In the country of Nepal, in the centre of Chitwan’s verdant jungle, a strange disaster had descended upon the land. It was not the type of calamity with which the inhabitants of this idyllic paradise were familiar. And no, it was not the possibility of being devoured by ferocious predators nor the dangers of the wilderness that sent chills down their spines. It was drought, of all things. A parched, arid stretch that reduced once-mighty rivers to a trickle and transformed once-luxuriant watering holes into barren mud patches.

At the centre of this aquatic disaster were three unlikely companions: Raja, the wise rhinoceros with a hide as tough as a judge’s verdict, Vikram, the docile elephant with ears that flapped like two oversized fans at a summer picnic; and Chomp, the cunning crocodile.

These three companions had formed an alliance through a series of adventures in the jungle, from evading a flamboyant python to outwitting the jungle’s mischievous primates to sharing a cup of tea (not literally) beneath an ancient banyan tree.

As the days passed and the merciless sun beat down the land, Raja, Vikram, and Chomp arrived at the river’s edge. It was once a bustling watering site, but now it resembled a child’s sandbox puddle that had dried up. Other animals congregated nearby—their expressions resembling a dog who had just lost a bone. Vikram muttered, “Good heavens, Raja,” in a profound, rumbling tone. “This drought is truly monstrous. I cannot recall the last time I took a mud bath.”

“Indeed, old chap,” Raja replied, his horned head shaking solemnly. “Unless action is taken, we will all become dehydrated prunes.”

With a sly glint in his eye, Chomp brightened up. “I’ve heard stories, my companions, about a mysterious Rainstone buried deep in the jungle. It is rumoured to have the ability to call for rain.” Raja and Vikram exchanged doubtful looks, “Rainstone, did you say?" Raja elevated a formidable eyebrow, comparable to a judge’s gavel. “That sounds like a load of hogwash, old man.”

However, Chomp was not deterred. “I’ve conducted some investigation, and all my sources are reliable. This Rainstone may represent our salvation.” Thus, the courageous trio embarked on their grand expedition, striding into the jungle with the zeal of gold-seeking explorers on a mission to discover a lost city.

Their journey was not a simple tea affair. It was a perilous journey through the centre of the jungle, where danger lurked beneath every leafy canopy, and obstacles were treacherous. As they passed, venomous snakes with eyes that glistened like evil orbs hissed menacing songs. The perilous terrain proved to be an equally formidable foe. The path twisted and turned, sometimes narrowing to the breadth of a single footstep. While tangled vines conspired to trip them up, jagged rocks seemed intent on testing their mettle.

“By Jove,” muttered Raja as he clambered over a difficult boulder, “this jungle appears to have misplaced its welcome mat!”

As they delved deeper into the verdant centre of the jungle, the sun-dappled canopy above casting playful shadows, they came across an elderly tortoise named Shelly. Her eyes sparkled with wisdom as she regaled them with tales of the enigmatic Rainstone and its well-guarded location despite her age. “The Rainstone, did you say?” Raja inquired with a curious inclination of his horned head. “Please enlighten us, Shelly.”

The legend was narrated in a tone as deliberate as a tortoise’s gait by Shelly. “The Rainstone is rumoured to be concealed in a cavern beneath a mighty cascade, deep within the jungle’s core. It has the ability to conjure rain, pals.” The ears of Vikram perked up, and he enthusiastically affirmed. “Rain, are you saying? This certainly piques our curiosity!”

With Chomp’s serpentine strength, Vikram’s enormous frame, and Raja’s indomitable resolve, the trio hastened their steps. Although tortoises were not known for their agility, Shelly was able to keep up.

Upon reaching the cascade, they witnessed a scene that would have made even the most intrepid explorers gasp. The cavern’s entrance was nearly entirely submerged due to the drought’s destructive effects. However, this victorious triumvirate was not easily deterred.

With the fortitude of seasoned explorers and the courage of champions, the courageous trio arrived at the watery entrance of the submerged cavern. Raja, the courageous rhinoceros, led with a determined gait, his horned head held high despite the impending aquatic adventure.

“Be lively, my dear friends!” Raja exclaimed with the zeal of an energetic cricket game commentator. “We’re about to embark on an aquatic odyssey that will make us the talk of the jungle for generations to come!”

Consequently, they entered the water with firm footing and unwavering resolve. With Raja at the helm, they cautiously navigated the entrance to the submerged cavern, feeling their way through the submerged passageway as if they were daring treasure hunters in pursuit of a fabled chest of pirate riches. The walls of the cavern emanated an entrancing, faint, ethereal glow. The iridescence danced upon the rocks, imbuing their environs with an otherworldly sheen. In the centre of this underwater cavern, bathed in a spectral radiance, was the legendary Rainstone, an iridescent gem that glistened with all the colours of a brilliant rainbow.

The trio approached the Rainstone in hushed astonishment, their silence a resounding chorus of reverence. Vikram, whose massive stature was intimidating even in the presence of such beauty, whispered, “It’s as if the jungle’s very heart beats within this stone, old men.”

Chomp’s propensity for witty commentary led him to add, “Indeed, Vikram! If this Rainstone could speak, it would probably regale us with tales of ancient monsoons and cloud-performed rain dances.”

They placed their hands on the Rainstone without hesitation, creating a moment of such enchantment that the jungle itself appeared to halt its breath in anticipation. The gem, which was cool and silky to the touch, seemed to pulse with primordial energy as if it were the jungle’s very heartbeat. As if the universe itself had taken note of their bravery, the skies outside the cavern darkened, the heavens rumbled with thunderous acclaim, and a torrential downpour commenced. The rain descended in torrents, quenching the thirst of all living things and revitalising the previously parched vegetation.

As the rain danced upon their backs, Raja, Vikram, and Chomp could barely contain their elation. Raja exclaimed, “By George, gentlemen, we've done it! We’ve brought vitality back to our beloved jungle by invoking rain.”

In this subterranean chamber of awe, where hope, determination, and the wonders of the world converged, the trio celebrated their victory. Once desolate and desiccated, the jungle was now revitalised and teeming with life. The citizens of Chitwan celebrated the heroes whose loyalty and bravery had reversed the tide and brought rain to their region.

As they emerged from the cavern, drenched but victorious, the trio realised that their identities would be immortalised in jungle legend. Raja, Vikram, and Chomp—the unlikely protagonists of a whimsical adventure that had turned them into legends, revered not only for their courage but also for their knack for transforming even the most implausible adventures into a tale for the ages.

The animals of Chitwan celebrated their triumph by dancing in the puddles and uttering their praises. Through the trials and tribulations of their epic mission, Raja, Vikram, and Chomp not only saved their jungle from the brink of desiccation but also strengthened their unbreakable friendship.

As the pouring rain continued to fall, the incongruous trio stood side-by-side at the edge of the jungle’s embrace, drenched to the bone but with hearts aflame. Their sense of accomplishment grew as they unlocked the transformational vault for Chitwan. The very fabric of the jungle had shifted, and the collective soul of its inhabitants would eternally be etched with the memory of their extraordinary deeds.

Mainali is a writer based in Kathmandu.