If it says 1 per short rest than it is. Yes I will count the last hour as rest for Cat.
You can rage out of combat, I'll allow it to last a minute.
The disposition of the bandits is always an issue. Bear's team has let some go and killed some depening on what's best based on the situation.
Imagine if you were set free a day from the nearest town in your warm clothes, snow = water. Exhaustion may occur from lack of food and sleep. If they just push through to town they will likely make it. Outside the cold affected region, they could survive well enough.
So if you let them go with their clothes and fur-lined gear, they'll survive even without weapons if they're smart about it. Bear's team has done this multiple times, it's the starting from nothing, in a bad spawn, survival scenario.
If you fed them, that would counter one level of exhaustion, it will improve their odds, but together you can assume they already have good odds.
Ultimately you will choose bssed on your own moral compass.