Once upon a time, high in the winding branches of a large and leafy ancient jungle, deep in the green, lay a sprawling vast kingdom. At the helm of this jungle kingdom whooped the delightfully large and hairy King Ravana, leader of all the creatures who lived in the jungle, and who was considered extremely clever and very kind. King Ravana had many friends living by his side who helped him tend to the smooth running of the kingdom. Avid readers will know him as one of the archetype monkey-achievers, friends to the smooth talking but sidewinding trickster monkey Kavi who was always offering advice. In these jungle circles Kavi was known for his nimble wit and ready solutions. Then there was the revered Shira, the Lady King Elephant, who protected the circus, and Talia, the wise Owl King and Master of Knowledge. Wherever they sat was naturally considered the whispering seat of wisdom. Under the wise rule of King Ravana, the jungle was a tranquil place. All the animals lived peacefully in harmony. Under the gaze of these noble friends the kingdom flourished, but then frightening whispers of a deep ancient evil began to spread throughout the jungle. In these jungle tales the predator and prey were, of course, equally intricate and elaborated upon, but the shadows that they cowered in were extension of the predators themselves, snaking into the lives of all the jungle creatures Although fairly young, the jungle was certainly ancient enough to have experienced dark and evil forces before. Chief among the dark beings was the mythical Shadow Serpent Anannagara. King Ravana called his council together in the heat of the jungle. The old friends, a fine variety of four-legged forest friends who had worked together for many long years, sat in a circle discussing King Ravana’s concerns about the impending danger of the Shadow Serpent. Kavi, the forest monkey, supposed they could use a bit of stealth and scampering around the trees to outmanoeuvre the serpent.Talia, the wise wizard, recommended seeking the guidance of the ancient spirits who lived in the oldest trees in the forest. Deliberately cooperating, King and his friends began to seek to implement their plan. The scholar wandered the treetops, gathering his wisdom and dodging the snakes and spies. Shira formed alliances with various animal tribes and formed terrible alliances. Talia contacted the ancient spirits, gaining insight into the serpent's weaknesses. As the forest prepared for the impending confrontation, a huge storm blew through the roof, signaling the arrival of the Shadow Serpent. The king united with his friends and a fierce battle ensued The poet's agility, Shira's strength, and Talia's intelligence were necessary in the struggle against the dark threat. In the end, the joint efforts of Ravana and his friends were successful. They banished the shadow snake and bathed in warm peaceful sunshine again in the forest. The kingdom celebrated their victory, King Ravana, the poet, Shiras and Talia stood together as proof of the strength of unity and friendship in the face of adversity And so, the legend of King Ravana and his friends echoed through the ages, a tale of courage and unity that inspired generations of forest dwellers to come