit. Seeing the scratches on his chest, they weren't serious but a little alcohol would do the job. 

She cleaned the wound with a wet towel and grabbed the alcohol so it to not be infected. Smiling up at him, she sat next to him. 

"Thankfully, these aren't too serious for stitching. This is alcohol and on an open wound can be slightly painful but it's really helpful for it, is that all right?" Brook asked.

Tarzan nodded, believing he can be strong for it. But when Brook gently dabbed the wound with the towel, his eyes widened and flinched back. Grunting in pain, made Brook stop and look up at him. Tarzan looked away and nodded for her to keep going. 

Brook's eyes saddened and kept gently dabbing as the stinging pain of the alcohol spread in his chest, making him silently grunt in pain. 

Finishing up spreading alcohol, she placed a bandage over the wound and kissed his cheek. Tarzan blinked at her sudden affection and turn to her. Brook stopped as she realized what she did and flushed. She gasped as she covered her face. 

It's normal to give affection to your husband/wife but that little affection made her realize what she did and couldn't help herself but tear up. Has remembering the kitten, made her remember small moments of her parents? 

She cleared her throat and blinked away the tears, looking at Tarzan. "Are there any more wounds?" 

Tarzan stared at her and frowned in worry but shook his head, choosing not to question her behavior. Brook's eyes widened as she spotted the kitten behind him and grabbed his shoulders, making him face her. 

He winced as Brook's eyes widened as she inflicted pain on him. "Sorry, love. I have been thinking. We have so many friends in the jungle. So many different types like apes, elephants, and baboons? Although, I was wondering..." 

She helped Tarzan stand up as Terk snatched the cub from their view and moved to the window. 

"Have you ever thought of having...a leopard? As a friend?" she smiled up at him. 

Tarzan stopped and incredulously stared at her. "A leopard. As a friend?" 

Brook expected Tarzan to be serious or angry at the suggestion. But she blinked owlishly as it was the first time hearing Tarzan laugh at the idea. Her face flushed embarrassingly as he shook his head, laughing harder. 

"Why not a python?! Or I know! Maybe some crocodiles?!" Tarzan laughed.

Brook deadpanned, crossed her arms, and sat next to the window. "Now you're just making fun of me."

Tarzan stopped, walking towards her. Planting his arms on each side of her, he neared closer to her. "Brook. Leopards are not our friends."

Their eyes widened as the cub jumped through the window next to them. Brook panicked and just did what anyone would have done.

"Would you look at that! A leopard cub! What a coincidence, right, love?" she nervously smiled up at him, grabbing the cub into her arms. 

Tarzan only glared at it, making her stop. "I guess not."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"It's a leopard and leopards are dangerous," Tarzan stated.

After Tarzan's glare, they walked outside as Tarzan went to speak to his family, figuring out whose idea was to keep the thing. 

"What do you propose we do with him?" Brook asked. 

"Leave him in the jungle," Tarzan didn't hesitate. 

Everyone's eyes widened at his suggestion. They didn't believe that Tarzan would be heartless to leave just a mere baby in the wild but itself. "He wouldn't last a day alone in the jungle! You know that," Kala tried. 

"Can we at least take him to the other leopards?" Brook asked. 

Tarzan narrowed his eyes at the cub, looking at his mate. "That's even more dangerous. They'd kill us."

"Tarzan is quite right. Everyone knows a leopard can't change its spots," Archimedes agreed. 

"Who thought they could?" Tarzan asked, turning to him. 

Archimedes blinked. "That's just an expression, Tarzan. That a creature can't fight its basic nature."

"Then the professor is right. A leopard cannot change its spots," Tarzan turned to Brook. "They're killers."

"Absolutely. It's simple genetics. This cob will inevitably grow into a vicious–" Archimedes stopped as the cub started playing with his laces and shoed (PUN NOT INTENDED) it away. 

"Now. Oh dear, where was I? Oh, yes. Um, this cub will inevitably grow into a vicious and–" Archimedes laughed as the cub rubbed its face onto his ankles, making the professor ticklish. 

"What am I saying? It's simply too adorable, we must keep it!"

"Why should we help a leopard? A leopard never helped us," Tarzan turned to walk away but Brook stepped in and grabbed his hand.

