3: The folk of the forest

Keshav woke up to the sound of prayers and cold air. He opened his eyes to find himself lying alone on the nest. He got up to see Yashvanth praying at the Altar.

"You're awake?" Devrath came from a door just near the nests.

"Just woke up"

"I think you wanna get refreshed" He helped him get out of the bed to the bathroom, which was behind the door he was earlier coming out from.

Keshav was amazed at bathroom. One wall was the outer trunk of the tree, and the rest were all vines and trees. It was "outdoors" with the vines covering everything.

It was quite large. There was a small stream and a hot spring. Devrath helped him till near the stream. He handed Keshav some spare clothes, a chandan soap, dried ridgegourd jute, and a teeth cleaning twig, and went away. Keshav sat on a rock and took the most relaxing bath of his life with the stream.

"Keshav do you want any- aaaaaaa" Yashvanth opened the door. But immediately closed after seeing Keshav in only his shorts and apologized.

Once Keshav was done, he wore the spare clothes Devrath had given.

Keshav tried getting up on his own, but he fell down due to his sprained ankle.

Yashvanth immediately rushed to the bathroom. He was now wearing a saffron tilak on his forehead.

"Keshav, you should've called us!" He carried him and took him back to the room. On the mat

"Okay boys I'll be back" He out of the window.

"Where's he going?" Keshav asked Devrath.

"I was about to ask him..." He replied.

He then gave him breakfast- Aloo Paratha and aap ko achaar.

Yashvanth came as they were eating. He got his food, sat down and started eating.

"Where were you?" Devrath asked.

"Had some work" Yashvanth replied.

After breakfast the boys practiced some fighting skills.

Yashvanth who excelled in sword fighting would slice flying objects with ease. Devrath shoot his arrows on the fruits of the tree and it would hit exactly on the spot and the fruit would fall down. Keshav watched them. Normally at this time he would be doing some intense workout but his severed ankle didn't let him.

Later he was having a nice cup of tea Yashvanth made, when someone knocked the door. Devrath went to open and there stood a very small man- hardly 2.5 feet tall, dark, with a thick beard. He was also carrying two structures taller than him.

"Aaah Vaman! Finally!" Yashvanth came to him and took the structure, and handed him some gold coins. "Here's the rest of your payment."

He gave the thing to Keshav. It was a pair of Crutches.It had tiny legs sticking out of the base, and the crutch was filled with designs. It even had his name on it - केशव.

After lunch, Yashvanth went to the lake for some reason.

"Aahhh he's going to talk to the Mermaid, well, a mermaid in particular" Devrath said. Keshav was a bit confused, like why would he go just to talk with a mermaid? Ofcourse he was not jealous.

He was wondering how to get in touch with inspector Deepraj or Karma when he heard rustling of leaves very nearby. He grabbed his crutches, but before he could stand, something came out of the bushes and almost dropped them.

"Scared ya, didn't I!" He looked at the boy that just came out of the bushes laughing hysterically.

He had a small beard in his chin, like a goat's, and large horns on his forehead. Even his ears was like a Goat's. He was carrying an instrument in one of his hand. And a bag in the other. He had brown, hairy goat legs, with hooves.

"What are you?" He asked. "A satyr?"

"What? I'm not Greek. I'm a Manara!" He pointed at his legs. "How can you not-". He came near him and inspected him.

"Wait... You're a human!" He exaclaimed. "But... What are you doing here? How are you still alive in this jungle? Firstly, why did you come here? And why are you sitting outside the Garudvanshi's house? Did Bhratashree bring you here?"

"If you ask so many questions at once how will he answer, Rudra?" Yashvanth was sitting on one of the branches of the trees.

"Bhrata Yashvanth! You got the human here?" Rudra asked. "Is that why you didn't come to watch the match yesterday?"

"Yeah! What happened?" He asked.

"Wait I'll come up" Rudra said and efficiently climbed up the tree.

"Aaah don't leave him alone!" Yashvanth flew down and carried Keshav to a large branch.

"Now about the match yesterday, what happened?" Yashvanth asked.

"Well, Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals, so Bhrata Dhruv is asking you three cases of Beer for losing the bet."

"Dang!" Yashvanth banged his fists "I was sure RR will win!"

"That's why I told you not to bet like that! Bastard!" Devrath, who was just done picking fruits,sat beside Yashvanth and smaked him. "Better no bet today"

"You gotta be kidding me, it's MY ROYAL CHALLENGERS today!"

"Who's never won"

"They won last match with Mumbai Indians"

"It's Kolkata Knight Riders today, they're amazing"

"Bhratashree, the T-shirts" Rudra gave the bag to Yashvanth, who gave it to Keshav.

"You can wear them, they're more fitting." He said as went to his nest and took out an RCB Jersey, of Virat Kholi.

"AB de Villiers? He doesn't even play anymore!" Keshav did want RCB to win, but what was point of wearing an ex-player?

"That's why it's a spare! Anyways he is a legend, no issues" Rudra shrugged. "I'm going, see you at the cave!" he went off.

