Bhairav was red with Range. "I NEED THIS CHOPPED OFF, OKAY?" He was shouting. "My son, Sutal, is getting married, and they'll need a new house!" He said.
"That's My tree!!" Prasuti said, raising her sword.
"Well, it's gonna be mine now!" Bhairav said, raising his axe.
Prasuti was quick with her sword, making a deep cut on Bhairav's arm.
"Aaaahhhh… You rotten, lowly bitch!" Bhairav called out, striking her torso with his axe.
"AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa" Prasuti cried as she collapsed.
"Maaa…." Rekha came running towards her, she had been nearby picking food when she heard the commotion near her house.
Sindhu came right behind her. "Take her to the Healers!" She said as Rekha carried her.
"Don't… let them… take my… tree.." Prasuti said.
"Sindhu, what are you doing here!" Bhairav shouted.
"Pitashree, you CANNOT chop this tree! It belongs to Prasuti Ma!" Sindhu said.
"Pitashree wants to gift me a new house" Sutal said.
"Bhrata, there are lots of dead trees in the forest, why can't you chop them?"
"And besides, what's the NEED TO?" Tejas had arrived, riding on Dhruv.
"TEJAS! STAY AWAY FROM ELFISH MATTERS!!" Sutal drew out his sword and came near Tejas. "First, you disgrace the elves by marrying some low creature, a man in that! Now, you're going against your own people?"
"If you think other creatures are low and unworthy of respect, I'm happy to denounce myself from you all" Tejas said, drawing out his sword.
Sutal launched an attack on Tejas, who blocked it with his sword. They were indulged in a swordfight.
Bhairav took the advantage of the situation to chop the tree again. However, he was now stopped by Dhruv, who kicked him away with his hooves.
"You Bloody Ashva-Manav!" Bhairav conjured a shield and ran towards him. His wife, Revati, had arrived by then, who launched herself in front of Dhruv.
"I'll take care of him, you take care of the tree!" She said.
"You can't harm the tree as long as I'm here" Yashvanth landed in front of Bhairav, holding his sword, a bird perched on his shoulder.
"You… you… you freaking birdie… why does it even bother you??"
"Because this tree not only belongs to Vrikshara Prasuti,but also to the birds of this forest!" Devrath landed beside Yashvanth.
Bhairav's brother, Sukesh, arrived with a bunch of other elves. "If you want to save this tree, let's see how you do it!!" Sukesh said. "I knew you the creatures of this forest would interfere! I got backup!" He said, launching at the boys.
Very soon, chaos broke out.
Sukesh tried stabbing Yashvanth with his sword, but the latter blocked it, stabbing Suukesh on his torso instead. Arrows rained all over Bhairav and the other elves as Devrath launched them. The ones getting shot found themselves tied up in a strong rope.
Sindhu was battling with her own brother.
"You traitor!" Sutal cried hitting her with his chain. "You're taking their side now?" He shouted.
"Yes! I will! Because I actually care about all beings of the forest!!" Sindhu said, as she used her mace to send him flying to the lake.
Tejas was engrossed in a sword fight with Revati. Clang. Clang.
"I feel so ashamed that you're my nephew!" Revati said.
"And yet you feel no shame in destroying someone's house, right Kaki?" Tejas said.
Sukesh's wife, Tamanna, came holding a box.
"Where were you?" Bhiarav asked.
"I knew these birds would interfere with us, I was doing some preparations" she said, opening the box. A snake slithered from the box.
Yashvanth was engrossed in battle with Sukesh, too oblivious to notice the snake until it wound itself around his legs and started getting bigger.
"YASHVANTH!!" Keshav, who Yashvant had asked to stay at their place, had arrived with Shaurya.
Yashvanth tried moving his arms but the snake had a tight grip on him.
Keshav looked around and grabbed the nearest sword he could find - from one of the elves Deveath had tied.
"Not just anywhere!!" Sindhu, who was fighting some elves, whispered leaning to him. "It has to be the fourteenth Ventral scale, that's where it's heart is. Otherwise you'll only anger it and make it attack you!" She said.
Keshav counted. The fourteenth scale was a bit high forhimto reach.
Rekha arrived from the healer. "Ma's gonna be fine!" She said.
