Chapter 375 - 343: Travelling To Meet The Tribe...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

-------------------------------------------------

The following morning, Devara left the palace accompanied by Karna and Ashwatthama.

The three of them travelled toward the forest where the royal scouts had reported the strange changes in the wildlife.

Their destination was one of the tribal settlements deep within the forest, a community that had recently suffered several attacks from groups of wild boars.

The deeper they travelled, the more obvious the problem became.

Wild boars were everywhere.

They could be seen moving between the trees, digging through the soil, crossing the paths and gathering near the streams.

Some stopped when Devara, Karna and Ashwatthama approached, lifting their heads and staring at the three men with an unsettling lack of fear.

A few even remained where they were instead of fleeing, their small eyes following the travellers as though they were trying to determine whether these newcomers were another threat or potential prey.

Karna glanced toward one of the groups.

"There are far more of them than there should be."

Ashwatthama nodded his head.

"The scouts weren’t exaggerating."

Devara remained silent, observing the forest around them.

Normally, the presence of so many boars would have meant that predators were nearby, keeping their population under control.

But there was almost no sign of them.

The occasional cry of a bird could be heard above the trees, while smaller animals kept their distance from the open paths.

Then Devara noticed something ahead.

Several wild boars were gathered around the remains of a deer.

The animal had clearly been killed recently.

Rather than retreating into the forest with their catch, the boars were fighting over the carcass, snarling and pushing against one another as they tore pieces of flesh away.

One larger boar charged another, forcing it away from the meat, only for a third to rush forward and take its place.

The sight made Karna’s expression tighten.

"Since when do wild boars hunt deer?"

Ashwatthama watched the animals carefully.

"They normally don’t."

Devara slowed his steps.

His eyes remained fixed on the scene.

This was no longer simply a matter of an increased population.

Something had disrupted the entire balance of the forest.

The disappearance of the tigers had removed one of the primary predators, allowing the boar population to grow unchecked, but their behavior had changed beyond what simple population growth could explain.

The boars were becoming aggressive toward one another.

They were hunting.

They were eating meat.

And they had begun attacking humans.

A few of the animals noticed Devara and his companions again.

One particularly large boar stepped forward, its tusks visible beneath its snout as it stared directly at them.

Karna rested his hand near his weapon.

"It seems they aren’t frightened of us."

"Don’t attack them yet,"

Devara said to the both Karna and Ashwatthama.

Karna looked toward him.

Devara continued observing the animal.

"Something has driven these creatures into this state. I want to understand what happened before we start killing them."

Ashwatthama nodded his head.

"Then we should reach the tribe first. They may know something the scouts haven’t discovered."

The three continued deeper into the forest.

The sounds around them became increasingly unfamiliar.

The absence of tigers was perhaps the most noticeable change.

Devara had expected to hear distant roars or find tracks along the muddy paths, but there was nothing.

Not even a trace.

Instead, the forest seemed dominated by the wild boars.

As they continued toward the tribal settlement, another group crossed their path.

The animals stopped and stared at them before slowly disappearing between the trees.

Karna watched them leave.

"I don’t like this."

"Neither do I,"

Ashwatthama replied.

Devara looked toward the direction in which the boars had disappeared.

"Something is wrong with this forest."

The three warriors continued forward, unaware that the answer to the mystery might already be waiting for them within the tribal settlement ahead.

When Devara, Karna and Ashwatthama finally reached the tribal settlement, the forest around them became noticeably quieter.

The settlement had been built deep within the trees, far away from the main roads and royal routes, with the people relying almost entirely on the forest for food, water and shelter.

Its borders were protected by a tall wall made from tightly arranged bamboo poles, strengthened by thick thorny vines that had been deliberately allowed to grow across the structure.

The vines intertwined between the bamboo, creating a natural barrier that would be difficult for wild animals to push through.

Small watch platforms had been constructed at intervals along the wall, allowing the tribesmen to observe anything approaching from the forest.

