Mowgli stood up, and he held the fire pot in his hands. He stretched his arms, and yawned in the face of the Council; but he was furious with rage and sorrow. The wolves had never told him how they hated him. "Listen you!" he cried. "There is no need for this stupid talk from you dogs. Tonight you say that I am a man. If you did not say that I would have been a wolf with you until I died. But now I feel your words are true. So I do not call you my brothers any more, but sag [dogs], as a man should. What you will do, and what you will not do, is not your choice. That matter is with me. So we can see this more plainly, I, who am a man, have a little of the Red Flower which frightens you, who are dogs."

He flung the fire pot on the ground, and some of the red coals lit a bit of dried moss that quickly caught fire. All the wolves in the Council jumped back in terror from the flames.

Mowgli pushed his dead branch into the fire till it started to burn. Then he shook it above his head at the terrified wolves.

"You are the master," said Bagheera quietly. "Save Akela from death. He was always your friend."

Akela, the hard old wolf had never asked for mercy in his life. Now he gave one look, asking for help from Mowgli who stood all naked, his long black hair over his shoulders while the light of the burning branch made the shadows jump and quiver.