"Heu boy, do you need a launch?" Sindhu said and gestured to Rekha. "We can help you" they held their hands and make a cross. "Stand here."
Keshav followed them. With a swift stroke, he was sent flying towards the snake. His eyes was fixed on the fourteenth scale, where he stabbed hard right as he reached near it.
The snake loosened it's grip on Yashvanth as it plummeted down to the lake. Keshav landed on it's back thus breaking his fall. Yashvanth used his wings to slow his fall.
Keshav ran towards Yashvanth. "Are you okay??" He asked worriedly.
"Keshav! I told you to stay home!" Yashvanth said.
"How could I when you're almost dying here!" Keshav said. "Who knows what could've happened had I not arrived!!" He hugged Yashvanth.
Sindhu and Rekha had broken into a hug as soon as they helped Keshav. "Don't cry Rekha, Ma will be fine" Sindhu said as she cupped her face. "Don't worry, we won't let her tree be cut" she said. Then, without a care in the world, she gave her a deep kiss on her lips. Making everyone freeze.
"WHAT THE HELL!!" Sutal said. He rushed forward and pushed them apart. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" He said.
"DISGUSTING!!" Bhairav said. "FROM MY DAUGHTER IN THAT!"
"Is that why you were taking their side?" Tamanna said.
"Your 'son' must be polluting her!" Revati said, staring at Tejas and then at Tamanna.
"Don't call him my son" Tamanna said.
"YOU…YOU'RE ANOTHER DISGRACE TO THE ELVES!" Bhairav said. "Making out with a lowly creature and going against your own kind!"
"My own kind that thinks it's okay to destroy another's home?" Sindhu said. "Yes, I AM GONNA GO AGAINST MY OWN KIND! AND YES, I'VE ALREADY CONSIDERED REKHA AS MY WIFE! I AM GOING TO MARRY HER!" She said.
Bhairav said some prayers, suddenly, a powerful weapon was burning on his hand. The Agneyastra. "If I burn down your tree, nothing can stop it now" he said, aiming the weapon towards the tree.
Rekha watched in horror.
However, a large volume of water appeared and destroyed the Agneyastra. The Varunashtra.
"BHAIRAV!"
Atish's voice echoed through the forest. The Nine footed man effortlessly made his presence known.
"BHAIRAV! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO DESTROY THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST!" Atish shouted.
Bhairav stumbled back a little, however, he gathered his strength. "I dare because I can make something even better here!" He shouted. "Guru Atish, why are you always supporting the lowly creatures? Join us, Guruji, it'll be the best for the forest!" He said.
"NEVER!" Atish said. "I have taken an oath to protect every being of this forest, and I'm not gonna let you destroy a Vrikshara's house!"
Bhairav had already conjured another weapon by now. The Indrashtra
Devrath grasped.
However Atish was one step forward, he had already summoned another weapon. The Vibuthiashtra.
They were about to strike one another.
"STOP!!" Yoor Dev was seen floating on his vehicle to the area. "LOWER YOUR WEAPONS!" He said. "It'll destroy the whole forest"
"But Yoor dev, Bhairav-"
"Atish, lower your weapon, take it back" Yoor said. "You too Bhairav" he said.
"Yoor dev, Bhairav is trying to -"
"Atish, remember what happened the last time you refused to lower your weapon!" Yoor said. Atish lowered his weapon, Bhairav lowered his.
"Bhairav, the reason you elves have a whole village to yourself is so you can build whatever you want there!" He said. "And not harm the other beings of the forest!" He said. "Kaalesh, lock him and his allies up" he directed as Kaalesh chained up his group and took them away.
Yoor Dev turned towards Yashvanth.
"Oh shit" Yashvanth whispered.
"Yashvanth, hasn't the human healed already? He should not be in the jungle anymore" He said. "Come to my Court right now"
Devrath started at them. He knew what was gonna happen. He followed them.
***
"Yashvanth, the Prince of Birds, you know the rules of this forest right? That our world is a secret from humans" Yoor Dev said glancing at Keshav.
Keshav looked uncomfortably at him.
"I do" Yashvanth said.
"Then why has this human not left yet? Why is he still here?" Yoor Dev asked. "Why haven't you sent him?"