"Tarzan, surely you of all people understand the cub's predicament. Don't forget what Kala did for you. She took a chance on a lone cub." Brook crouched and picked the cub, showing it to Tarzan, and smiled up at him. 

"Please, Tarzan?" 

Tarzan glared at the cub but turn to his mate and sighed, giving in to her idea. "All right. A chance."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Except that chance has been agitating Tarzan the moment he came home. Brook thought of having the cub live with them on the first night. Although Tarzan didn't like it, he didn't want to upset her and leave her be. 

When they arrived, the cub ran around and trashed some things. Brook nervously laughed as Tarzan glared at it, holding onto the teacup from falling. 

They weren't able to gather anything for dinner and Brook decided to go and get some fruits for them as a silent apology for the cub. 

As soon as she got home, Tarzan had the cub trapped under a basket. 

Tarzan and Brook headed to bed as Brook had the cub be in the cradle. Things were going heated between the couple but the cub jumped in and snuggled between them both, making Brook chuckle at it and fall asleep.

The next day, Terk almost threw a banana at Tarzan's face because the cub bit Tantor's tail, making him step back and fall on Terk. 

Another time, when Tarzan chose to observe Archimedes' experiments. The cub ran by and distracted the professor, making him drop all the contents to the other beaker and making it explode. 

Another time, Brook went hunting. She spotted a bird and aimed her arrow at it. She heard a thump behind her, seeing nothing. She turned back to see the bird gone and Tarzan holding the cub. Her eyes widened as Tarzan forced the cub to spit out the bird. 

It was comical as Tarzan glared at her and the cub grinned at her. 

Finally, Tarzan had set up a perfect date for Brook. They swung on the vines to the destination. They stopped at the top of the tree but their eyes widened in disbelief as the cub ran by and ripped the loincloth from Tarzan's waist. 

Brook couldn't help but laugh as Tarzan chased after the cub. She laughed harder as Tarzan ran back to her and tried to rip off her clothes but she ran away. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Are you sure you don't mind watching over the cub?" Brook asked. 

"Not at all," Tantor smiled. 

Brook smiled. "Thank you. Tarzan could use a break from all the chaos. We'll be back before nightfall."

"Don't worry about a thing, Mrs. Tarzan. You just enjoy your evening."

Brook smiled as she walked back to Tarzan and walked away from them. She felt bad as Tarzan had to tolerate the cub's scandals. She made the suggestion for them to go to a waterfall and take a bath first. 

They had a long day as they played around, went hiking to the nearest mountain, and even set up a picnic to eat lunch. 

Brook sighed as she leaned against Tarzan's chest as he wrapped his arms around her. She relaxed, hearing the sound of his heartbeat against her ears. 

It was soothing. 

"Brook?"

She hummed as she closed her eyes, leaning against him. He shifted for her to sit on his lap. "How are your parents like?"

Brook's eyes snapped open and turned to him. She blinked and looked at the sun. What's with the sudden interest?

"Wh-What do you want to know?" she asked, sitting up. 

Tarzan has been thinking over it for a while now and couldn't help but wonder what happened to her parents. He only heard vague things as Jane left to figure out what happened. 

Seeing as Tarzan was waiting, she sighed. Brook smiled. "They were amazing people. We were not very rich growing up. It was more difficult as nobles refused to have Papa work for them as they had a devil of a daughter. But we were happy with what we had. 

"Papa would often forget his lunch for work, which made Mama go and give it to him. But it was all his plan as he just wanted to see her for a few minutes before she would slap him up the head," she chuckled. 

"Mama would find ripped books in the street or in the trash and would give them to me to read. I would always overhear the neighbors talking about them so rudely but Mama would always joke and mention that their husbands were cheating on them which made them scream in horror."

"I wasn't allowed to go outside much as the people in London weren't that friendly. But Papa would always have time for me and help me practice in medical with him as he would get the most wounds from work."

"We weren't much but it was perfect."

Brook didn't realize she was crying until Tarzan wiped the tears from her cheeks. She chuckled and turned away, rubbing the tears away. 

"They sound nice."

Brook sadly smiled. "They were. I am certain that they would have loved you."

