Meanwhile, at Council Rock, Raksha watched Grey playing with the other cubs, smiling as she quietly said "don't worry Grey. Those dreams won't bother you anymore."

One of the wolf sentries howled into the sky, as Raksha said "what is it?"

"The red dog leader is here to speak with you." the sentry answered, as Raksha said "oh good. Bring her to me."

"Raksha, old friend."

"Hatya, dear. Welcome, it's been far too long."

"Indeed, it has." Hatya said as she rested on the rock below Raksha, who sat on the higher rock. "So." Raksha said. "What is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"I wished to discuss the recent menace that has been plaguing our community."

"Menace?"

"Oh, I thought you'd have heard about it by now."

"About what?"

"The tiger that has arrived in this part of the jungle."

"Tiger?" Raksha said, before a voice said "what tiger, mommy?"

"Oh, um... it's nothing, Grey. Go back to your brothers and sisters."

Grey did as he was told, before hiding in the bushes to listen to the conversation. Raksha quietly said "so, a tiger, you say? What has he been up to?"

"She, I'm afraid. A cub."

"A cub? Ha, oh Hatya, old chum. You almost had me worried there. My youngest still has nightmares about Shere Khan."

"I do not blame him. Shere Khan has caused us both suffering, you know that."

"Indeed. So, what did you want to say about the cub. They're harmless in youth."

"Not this one. I've met her myself." Hatya said, before turning to face Raksha, revealing the three claw marks on the side of her face. Raksha gasped, saying "good grief. A cub did that, you say? What did you do to provoke her?"

"I did nothing. She was all alone in the jungle. I found her in a basket on a boat. With my natural motherly instincts having already gone to waste, I tried to help her. I have you to thank for this inspiration."

"Why?"

"Well, I planned to adopt this cub. Much like you do with your mancub. So I approached her and she lashed out at me, cutting my face and hissing like a python."

"Well, perhaps you startled her. I remembered when I brought Mowgli to meet the cubs for the first time. One of them was so scared, he scratched Mowgli's chest. It's been there ever since."

"I thought that as well. Until I heard of what happened in the field."

Raksha sighed, saying "what happened in the field, then?"

"I heard this from a mother gazelle. The cub attacked her fawn just the other day. Had the mother not intervened, the poor little fawn would have been ripped to shreds."

"Why... that's terrible. That poor fawn must have been traumatized."

"Indeed."

"Well... what ought we to do then?" Raksha asked. Hatya said "well, when circumstances such as these arise, it's time to take harsh, but necessary, measures."

"Which measures did you have in mind."

"I know the thought of this would send a chill through the spine of any beast but... it's most likely that the most reliable solution to this issue is... to kill the cub."

"Kill a cub? Hatya, you cannot be serious."

"If I were not, would I have said it?" Hatya said. Raksha said "but it just seems so... extreme. I mean, she's only a cub. Surely, she doesn't understand the law of the jungle. Perhaps we could remove her... you know, bring her to Water Mountain. Surely, the other tigers could take care of her."

"And let her grow old so she can return here, albeit much more dangerous? Raksha, it starts with pouncing on a fawn in a meadow, but eventually it reaches the point of massacring a wolf pack."

Raksha looked to the ground, as Hatya said "surely, if you could kill Shere Khan when he was a cub, before he did all those things, you would."

"Y... yes."

"Yes, indeed." Hatya said. "Raksha... sooner or later, the cub will make an appearance. If she came to this area, surely you wouldn't let her endanger your cubs. Make the same mistake twice."

"No. I wouldn't."

"Good. I'm glad to see we agree on this."

"But..." Raksha said. "I will see this cub myself. If she is as dangerous as you believe, only then will I make my decision."

"I... I understand. Crystal clear." Hatya said as she stood up and began to walk away. "But you must be willing to take these measures, Raksha. You cannot let a mother's love cloud your judgement."

"Goodbye, Hatya." Raksha said as the dholes left, before sitting on the rock watching the sunset.

"Oh, Akela. Help me to make the right decision. I need your guidance more than ever." Raksha said to the sky, before taking the cubs into the den.