When they finally reached the end of the cave and the entrance to the forest, the first thing that Savitri did was collapse on her knees. She didn't cry, though. The tears wanted to come out. They were fresh and hot in her eyes, but she brushed them away with her odhni and put the scarf back around her shoulder.

"He's...dead," she whispered, staring at Suman with hazy eyes. He bent down beside her, looking equally resigned and exhausted.

"I know," he murmured and patted her shoulder. "But, you do know that it isn't your fault, right, Savitri?"

Savitri stayed quiet.

Suman frowned. "Do you really believe that to be true?" He asked. "That it was your fault that Takshaka died?"

"What else have I got to believe?" She asked miserably. "If we didn't go there...maybe if you hadn't rejected Ulupi..."

"I'm not going to marry someone that I've only known for a few hours!" Suman exclaimed. "Besides," he crossed his arms and tilted his head up in a snobbish pose. "There wasn't even a swayamvara held."

That made Savitri giggle. "We could have had an impromptu one," she said, then sighed. "But I suppose that you're right. It wouldn't have been right for you to marry her, especially if she made you that uncomfortable." She paused. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"For keeping your promise." She smiled weakly. "And for continuing the quest with me."

"Of course." Suman pulled at the small grass blades in front of him and dropped them onto his bow. He tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Yes...and that's what Takshaka did." Savitri gazed at the shimmering arrow in her lap - Takshaka's last gift before he had died. "Do you think this is what Indra meant?"

"About the gift?" Suman took the arrow from her outstretched hand and tilted it up towards the moon. "It's a celestial arrow, that's for sure. He was right to tell us only to use it once, for an emergency."

"What does it do?"

"I'm not sure," Suman said. "Inevitable death is my guess. I didn't learn about the celestial weapons yet." He gave the arrow back to her. "Whatever it does, though, we shouldn't use it until we really need to use it. Save it, for now."

"I know," Savitri murmured. She tucked the arrow into Suman's quiver that sat dejectedly behind him, and then she laid back on the grass with a sigh. The night's events replayed in her mind over and over again, and she couldn't get Takshaka's expression out of her mind no matter how hard she tried. He looked so surprised, and then resigned, like he had accepted his fate without battle. His eyes, once wider than the moon looming above them, shut slowly and his mouth parted, one last slither of a word slipping out of his lips, a prayer to Indra, before he fell to the ground, dead. Thinking about it made Savitri sad, then angry. Takshaka didn't deserve to die, and even though Suman told her otherwise, it was her fault that he had died. She shouldn't have been so standoffish with Ulupi; she shouldn't have let her raging emotions - her jealousy - get the best of her.

That's what I get for unlocking that door, she thought bitterly. The crickets that chirped around her had their sounds drowned out by the scream that Ulupi released when she saw her father collapse. Just like Savitri, she immediately knew what had happened, and just like Takshaka's dying expression, Savitri couldn't get Ulupi's heartbroken cry out of her mind. It played over and over again as the night's events circled her mind, making her dizzy.

"You know," Suman spoke suddenly. "Supposedly, when nagas die, they become stars in the sky, reunited with their patron god, Lord Indra."

"Really?" Savitri turned on her side as Suman laid down beside her. He folded his arms behind his head and exhaled deeply, his eyes locked on the dark, sparkling sky above them that reminded Savitri of the clothes she used to wear in the palace. They were sparkly too, and colorful - splashed with all the colors of the rainbow and more - ...just like Ulupi's.

"Hm. They join their loved ones and live in heaven, well, after they pass Dharmaraj's test," Suman explained. "That's why everyone goes to Naraka first. It's always a test." He laughed. "I hate tests."

Savitri wrinkled her nose. "How long do they stay in Naraka?" She asked.

"Depends. Could be a few days. Could be a few years." Suman shrugged. "It depends on how quickly Dharmaraj can go through all the exams. With new people dying every day, it poses a challenge for him."

"I see..." Savitri tried not to think about Takshaka. He would be going through the test too, but Savitri knew that he'd pass. "So, if they pass, they become stars in heaven?"

"Yep." Suman nodded. He shifted his shoulder. "But I like to believe that everyone becomes a star when they die. Good or bad, we all deserve a happy ending. And being a star, I mean, what's so bad about that?" He laughed quietly. "Surveying the earth as it changes; being a beacon of light for those who need help; realizing that you're beautiful because everyone looks up to you...wants to be as shiny and sparkly as you..." he sighed. "Everyone should become a star."

"They should." Savitri swallowed the emotion that shot up her throat like a big, boiling fireball. She shook her head and wiped her eyes again. "You know, if Takshaka will take a while to get into heaven - since he has to pass Dharmaraj's test and all - do you think Ulupi will try to get him back?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm trying to get Suman back. Do you think Ulupi would do the same?"

