In the farthest corner of the jungle there were some activities going on. Hooting and various kind of sounds were audible.

"Who is there?" She asked

There was some sounds from the bushes, more noise and then something came out. It was hard to decipher what it was, she started running. She found a huge tree and hid behind it, her breathing was erratic and her foot was bleeding by being pierced through thrones and roots of the tree.

"Huh huh huh ...ermm" loud voice came

She shuddered but stayed silent until she heard the footsteps fading away. She peeked through the tree and found nothing, huffing in response. She started walking but.....

Rudra and Amar came running towards the Bhaug near the Rajmahal. They sat down by the fence and stared into oblivion.

"Rudra, do you roam at nights?"

"No, you?"

"No... Rudra.. don't go outside night ever okay? You already live in the outskirts of the Jungle"

"Okay but why suddenly? Why are you so thoughtful?"

He opened his mouth and closed it. In the morning when he heard about the death of the Sevaki of Rajmahal in jungle last night he has been afraid about Rudra too. He knows that she's rebellious, she does what she's told not to but somewhere in his thoughts he have a hope that she'll listen to him. He told her everything and wanted a non-excited expression from her: which would mean she will listen to him.

"Amar, I don't go anywhere at night"

Amar smiled, turned around and motioned her to follow him. She wanted to ask why but they had nothing to do so she walked with him. Slowly she noticed the pillars grew close and the towers looked taller. She knew where they were going, Maahishmati.

"Amar.."

"Come on, Amma wants to meet you and you wanted to ask about the Sena too right. Come with me"

Sivadurga was about to go inside but then she saw Amar and Rudra coming towards her. She got really happy, she started moving towards them. Amar hugged her as soon as he saw her while Rudra turned her face to hide the void visible in her eyes. Siva admired how Rudra was now on the verge to become a beautiful women, she hugged her. Rudra was taken aback and embarrassed because they had been playing since the morning and her clothes stink of sweat.

"Kshmisu, did i make you uncomfortable Rudra?"

She vigorously shook her head, "No, it was... we were... I smell of sweat so"

Siva smiled and patted her back while Amar couldn't stop looking at her.

"Amma, she wanted to know about the Sena Shreni, the one Kunwar Meghwal is selecting"

"Okay, I will tell but I would love to know the reason why"

"Rajmata, I don't know why but...I have a feeling"

Rudra paused, she was afraid to tell her honest feelings. What if they judge her? She had felt this since she was born but she pushed back the feeling inside but now all the instincts were prevailing, she couldn't ignore them anymore.

"Rudra, go ahead! Amma won't judge you and you know I never will" Amar said with a proud smile

Rudra felt very nice how he would always know how she reacts or how she 'want' to feel. It is very odd but she needed someone to do that, not someone just Amar to do that.

"Rajmata, I got a feeling that I belong to Jungle.. that fighting and wild aura is related to me"

Sivadurga was dumbstruck. No this could not happen, I cannot let her feel these things. She will meet her people and go back. I'm not afraid of her meeting the Tribes, her origin but I'm afraid if she met Cannibals first. No! Never! I can never let her go to those Man-eaters, since I've heard about our Sevaki dead I couldn't eat anything. If it was some animal we could give safety to people or train them but if Cannibals are back then I don't know which Sena will fight them? Rudra, she's such an innocent girl, she is not wrong thinking about her origin but I will have to make sure about the Man-eaters.

"Amma! Say something na, she's getting more afraid each time you blink"

"Oh Rudra, it's okay to feel this way. Now, I'll tell you about the sena. Before many 15 years ago Maahishmati wasn't this big kingdom, and there was one kingdom known as....Theerthali"

She told her everything except the things about her father and how many escaped from Yudh Maidan because it might increase fear in both of them.

"So now since Kunwar Meghwal has brought such a nice deal we are also going to select some Saini for our kingdom's protection"

"Oh, but Rajmata how is his selected Saini are different then ours?"

She smiled at her interest "Kunwar is training them and selecting, he himself is trained by great Rajputs. Their techniques are different from ours"

"So that means some people will be selected to protect our kingdom too?"

"Yes"

They parted but she couldn't help but notice Amar's anxiety to leave her till her hut and how Rudra's eyes shined since she said 'yes'.

"Amar, it is getting late you go na"

"No Rudra, let me see your Amma too"

His reason to walk till her hut was not to meet her mother but he knew if he told her that he is there because he wanted to see her safe she will protest about being capable of handling herself. He knew that well that she could handle herself well but seeing her safe by his own eyes would make him sleep peacefully at night. He also wanted to meet her mother who took care of her and nourished her to grow up becoming a girl of passion and conscience.

"Umm.. no Amar she won't like it"

"Why?"

"Please"

"Okay"

Amar left her and saw her going inside and went. He could think of other dozen reasons of leaving her home the upcoming days now. Rudra couldn't let Amar meet her Amma because unlike his she won't be that sweet to him, she wasn't sweet to her these years why would she be to any outsider. Rudra shook her head, Outsider! No, he is anyone but outsider.