Dark and silent winter night, moon light was the only source. A street dog balled to kept itself warm and slept under a wooden cart beside the road. Ears perked up due to some sounds and the dog quickly lifted it's head. A woman running by carrying something in her hands.

That woman ran to her potential and halted at a point to take proper breath. A little baby  in her arms cried. That woman cradled the baby to stop her and that baby stopped.

She checked her surrounding and confirmed no one behind her. In front of her there were three roads. She didn't understand what to choose.

" I won't let anything happen to you", that woman promised to her child. She adjusted the cloths around the baby to kept warm.

With the high determination to save her, she ran towards north. She didn't know how long she had ran. She saw bright flames beside a large tree. She observed a cart and an animal near the tree.

In biting cold weather, that warm flames attracted her. Involuntarily her feet took her near the fire. She sat down beside the cart and leaned to it's wheel. Heat of that fire melted her long pebbled tears. She hugged her baby near to heart and cried.

"Have it", she heard someone.

She startled for the man stood in front of her. Protectively she pulled her child more close. With unknown courage she took the small pot given by him. She drank a gulp of water from it.

That man sat across her and sprinkling water on fire.

"Stop", she said with a low voice.

"It's.... ve...very cold. Please don't put it off", she plead in shattered voice.

"If you want to hide, stay in dark", with that he put off the flames.

Later he added coal in the fire. Coal started burning without bright light.

"Thank you", she whispered.

"From what you are running away?" he asked.

"From my family", she answered. Escaping from own family, she trusted a stranger who was alone at outskirts of village.

"Why?"

"To save my girl."

He stared at her expecting a proper explanation. She took few moments to control her tears.

"Few days back, Slaves of demon attacked our village. They killed many people and took away our harvest, cattle and wealth. My husband too died in that attack.

Later heads of our village went to a witch who's living other side of the village. She has many powers. She said that princess of stars, Kshameri angered on our village. So she didn't protect our village.

She said that we have to give three sacrifices to please the goddess. Families who already lost members have to give one more sacrifice for the sake of village safety.

Village headmen selected three children. They selected my child because she is a girl. My family also agreed. They believed my girl as bad luck. They said that my husband died because of her birth."

Woman broke into sobs. "I won't let anything happen to my child. No matter what, I will save her." That man chuckled.

"We all born with fate. Fate which has already written. She born with a long fate."

"I don't know where to go", she said between her sniffs.

"Go there", he said pointing dark woods.

"Malabi?" she whispered with wide horror filled eyes.

"Malabi will take care of you", he said.

"No, I won't go there. There are many evil spirts which would eat people. They will kill my child. They are demons", she shivered in fear.

"You have no option. Kshameri will protect your child from the evil of this world."

"No one returned alive from Kshameri. If we go there, we won't return."

"There is no need for you to return. Do you have any reason to return?" he asked and she shook her head. He observed fear in her eyes.

"This Universe already written a great tale. A fate which no one can escape. Those stars watching everyone", he said looking at stars of sky.

"What's that tale?" she asked innocently. He chuckled.

"Love that melts the frozen hearts.
Love that ignites fire in that woods.
Love that washes the blood stains.
Love that breaks the strong curses."

"I don't understand", she mumbled.

"We get everything with a cost. Many people paid their lives. The journey will begin. And you have to start your journey."

She had no words to say. She stared at him with confused looks. Little girl in her arms slept listening all this.

"Follow that stars", he pointed two bright stars.

"They will lead you to your destination. Fear will lure you to death. You are strong enough to ran alone in dark nights. You are definitely strong enough to over power that deadly fear."

She neither understood his words nor believed herself. But she decided to follow the stars.

That man leaned to tree trunk. "The star has fallen." Those words left out before he drifted into his slumber.

**************
Author POV

It had been two days they started their journey. Shami and remaining never been to south of Malabi. Lokad joined with them to help the path.

"It's beautiful", Ziral said with wide eyes.

There was a small wooden bridge connecting two hills. Little away from that, water flowing from the top of another hill. Crescent moon hung just above the water falls. Like water flowing down directly from the moon.

"Indeed beautiful", Rago said looking at the falls.

"Who constructed this bridge?" Rago asked.

"Black Vipers", Lokad answered.

"Before this there was a rope bridge. Few years back we constructed it. Without this we have to travel all along this hills to reach other side."

