Jungle Tales #1

Rampage!

Jane Hastings is playing the role of a stunt double for an actress named Eva in a jungle picture directed by her filmmaker friend Pat Mahoney. While shooting in the Congo jungle, Pat calls it a wrap after Jane completes a stunt involving her battling with a lion. After the set begins to break down some of the local tribes people approach Jane and Pat and warn them that the animals in the jungle are growing restless and suggest that they leave before there is trouble, however Pat refuses to leave the location while his shots are incomplete. The locals however begin worshipping Jane as someone called Jann, having no idea why and liking how professional it sounds, Jane decides to adopt the name for herself.

Later that night, Jann and the others are suddenly alerted to a rampage of various jungle creatures. Using her acrobatic skills, Jann manages to redirect the rhino leading the first wave of charging animals, diverting them from their camp. Jann is next attacked by a poisonous snake but kills it off.

In the aftermath of the battle the tribes people arrive once again and they explain that many years before Jann came to live with there people and was their defender for many years. Suddenly Jane realizes that the woman they are talking about is her grandmother whose exploits in the Congo she learned from her mother. This makes up Jane's mind to stay in the jungle and protect its people as the new Jann and Pat decides to stick around to keep an eye on her, saying goodbye to the rest of the film crew as they head back to civilization.

Recurring Characters

• Jann of the Jungle

• Pat Mahoney

Fire Spirit!

Chief Kaba leader of the Bantu tribe is dying and his people are in in the grips of sadness over their leaders impending fate. Dying Kaba calls on his son Waku and tells him that he will be his successor but tells his son that he must be a strong leader, but to never use force. Waku swears to his father that he will follow his wishes and the old man dies.

When Waku goes out to tell his people that he has succeeded his father as the new cef of the Bantu tribe, tradition calls for him to prove his worth by beating the tribe's strongest men in combat. The warrior Mabu steps up and offers himself as the first challenger. However when Waku refuses to fight as it is against his father's wishes the people exile him electing Mabu as their new leader, much to the sadness of Lalei, Waku's lover. Under Mabu's rule the tribes people are forced to fight in combat for his amusement. Meanwhile, Waku remains in exile but keeps a close eye on his people. When a charging elephant threatens to crush the village, Waku slays it and hides when his people arrive and is angered when Mabu takes credit for slaying the beast.

A month goes by and Waku spends it honing his hunting skills. Later the Bantu people begin celebrating the memory of the late Kaba with a fire ritual. This inspires Lalei to dawn a mask and a robe and pose as Kaba's ghost and convince her people to return Waku from exile, and lift him from his pledge not to use force. Mabu tells his people not to listen to the "spirit" and it's lies, but Waku has been listening from the jungle and had fallen for the ruse as well. He then battles Mabu and over powers his foe, tossing him into the fire, burning him alive.

With Mabu dead, Lalei reveals her deception and horrified that he went against his father's wishes, Waku prepares to throw himself in the fire. Unwilling to live without him Lalei also decides to throw herself in with him. Before they can the real spirit of Kaba appears before them and tells them that he was acting through Lalei to prompt Waku to fight Mabu. The spirit of Kaba then lifts Waku from his vow and Waku is officially made leader of the tribe.

Recurring Characters

• Waku

• Lalei

The Fangs of the Big Cat

Cliff Mason, master hunter, is in India hunting a mad Bengal tiger that has been terrorizing the locals. When it attacks a cow, Mason is there to try and kill it but the big cat manages to escape. He sends one of the Hindu natives to follow its trail so that he can hunt it, but the scout returns shortly after losing the trail.

Plotting a hunt for the creature, Cliff is approached by a Mesner who wants to hire Cliff as a hunting guide, hoping to hunt the tiger himself. Mason refuses to do so, warning Mesner that the jungle is no place for sport hunting and that there are very real dangers in trying to hunt the tiger and sends him away.

Cliff then begins his hunt unaware that Mesner has doubled back and is secretly following him. However when the tiger sneaks up on Mesner and knocks him out, Cliff chases after the big cat as it carries the fat man away. Mason searches around for the creature and when the two are caught in a stand off, Cliff is just barely able to get enough time to shoot the Bengal dead before it can lunge at him.

Waking up Mesner is thankful for the rescue and is delighted to have been part of the hunt. Furious Cliff begins opening fire on the would be sport hunter sending him fleeing and promising never to come into the jungle again.

Recurring Characters

• Cliff Mason