11. The Beasts of the Forest of Gugu

           ThatwasawonderfulgatheringofwildanimalsintheForestofGugunextsunrise.Rango,theGrayApe,hadevencalledhismonkeysentinelsawayfromtheforestedge,andeverybeast,littleandbig,wasinthegreatclearingwheremeetingswereheldonoccasionsofgreatimportance.

           Inthecenteroftheclearingstoodagreatshelvingrock,havingaflat,inclinedsurface,andonthissatthestatelyLeopardGugu,whowasKingoftheForest.OnthegroundbeneathhimsquattedBrutheBear,LootheUnicorn,andRangotheGrayApe,theKing’sthreeCounselors,andinfrontofthemstoodthetwostrangebeastswhohadcalledthemselvesLi-Mon-Eags,butwerereallythetransformationsofRuggedotheNome,andKikiArutheHyup.

           Thencamethebeasts—rowsandrowsandrowsofthem!ThesmallestbeastswerenearesttheKing’srockthrone;thentherewerewolvesandfoxes,lynxesandhyenas,andthelike;behindthemweregatheredthemonkeytribes,whowerehardtokeepinorderbecausetheyteasedtheotheranimalsandwerefullofmischievoustricks.Backofthemonkeyswerethepumas,jaguars,tigersandlions,andtheirkind;nextthebears,allsizesandcolors;afterthembisons,wildasses,zebrasandunicorns;fartherontherhinoceriandhippopotami,andatthefaredgeoftheforest,closetothetreesthatshutintheclearing,wasarowofthick-skinnedelephants,stillasstatuesbutwitheyesbrightandintelligent.

           Manyotherkindsofbeasts,toonumeroustomention,werethere,andsomewereunlikeanybeastsweseeinthemenageriesandzoosinourcountry.