"Yoor Dev!" Keshav said. "I want to tell you tha-"
"Keep quiet! Speak only when you're spoken to!" Yoor Dev said.
"Yashvanth, why is the human still here. He's not injured or sick anymore. You know what to do once you've completely healed the human, right?"
"You gotta send him back. And you know what to do before that" Kaalesh said.
Yashvanth stared at her. "But I don't want..."
"You want to or not, rules are rules. The human will get his memories of this forest removed!" Kaalesh said.
"I'll have my memories removed?" Keshav said.
"So the human doesn't know it yet?" Yoor Dev asked.
"WILL YOU STOP TALKING ABOUT ME AS IF I'M NOT THERE!!" Keshav asked.
"AND HE'S Keshav! NOT JUST A HUMAN!" Yashvanth shouted.
"STOP SHOUTING!" Kaalesh shouted. "You are in Yoor Dev's cave. You gotta keep calm and not create a ruckus!"
Yashvanth took deep breaths. Being the spiritual son of Agni, the Fire God himself, it was always hard for him to control his anger. Especially when someone disrespected his loved ones.
"Yashvanth control, control" Devrath whispered.
"Yashvanth, may I ask you why haven't you sent him back and removed his memories"
"I… Because we…"
"Because we love each other" Keshav spoke over him.
"You fell for a human too?" Kaalesh chuckled.
He turned to Devrath "Literally birds of a feather"
"Yes! I love this human!" Yashvanth hugged Keshav.
"And I love him too!" Keshav said.
"Well, since you both love each other, I'll give you a choice" Yoor Dev turned to Keshav. "Make the choice Keshav. You can either leave this forest, and forget everything that ever happened here" Keshav widened his eyes. "Or stay here in the forest... And never go back to the human world"
Keshav's eyes widened even more. Yoor Dev marched forward and placed his hand on his temples.
"If you want to stay here with Yashvanth, you'll have to be here forever. You'll have to let go of anything of the human world... Your family, friends, your dreams and everything else."
Keshav had never been as stressed before. One side was Yashvanth, the guy he truly loved and cared about, who he never wanted to leave. Other side was his dear family. His parents who had been there for him and had helped him reach where he was. His sister who had always supported him no matter what. His best friend who he had promised to always be by his side.
Sure he had stayed far too long away from them, but he had been meaning to go back anyways. Not without Yashvanth tho.
"So what do you decide?" Yoor Dev said. "Your family, or your love?"
Keshav looked at Yashvanth. He really loved him a lot. And love often required sacrifices.
But he couldn't imagine leaving his family. He couldn't live with the guilt of giving them the pain of losing him. Or if their memories were removed, he wouldn't be able to live knowing that he caused his dear family to forget him.
On the other hand, he didn't want to leave Yashvanth. He didn't want to forget him. Ever.
"Aren't you able to choose?" Kaalesh said.
"Do you really want to be with Yashvanth? Do you want to leave your family for him?" Kaalesh asked.
"Think properly, Keshav, if you choose to stay with Yashvanth, you need to end every connection you have to the human world." Yoor Dev said.
"STOP IT!" Yoor Dev was stopped midway by Devrath.
"Devrath! Who gave you the authority to speak in the middle!" Kaalesh said.
"YOU DID THE SAME THING LAST TIME!" Devrath said. "YOU TRIED CONVINCING HIM... AND THEN WHEN HE STILL WAS CONFUSED, TRIED CONVINCING ME THAT IT'LL BE BETTER FOR HIM TO GO BACK!" Devrath said. He started tearing up. "I didn't think... Letting go would... Be this hard" he broke into tears.
Yashvanth rushed and hugged Devrath.
"Yashvanth... I... I miss him" Devrath said.
"If it's meant to be, it will, Bhrata Shree"
Yashvanth said, breaking off the hug.
"Yashvanth... I... I..." Keshav hugged
Yashvanth. He really couldn't say anything.
So he just pulled his face closer to his, and they kissed.
"Are you serious?" Kaalesh glared at them.
"THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO KISS!" Yoor Dev shouted, making them pull apart. "Have some decency!"
"Decency huh? Weren't Soham and Lassiya known for PDA all around the camp??" Kaalesh scoffed.