Suman was quiet. "I...don't know," he replied. "I don't know many people who've journeyed to hell to retrieve their lost loved ones, Savitri." He smiled. "I guess that's what makes you special. You're stubborn, princess."

"I'm not a princess anymore, don't call me that. And I'm not stubborn."

"Whatever you say, princess." Suman laughed. He turned on his side to avoid seeing Savitri's glare and closed his eyes. "Go to sleep. We have to keep walking tomorrow."

Savitri pursed her lips. "You didn't answer my question."

"I did. I told you, I don't know." Suman shifted and grunted. "Now, good night."

"...Good night," Savitri grumbled and turned so that her back faced Suman's back. She heard him begin to snore soon. Thank god he wasn't a loud snorer though, or else she wasn't sure how she would get any sleep!

I'm not stubborn, Savitri though, playing with the handle of her bow. I'm just rectifying injustice. It isn't my fault if nobody else wants to do that.

She regarded the pile of leaves and flower petals that Suman had created, then looked up at the sky. All the stars twinkled, but the one that shone the brightest was Dhruva, the largest, shiniest star in the sky.

Guide me to my husband, Dhruva, she prayed, her eyes growing heavy. Keep him safe and well, and help me to find the path that I am searching for.

~***~

"Suman, how many flowers do you need, exactly?" Savitri stumbled to a halt for the fifth time as Suman dashed in front of her to grab another colorful, blue flower.

"A lot," Suman replied and stuffed the flower into his quiver. "I plan to make a garland out of these, or maybe a crown, I'm not sure yet." He frowned. "Which do you think would be better?"

"I don't know." Savitri scowled. "But I do know that we don't have time for playing around. We have to hurry."

"Yes, because suddenly everybody stopped dying and Naraka is empty," Suman responded, smirking. "Relax, princess. We'll get there soon. I'm just doing a little collecting for when we go home."

"For what?"

"For a garland or crown," Suman explained. "I want to make an offering to the gods for keeping me alive for this long. Especially after the snake...incident..." He glanced at Savitri as his voice trailed into silence.

She averted her eyes. "Oh, then I suppose a garland would be a good idea," she muttered and rubbed her elbow. "But why these flowers specifically?"

"They're beautiful," Suman replied. "And I've seen Sage Agastya use these a lot, usually with fire."

Savitri's eyebrow rose. "Do you mean on funeral pyres? Or prayer pyres?" She asked.

"I don't know. I never paid much attention. I just know that fire was involved."

"Wonderful," Savitri groaned. "Suman, I think that you have the attention span of a squirrel."

"I will take that as a compliment because I adore squirrels," Suman said. He fixed his bow and plucked another flower, but this time, instead of putting it in his quiver, he stopped and stared at it, picking at the semi-crushed petals in his cupped hands.

"Suman!" Savitri turned tiredly. "Do we have to keep stopping every time that you find something new?"

"It's a green flower..." he whispered in awe. "Savitri, look, it's green!"

"So?"

"When have you ever seen a green flower? Tell me?" Suman demanded. He cradled the plant in his arms, beaming. "Look how perfect it is!"

"It's crinkly," Savitri noted distastefully. "And folded."

"But look at the bright pigment!" Suman gushed. "And feel the smoothness of the petals!" He held the flower out to Savitri, who carefully petted the petals. To her surprise, Suman was right. The petals were smooth and the color was very beautiful. In the light it looked dewy and glimmery and brought back warm feelings of Savitri's youth bursting in her chest.

"It is lovely," she murmured.

Suman smiled. "I'll make one for you, then, using this." He tucked the flower carefully into his dhoti and brushed his hair back. "A crown, fit for a princess."

Savitri laughed. Her neck felt warm. "I'm not a princess anymore," she said as they resumed walking. "I lost that title when I married."

"I thought that you were your father's only child?"

"I was, but I married into my husband's family, so I wasn't part of his lineage anymore," Savitri explained. "I think my uncle will be taking over when my papa passes away."

"Oh, the succession continues," Suman murmured. "Was it nice?"

"What?"

"Growing up in a palace."

"It was...an experience." Savitri played with her bow. "I never had much to do, but then again, I never asked for much. I did my own thing when I didn't have any lessons." Her toe dug into the ground. "But it was just papa and me...and the maids and advisors."

Suman laughed. "Did you have any friends?"

"Friends?" Savitri thought for a moment. "No, no friends, not really."

"Really?" Suman's eyebrows shot up. "You didn't have anyone close to you that you could talk about anything with?"

She shook her head. "No. I had maids, but I wasn't very close with them. I couldn't talk to Papa anyway. He was always busy."

"That sounds a bit sad," Suman noted. "Royal life."

"It wasn't very sad," Savitri said. "Mostly lonely." She gave a huffing laugh. "Meeting Satyavan took away that loneliness. I felt like I finally...had a friend..."

