Chapter 44: The Unforeseen Explosion

The night of Operation Queen Rose was shrouded in silence as the team, cloaked in the guise of darkness, made their way towards the princess's quarters. Each step was measured, each breath controlled—until an unforeseen slip of a paw against a loose stone sent a clatter echoing through the halls.

**The Alert**

The elven guards, ever vigilant, were quick to respond. The fox member, thinking fast, hurled a hand grenade to the opposite side to create a diversion. The small object, seemingly innocuous as a potato, soared through the air and landed with a soft thud.

**The Blast**

What happened next would forever be etched in the annals of Ebonwood. The grenade, a new invention not yet tested in the field, detonated with a force that tore through the night. The tree palace, a marvel of elven architecture, splintered and crashed, its destruction complete and utterly unexpected.

**The Escape**

In the ensuing chaos, no one was harmed, a stroke of fortune amidst calamity. The team seized the moment, whisking the princess away and fleeing into the cover of the forest. They ran with the desperation of the hunted, their hearts pounding a frantic rhythm.

**The Cave Refuge**

As dawn approached, they found shelter in a cave, a hidden recess in the earth that offered respite and concealment. There, they caught their breath, the princess among them, wide-eyed but safe.

**The Elven Uproar**

Back in the elven kingdom, uproar reigned. Accusations flew like arrows, and suspicions of a mage's curse were whispered in hushed tones. But the truth was far more troubling—the tree that had been destroyed was none other than the residence of the beast princess.

**The Impending Crisis**

The news of her supposed death could spark a war, a clash that the elves could ill afford. Memories of the last war, won by the slimmest of margins, haunted their thoughts. The cost had been great, and the prospect of another conflict loomed like a specter over the kingdom.

**Simha's Resolve**

King Simha, upon hearing of the incident, felt a mix of relief and dread. Relief that his sister was safe, and dread for the consequences of the explosion. He knew the delicate balance of peace had been disturbed, and the path ahead would require all his wisdom and strength.