The forest was quiet, its branches swaying gently in the night wind. The only sounds were the hurried footsteps of Vijay and Ashwini as they ran through the thick undergrowth. Their eyes darted left and right, calling out anxiously.
"Ansh!" Ashwini's voice cracked.
"Where did that fool run off to?" Vijay muttered, frustration mixed with worry.
They searched frantically, but their friend was nowhere in sight.
Meanwhile, Ansh had found his own hiding place. Far from the forest's edge, he stumbled upon the dark mouth of a cave. His eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Perfect! If I stay here, no one will drag me back to that boring lecture," he whispered to himself.
But as he stepped inside, the air felt strange. The deeper he went, the warmer it grew. Then, faintly, a red glow flickered from within.
Curiosity tugged at him. His heart pounded, but he pressed forward, deeper into the shadows.
At the cave's heart, Ansh froze at the sight before him. A tiny bird, feathers shimmering with fiery red light, huddled weakly against a rock. Flames flickered faintly from its body—it was a baby Flemingo, a legendary Fire Bird known in whispers of old tales.
But the fledgling was not alone. Looming over it, wings stretched wide, was a monstrous Sling—a predator of fire birds. Its beak glowed like molten rock, and its eyes burned with cruelty.
The baby cried out in fear as the Sling lunged.
Without thinking, Ansh grabbed a jagged stone from the ground and hurled it with all his strength. The rock struck the Sling's eye, making the beast screech in pain and stagger back.
"Stay away from it!" Ansh shouted, his voice shaking but fierce as he planted himself between the predator and the trembling chick. His small frame was nothing compared to the towering creature, yet he spread his arms wide as if his body alone could shield the baby.
The Sling roared, flames bursting from its throat. Heat seared the cave walls, and the air grew suffocating. Then it lunged.
Ansh darted aside, barely escaping the blaze, but his foot slipped on the uneven rocks. He fell hard, his palms scraping against the stone. The baby bird tumbled with a frightened cry, rolling further from safety.
"No!" Ansh cried, throwing himself forward.
The beast's beak clamped down—on him.
Agony exploded through his shoulder as teeth pierced deep. Blood spilled down his arm. Ansh struggled desperately, trying to pry himself free, but the Sling pressed harder, its strength crushing.
Then something strange began to happen. From the wound on his shoulder, a dark mist seeped out, curling like smoke. The black fog crept up the Sling's beak, hissing as it spread. Ansh's eyes, wide with pain, began to turn an unnatural shade of black. His breath quickened, and he felt himself slipping into darkness.
Just as his eyes were about to go fully black—
A blast of fire erupted. The Sling was hurled backwards, crashing against the cave wall. Ansh collapsed, unconscious, the mist fading into nothing.
At the entrance of the cave, a figure hovered above the ground—the Vice Principal, Rajyugas. His cloak fluttered as he floated silently, his gaze fixed on the beast.
The Sling snarled, its fury now turned toward this new threat. With a scream, it lunged at him, jaws glowing with molten heat.
Rajyugas raised a hand calmly. The rocks around the cave shuddered, then shot upward into sharp stone spikes. They pierced the Sling's wings and flank, pinning it to the ground.
The predator roared in rage and pain, flames bursting from its beak. A torrent of fire engulfed the cave, surging toward Rajyugas.
From behind Rajyugas, the air shimmered. A great water serpent emerged, its scales glistening as it rose high. With a thunderous hiss, it lunged forward, colliding with the flames.
The clash of fire and water erupted into a violent shockwave, shaking the cavern. Rocks tumbled from the ceiling. Dust filled the air.
Rajyugas stood firm, stepping between Ansh and the shockwave, his calm eyes never wavering. When the smoke cleared, the Sling lay still, its body broken, its fire extinguished forever.
The Vice Principal lowered himself beside Ansh's unconscious form. The boy's small frame was pale, blood still trickling from his wound. Beside him, the baby Flemingo trembled, chirping weakly.
Footsteps echoed. Vijay and Ashwini burst into the cavern, panting heavily. Their eyes widened at the sight.
"Ansh!" Ashwini cried, rushing forward.
Vijay clenched his fists. "We were too slow…"
Rajyugas's deep voice cut through the cave.
"No. You did well. Both of you informed me quickly. That is why we were able to save him."
He lifted a hand. A gentle energy swirled, wrapping around Ansh, the baby Flemingo, and the two students. Slowly, their bodies rose into the air, glowing faintly with the Vice Principal's power.
"Let us return to the academy," Rajyugas said firmly.
And with that, they vanished into the night, carried through the air—Ansh unconscious, the Flemingo nestled safely at his side.