[Part 2]

The prince walked ahead, his hands elegantly tucked behind his back, his steps light and graceful. He was dressed in the finest of attire—an expensive woolen cloak draped over specially tailored clothes, the golden jewelry around his neck and wrists were glinting softly. His hair, styled meticulously, was adorned with the most exquisite and rare flowers, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the night sky.

The cloak he wore was no ordinary garment. It had been designed by the finest cloak maker in the land, chosen after a grueling four-day competition to ensure it was the best of the best. The wool, woven from rare threads, was crafted to protect him from the extreme cold that would soon grip the land of Stambha. Though winter hadn't arrived yet, the chill was less than a month away, and the cloak would be his shield when it did. Prevention is better taken ahead of its time. 

It was also, a symbol of both luxury and practicality, a sign of the attention to detail that went into everything related to the crown prince's well-being.

"Let's see what the border woods have inside them," Kuber said with a mischievous grin, his fox-like eyes sparkling with excitement.

At that moment, they were staying in the prince's hometown state, where the royal palace was nestled near the edge of the kingdom. The palace had its very own little forest, just a stone's throw from the country's border. If there were no enemies lurking in the shadows, at least there were bound to be animals, and that was exactly what Kuber was hoping to find. His love for animals knew no bounds, and the woods were always full of creatures to satisfy his curiosity.

The four of them were out on a walk, though, as was often the case, the fourth member of the group had little choice in the matter.

"Your Highness," Angad finally asked, his patience thinning as he yawned, "when will this walk come to an end?"

"Shh! Listen to nature. How peaceful!" Kuber said, his eyes closed, a contented smile on his face.

Ridhi and Sita admired the prince's serene expression, nodding in agreement. They were used to his fondness for the quiet moments when he could connect with nature.

"Sorry?" Angad asked, raising an eyebrow and focusing his ears toward the woods. "Am I supposed to listen to the crickets?" he wondered aloud. "That's a pretty clear noise. I don't like it!"

"Offender!" Ridhi snapped, stepping on Angad's foot with a sharp tap. 

He lifted his leg, clutching it with both hands in pain, letting out little cries and squeezing his eyes shut, "That hurt!" 

"So what? Crickets are also part of nature! His Highness loves them too!" Ridhi scolded him. Sita nodded aggressively, to side with her sister.

They were united in their devotion to their prince, and nothing could stand in their way, even if it meant scolding Angad for his small complaint.

They continued walking, the gentle rhythm of their steps echoing in the stillness of the forest. Kuber, ever the restless soul, walked ahead with his gaze wandering, his heart always searching for a new creature to befriend. 

Then, suddenly, a sound reached his ears. It was the unmistakable sound of someone—or something—breathing loudly. Kuber's senses sharpened instantly, his ears focusing on the noise.

Without wasting a second, his eyes snapped open, "What could it be?" he thought, his body already in motion. With a burst of energy, he took off, running toward the source of the sound, his legs carrying him swiftly through the path ahead.

Ridhi and Sita, always quick to follow, were close behind, their footsteps light but determined, always at the ready to support their dear prince. They didn't question his sudden rush—they knew that whatever he had found, it was sure to be something worth their attention.

Angad, although frightened, ran behind them as well. He also heard the loud breathing, which had him concerned for his prince. "Your Highness, please don't go into the woods!" Angad begged.

After running through the woods for a while, Kuber finally found the area from where the loud breathing was coming. There was the animal, lying on the ground in front of the bushes. Due to the darkness, it wasn't clearly visible, but it looked black from afar. Kuber looked at it with excitement and astonishment. He slowly stepped towards it.

"Your Highness, don't go near it. It could be a bigger one," Angad said, trying to convince his prince.

"It surely is," Kuber mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper, lost in the mystery of the sound. But in that fleeting moment, his excitement faded as he realized something was wrong. The animal in front of him wasn't moving in the playful way he had imagined; it was breathing heavily, a low, strained sound that filled the quiet air. The breath was ragged, filled with pain, and Kuber's heart skipped a beat.

"It's hurt!" Kuber exclaimed, his voice filled with sudden worry. His earlier excitement quickly transformed into concern. Without a second thought, his feet moved faster, his mind focused only on reaching the creature in need. His eyes, full of compassion, fixed on the wounded animal ahead, and his instincts urged him forward.

"Your Highness!" Ridhi and Sita called out in unison, their voices full of concern and a touch of panic. They had seen the prince rush ahead too many times before, but this time it was different. This time, he was heading toward something in pain, which could attack him due to irritation.

They turned to look at Angad, their gazes sharp and commanding. "Go after him!" Ridhi ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Angad froze for a split second, his body still tense from the earlier frustration, but the urgency in Ridhi and Sita's eyes left him no choice. Without another word, he sprinted after Kuber, his legs moving faster than usual as he tried to catch up. His feet lifted higher, the effort of the run pulling at his muscles, but it was more than just the physical exertion that weighed on him. His teeth gritted, frustration boiling inside him. He was scared—scared for Kuber, for the unknown danger that could be waiting ahead.

But as Kuber's personal guard, Angad didn't have the luxury of hesitating. He had to protect him, no matter what. His heart raced as he pushed his body to its limits, his mind only focused on one thing: keeping the prince safe. What if something happened to him? The thought gnawed at him, and he couldn't shake it.

Behind them, Ridhi and Sita exchanged a look, their faces filled with worry. They had always been by the prince's side, protecting him in their own way, but this time, something about the urgency in the air made them uneasy. They, too, quickened their pace, their steps in sync as they followed closely behind Angad.

Kuber ran closer to the creature, his heart racing with concern, but as he drew near, something felt off. The figure before him seemed to be draped in a black cloak. Turned out, the black color didn't belong to the animal at all—it was the cloak. His confusion grew as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

Angad arrived just behind him, catching up quickly. He, too, paused, squinting at the scene in front of him. "An animal wearing a cloak?" He muttered. 

Just as Kuber was about to reach out to the creature, a flash of lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating everything in a blinding white light. The moment the sky lit up, the true nature of the creature was revealed. The black cloak shifted, and beneath it, they saw something that made their blood run cold—a human face, pale and eerily calm, attached to the top of the cloak.

Both Kuber and Angad stumbled back in shock, their legs giving way beneath them as they collapsed to the ground. Their minds struggled to process what they had just seen, the image of the strange, unnatural figure haunting them.

Ridhi and Sita, who had been running behind, heard the sudden gasps of their companions and saw the figures drop to the ground. Panic surged through them, and they screamed in unison, their voices filled with fear and confusion. Clutching each other tightly, they tried to make sense of the situation, their minds racing. The woods had always felt peaceful to them—how could something like this exist here?

"A human?" Angad mumbled in true terror, his voice shaking. "In the woods?" His eyes widened in disbelief as he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing.

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