Fire. The first of four elemental themes.
Fire, and Air, Water, Earth. The first four themes of Fashion by Dad.
“What is the Law of the Jungle?”
Settle closer Dear Listening Creature, you. It’s time for a Story Time Story
What is the Law of the Jungle?
Strike First and then give tongue. By thy very carelessness they know thou art a man. But be wise. Go down quickly to the men’s huts in the valley, and take some of the Red Flower which they grow there, so that when the time comes thou mayest have even a stronger friend than I or Baloo or those of the Pack that love thee. Get the Red Flower.
Rudyard Kipling, the Jungle Books.
Bagheera the panther advises Mowgli on surviving the judgement of the Wolf Pack. As a wild animal, Bagheera is not aware of mankind’s many maxims regarding playing with fire. The Red Flower is a dangerous friend.
“Listen, you!” He cried. “There is no need for this dog’s blabber. Ye have told me so often tonight that I am a man, that I feel your words are true.”
He flung the firepot to the ground, and some of the red coals lit a tuft of dried moss that flared up, and all the Council drew back in terror before the leaping flames.
“What ye will do and what ye will not do is not yours to say. The matter is with me; and that we might see the matter more plainly, I, the man, have brought here a little of the Red Flower which ye, dogs, fear.”
Mowgli thrust his dead branch into the fire, till the twigs lit and crackled, and whirled it above his head, among the cowering wolves.
‘Thou art a Master,” said Bagheer, in an undertone.
Rudyard Kipling: The Jungle Books