Bagheera crouched low, claws exposed and teeth bared. If it 0was him the Rajah wanted, it would be Bagheera he would get with a fight.

" This is for you, mother." the cat whispered under his breath. But before he could launch himself in an attack, the Rajah revealed himself. Contrary to how he had appeared to Mowgli before, he was now dressed in more modest gear for the bush and carried only a staff in one hand. He also seemingly was alone, with none of his guards seemingly nearby.

The panther looked questionably at the man. This couldn't be the Rajah he knew, he was far too young. Unless-

Bagheera released his tensions and let a warm grin come across his face as he approached the man. The man, still cautious, placed his staff on the ground and kneeled carefully to the jungle floor. Bagheera looked the man square in the eye and then lifted his head up to reveal something no other in the jungle had ever seen before; a small crescent shaped bald spot, indicating the previous placement of a collar. Both man and animal had realization come over them and embraced in a hug. The soft purrs of a panther were even heard.

Baloo and Mowgli came out of the bush in confusion at the sight before them.

" Bagheera, what's going on?"

The man looked at the boy asking and got to his feet.

" Bagheera? It seems you haven't strayed far from your given name, haven't you, Bangera?"

" You're the Rajah, aren't you? The one who captured Bagheera?"

" My father was the one that captured Bangera and his mother all those years ago. I never did approve of my father´s hunts, and once the costed my friendship, I demanded him to stop.¨

¨ But, how did you find us?¨

The man let a chuckle and smiled ¨ My good boy Mowgli, you're tale is not restricted to this village. You're story has grown like wildfire across all of India as have your name. When word came by my ear of the panther that saved a boy, I knew it had to be Bangera.¨

The Rajah rubbed the head of Bagheera affectionately, like the way a man would his dog. He then got up and began to walk away, gesturing for Bagheera to come along. The panther looked back at the man straight in the eye, sadness taking the place of nostalgia. Though he couldn't talk to the Rajah the way he did Mowgli, the man seemingly understood his message; Bagheera didn't need to come back home. He was already there.

The Rajah nodded his head, understanding what his old friend ment. He looked back at the boy and the bear " Take care of him"

" I know," Mowgli responded " If anything, he looks out for me."

The Rajah smiled at the boy's humor and turned his way back, knowing well that he may never again see the panther he once cherished. Distant chants of something in Hindi were heard not soon afterward. Mowgli didn't understand it, not fully at least, but he knew that whatever it was, it meant that the hunting party wouldn't bother them any time soon.

Bagheera let a small sigh as he let the man go. Baloo caught on and gave him a playful push

" Looks like you had to let your own cub go too, now. C'mon, now, I still need help teaching them cubs on ants. Mowgli, you wanna tag along? Maybe you can convince your brother on ants."

" Oh, you know it, Pappa Bear!" The boy then hopped onto the bear's shoulder and headed back into the direction of Council Rock.

Bagheera began to follow the two and looked back, from where his old his friend came from. He knew that he may never see that sweet boy ever again, never get closure on his mother's demise. But he did have those memories, the fleeting memories of playfulness in the garden. But thankfully, as he looked at Mowgli going over the hill with Baloo, he made the realization that at least he now has another chance with another man-cub. That new chance is what he saw in the man cub the first time he found him alone and still does.

" That'll do." Bagheera said to himself under his breathe to himself. " That will do."