When news reaches Shere Khan that there's a man cub in the wolf pack's cave, he immediately determines to have it for himself. So the fearsome tiger shows up at the wolves' lair demanding that they hand Mowgli over. But the wolves, as proud as ever, are not prepared to comply with Shere Khan's request.

Father wolf tells the tiger in no uncertain terms that the wolves are a free people and will only take orders from the head of the pack, not a "striped cattle killer." Shere Khan responds angrily with a mighty roar that thunders throughout the jungle. But the wolves aren't intimidated. Mother wolf lurches forward and stares straight into the tiger's eyes and tells him that the man cub is hers and shall not be killed. For good measure, she even tells Shere Khan that when the youngster grows up he'll hunt him. Shere Khan knows that mother wolf will fight to the death if needs be, so he wisely backs off, growling as he leaves behind the mouth of the cave.