Sunlight streamed through the forest canopy, dappling the trio with shifting golden light. Towering trees loomed above, their trunks wrapped in twisting vines and vibrant green moss. The atmosphere was filled with distant grunts and the chirping of unseen animals.

Mokash led the group, stepping carefully as he scanned ahead for danger. Grahn’s curious gaze swept over everything— bugs, birds, towering trees. He leapt over rocks and roots, completely absorbed in his surroundings. Hira walked behind them, arms crossed, exuding his usual high-and-mighty confidence, though his eyes still gleamed with curiosity. He also wanted to touch and explore different things, but he couldn’t show his excitement openly in front of Grahn.

While crossing a stream of water, Grahn miscalculated his jump and was about to face-plant onto a rock in front of him when Hira grabbed him from behind. “Watch your step!” Hira said, “You’ll break your nose before we even find a village.”

“I’m fine!” Grahn said as he straightened up, “I meant to do that! It was part of my plan.”

Hira scoffed. “Yeah, the genius had this all planned.”

Grahn shot him a glare, “Says the guy who almost cried when his foot was stuck in roots.”

Hira’s face turned red as he crossed his arms. “I didn’t cry, and those roots were placed strategically there. I’m telling you I don't fall for such tricks. Somebody’s doing this on purpose.”

Their argument was cut short when Mokash returned, holding dried red-colored box coconut shells and vines. He passed the two square shells. “We finally have a solution for our water problem. These box coconut shells can hold water.” He said as he bent to fill the water in the shell. The two copied him and tied the filled shells around their waist using the vines.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, they came across different and beautiful flora. Among the green, some plants shone brightly with blue and purple leaves.

One plant stood out among them; it was short and had orange leaves. There was a bunch of small, honey-yellow colored bead-like fruits hanging from it. A sweet fragrance covered the whole plant. Unable to resist, Grahn popped one into his mouth without a second thought.

The next moment, he was on the ground, gasping for water, his face contorted in horror.

“It tastes like— socks drowned in burning sweat!” He wheezed, spitting it out.

“It’s just wrong, this shouldn't exist.” His face was bright red, tears coming out of his eyes.

Hira burst into laughter, slapping his knees, tears forming in his eyes. Even Mokash couldn't help himself; he started laughing as well.

Grahn managed to recover, furiously scraping his tongue on the ground. Looking at the two laughing at his misfortune, he couldn't control his emotions. He plucked two fruits from the plant and tossed them into their mouths.

Instantly, their eyes shrunk, mouths puckered, noses wrinkled, and they started wriggling on the ground like worms.

Grahn laughed at the two struggling, wiping his tongue on his shirt— until he heard a rustle behind him. As he turned around and peeked over the bush, he spotted a cute tiny monkey. It was brown and had white spots all over its back, like a deer. Its long and droopy ears were almost touching the ground; it was smiling ear to ear cutely at Grahn.

“Aww…” Grahn froze, his heart melting at the sight. He had never seen anything so adorable in his life. ‘This is fate,’ he thought. ‘This is my new best friend.’

Grahn reached forward to pick it up, but the monkey’s cute smile turned devious and it threw the honey-yellow colored bead in Grahn’s mouth.

Immediately Grahn was hit with the familiar taste once again, he started cursing and rolling on the ground. This time he quickly managed to pull himself together, and rage filled his eyes.

The monkey was cackling shamelessly, clutching its belly, until it realized its predicament and started running while making monkey noises.

Grahn bolted after it.

“Stop right there, you little— Oh… You stopped.” Grahn was shocked, the monkey seemed to have understood him and stopped.

“… I-I don't know what to do now—” As Grahn was saying the monkey kicked him in the face and climbed over a tree, all while laughing at him.

“Ugh…” Grahn got up. He looked over and saw Mokash and Hira snickering next to him.

“Sniff, sniff… What is that smell?” Grahn’s eyes widened in horror. “On my face!” He exclaimed, “He kicked me with doo-doo on my face!”

…

During their journey, Grahn heard strange whistles from above. It was from a group of birds playing on the top of the trees. It was small and black-colored but had long red-colored tails.

A bright smile appeared on Grahn’s face. “Watch this!” He said as he cupped his hands around his mouth and mimicked the sound of the birds. The red-tailed birds started flocking around him. Mokash and Hira were shocked at this spectacle.