Devara slowed his steps as he looked over the settlement.

"This must be it."

Karna nodded.

Before the three men could approach the entrance, however, they noticed several children playing near the outer wall.

One of them was a young boy who had been chasing his friends through the grass.

He was laughing as he ran, completely absorbed in their game, until he suddenly noticed the three strangers standing outside the settlement.

The boy stopped as his eyes widened.

He had never seen men dressed like them before.

Devara’s royal clothing was unmistakably elaborate, while Karna and Ashwatthama carried themselves like trained warriors.

Their weapons, armor and overall appearance were completely different from anything the boy had encountered within his isolated forest community.

The boy stared for several seconds.

Then one thought suddenly returned to him.

His grandfather’s warning.

People from the kingdoms were dangerous.

The old man had told him countless times that outsiders wearing expensive clothes and carrying weapons could not be trusted, especially those who came from royal lands.

According to his grandfather, such people did not understand the forest or the lives of those who lived within it.

They came with soldiers, took what they wanted and left ordinary tribes to deal with the consequences.

The boy’s fear immediately overcame his curiosity.

"Come on!"

he shouted to his friends.

Without waiting for an explanation, he turned and sprinted toward the settlement.

His friends followed him, confused by his sudden panic.

"Wait!"

"Why are you running?"

"Who are those people?"

The boy didn’t answer.

He pushed through the settlement entrance and continued running between the huts.

"Grandfather!"

Several villagers turned toward him as he rushed past.

"Grandfather!"

The boy finally reached the elder’s hut and stopped outside, breathing heavily.

The elderly tribesman immediately looked up.

"What happened?"

"There are strangers outside!"

the boy said between breaths.

"Three of them! They are wearing strange clothes and carrying weapons!"

The elder’s expression changed.

"Where?"

"At the settlement entrance."

The old man immediately stood.

Other tribesmen nearby began gathering around them, their expressions becoming cautious as the boy continued describing the strangers.

"They don’t look like hunters," the boy added.

"They look like people from the kingdom."

The elder’s face hardened.

"Everyone stay inside the settlement."

Outside the bamboo walls, Devara, Karna and Ashwatthama remained completely unaware of the panic their arrival had caused.

Devara looked toward the entrance.

"Why hasn’t anyone come out?"

Karna gave a small shrug.

"Perhaps they are afraid."

Ashwatthama glanced toward the bamboo wall.

"Given what has happened to this tribe recently, I wouldn’t blame them."

Devara nodded his head.

"Then we approach carefully."

He deliberately lowered his hands away from his weapons and began walking toward the entrance.

Inside the settlement, however, the tribesmen were already gathering behind the bamboo barrier, watching the three men through gaps in the woven vines.

The young boy stood beside his grandfather, still staring at Devara.

And for the first time, he wondered whether the man standing outside was truly the dangerous kingdom outsider his grandfather had warned him about.

Or whether there was something different about him.

Devara, accompanied by Karna and Ashwatthama, slowly guided his horse toward the bamboo entrance of the settlement.

The three riders had deliberately kept their weapons at rest, making it clear that they had not come looking for a fight.

Even so, the tribesmen watching from behind the thorn-covered walls remained tense, their hands gripping spears and bows as they observed every movement of the unfamiliar visitors.

They were only a few feet from the entrance when a rough elderly voice suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

Devara immediately pulled the reins.

Karna and Ashwatthama did the same, bringing their horses to a halt beside him.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the bamboo gate slowly opened.

An elderly man stepped through.

He was thin and weathered from years spent living within the forest, with long grey hair and a beard that reached down toward his chest.

His body was slightly bent with age, and he supported himself with a sturdy wooden staff as he walked toward the three riders.

His clothes were simple, made from rough woven fabric and animal hide, with several small ornaments fashioned from bones, seeds and polished stones hanging around his neck.

Despite his age, there was a firmness in his eyes that made it clear he was the respected elder of the settlement.

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

(Author note:)

I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.

-->

Don’t forget to review guys...