Devrath was wearing a KKR Jersey of Andre Russell.

Yashvanth was almost unrecognisable with the Virat Kohli like beard.

"You'll love it at Dhruv's place!" Devrath said.

"Yea, Let's go!" Yashvanth carried Keshav on his back. And flew to the cave.

They landed in front of a cave entrance. There was a very ferocious dog outside guarding, twice the size of a German Shepherd, much fiercer, with two, firely looking tails.

Yashvanth kept Keshav down and knocked on the door, and a boy opened it. He had green eyes and hair, and wore lots of jewels and face tattoos. He had pointed ears. He was wearing a KKR Jersey.

"YASHVANTH!" He ran and Hugged Yashvanth as soon as he saw him. After he broke from the hug, he saw Devrath.

"DEVRATH He ran to Devrath and hugged him. "Why didn't you guys come yesterday?"

"Who is it, Tej?" A handsome ashv-manv come out wearing a KKR Jersey.

"DHRUVVVVV!!" Yashvanth got super excited seeing him.

"YASHVANTH!" Dhruv galloped towards Yashvanth and hugged him. Yashvanth handed him the beer cans. "See, I told you PBKS would win!"

"Okay, my bad because I thought last year's finalist would win!" Yashvanth scoffed.

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

"Well" He put his arm around Keshav "We have a guest"

"Are you a human?" The elf-like guy asked.

"Yeah...I'm Keshav!" Keshav gave his hand.

"And I'm Tejas" He shook it "I'm a wood elf, as you can see."

"He was kind of my enemy back in camp" Yashvanth said.

"I'll never forget the time I had to climb on 20 trees in my pajamas because of you" Tejas eye rolled.

"Aishh forget about the camp wars, we were kids, anyways I'm Dhruv" Dhruv said.

"You're a Centaur?"

Dhruv frowned. "Broooo! I'm not Greek. It's Ashv" he pointed to his horse body. "Manav" He pointed to his human body.

"And why is it always you guys who end up rescuing a human!" Tejas said. "That Med. Student few years ago, and now him!"

"Yeah yeah now who do you think will win today?" Devrath said immediately changing the topic.

"Lets hope RCB!" Rudra entered with two more Satyrs, His best friend, Subh and his sister, Yashika. All wearing RCB Jerseys. They sat on a sofa made of bushes.

Unlike most barren caves, this cave was filled with green plants and leaves

Keshav noticed there were electric lights in the cave.

"I thought there's no electricity here" Keshav said.

"I made these with solar power" Tejas said. "Like they do in the elf village"

"Why don't you live in the elf village, tho?" Keshav asked Tejas.

"Well actually I was thrown from my house..." he looked at Dhruv "Cause I fell in love with a non-elf. A male in that."

"It's fine now tho, we've been married 1.5 years now, and everything is going well." Dhruv said.

"And it's great! Now they've got TV here and we can watch IPL!" A guy and a girl were coming from the door, they both were really fair, with had red lips and eyes. The guy looked at him and sniffed.

"You're a human" He said smirking, he looked at him with hunger in his eyes, and licked his lips.

Keshav gulped. All the police training looked completely useless in front of these magical creatures.

"Bhrata Aman, stop." Yashvanth pulled him towards himself.

"Yash!! You know I haven't tasted Human blood in ages!"

"It's Yashvanth!" Yashvanth said rather sternly.

"Yashvanthah! You won't say no to Kavya, right?" The girl smiled at Yashvanth. Yashvanth smiled back, in a more sarcastic way. "I'm sorry, Kavya Di, you know the rules, you can't drink blood of a human without permission, and he clearly seems uncomfortable... I don't think Kaalesh will like..."

As soon as Yashvanth mentioned the Vampire Prince, they both backed off.

"Sorry Yashvanth!" They said.

After some time, four nymphs, came. The couple Sanya and Veer, their friends Naina and Ambika, a very masc-looking girl.

A few girls came later. Their hair was wet and even the fringe of their clothes. Alia, Laila, Maina and Meena. Apparently they were mermaids.

"Didn't Joshika come with you?" Yashvanth pouted. "I told her to come this time" He looked disappointed.

"Well, she is not into sports that much" Laila said.

"Moreover, she went to visit that friend of hers" Alia said.

"Aaahhh ok ok" Yashvanth sounded disappointed.

Later two more boys came. They both looked like brothers, and both wore a tight, thick beanie covering their hair. The older one was Tanmay and the Younger one was Rohan.

"Anyways let's sit down, match begins in a few mins" Tejas said and sat on the couch on the side, with Devrath. Dhruv sat on the floor beside them.

Yashvanth sat on one end of the long couch, Keshav sat beside him, then Kavya came beside him. She looked at him again in hungry way.

Yashvanth was looking at the players coming in line to the field, but he put his wings around Keshav and pulled him towards himself again.

"You don't know what eagle eye vision is, right Kavya Di?" He said.

Tanmay, came back from the kitchen. "I got chicken" he said. Keeping a box in front "And Paneer" he handed another box to Rudra and his friends.

