After walking endlessly through the jungle, Bahan rested next to a rock in a deep glade. Little did she know that only a few bushes away, a small golden jackal was watching her. He said to himself "so, that's the tiger cub they want. This ought to get me some meat from those red-furred beasts."
Bahan was suddenly awoken from her daydreaming by rustling in the bushes. She heard the noise becoming closer and closer, climbing onto the rock with her claws unsheathed. Suddenly, the rustling started in the trees nearby, causing the bushes to stop moving as the jackal watched.
Another noise in the jungle started becoming louder with the rustling in the trees, but it sounded like a voice. Specifically, a humming voice, which sang "Hm-hm-hmm... dum-de-dum-de-dum. Bum-bum-bum dum-de-dum-de-dum... forget about your worries and your strife."
Bahan remained defensive, before a large bear stepped out of the trees and walked past her, singing "I mean the... bare necessities. Old mother nature's recipes... that bring the bare necessities of life... I mean the... well now, ha ha, what have we here?"
A pangolin, pygmy hog and squirrel stepped out, the hog saying "ooh, tiger!" as the pangolin said "wait, wait. I wanna see how this goes."
Bahan stepped back as Baloo began sniffing her, saying "well, this is something you don't see every...oof!" before the cub slapped him on the nose. "Oh my goodness, she hit him!" the pangolin said, before the squirrel added "whoa, that was unexpected. They really start young, now don't they?"
Bahan backed into the rock and hissed. Baloo then put up his paws in surrender and said "gee, if you wanna be a snake, I should leave you with coils of death. I bet she'd love an audience with you."
As the bear sat on his bottom, the tiger jumped down and began hitting his stomach with all her strength. As she struggled, Baloo said "pitiful. Hey stripes. You need help. And old Baloo's gonna learn you to fight. First, you gotta start with a big bear growl. Come on, scare me!"
The cub took a deep breath and tried to roar, only to let out a small squeaky "rawr!"
The smaller creatures laughed, the pygmy hog saying "well, that was pathetic."
Baloo laughed as well, adding "no, stripes, this is how you really growl." before letting out a roar so loud, he shook the trees and blew Bahan's fur backwards.
Bagheera and Mowgli both heard the loud roar, as Mowgli said "is that Baloo?"
"Oh dear." Bagheera said as he ran to the glade. Bahan started giggling as she and Baloo continued exchanging roars.
"Rawr!"
"ROOOOAHAAR!"
"Raa-rawr!" Bahan growled, as Baloo said "that's it, right from your toes!"
"Baloo, stop!" Mowgli said, distracting the bear long enough for Bahan to jump on his back and begin tickling him. Baloo laughed and rolled over as the cub continued tickling and climbing onto him, saying "no stop. Ha ha. Come on, that tickles, man."
When Baloo finally declared submission, he handed the cub to Mowgli and said "you're alright, stripes. What's her name anyway?"
"Bahan!" Bagheera said as he ran into the glade, the cub's face lighting up as she ran over to him. Mowgli smiled as Bagheera grabbed Bahan and said "where have you been? I was so worried about you. I've been looking everywhere. Don't you ever run away like that again, you hear!? Oh Bahan, I'm so glad you're safe."
As Bagheera embraced the cub, the hog said "aw, isn't that nice. I wish my dad was that protective."
"What? No, she's not my cub... I'm just taking care of her until we find her parents." Bagheera answered as Bahan climbed onto his back. Baloo said "I should say so. I never saw you as being one for adoption, Bagheera. I always thought you were more of a find 'em in the jungle and leave 'em with a wolf pack type of guy."
"Well, we can't leave her with the wolf pack." Mowgli said. "Grey's terrified of tigers and mother would hate it if she saw one now. Remember what Shere Khan did to Akela?"
"I doubt we'll ever forget it, Mowgli." Bagheera said as he held Bahan closer to him. "Oh, but if they did anything to little Bahan here, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."
"So, how are we going to keep them from finding out?" Baloo asked, as Bagheera answered "that's not my concern. The true question, is what we're going to do with Bahan when they do."
The jackal ran to the dhole territory, where a shadowed figure said "you're back, yet I don't see the cub."
"The mancub has left her with the panther. And the bear's involved in it too."
"Hm. Getting rid of her will be harder than I thought. Well, I'll just have to visit the wolf leader tomorrow. I'm sure she'll want to know all about the tiger who attacked a mother gazelle and a sweet, well-meaning dhole, don't you think, Tabaqui?"
"Yes, and my... reward?" the jackal said.
"Oh yes. You wanted a dead animal."
"If you would, please."
"Good." the dhole said, before suddenly leaping at the jackal with her teeth out, staining the ground with his blood.
Back at Baloo's cave, Baloo ate some honey while Mowgli showed Bahan his tricks. Bahan clumsily climbed onto Baloo and tapped his paw to get his attention. Baloo said "what's wrong?" as he continued to stuff his face. Bahan tapped again, looking at the golden liquid on Baloo's paw. Baloo said "you want some?" as Bahan nodded curiously.
As Bahan tasted the honey, she began chewing, tasting, before suddenly spitting it out and saying "bbblllaaarrrggghhh!"
"As you can see Baloo, tigers don't eat honey."
"Well, what do you know? Learn something new everyday." Baloo said before Bahan snuggled close to him. As she nodded off to sleep, Bagheera grabbed some leaves and placed them over her, before saying "she's special. Isn't she?"
"She sure is. You did one on this one, Baggy."
"It almost um... ha ha, it makes me sad that I'll have to give her back."
"Give her back?" Mowgli said.
"Of course. We have to get her to Water Mountain. It's the only place where we can find her parents."
"Bagheera, her father died. We saw it."
"I know, but it where she belongs. And we have to take her there."
"But what if we never see her again."
"Then... we'll just have to savour what time we have left. Besides, I suppose we'll wait till she's stronger, so she can make the trip."
"But Bagheera, why can't we just keep her?"
"Mowgli, you said so yourself. Your pack wouldn't want her growing up around here. And it's only a matter of time before they find out about her. What else can I do?"
"We'll talk to 'em about it." Baloo said, before Mowgli added "yeah, Baloo's right. Once they get to know her, they'll understand."
"Mowgli... sometimes the world isn't that simple."
Tears came to Mowgli's eyes as he said "yeah but... what if we never see her again?"
"If that's the way it has to be, then that's the way it's going to be."
As Mowgli looked at Bahan sleeping, Bagheera said "believe me, this is hurting me the most, Mowgli."
As night fell, they all slept in the cave. Bagheera was the only one who stood awake, watching Bahan sleeping with the pangolin and pygmy hog in her paws. What was I thinking? he thought to himself. I love that little cub. She's like my own. I can't just abandon her.
After spending the whole night debating with himself, he finally decided. Mowgli is right. We need to show her to Raksha.
He sat down next to Bahan, who snuggled closer to him in her sleep. "Don't worry, little one." Bagheera said quietly as he drifted to sleep. "You're not going anywhere."