"Mommy doesn't love us anymore... she only loves Luna", says Naval.
"Ya she only loves Luna", says Nabin.
"You don't like us?", asks Neerav.
As I feed Luna this drama starts again.
"Ya only like me", says Luna.
After Luna turned into his human form this dialogue started all the time.
"I love all of you equally, there is no need to fight"
"No she loves me only", says Luna.
"waaaa a.." Neerav
This is exhausting.
I slap all of them in their butts.
All of them calm down and go to a corner to cry again.
"These kids!!"
"Watch them for a while, ok? I am going out for a while"
Pujan shakes his vines a little.
I know he doesn't want to do it.
"Just don't let them go far away like last time"
This time the vine wrapped around my hair.
"Ok then! I am off"
Sensing that I am going out, the four children run towards me, sticking themselves to my leg.
"Pujan, take them off"
Pujan takes them out and puts them on the nest as they start shouting at the top of their lungs.
I was left with my leg covered with tears and snort.
"ha children"
I finally went out after washing my legs.
Today I had to trade some eggs with meat as winter is coming and there are no birds to hunt.
Unexpectedly I came across another news.
"Did you know that the leopard that captured the snakes killed them all?"
"Really? Didn't he do it to find his wife?"
"I heard the wife had already left him"
"Then why did he capture them?"
"It is said that he loves their scales so it takes them out and sleeps with them"
"Oh my!! that is disgusting those poor snakes"
"I know it is said that he also eats them later"
I went away from them as I already had the meat in hand.
I should leave immediately.
Unfortunately I saw the leopard. He saw me too. He jumped towards me as I ran as fast as I could. I entered my territory. It would have taken him 6 years to reach here had I not shown him. I am not going outside for now.
I cannot let him not do any harm to the children.
I ran towards the cave as fast as I could and alerted everyone about it.
I just have to do my best raising them... strong…. because they will have their own battles to face later.
4 years later
Hey!! Long time no see!
Everyone is very happy right now as they are playing outside.
It was not easy to raise kids and one plant who is more of a kid, but they are all grown up now. They can go outside on their own but they won't go. I want them to stay childish but this environment is not good.
Well I am happy that I have company but they need to survive on their own too. And it's too late now because the leopard seems to have found his way in.
So, I am sending them to the beast god festival alone today.
Their childhood seemed short but I hope they can be happy without me in the future too.
"Now take care of Luna. OK? make sure he doesn't get lost. Eat a lot, ok?"
They have grown up to be bigger than me but I can't let go of the fact that they are still children.
"Mommy, I will be fine, don't worry", says Luna.
"Make sure not to follow anyone other than your brothers... even if they give you food"
"Ok ok it won't happen again"
"ha now they don't even listen to me"
"Mom we are leaving, it's getting late", says Nabin.
"Ok ok go now!"
I saw them go off and only after they were out of my sight did I go back.
"tsk these kids were so lovely before…. now they don't even count my words"
I feel someone lurking near the cave.
I change to my half human form.
"Come out I know you are there "
A large leopard jumps out in front of me and changes into his human form.
It was the ex husband.
"What do you want"
"I didn't know you had other men with you. Is that why you left me?"
Bastard!! Other beastman recognise their children just by looking…. but this Bastard doesn't even know after lurking for so long.
"So what? What right do you have to ask me that?"
"I AM BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE HERE!!! WHY NOT ME?"
"I don't think you have the right to shout"
"I will take you today and make you mine"
"Over my dead body"
I changed into my beast form and so did he. We started to fight. He was trying to attack me but I didn't give him a chance.
This was my chance... I cannot let go of it or else the children will also be inside his collection.
I wrapped around him but he bit on my head. There was blood everywhere.
I was fainting but I couldn't just let him win. Then some vines held him back.
He struggled to get out and cut off those vines in half.
I got some time and bit off his head in one go.
I admit that he was strong, but not anymore. He died with his eyes open.
I tried my best to move towards Pujan as fast as I could but he didn't respond anymore.
Realizing what had happened, I roared out loud but those who were gone couldn't come back.
What does death feel like? Pujan had asked me that one time.
"Hey.. Wait for me.. OK ? We will go together. It will not be painful anymore..."
I woke up again inside the cave and the children had returned.
"Hey.. Babies."
Nobody spoke. I knew they were mad that I sent them away but I cannot see them suffer. Can I?
"Now you're not tal..king to.. me anym.or?"
They started crying one after another.
I cannot move right now. If I could, I would have stopped them.
"You.. Look ugly like.. That grown men crying.. with snot everyw..here"
They smile a little but still show a stubborn expression.
I know this is wrong but I think they will finally grow up now.
"Hey pujan is waiting I… must go now.. No fighting .. Do everything like I asked you to... ok?"
The children started bawling their eyes out but I could tell my time had already come.
At least they will survive on their own. They have each other now...they won't be alone anymore. Maybe they will find a partner and settle down. Maybe they will have children. I wanted to see them make a family or have a lovely partner. I was not the best mom but at least they were happier.
I close my eyes and feel myself pulled out.
I was in front of a floating bridge.
There were a lot of lights around me... but there was one light that came towards me.
'Pujan?'
'uh huh'
`` Best friends in the next life too, what say?"
'Uh huh'