Brook laughed, remembering something. It made Tarzan smile at her and question her. They spoke for hours as the sun set on the horizon. They lay next to each other, seeing the world go round slowly. 

"This is perfect," she hummed, turning to their home. "The setting sun, the cool breeze. Our treehouse covered in baboons," she sighed. 

Tarzan stopped, turning to her. "Our treehouse?"

Their eyes widened as it was true. The house was completely covered in ferocious baboons, digging through the wood to get through but Tarzan had an idea of what was happening and snarls.

"Tarzan–"

Tarzan left before Brook could finish and jump down. Brook climbed down clumsily and ran to the treehouse. She arrived in time for the baboons running away, some passing her making her yelp. 

She sighed in relief to see Tantor, Terk, and the cub all right and ran up to them. The cub meowed and ran for her and jumped in her arms. Her eyes guiltily followed Tarzan as this was definitely the last straw.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"It was the most unbelievable thing you ever saw, Tarzan," Terk started, grabbing a few chopped-up planks of wood for the house. "They came out of nowhere! Totally unprovoked!"

Tarzan turned to Terk and Tantor and they flinched at Tarzan's glare. 

"Please forgive us, Tarzan. It was our first time babysitting," Tantor guiltily looked down. 

"I don't blame you. I blame it," Tarzan glared at the cub. The cub saw the threat and snarled at him. 

Brook stood between and faced her husband. It is a delicate situation and she just knows Tarzan made up his mind.

"Tarzan," she tried. 

"Brook. A leopard cannot change its spots. He must go."

Seeing his final word broke Brook. She sighed as she walked away. The cub smelled the sad aura coming from the nice female and followed her. Tarzan frowned in worry but it must be done. Even if it broke Brook and a possible chance for them to have a good relationship. 

Brook walked away and followed as the cub ran ahead of her. She sighed dejectedly as the cub jumped into Kala's nest and messed it up. 

"I'm sorry, Kala," Brook walked to her. 

Kala shook her head and smiled at the girl. "No, I built it once. I can build it again."

"If I'm honest. I think I made a mistake, but I couldn't imagine the thought of leaving him alone in the jungle," Brook sighed as she stared at the cub. 

"That's exactly how I felt about Tarzan," Kala patted the girl's shoulder.

"But it's not the same thing, is it?"

"I think it is," Kala smiled. "You care about this cub. You want to help him."

"What should I do?"

"Well, if there had been other humans around when I found Tarzan. I would have taken him to them."

Brook's eyes widened and smiled as she and Kala shared an idea. A dangerous one. But an idea. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan spent all night working on the treehouse. In the morning, he didn't find Brook walking back to the house. He knew he hurt her but she needed to understand that there are some things that can't be fixed. He slammed a nail onto the wood and smiled as he was finally done. 

"Good day, Tarzan," Archimedes greeted. "I thought I might be of some assistance. Though, I perhaps should have brought a hammer, huh?"

Tarzan smiled, "I'm finished."

"So you have. By the way, have you seen Brook around? I've been meaning to ask her something," Archimedes asked. 

Tarzan frowned. "I thought she was with you."

"No, I haven't seen her all day. Even though it is a big jungle, you know? With all the foliage, and uh sightlines, not quite what they used to be."

Tarzan turned as he heard Tantor using the boat to bring himself up to the house. 

"Well, you can rest easy. I think we finally got the gorilla area all cleaned up," Terk grinned. 

"Elephant power, baby," Tantor grinned.

Tarzan dropped down from the roof and walked to them. "Have you seen Brook?"

"Red? I think she went somewhere with Kala and Commodore Fluffy Paws," Terk answered. 

"Commodore Fluffly Paws?" Tarzan lifted a brow.

Tantor chuckled, "The cub. Regal name huh?"

Archimedes' eyes widened and hoped they didn't what they think they were doing. "They wouldn't, would they?"

"We must find them," Tarzan spoke. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"If we can't locate the cub's mother, will another leopard take it in?" Brook asked as they were nearing the leopard territory. 

Kala had the cub on her back as they kept walking. "We can only hope. It's curious though. We haven't seen a single leopard yet."

"And we should have by now?" Brook shrugged the bow and arrows on her back. 