"How did you people even manage to construct it in this forest?" Rago asked.

"There are many things existed which you can't even imagine", Lokad chuckled.

"There is a small cottage other side of the bridge. This night we can stay there", he said.

There was a small wooden cottage with low maintenance. They found pile of firewood and lit fire. They hunted a deer few hours back for dinner.

Everyone submerged in cooking meat and arranging the cottage. Shami came to bridge and sat down cross folding her legs. She allowed the cool air brush out all her stress. If the air blew fast, water from falls showered on her. She leaned back to wooden railing and looking at the falls. Peacefulness of that place sinking into her cells.

"Hey fallen star", Rago stood there with a lantern. He sat down leaning to opposite railing and hung the lantern to a disheveled metal nail of the railing.

"What's running in your mind?" he asked.

"Nothing", she replied staring at moon. He took her hand and rubbing circles on her knuckles with his thumb.

"Forget about them", he said and pecked her knuckles. She understood what he meant.

"No, I'm not thinking about them", she answered casually.

Two days back, before the dawn they were preparing for the journey. Guedo along with two other men appeared before Shami in drunken state. He didn't like the humiliation he faced from them during the fight.

He wanted to avenge Shami for everything from beginning. Three men attacked her with weapons. Rago had seen the chaos and ran towards them. Shami killed one before Rago reached her. Rago joined her and killed another one with ease. Without any remorse, Shami shoved her dagger into Guedo's chest. Her hands tinted with blood and she stood there until he left his life.

"Then what you are thinking?" he asked.

"Nothing", she shrugged.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked. She nodded.

"Till now, what's the count of your hits?" he asked.

"I never counted the corpses", she chuckled.

"What about you?" she asked.

"Don't know", he chuckled.

"Killing someone is not easy at first time. That night I was scared and couldn't sleep. I knew I didn't do any mistake, still I was scared. Later I got habituated."

"Why you did that?" she asked. 

"Three men were caught by other men of village. Like head men of village. That three men crossed some weird village rules so they were sentenced death and that's illegal. It's a sort of community issue. They initiated the execution at night time to avoid agitation. In process of saving them I killed one."

"What's your age then?" she asked.

"May be fifteen", he asked. "And yours?"

"Seventeen", she answered.

"May I know why you killed?" he asked with hesitation. She took a deep breath and flashes of past came in front of her eyes.

"May be I was fifteen when Leiga brought me to death stalkers gang. I was alone and new to this world. Not everyone accepted me.

There was a woman named Zushiga. Everyone referred her as Leiga's mistress. I don't know what's the relation between them. I don't know how to define it. They loved each other a lot. She had a 5 years old daughter, Mafira. Mafira isn't Leiga's daughter but he loved her.

Zushiga, helped me to adjust here. Because of Leiga no one dared to lay a finger on us. I used to stay with Zushiga and Mafira. In two years I completely became one of the gang.

One day Leiga along with few others had gone some where. Zushiga and Mafira also went with him. That night I slept alone in my room. 

I was sleeping and I felt someone. I opened my eyes and found Krai. I tried to scream but he tightly closed my mouth. He slapped me and tried to molest me. I tried every possibility to get away from him but he was stronger than me.

I got a knife from some where and I slashed it on him. He screamed and got back holding his dripping wound. I took it as chance and forcefully shoved the knife deep into his neck below the ear. I don't even know how I did that.

Before I realise what I did, he had fallen on his back and blood leaking from him. My hands and cloths stained with blood.

I learnt how to use weapons. But I never used in real. I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I sat on floor at other corner of room holding my sword. Whole night I spent looking at that dead body. I was scared that he got up again.

Next morning Ziral came for me and found everything. Everyone came there. Krai was Davi's elder brother. Davi tried to kill me but Niloje stopped him. After few days I came over that day. Later I got habituated." 

"But that night changed me. I learnt to live on myself. And I stopped living with them", she said. She never shared anything to anyone before this day.

"I love you", he said looking into her eyes.

"Hah?"

"I love you", he repeated.

"There is difference between love and lust", she said.

"And you very well know, it's love", he said.

"I never met anyone like you. No one ever made me feel like I feel for you. The way you walk keeping your head high and talk looking into eyes. I respect your strong attitude.

I never said before, I felt you familiar. Especially your eyes, whenever I see those eyes I lost myself. I felt that I had seen them before. I has known them for years."