“When did you learn to mimic bird calls? And this good too?” Mokash asked in shock.

“I just felt like I could do it.” Grahn said with a wide smile, looking at the birds playing near him, “They smell bad up close.”

“Hahaha… You’re like a princess! How cute!” Hira said with a mocking laugh.

“Huh… You wanna fight, brat?” Grahn said as he charged towards Hira, scaring away all the birds.

Grahn and Hira started launching a barrage of punches at each other. Mokash saw this from the sideline and sighed, he knew that he’d have to intervene again.

He walked up to stop them, but Hira’s fist landed on his stomach and Grahn’s on his chin. Mokash was sent back flying.

Grahn and Hira froze.

Realizing their mistake.

Their grave mistake.

Their unforgivable, earth-shattering, history-altering, fate-sealing, world-ending grave mistake.

Mokash said nothing. He walked toward them—slow, deliberate. Then, without a word, he grabbed their foreheads and lifted them off the ground. His grip tightened, making Grahn and Hira scream and beg for mercy. Mokash ignored their pleas and knocked their heads together.

He banged their heads many times until finally, he left a long exhale and dropped them to the ground. He looked at them in his normal calm and mature demeanor, “Please guys, don’t fight. We have a long journey to cover.”

The boys were limp on the stone ground, not answering, just gasping for air.

A vein popped on his forehead. His hair practically stood on end like an angry cat. “Do you understand?” He asked in a deep voice.

“Yes, sir!” The boys immediately stood up straight and said in unison.

“Good.” A calm and compassionate smile resurfaced on Mokash’s face. “Let’s go.”

The boys looked at each other, their faces were pale. After building enough courage, they took cautious steps behind Mokash, holding each other’s hands.

…

“How long do we have to walk?” Grahn asked, his shoulders slouching.

“I don’t know.” Mokash sighed, even he was getting tired now. “If we just go deeper east, we’re bound to find a settlement.”

“If you have the energy to run your mouth, why not run your legs?” Hira commented from behind, his shoulders were drooping, but just to keep the appearance, he was forcing them up.

“We should end our journey here for the day.” Mokash announced as he looked up at the sky. “The sun’s going down.”

“Yes please.” Grahn sighed as he dropped to the ground.

“I’ll find sticks to burn; you guys clean up the place to sleep.” Hira said as he searched for firewood.

…

The trio finally settled around the fire.

Mokash turned his box coconut shell upside down, and many different fruits rolled down on a large leaf placed below. To them, these wild fruits were nothing less than gemstones at the moment.

Mokash picked up a wood apple. It had a green shell, which he easily broke by smashing it on the ground, exposing its juicy, sticky brown pulp. He bit into it, savoring its sweet and sour taste.

Grahn and Hira also helped themselves.

It wasn’t much, but it would have to suffice.

After the meal, Hira distanced himself slightly from the group, finding a quiet spot and meditate. He sat cross-legged, his talwar placed across his knees. The Parajita tattoo on the white sheath glinted under the orange light. He started murmuring a chant under his breath. Mokash and Grahn observed him from a distance, curious but respectful.

“… Seas… One…” They heard shards of the chant escaping his lips.

“What’s he saying?” Grahn whispered.

Mokash shrugged. “I don’t know.” He whispered back.

“I’ve heard everyone in his family used to take their training very seriously.” Mokash continued, “They all would meditate and train their skills religiously. I’ve seen them carry two talwars all the time, they never let go of it.”

Grahn looked at Hira, and a strange admiration and respect for him filled his heart. Although Hira’s situation was even worse than his, he at least had his brother. But what about Hira? He had lost everything, yet he never sought pity or slowed them down. Even after all this, he still carried out his duties, held his talwar, and proudly held his roots.

Even as the sole survivor of the Shaktra family, he never abandoned its ideals.

Watching Hira, Grahn felt something stir within him—an urge not just to follow but to stand beside him as an equal. A small smile crept onto his face at the thought.

‘NO!’ He immediately wiped the smile off his face and glanced around. Mokash tending the fire; Hira meditating. He sighed. ‘Good… No one saw me.’

“Wake me up when it’s my turn to watch.” He said as he lay down.

“Sure.” Mokash said. He watched as his brother closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

As he prepared for the watch, he exhaled softly. He had caught Grahn’s smile out of the corner of his eye. He said nothing, but a quiet warmth settled in his chest, he already knew what that smile meant.