"Yes. We're deep into leopard territory."

Brook stopped as they heard the snarls above them. She stopped Kala from going further and she couldn't help but tremble in fear. "I think we found them."

"No. They found us," Kala's eyes widened. 

"I faced a panther before and lived and today won't be any different," Brook murmured to herself, grabbing the cub from Kala's back. 

She faced it to them and hesitated. "We came to return him to you."

Brook flinched back as the leopard snarled closer to her, making her drop the cub. The cub's eyes widened seeing them and ran away. 

"Well, that settles. We must be going, I'm sure we'll see each other around, hopefully not any time sooner," Brook waved Kala back. 

Their eyes widened as a leopard snarled and crawled to them. Brook had Kala behind her as she stood paralyzed. She just hopes her end would be in an instant.

The leopard slashed at her. She was still in shock she didn't feel the pain that came from her shoulder. It wasn't deep but the blood slowly dripped from the wound. 

Before the leopard could launch at her, Tarzan swung in and kicked the leopard away. He stood in front of them as the rest of the leopards crawled to them. 

Before they knew it, Terk, Tantor, and Archimedes ran in and fought. Brook exclaimed in horror as a panther jumped him. 

The rest of the others fought with the other leopards but Brook had one on her own. Kala gripped her waist in fear as she stood in front of her. 

Brook shakily grabbed her bow and arrow and aimed at it. "Okay, Brook. Your practice should be used now, don't be afraid."

The leopard saw the weapon and jumped her. Brook screamed and let go of the arrow. It dug into its shoulder and dropped to the ground. "Quickly!" she urged Kala to the others as Tarzan stood in front of them. 

They stopped as another growl was heard above them. Their eyes widened as the cub was next to the leopard. It jumped down and turned to the other leopards, growling at them. 

The other leopards growled back but the mother leopard slashed at them, making them fall back. 

"Is that the cub's mother?" Brook asked. 

"She's helping us..." Kala was in disbelief too. She has never seen anything like it. 

The mother leopard turned to them and growled at them. "What is she saying?" Archimedes asked. 

"She's saying we should leave. Now," Tarzan translated. 

Brook sighed in relief as Tarzan urged them to leave. He stayed behind in case it was a trap but didn't say anything and nodded to them, running back to the others. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook laughed as she and Tarzan walked to a small cliff with the river. It wasn't deep for Brook which she was glad. She may be a good swimmer but she still isn't a great one in deeper water. 

She changed to the swimsuit she got from Dumont. It was a two-piece. She had shorts that would go up to her waist and a top that is strapless. It was a peach color with black spiderwebs on it. 

Brook stood over the cliff and turned to Tarzan and smiled. "I'll have you know, Miss Jane had a pool in her mansion and she would often teach me how to dive from her school."

She grinned and spread her arms. She took a deep breath and dived into the water, flawlessly. Tarzan smiled. "Very nice!"

Brook smiled, swimming back to her picnic. "Go ahead! Try it!"

She smiled as he copied what she did but turned behind her and gasp at what she was seeing. Tarzan swam up to the surface and chuckled. "Did you see?"

He stopped as he narrowed his eyes behind Brook and swam towards her. Reaching for his spear, he stood in front of her. "Stand back."

Blue-green eyes connected to emerald-golden eyes. Tarzan's eyes widened at the recognition and smiled at Brook. "It's okay. It's her."

"Her?" Brook gasped as the cub ran out behind his mother to her. She smiled and hugged the cub to her as it licked her cheeks. The cub jumped on Tarzan and did the same thing. 

Tarzan chuckled and playfully pulled him. Sensing someone watching him, he turned to Brook. "What?"

"This from a man who said a leopard can't change its spots," Brook teasingly smiled at him. 

"Well, they can't. But maybe there's more to leopards than I thought," Tarzan sighed, looking down at the cub.

"So you were wrong? About the leopards?" Brook bit her lip as she saw Tarzan's pride slowly dimming. 

"I was...wrong," he sighed. 

Brook leaned and pecked his lips, grabbing the cub from his hold. "Now, let's think of a better name for you than Commodore Fluffy Paws."

Published: April 12, 2022

Word Count: 5615