"YOU BLOODY VAMPIRE STOP IT" Yashvanth quickly pushed Keshav away, ran to Kaalesh, summoned a sword and drew it. Leaving a long scar on his stomach.
"Yashvanth!! Yashvanth!!" Devrath ran towards him. "What did you just do!!!" Devrath looked super panicked.
"Matashree was one of the brightest pupils in the camp" Yashvanth said, as he made the sword disappear. "And no one could use the celestial weapons as good as Pitashree"
"Did you just... try to... Stab me?" Kaalesh said, his wound healing. "I'm a freaking immortal, you fool!" He laughed.
"Yashvanth, you just raised your weapon in the court!" Kaalesh said. "This is one of the biggest offence, and seen as a direct attack to the King!"
"I cannot bear insult to my parents" Yashvanth said.
"Kaalesh, you need to mind your tongue" Yoor Dev said. "AND Yashvanth!" He shouted. "DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT RAISING YOUR WEAPON IN THE COURT IS A BIG CRIME? DO YOU KNOW WHAT is THE PUNISHMENT FOR IT? DEATH!!"
"D... D... DEATH??" Keshav looked horrified at Yoor Dev, then Yashvanth. "But Lord Kaalesh shouldn't have insulted his parents! He got angry! You can't kill him for that!" He said.
"Clueless Human! Can't you see the difference between throwing a few insults and actually raising a weapon??" Kaalesh said.
"B... But he didn't mean to..."
"Keep quiet" Yoor Dev said. "I won't kill anyone, but I can't let you off for such a big thing" Yoor Dev said. "I'll have to punish you with something just as bad, if not worse."
"Banish him from the forest" Kaalesh spoke up. "Without his powers"
Yoor Dev nodded. "You're right" he said.
"You can't do this!" Devrath said.
"Yes, you can't!! You can't!" Keshav said.
"How will you steal his powers he was born with??" Devrath said.
"How can you just make him leave the forest where he's lived all his life??" Keshav said.
"Yashvanth could literally be the killer of Naagraj, you're only putting the forest at stake by banishing him!" Devrath said.
"You can Obliviate me instead!" Keshav said.
"Please, please don't banish him!" Devrath said.
"Don't take away his powers!" Keshav said.
"You guys should stop trying, it's of no use!" Yashvanth said. His eyes were full of tears.
"When Yoor Dev makes a decision, no one can make him change" he said.
"B- but Yashvanth! The forest..." Devrath said.
"If my destiny lies in the Forest, Bhratashree, The forest will call me. No matter how long it takes." Yashvanth said.
"Now let me take your wings, since your powers lie there" Yoor Dev said as he approached Yashvanth, but was stopped by the latter.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Yashvanth shouted. He closed his eyes and clutched his wings with his hands.
"AAAAAAHHHHH, AAHHHHHHHH" Loud grunts were heard all over the cave. As he started pulling his wings.
Keshav and Devrath watched in horror as the wings started tearing apart from Yashvanth's body. And crimson red blood flowed from his back.
Yashvanth kept pulling apart his wings.
"Aaahhhh" with one final pull, the wings came off his back. His shaking hands holding the now bloody wings.
"Here you go" Yashvanth muttered and placed his wings on the ground and collapsed.
"YASHHHHH!!!" Keshav rushed to Yashvanth.
"Yash! Yash!" Devrath rushed to him. "Bhai... Wha..." He held his blood-smeared hands and touched his severely wounded back.
Yashvanth was taking quick breaths. Devrath tried to heal his wound, but there was only so much his magic could do.
"DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIS WOUND! OTHERWISE HE'LL BLEED TO DEATH!" Keshav said.
"GET A HEALER! PLEASE!" Devrath shouted.
"Fine fine, Kaalesh, go call Aayurvati!" Yoor Dev commanded Kaalesh.
A girl arrived to the cave, followed by two assistants.
She grinded the leaves and herbs he'd gotten in his bag, and her assistants applied it on Yashvanth. His back healed in an instant.
"Now what?" Kaalesh asked.
"Take him out of the forest" Yoor Dev said. He turned to Keshav, who was trying to wake Yashvanth up. "And him too" Yoor Dev said, touching his temple and rendering him unconscious.