The rescue of Joe Brandstone had been accomplished by a rescue team from the Achor Trading company, supplemented by several others, including Jon Chess. Jon had released tigers from a pen to provide a distraction so the assault force could penetrate the mine where Brandstone had been held and then helped the snipers and the Kal'dorei rogue Miss Moon secure the mine entrance, killing a patrol which had threatened to expose the rescue. During the rescue, mine slaves had been released and had escaped into the Stranglethorn Jungle. After Brandstone and their prisoner had been teleported to Dalaran for medical treatment, Chess had returned to the mine complex, to see if he could track the escaped slaves, and help them back to Alliance lands.
While he was trailing the slaves, Jon ran across the corpse of Shadowmaw panther. The wounds on the body of the panther were made from human weapons; slain perhaps by the escaping slaves or by the bandit patrols from the mines. Who had done the deed was irrelevant to the panther cub who sat in mourning for her slain mother, keening her distress and gently poking at the corpse in a hopeless attempt to wake her.
Jonathan Chess felt his heart break for the panther cub. Taking a packet of his lunch - Deeprun Rat Kabob - from his pack, he tore the meat into small pieces and slowly approached the panther cub. Consumed by her grief and hunger, the cub did not notice Chess approach until it smelled the food Jon offered her. The cub took the first piece almost reluctantly and devoured it with a growing enthusiasm. By the time Jon had run out of meat, the panther cub was sleepy, it's stomach round with her consumption. Jon rigged his cloak to act as a sling pouch and gently moved the cub into it, stroking and petting the wee little beast.
The panther cub needed a new guardian, and Chess had an idea...
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