Original subtitles

(birds chirping)

(lively orchestral music)

(hooves thundering)

- There's a large herd of deer headed this way,

they'll pass through within hours.

Quickly, prepare for a hunt.

You won't get another chance like this.

- Hear that?

- Yes, a deer herd.

- Better tell Luri right away.

(howling)

(sad music)

Wolves, Chil the kite has brought us some good news.

A large herd of deer will be

passing through here within a few hours.

We must act quickly.

We'll track the herd as it enters the jungle.

Akru, you will lead the pursuit group.

- Mm-hm.

- Once the herd is in the jungle

we will have to cut off its escape.

This is a difficult task which requires great skill

so I am assigning Akela to lead the cut-off group.

- Mm-hm.

- The ambush group will wait in the jungle.

Mowgli, as always you will lead this group.

- Mm-hm.

(hooves pounding)

- That's it, chase them toward the deep jungle.

(dramatic music)

- Now, move out.

(howling)

(growling)

(snarling)

(growling)

- Ah!

(thud)

(birds chirping)

- Hm, hm.

Hunters, you've done excellent work.

I'm proud of you all.

- Your plan was the key, Luri.

- That's very kind of you.

We all did our part as a team.

And Akela, you were a crucial member of that team.

- Thank you Luri, but all I did was what you told me.

Hmmm, this was an outstanding hunt,

the best we've had.

- The best we had?

Now don't exaggerate Akela.

- What's that, Luri believe me I'm not exaggerating.

Thanks to you this was our best hunt ever.

Well isn't that right?

- (group talking) Mm-hm.

- I admit, it was a good hunt

but the credit isn't mine alone.

Akela contributed as much as I did.

- Hein, no, I wish that were true, Luri.

But I played only a minor role in the hunt today.

I'm too old to help the wolf pack as I once did.

- How can you say that?

With your wisdom and experience

you help us every day.

- Luri!

- Mm, it's one of the sentinels.

- I have terrible news.

The jackals from across the river

are raiding our land and they're

attacking the buffalo herd.

- Jackals, how many are there?

- Many, perhaps a hundred, perhaps more.

I didn't stay around to count them.

If we don't repel them they'll poach our food.

(ominous music)

- [Wolf Pack] (muttering)

- Hunters, I know you all need rest

and food after the work you've done today,

but this is an emergency.

We must repel the jackals.

I will lead.

- No Luri, let me lead.

Hunters, follow me.

- Akela!

- [Young Wolf] We're with you Akela.

- [Wolf] Let's move.

- Mm.

(braying)

(galloping)

- There they are.

- Huh, huh?

- (roars) The jackal raiders are charging.

Hunters, prepare yourselves, this won't be easy.

(roaring)

(grunting)

(snarling)

(braying)

- Hm, those jackals have caught a buffalo (roars).

Jackals!

(growling)

(snarling)

(screaming)

- Akela!

- Let's go.

(whooshing)

(thumping)

- Akela, oh no he's badly hurt.

Can you hear me Akela?

You're going to be all right, I know you are.

- Don't worry about me.

We beat the jackals, that's what counts. (groans)

- (gasping) Akela.

(groaning)

(somber music)

(banging)

- This plant will help you recover, Akela.

- Mm, thank you Mowgli but why are you here with me?

Isn't it your turn to be on patrol?

What will Luri say if she find you here?

- Ha, Luri took me off patrol duty

so I could look after you.

- Lala, is that true?

- Yes, she told Mowgli to heal you.

- Mm well Luri's the leader.

Better do what she says, hm.

- Huh?

- Good, Mowgli will apply the healing plant to your wounds.

You'll soon be fine, Grandfather.

- Mm

(serious music)

(crickets chirping)

(owl hooting)

(crickets chirping)

- What's that Mowgli?

You say Akela is steadily growing weaker and weaker?

- Mm-hm, his wounds are two weeks old.

He should be better by now but his strength

is gone and the healing plant doesn't seem

to have any effect.

- This is very disturbing and there's not much we can do.

- No.

- I don't understand Mowgli, why doesn't Akela

simply get up and-

- It's not that easy Kichi, he's weak.

He needs plenty of food and rest if he's going to recover.

But his appetite is gone and he hardly sleeps anymore.

- This is serious.

- Mm-hm.

- Look Grandfather, rabbits.

Eat them and you'll feel better.

Huh? (sighs)

Grandfather, Mowgli and I are doing all that we can.

We bring you fresh food and give you the healing plant.

