As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
The original books
- Baloo and Bagheera vouch for Mowgli when the pack is reluctant to accept him as a member. Bagheera has no vote, but he offers a young bull he killed nearby in exchange for Mowgli's life. He tells Mowgli in later life that he must never eat beef out of respect for that animal, and Mowgli is known to swear oaths by "the Bull that Bought Me".
- After the pack casts him out, Mowgli's wolf family assure him that they will always love him.
- Even with Shere Khan full on manipulating most of the wolf pack against Mowgli, Akela himself is willing to fight for Mowgli's staying with the wolves, and Grey Brother leads the rest of the litter in staying by Mowgli's side. In fact, including Raksha and Father Wolf, they're some of the only ones who take Mowgli's side and they do so immediately.
- On Mowgli's first time out from the jungle, Akela and Grey Brother are concerned enough to go visit him on occasion to make sure the humans are treating him well.
- "Man goes to Man at the last", but Raksha repeatedly states in "Letting In the Jungle" and "The Spring Running" that she considers Mowgli her son, even if he is a different species.
- How much does Raksha care for Mowgli? She comes out of interest in who Mowgli's human mother is, but she ends up being the escort when Messua and her husband are escaping the village mob, simply because Mowgli wants to keep her safe, howling just enough behind them the villagers don't bother chasing them.
- In "The Spring Running", while Grey Brother is the main one, all of Raksha's cubs who grew up with Mowgli are willing to defend him when the others imply Mowgli is being cast out (as opposed to him going of his own accord).
- Compare Mowgli's relationship with Kaa here with most adaptations and you'll be surprised; Mowgli's casual ease around him is on-par with Bagheera.
- "A brave heart and a courteous tongue, they shall carry thee far through the jungle, Manling." It's noted that Mowgli's thanks to the python for saving him from the Bandar-log was done prettily, but Kaa's first direct line to Mowgli is a respectful compliment. Which takes Mowgli a shorter amount of time to get from him than almost anyone else besides Bagheera.
- "The King's Ankus" has Kaa trust Mowgli around him after shedding his skin, when he's partially deaf and blind. They participate in (one-sided) wrestling matches, and Mowgli can relax in a pool with Kaa's head on his shoulder without fear of being harmed.
- "Red Dog" has extra heartwarming: considering Kaa can be ornery and moody - and is when Mowgli trips over him - Kaa immediately calms down and warmly greets Mowgli when he recognizes him, and helps solve the problem with the Red Dogs without much convincing.
- While the most stoic of the three teachers in "The Spring Running", Kaa is still sentimental in his advice and goodbyes to Mowgli, reminding him of his place among Men but comforting and never rushing him.
- Crossing over with Tear Jerker, Mowgli's leaving the Jungle in The Spring Running also counts, with each of the characters saying their goodbyes, and reassuring Mowgli the decision to leave is his own and they are not casting him out.Kaa: Man goes to Man at the last, though the Jungle does not cast him out.
- From non-Mowgli stories:
- "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": The titular mongoose defends the family that saved him from drowning almost completely out of gratitude.
- "White Seal":
- The young seal Kotik meets and falls in love with. She's unnamed, but supports his journeys to find a place where the seals won't be hunted and is the first to agree to come with him to the hidden beach.
- Kotik's father is a bit rough-around-the-edges, but when his son starts fighting the other seals about moving beaches, he joins to the defense of his son for a Back-to-Back Badasses moment and also is one of the first to agree to going to the new beach.
- "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat": Purun Bhagat saving the village from a flood due to how kind they were to him and wanting to repay them.
Anime
- Just any interaction between Mowgli and Luri, his adoptive mother. Luri loves Mowgli so much that she sees him as one of her own.
- Bagheera being a Cool Big Bro to Mowgli by supporting him in his time of need.
- When Akru was gravely injured during a hunt-gone-wrong, Mowgli stops at nothing to save his beloved brother; even if he has to disobey his pack leader, who tells him to let Akru die to teach a lesson.
