Darzee the tailor-bird initially helps Rikki-Tikki at the beginning of the short story by warning him about Nagaina's ambush. While Rikki-Tikki is speaking to Nag for the first time, Nagaina sneaks up behind him and Darzee yells "Behind you! Look behind you!" to Rikki-Tikki, who instantly jumps into the air to avoid Nagaina's attack. After Rikki-Tikki kills Nag, he asks Darzee where Nagaina is located and she tells him that Nagaina is mourning her deceased husband by the rubbish heap. Darzee then informs Rikki-Tikki that Nagaina's eggs are located in the melon bed, on the end nearest the wall. Darzee once again helps Rikki-Tikki by acting like she broke her wing to get Nagaina's attention while Rikki-Tikki destroys her eggs in the melon bed. Overall, Darzee helps Rikki-Tikki by warning him about Nagaina's ambush, telling him where Nagaina hides her eggs, and distracting Nagaina by feigning a broken wing, which gives Rikki-Tikki time to destroy Nagaina's eggs.
I believe the friend the question is referring to is Darzee's wife. Darzee's wife helps lure Nagaina away from her snake eggs so Rikki-tikki can sneak up to them and destroy most of the eggs.
Darzee's wife is an intelligent and brave bird. She knows Nagaina's eggs, if allowed to hatch, will produce dozens of deadly cobras. She wants those eggs destroyed, and she is willing to put herself in harm's way to help Rikki-tikki do that. Her plan is to fake an injury and lure Nagaina away. Darzee's wife flies to the ground and begins hobbling around and moaning in pain. She keeps crying out that the boy broke her wing. Nagaina can't resist the easy target, and Nagaina begins to stalk Darzee's wife. Darzee's wife continues to play up the injury while hobbling away from the cobra's nest. Rikki-tikki realizes the opportunity he is being given and seeks out Nagaina's eggs. He destroys all the eggs except one.
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