But you don't eat and the healing plant

does nothing for you, what else do you need?

- Ah Lala, I don't know.

Mm.

- Perhaps Akela hasn't recovered because he doesn't want to.

- You're right Baloo, Mowgli let me-

- I'm not sure I want to hear this.

- Hm?

Listen to me man-cub.

I know it's painful but the obvious truth is

that Akela has lost his desire to live.

- No Bagheera, you're wrong.

(slow, light music)

(rain falling)

(giggling)

(groaning)

(crickets chirping)

(cooing)

(dripping)

(violin music)

(groaning)

(grunting)

(moaning)

(dripping)

(moaning)

(crickets)

- Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera were right about Akela.

He is tired.

- Of course he's tired.

He's tired of suffering pain from his wounds.

But he's not tired of life, is he?

- Mm-hm.

- He is?

He hasn't said anything to me

about being tired of life.

It doesn't make sense, such a wise wolf

could never feel that way, oh.

You're wrong Mother, you're wrong.

(crying)

- Son, listen to me.

It's hard for you to understand because you're young.

Life is new to you, but Akela is not young.

He's had a long, rich life and now

after so many years he's weary and in pain.

He wants to rest, Mowgli.

It would be selfish of us to stop him.

- (crying)

- I know your heart is heavy, Mowgli.

Mine is heavy too.

But if we truly love and respect Akela

then we must accept his wishes and

not seek to impose our own.

(ominous music)

- [Mother] If we truly love and respect Akela

then we must accept his wishes and not seek

to impose our own.

- Agh!

(sobbing)

(screeching)

(sighing)

(foreboding music)

(sighing)

(gasping)

- Where's Akela going?

He's too weak to travel, oh.

(Splashing)

(groaning)

(violin music)

- Where's he heading?

Huh?

(crying)

(water cascading)

(footsteps)

- Huh, where is he?

- [Mother] Akela is weary and in pain.

He wants to rest now Mowgli.

It would be selfish of us to stop him.

- Mother was right, Akela wants to rest.

That's why he's come here to find peace.

(foreboding music)

(gasping)

(rustling)

(snarling)

(screaming)

(thumping)

(howling)

- Huh, phew.

- Come in here, Mowgli.

- (gasps)

- It's alright, thanks to you we're safe now.

I knew you were following me.

But I also knew I might need your protection.

And I did, I could never have defeated those two wild dogs.

- Sure you could.

- No Mowgli, I am old and weak.

I don't have much time left.

- You musn't say that, you're going to get well again Akela.

You have to recover, the wolf pack needs you.

- No Mowgli, the pack doesn't need me.

I'm too feeble to contribute anymore.

My final hour is drawing near.

- (gasping) No!

- Mm.

- There's no need to be sad, man-cub.

I've a had a good life, it's time for me to rest.

It's a hard lesson, but you must learn

that every life has an end.

Even the lives of those you love.

Mowgli, this is the last and greatest of all our laws.

The jungle is eternal, those who live in it are not.

- But Akela, that doesn't apply to you.

You're a great leader, the strongest

wolf I've ever known.

If you only made the effort to become healthy again,

we'd have many more years together.

- You are wrong Mowgli.

Even if I were around, you would leave soon.

- (gasping)

- (groaning) You would leave because you are human.

Your place is with others of your kind.

I know you love us wolves, Mowgli

and we love you but you cannot stay

in the pack much longer, you're heart won't let you.

You'll go on longing for your human friend Shanti

and when the longing becomes too great to bear

you'll leave the jungle and seek her out.

That is as it should be, Mowgli.

(groaning) So you see it makes no difference in the end.

Even if I were here, you'd be gone, gone forever.

- No Akela, you're wrong, wrong.

- Do you think you can make the truth go away by denying it?

Mowgli, you are human.

It's time for you to back to your own kind.

(labored breathing)

(groaning)

- Akela, you alright?

Akela!

- Very soon it will be time to leave.

For me and for you.

- Akela!

- Mowgli, I want to go outside one last time.

(groans) Mowgli, please help me.

Help me go outside, I want to see the sunrise.

(sobbing)

(water cascading)

- (sighing) Mm.

(groaning)

(slow music)

- The sun is about to come up.

Thank you, Mowgli for staying with me,

for protecting me when the night was deep and I was weak.

Now dawn is only a few moments away.

My heart is at peace.

And at last I'm ready to rest.

(howling)

(both howling)

(howling echo)

(crashing)

- Akela, Akela!

(crying)

- Akela!

Akela!

(crying)