After hours of running, the group rested on a hilltop near some foggy trees. Bagheera said "we'll sleep here. We'll be half a day ahead of them at this rate."
"Oh, great, cause I am poofed!" Baloo said as he collapsed, and the smaller creatures jumped off his back. The pygmy hog said "okay, we'll set up camp here! Who's hungry besides me?"
Fireflies descended around the area, illuminating the campsite of the fugitives. Bahan tried to swat at the small insects, before Mowgli said "careful. I've learned the hard way not to mess with bright lights, Bahan."
"That's right." Bagheera said, before the cub yawned loudly and rested against Mowgli, who held her close and said "get some rest, Bahan." as the cub fell asleep.
Baloo said "what do we do now, Baggy?"
"We protect her. At all costs. Who wants to is welcome."
"I wish it didn't have to end this way, Bagheera." Mowgli said sadly. The panther watched silently as the cub snored, before saying "So did I."
Eventually, they all went to sleep, unknowingly being watched by a creature hiding in the vines. The creature hissed, and said "sssso, the fugitivessss are resssting in my territory for the night. I love having guesssstsss for dinner."
As the night went on, Bahan's ears began twitching as she heard a noise. Her eyes opened, and she slowly slid out of Mowgli's arms and crept past Bagheera.
The cub followed the noise to the vine trees, her nose picking up a familiar smell. She heard hissing in the trees, and saw a long thin shape.
It was a giant snake. Bahan recognized her from the tree that she had Bagheera had slept in the other night. She remembered the snake's hushing lullaby, which almost rocked her to sleep before Bagheera got angry.
The snake was struggling for some reason, as Bahan climbed on some rocks to reach her level. The snake saw her, and, instantly recognizing the cub, hissed "hello again... little one! Wait, why are you coming sssso closssse to me?"
The cub jumped onto the branch where the snake was, and walked over to wrap her paws around her in a tight embrace. The snake coughed, saying "isss thisss how it alwaysss feelssss? Well, I don't know why my prey ssssuffer sssso much."
Bahan stepped on the snake's coil, causing her to yelp in pain. Bahan looked at the bloody coils, which were tangled in some rocks and branches. She looked at the snake, before licking her face playfully, causing Kaa to say "aah. That'ssss my ssssinusss!"
Meanwhile, Bagheera was woken up by falling rocks, quickly noticing the cub's absence. She said "Bahan? BAHAN! Mowgli, wake up!"
"Where's Bahan?!" Mowgli said as he woke up. They ran to the trees calling for the cub, seeing two shadows in the tree. Bagheera gasped, and said "oh no, not again! Kaa, get your coils off of my..."
Suddenly, their path was blocked by falling branches and rocks. They looked up to see Bahan pushing the rocks from the branch, as Mowgli said "what is she doing, Bagheera?"
When Bahan finished moving the rocks, she turned back smiling to see the snake's coils wrapping around her. "Bahan, hold on!" Bagheera shouted, only to stop when he saw the coils lowering the tiger onto the ground.
When Bahan landed, she tapped the coils that held her, prompting Kaa to let her go as the snake lowered her head down. Bagheera sent Bahan back to the campsite, as he and Mowgli turned to face Kaa.
"Your cub... sssshe'sss sssspec-sssial." Kaa said. Bagheera looked where Bahan had gone, before answering "I know. What is your business, Kaa?"
"Busssinesss? I wouldn't be sssso sssussspic-sssciousss if ssssomeone wanted to repay a debt to me."
"Debt?"
"Yessss. Your cub freed my coilssss. And for that, I will help you to protect her from your former friendssss."
"How?"
"The only way you can ssssave your cub isss to return her to Water Mountain."
"Leave? Bagheera, she can't!" Mowgli said, before Kaa said "sssay now, mancub. Are you willing to kill your friendsssss... your mother... for the cub?"
"Mowgli, leave this to me. It's for the best."
"But Bagheera..."
"It's the only place where she can be safe!" Bagheera said. "But... can we at least wait until morning?"
"Very well... but you mussst leave firssst thing."
As Bagheera and Mowgli turned back to the campsite, Mowgli said "believe me Kaa. If you betray us..."
"I won't betray you. We've made an honorable deal. And all you have to do... is trussst in me..."