In the far reaches of the eastern mountains, where the clouds shrouded the peaks from morning till night, folklores and believes swirled around fairies hiding from the demons. The demons had taken over the world and the fairies wanted one place to rest, it was then they discovered the Eastern Mountains where the came and never left. The demons followed but the peaks were invisible , the paths to the top non existent and food scarce. They refused to give up and they waited for months and then autumn came and came cold winds freezing their bones and turning their cold blood into ice. Most perished on the terrains becoming dark , fossilised trees that never grew any leaves standing. Few ran away to take tales of fierce magic that caused star burst and hail storms. The next year they came again in spring . Yet the snow never melted. The paths were non existent as was the visibility. A massive landslide killed all. The year after they sent their best climbers. They climbed step by step and last heard they were still climbing. They were never seen. Some local people reported seeing them as singing , dancing up and down the slopes.. some said they still were lost singing , dancing demons. The tales spread and beliefs whispered .. the slopes will kill, confuse or consume you. Leave them alone.
The last proper town in a valley below the Eastern mountains was a town called Western. Tourism had built the town up as had been a hikers' den, before they understood the town had no direct route to the Eastern Mountains. Just ahead of the town loomed the mountains covered in clouds, breathtaking sunrises , surprisingly warm summer and almost no snow fall in winter. Yet the mountains and the town were separated by a steep gorge that was never bridged after the avalanche created it. The town's folks whispered" bridged by others but humans". The hikers still came but less often, tourism had found new more happening sites leaving the quiet town alone to its main industry of hand crafts, bakery and music.
The mayor of the town was a woman named Rani. Regal, long haired and stunning, it was said she descended from an exotic eastern warrior class. It was said when the Devils had come searching the fairies, they had done unmentionable tortures on the village folks. Her great grand father and mother had ridden and taken on the Devils driving them away from the village with power, strength and magic again and again , till the Devils stopped coming. They never left and built a small fortress , then slowly took over administration of the town. The town's people called them Yodas, a shorten form of the name inscribed on the walls of the fortress.. Yoddhas. Years passed and while the family never moved away, they never married into the town folks or had their babies in the town.
Each new generation revealed that their marriages were decided by some calculations of time of birth and it was always followed. Even birth of a baby happened in their original home land which they mentioned to be in far east. The town's folks often wished to be a part of their family, young men and women had fallen in love with the daughters and sons of the family. But it had only gotten them broken hearts.
Even on that day as Rani stood addressing the crowd, many wondered at their milk chocolate skin much darker than the pale white of others. She was speaking of age and wisdom and that all things must come to an end. She was speaking of retirement as her daughter Kumari had broken the norm and ran away with an unknown man. Her husband Raaj had been in search but not found her till that day.
The town's folk glared at Kumari's best friend Nia. It was a known fact that Nia had fallen in love with the groom of Kumari , an exotic foreigner from the far eastern planes called Maan. She had hence supported the infatuation Kumari had for a man even Nia had never met. When Kumari ran away, she had just not been aware but assisted her to make the run during a town festival. Yet Rani had simply looked at Nia when everyone dragged her to the fortress as the girl Kumari went missing and requested her to go away. Requested the town's people to maintain decorum and peace.
Her husband Raaj had been furious but she had stopped him from saying anything and he had started his search. But that was ten years ago and it seemed Kumari had disappeared to thin air.
Today as Rani bid good bye to the town's folk she thought that there was so little chances of ever meeting her only daughter Kumari , who had so much potential and so little control. She just hoped that her daughter understood the folly and recognised the devil to not give out any secrets.
Nia stood quietly holding the hand of her only son. There were reasons why the blood must never be mixed thought Rani yet Maan had impregnated Nia before leaving the town. The son was furious at everyone, lost, confused and Rani thought it was such a loss that no one would show him how to reach his true potential.
It was absolutely difficult to guess her age though her lond traces which were once darkest ebony was pale silver and it happened within a week of her daughter's run away act. Her unlined face and strength of walk and action still could have indicated a woman of thirty. Yet she was closer to seventy. The entire town's people were crying. They still glared at Nia and her son. Yet they were victims too thought Rani.
But her retirement was not to be as someone came running to inform that her husband was climbing up a gorge with a child in his arms. The gorges were something her family could climb when there was a need. They had the skill and the support of those who inhabited in the mountains. Raaj came with a soft smile and a big frown. He handed over the sleeping child to Rani and said in a language only she would understand, one they rarely used. "Your daughter did not betray her mission. She never revealed anything and finally found strength to leave the man once she conceived and was hiding in the different places for the last few years. The child is six.. " He said softly and patted her scarf.
Rani peaked in and saw dark raven black traces. There was so much she wanted to say , including why a baby and where was her daughter. But all she said was to the town's folks.
" Meet my granddaughter Mani. Our little jewel. It seems we will be around till she grew up." Her soft declaration was met with cheers from all barring Nia, who never reacted to anything these days and her son glared back at the child held to lovingly in Rani's hands. Raaj looked at the mother son duo and whispered back. "Maan is coming back. He will take them away to the city. He understands his duty. No one will know."