"Jiji why don't you try aiming again?" Panchaali suggested as she watched Vijaya fumble with the dhanush, they had all come today to the forest to hunt, "I am really trying but this stupid thing just won't hit the aim." She complained as she turned to look at Panchaali who sat on the tree branch swinging her leg back and forth.

"What are you doing up there if one of the pandavas saw you they will have my head for letting you go so up." She said urgently as she willed Panchaali to get down, Draupadi rolled her eyes as she looked at her friend, "Nothing will happen stop fearing!" Panchaali assured, "Yes nothing will happen, she's just sitting there. Let the girl be." Devika said as she exited the Royal tent with a basket of fruits, she smiled at Panchaali who beamed back at her. "Look how happy it is making her, let the girl enjoy." Vrishali said as she looked up from where she sat on the soft mat that was put out in front of the tent making a cosy sitting area with lots of pillows and cushions, she was busy in her crochet work as every once in a while she would look at Panchaali.

Hidimbi appeared out of no where next to Panchaali making her mouth hang open in awe, "You need to teach me that!" She said excitedly as she looked at Hidimbi who giggled, "Of course I will. But I am an asur and you're not, so I am not sure if you would be able to do that." She said as she patted Panchaali's head. "Subhadre!" Panchaali called out making her best friend look at her.

"Yes Panchi." She said as she straightened the paint brushes after she had finished her painting, "Why am I not an asur?" She asked making Subhadra look up at her confusion, "Because you're a human?" Yogmaya replied not really knowing how to answer her, why did she always have to ask such strange questions?

"Ugh I want to be an asur like Hidimbi jiji she's so cool." Panchaali whined making the pandav patnis giggle, "Panchi you should get down before aryas come." Karenumati suggested as she did her embroidery work on one of her odhnis, "How can you all just sit around doing nothing in jungle when there is so much to explore?" Panchaali questioned, "Because unlike you, we fear for our lives my fiery princess." Subhadra teased making Draupadi stick her tongue out at her.

"What are you doing up there, get down Panchi! Hidimbi, love you'll hurt yourself come get down here." Bheem said as he entered the tents area, his eyes easily sorting the two women who sat perched on the tree branch. Hidimbi instantly appeared on his side how ever Panchaali was a different story.

"Get down Panchi!" He said making her shake her head, "Uh huh. I am not coming down. " She said as she looked up at him, "don't be stubborn. Get down princess." Bheem ordered as he looked up at the smiling girl, "Nope." She said amused as she shook her head, sighed, he had no idea what to do with her.

"Malini get down Princess." Arjun said as he too came hearing his brother's voice, "But why?!" She whined as she looked at him, he smiled up at her, "Because it's not safe." He said, "Nothing in this world is safe. But you need to do some things for fun, and me? I am not even doing anything, I am just sitting her and having fun, the most boring way to have fun but yeah, see I am doing a good job." She stated with a wide smile making the two brothers look at her with wide smiles, "Did you understand what you said?" Bheem teased, "uh no, but who cares, it sounded good to my ears so yea I said it." She replied cheerfully making everyone laugh.

"What if you fall down?" Arjun tried again, "What if there is an earthquake tonight?" She tossed back, he looked up at her confused, "What does you sitting on the tree have to do with an earthquake?" Bheem questioned, "Nothing really." She stated as she looked at them and gave them a bright smile, the two laughed.

"Malini, dear, would you please come down?" Arjun asked in a sweet sing sang voice, "Arjun, dear, would you please let me sit in peace." She sang back making the pandav wives laugh, "What? It's not funny, it's dangerous." Bheem said looking at the women making them roll their eyes, "Arya, stop worrying, let her be. She is just sitting." Hidimbi said making him sigh, "You're going to make me age faster with all the worry." Arjun complained, "Happy matured life oldy." She teased making everyone burst out laughing as Arjun glared at her, she just gave him an innocent look making him sigh, he can't even be angry at her, just great.

****

The night fell as everyone slept in their tents, a man in dark clothes with his face covered in dark paint moved out of the shadows, followed by throngs of others, they moved to the first tent, Prince Yudhisthir's, the man thought as he put a round pearly small ball in the burning lantern. He covered his face as a fume released from it covering the entire tent, he waited for what felt like five minutes before entering in, the funds were cleared and now he knew that the husband and wife were unconscious, he didn't know who this people were but all he cared was for to get 6 men and one maiden for his sacrificial pooja.

He picked up Yudhisthir on his shoulder and left the tent, he watched as his fellow men got another five men. Six men complete, now all they needed was a maiden.

He passed the man on his shoulder to another man and he moved to the last tent, his eyes fell on the most beautiful woman who slept peacefully on her bed as he entered in, covering his face once again as he put the pearly white round medicine in the lantern, the fumes covered the room as he moved towards the bed once the fumes were cleared and picked Draupadi in his arms.

Her beauty had rendered him speechless as he carried her out, he moved down towards the dark horse where his man stood in black surrounding the horse, each of the pandav were tied and gagged and put on a horse, "Get their wives too! It would be a better way to keep this men under control." The man ordered his voice gruff, however his eyes were fixed on the woman who was in his arms making him forget about everything and everyone.

He straddled the horse with her in his arms, her head resting on his chest as she lay sideways in his arms. His horse galloped through the dark forest, cutting through the trees, the wind blowing her hair away.

He got down the horse once he reached the river, he moved towards the water bank and crouched down as he took some water in his two hands and washed his face, revealing his face.

"A woman like you is a rare gem to find but it's a sad thing that you will get sacrificed." He said with a smirk as he moved towards the unconscious Panchaali, he put his finger on her cheek and traced it down her cheeks and smiled, his hand tangling in her long hair, her skin glistened in the moon light making him smirk.

"But before you get butchered to death I will have my way with you and that is my promise, after all only an idiot will let a woman as beautiful as you go to waste."  He said as he straddled the horse and began moving towards his village, the hoots and cries filled the sky as sharp loud whistles pierced the silence of the sky. He smiled at her as he watched so many women scream and shout as they were hanged by the chains on either side. Blood tracing down their bodies, chunks of their bodies were missing as small mud huts were present everywhere. Out of each house lay many skeletons of humans and animals alike.

The smell of blood and charred, burnt skin was heavy in the air as people wearing animal hides moved around. The old lady came out, "Have you got her?" Her animalistic voice rang through the silence.

He looked at her, "Yes I have. " He said making the entire village scream and squeal out loud, the wolves hoots and loud sharp screams reverberated through the forest, showing the happiness of the tribe. . .

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