When "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" begins, the young mongoose is caught in a flood, which drags him from his parents' burrow to the location which will provide the story's setting.
When Teddy first discovers him, he believes the mongoose is dead, and requests that they hold a funeral for him. Teddy's mother corrects her son, saying that the mongoose might still be alive, and suggests they "take him in and dry him."
From this point on, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi will swiftly insert himself within the family, as well as within the circle of animals which lives on the premises, serving as a protector of both humans and animals alike, by fighting the snakes which threaten them. The battles between the mongoose and the snakes (particularly his battles with the cobras Nag and his wife, Nagaina) will be the driving action of the story.
At the beginning of the story, Rikki-tikki is washed out of his burrow during a high summer flood and is carried by the current. Although Rikki-tikki is carried away from his family, he eventually lands on the garden path of a British family's bungalow. When Teddy first sees the mongoose, Rikki-tikki is extremely dirty and nearly unconscious. Teddy initially thinks that Rikki-tikki is dead and tells his mother that they should have a funeral for the mongoose. Teddy's request to have a funeral for the presumably dead mongoose illustrates his sympathetic, compassionate nature as an innocent child. Fortunately, Teddy's mother examines Rikki-tikki and suggests that they take him inside to clean and dry him. Teddy's father proceeds to carry Rikki-tikki inside, where they wash and revive him. Teddy's parents decide to keep Rikki-tikki as their pet, and he proceeds to patrol their bungalow and the garden area outside. Rikki-tikki's presence protects Teddy and his family from the dangerous cobras, who stalk and terrorize the surrounding area.
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