Suman's lips thinned, thinking, then he grinned and threw his arm around Savitri's shoulders, nearly pushing her off balance as her body careened into his side.

"What-!"

"Now you have two friends," Suman interrupted, beaming. He squeezed Savitri's shoulder. "You won't be alone anymore now that you have me! And when we find Satyavan, you can always come visit me in Sage Agastya's ashram. I can give you your flower crown there!"

Savitri closed her eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Suman," she giggled.

"Anytime!"

Together they walked arm in arm, passing by a clear, roaring blue waterfall surrounded by an assortment of forest creatures ranging from deer and their mates to squirrels and rabbits and foxes. The water that they drank from was just as clear as the crashing falls and lapped the sand-like banks that all the animals crowded around.

Well, all except one.

A small, young doe picked uninterestedly at the ground close to where Suman and Savitri watched her from behind a prickly bush. Once in a while she'd let out a small whimper and look around, as if an animal would jump out and attack her.

"I wonder where her mate is," Savitri wondered.

"If she even has one," Suman added.

"She looks sad. Maybe he died?"

"Or was eaten."

"Suman!"

"What?!" He demanded, pouting at Savitri's glare. "I'm just being honest! We're in a forest, of course animals are going to eat each other!"

"You didn't have to say that," Savitri grumbled. She stood up and coughed. "Ugh, is it just me or is the air thicker than before?" She glazed at the cloud-covered sky.

"It's probably the humidity coming from the water," Suman said, standing. "Let's keep going - whoa!"

Suman stepped back, unintentionally pulling Savitri with him to the ground before he bumped into the man who stood much closer to him than he should have.

"Sorry about that." The man held his hand out to Suman, who took it while pulling Savitri up with him. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was just...curious." His eyes darted between Suman and Savitri.

"Curious about what?" Savitri asked while she stepped away from Suman. "The animals?"

"Not quite," the hunter laughed and shifted his shoulders. Savitri's gaze traveled up his dark skin to the lifeless deer on his shoulders. Her mouth almost dropped. "I was just wondering why you were here. There aren't a lot of humans in the Hara Forest."

"We're on a quest..." Savitri couldn't take her eyes off the deer. "Is he dead?" She pointed to the animal.

"What? Oh, no, not yet." The hunter lifted his shoulder and the deer jumped up in the air, but was held back by his tied feet, which the hunter held like a bundle of clothes. Behind him, Savitri could see the lonely doe edging closer to them.

"Do you have to kill him?" She asked, connecting the pieces as she spoke. "I mean, that doe needs her mate."

The hunter shrugged. "She can find another one," he said. "Besides, I need to sell the skin. My wife is pregnant and I have to feed my family."

Oh, Savitri's tongue went numb. She looked between the deer and doe, unsure what to do. Her stomach twisted and started to ache.

"Well, we won't be bothering you, then," Suman spoke up suddenly. Where he had been moments ago, Savitri had no idea. "We should be going. By any chance, do you know what village is closest to Kailash?"

"Village?" The hunter rubbed his stubbly chin. "That would be Darchan, I think." His nose suddenly wrinkled. "Thick air here, isn't it?"

"It's the humidity," Savitri mumbled. She picked at her bow, unable to look at the helpless, pleading doe's eyes. Suman's fingers touched hers and squeezed her hand gently, a silent consolation.

"I don't think it's humidity," The hunter mused. "It's usually not very humid in these parts of the forest...unless..." he shook his head. "Never mind, then. It's too early." he nodded to Suman and Savitri. "You both stay safe on your way to Darchan, and good luck on your quest."

"Thank you, sir," Suman replied, waving at the man as he vanished into the green thickets around them.

"We should have saved the deer," Savitri grumbled and crossed her arms.

"The hunter was right, she can always find another mate," Suman said. "Besides, he has a family to feed."

"He could have sold something else, couldn't he?" Her stomach clenched tighter. "Why take away the deer? Why break a family?"

Suman sighed and cleared his throat. "That's just the way that life works, Savitri," he said. He took her arm carefully. "Come on, let's keep going."

"Alright," she muttered under her breath, pulling her arm out of Suman's hold. Irritation couldn't even begin to describe the burning, toe-curling feeling that she had directed towards him in her mind. "Let's keep going."

"Savitri-!" Suman began, then coughed. Savitri waited for him to continue, wondering what excuse he was going to give next so that she wouldn't be angry, but instead he just kept coughing and coughing, and soon his coughing became wheezing.

"Suman?" Savitri's anger evaporated rapidly when Suman fell on his knees, clutching his chest. She ran over to him. Her throat was also dry, all of a sudden and she felt the urge to cough as well. Wind stirred the forest and the animals that once loitered by the waterfall all stiffened, listening to the angry roars of nature before they bolted into the woods. Crackling sounds came from every direction, and it took only one look at the trees in the distance for Savitri to understand what was happening.

Agni's feast had begun.