Yashvanth pulled Keshav more towards him. "Bhrata Tanmay you can sit here" He said.

Kavya moved a bit too, making space for Tanmay.

"Wait a minute" Yashvanth said looking here and there. "Where's Bheriya? And Shaurya?"

"Shaurya is with his family, apparently they have some function" Tejas said.

"And Dheriya can't come today" Dhruv said. "He'll kill you for calling you Bheriya"

"But why?" Yashvanth pouted. "He's so fun"

"It's full moon night today, that's why" Tanmay said. "You don't want to be killed by your best friend right?"

"Aishh" Yashvanth said. "Kinda sucks to have a Bheriya bestie" he mumbled.

Aman sat on the armrest beside Kavya. "I'm actually hoping KKR wins today" he said, putting his arms around Kavya. Yashvanth gave him a side eye.

He then took out 5 gold coins from his pocket. "5 gold coins, RCB will win" He said. He summoned an RCB fag on the table and placed the coins there. He then took a bottle of beer and started chugging it.

"Yash, I told you not to bet!" Devrath said.

"Dhruv you too, stop betting" Tejas told Dhruv who had already placed some coins in a KKR flag Yashvanth conjoured.

"Yashvanth seriously?" Veer and Aman put their best on KKR too.

"Honey! Stop wasting money like that!" Sanya scolded Veer.

"We will get more back don't worry" Veer said.

"Well, RCB might win" Rudra, Yashika and Subh also bet on RCB.

"We're gonna be so rich" Ambika out some money on KKR.

"Beer Keshav?" Yashvanth asked.

"I never say no to beer" Keshav took a can for himself.

Tanmay passed the chicken on the table, along with waiwai salad.

"Pass me the achaar, please" Sanya asked her boyfriend who gave it to her and she devoured it.

Everyone now ready with chicken/paneer and beer sat to watch the match.

Except Rohan, who was having bournvita.

RCB won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Timeskip 20 overs later

Yashvanth was looking at the screen with anxiety.

"200 runs and 5 wickets. That seems hard to beat" Devrath told him.

"Shut up" Yashvanth said finishing his fourth can of beer.

"Dhruv, we're going ok" Sanya said after some time. "I'm not feeling so well"

"Yeah Dhruv, if KKR wins give me my share tomorrow" Veer said.

"Wait we're coming too" Ambika and Naina followed them.

"But... Today's a full moon night..." Dhruv said.

"It's just 9:30, bro, werewolves and all don't come out till like, 11!" Veer said. "And I can do this in case of danger" he opened his palm and conjured a sharp ice sword.

"Aahh ok ok, be careful, and take care of your health, Sanya" Dhruv said and the nymphs left. The mermaids left too cause they couldn't live on land for too long.

"Shall we drink whiskey while we wait?" Yashvanth said.

"Sure" Dhruv said, took out a full whiskey from the closet and opened it and started making pegs for everyone.

"I want neat!" Devrath said.

"Give me on the rocks!" Yashvanth said.

"Bhrata I want it diluted with coke!" Rudra and Subh said.

"I just want water on my whiskey" Keshav said.

Tejas got some more food

Yashvanth and Dhruv finished a bottle of Soju by the time the next half started

During the match, Tanmay and Rohan went to sit at the couch, leaving Keshav near the vampires.

Yashvanth now wrapped his wings around Keshav more tightly so the vampires won't try doing anything smart.

At the end of the match, Yashvanth was crying because RCB lost.

"Ahhhh!! Why RCB why! King Kholi my boy pls!" He said while Dhruv and Aman happily collected the coins.

"Let's go now" Subh said to Yashika and Rudra.

"No one's going anywhere outside now! It's past midnight!" Tejas said.

"Hubby's right! It's not safe!" Dhruv said.

"Yeah, what if a werewolf eats you? Or one of those black magicians see you?" Yashvanth said.

"In this forest, you should never go out too late on a full moon night!" Aman said leaning closer to Keshav. "It's not safe"

"Tejas can you set our bed a bit higher?" Yashvanth said pulling Keshav away from Aman. "Do quick my head is spinning"

"Okay!" Tejas said. "How about there!"

He pointed towards a corner of the cave, where there was a kinda raised platform.

Tejas then moved his hands directing the plants nearby. Their twigs and leaves kept conjuring till a nice bed was formed. Yashvanth, Keshav and Devrath went there.

Devrath lied down beside Yashvanth, was beside Keshav, he put his warm wings around him and fell asleep rather quickly.

Keshav felt his warm wings and alcoholic breath.

The Manjas were passed out on the floor, except Yashika on who was on the long couch.

Rohan and Tanmay took one each of the couch.

The vampires were sleeping in another makeshift bed Tejas made for them.

And Tejas was sleeping with Dhruv on the floor, where he'd made another small bed.

Keshav was amazed at the forest. Ofcourse he was worried about his training, and the other cops that must be looking for him. But this was not a forest he wanted to leave.