"I wanted to kill that bastard who dared to touch you. I can't stand it if anything happen to you.

Do you even realise what you made to me?"

He took her hand and placed it on his heart. "Whenever you are close to me, the moment you are looking into my eyes. My heart skipped its beats with ease."

She didn't understand her own feelings. Simply she felt butterflies in her stomach. She didn't understand those weird feelings because she never felt any of those before.

He cupped her face and leaned close to her. " I love you Shami.... I never said these words to anyone before."

His right hand moved to her neck and pulled towards him. Next thing she felt was his lips on her. If anyone else in his place, he would be six feet under ground already. But she didn't even push him back. Why?

She threw all those questions out of her mind and closed her eyes. Without her own consent she replied him. And that turned into a sweet passionate kiss. They separated for air.

He pressed his forehead against her and whispered "I love you" with closed eyes. She didn't answer anything as she didn't believe her own feelings. And he didn't expect any answer.

All the elements of nature witnessed the beginning of their tale.

***********
After 7 days

"We have to wait here", Ziral said.

"We don't know where they are exactly. I think waiting here is vain", Lokad said.

"Yeah, what if they already crossed this region?" Iral added.

Team reached Vaiul region in planned time. They had to find the royal guards convoy. As per the calculation they must be in that region.

"Okay, lets split into two. One team go left and another one to right", Shami said. Remaining nodded.

"Lokad and Shami take right. We will take left", Iral said.

"I will go with Shami", Rago said. Ziral rolled his eyes.

In those seven days, Rago and Shami learnt few things about each other. Shami realised her feelings but didn't admit them. On the other hand Rago didn't quit his flirting. In fact Shami answered his flirting in same flirty manner. Ziral didn't understand their games and irritated with them.

"Do you guys know the path?" Lokad asked.

"We both came this side before", Iral answered.

"But you said that you don't know right?" Rago asked.

"We don't know the path from Black Vipers. But we came here before with our gang", Iral said.

"Shami take care", Ziral said looking at Rago.

"Don't worry I will take care of her", Rago winked.

"She has to be careful with you", Ziral scoffed.

"In that case, she has no problem with me", Rago shrugged.

"Will you please shut up?" Shami snapped acting cold.

"Anything for you", Rago raised his hands playfully. Shami quickly covered her smile and turned to Ziral.

"If you find them, inform us as early as possible", Shami said. They nodded and left in their path. Shami and remaining left in their path.

They continued their journey for 2 hours. They stopped for a break for some time.

"Shami, I want to ask you something and you have to say the truth", Rago asked. She nodded.

"Do you like that guy? I mean Ojas", Rago asked.

"Why you want to know that NOW?" Shami asked highlighting last word.

"I have the answer. It's just... I want to listen from you", he said.

" Why you want to listen me after having the answer?" she asked.

"I believe in respecting women choices", he said. She loved his answer.

"So you remember it now after all these days?" she asked looking at him with a mischievous glint.

He understood she's talking about his kiss. He looked other side scratching his neck and chuckled.

"I didn't force you", he shrugged.

"Neither you asked me", she replied.

"Leave all that. Just tell me, do you like him? Or anyone else?", he asked firmly.

"Why I have to answer you?" she asked.

"If you don't say, I will continue with my answer", he playfully warned.

"Okay", she shrugged.

"Okay?" he raised his brows and she nodded hiding her smile.

"I love you", he said with a smile. She wanted to reply back but stopped.

"There is no need to hide your pretty smile", he commented. She narrowed her eyes at him.

Before she counter back they heard neighing of horse. Lokad who was little far away came running towards them.

"Is that the guys?" Lokad asked.

"May be", Shami said.

"Lets go", Rago said. They ran towards the sound.

************

Love that melts the frozen hearts.
Love that ignites fire in that woods.
Love that washes the blood stains.
Love that breaks the strong curses.

What's the fate? What's the purpose of the tale? 

Did the Star really had fallen?

*************

Characters:

Shami: Black Viper and female lead.

Rago: Death stalker and male lead

Ziral and Iral : Twin brothers and friends of Shami

Zagi: Head of black vipers.

Lokad: Member of Black Viper.

Ojas: Member of Black Viper.

Krai: Member of Death Stalkers and brother of Davi.

Davi, Niloje: Member of Death stalkers.

Geudo: Member of Black Viper.

****************

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