### Chapter 7: The Price of Sacrifice
Aruna felt the world around her disappear in an agonizing rush as she threw herself in front of Kavi, bracing for the impact of Rabin's blow. In that brief moment, a surge of protectiveness enveloped her—she could not let her son bear the cost of their battle. The echoes of their previous encounters, the fierce love of family, raced through her mind.
But just as the blade was about to make contact, Lira's anguished scream pierced the chaos, flooding Aruna's senses with a jolt of determination. "No! Get away from her!"
With a speed that belied her size, Lira barreled into Rabin, knocking him off balance. The dagger clamped tightly between her fingers drove into the ground, sending a shockwave through the air. As Aruna staggered back, heart racing and breath caught in her throat, the sudden reprieve felt surreal.
"Mommy!" Kavi cried, his voice laced with fear, but Aruna turned to him, her heart swelling with love.
"I'm okay, sweetheart!" she shouted, her voice steadier than she felt. "Stay behind me!"
Rabin, momentarily stunned from Lira's attack, recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing with fury. "You traitorous sisters will pay for this!" he spat, lunging toward Lira with reckless abandon.
"No!" Aruna shouted again, forcing herself to stand tall. She could feel the pain radiating from where she had anticipated the strike, but adrenaline surged through her, urging her to fight. "Together, Lira!"
Lira met her sister's gaze and nodded, the remnants of doubt dissipating. They were in this battle together, and together they were stronger.
As they positioned themselves in a protective stance around Kavi, the tide began to shift. Fueled by the connection between them, Aruna and Lira struck back at their foes with fury, each movement guided by a determination deeper than any hatred they had faced before.
Rabin's followers thronged around them, a seething mass of anger and desperation. But the bond forged through their recent struggle became their armor, their love blending into a formidable force.
With every swing of her staff and every thrust of Lira's dagger, Aruna fought not only for her life but for the chance to reclaim the love that had almost slipped away. The battlefield transformed into a dance of precision and synchronicity, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as if they could conquer the world together.
"Push forward!" Lira shouted, her voice fierce and unwavering, as she parried another strike from an approaching enemy. "We need to create an opening for Kavi!"
Aruna nodded, drawing on her strength as she moved in tandem with Lira, deflecting blows and delivering swift counterattacks. "We can do this!" she strained, fighting through the exhaustion that threatened to engulf her.
Finally, they reached the edge of the throng, a flicker of daylight breaking through the chaos. A narrow path towards Kavi opened like a promise of salvation.
"Go, Kavi! Get to safety!" Aruna called, desperation and urgency flaring in her tone. "Run!"
"No! I won't leave you!" he protested, fear etched on his small face as his eyes darted between the furious melee and the safety he longed for.
"*You have to!*" Lira added, her voice desperate but steady. "We'll follow you! We need you to be safe!"
With tears streaming down his cheeks, Kavi finally turned, sprinting towards the crumbling remains of a nearby building, hidden from view. Aruna felt a piercing sense of dread leave her; the love she bore for him ignited her resolve to finish this fight.
But even as they moved to pursue him, the Black Claws surged back, and the stench of wild fury thickened the air. Rabin's voice boomed out, filled with menace, "You think you can flee? You think we'll let you escape?"
Aruna braced herself, her body pulsing with the adrenaline of battle. "We are not running!" she shouted back defiantly. "We're fighting for our lives, and we will fight for our family!"
Lira echoed her commitment with fierce determination, "Let us show you the strength of our unity!"
As they forged ahead, the sisters struck out like twin storms, sweeping through their foes with a combination of agility and power. Each movement became instinctive, born from years of shared experiences, battles, and dreams.
But as the battle raged on, exhaustion clung to them like a dying ember. Aruna felt her strength waning. Lira fought valiantly, but even she was beginning to struggle against the onslaught of attackers.
Suddenly, from the far corner of her eye, Aruna noticed Kavi peering through the rubble, his small, trembling form barely visible. "Mommy!" he called out, innocent and determined. "I'm scared!"
With a jolt of urgency, Aruna turned to Lira, pulling her into a brief moment of clarity. "We need to get to him! We can't let him face this alone!"
"Then we fight with everything we have!" Lira replied, her voice filled with unyielding determination.
Channeling every ounce of strength left within her, Aruna charged forward, Lira at her side, pushing through the swarm of enemies that threatened to overwhelm them. With each step, they fought together, side by side, the love for Kavi propelling them forward.
But before they could reach their son, Rabin surged ahead, fury igniting his eyes. "Enough of this! You think love will save you?" he growled, positioning himself between the sisters and Kavi. "You are weak!"
Aruna felt her heart race, panic clawing at her insides. "Get away from him!" she screamed, pushing through the fear that had threatened to engulf her.
"Won't you see?" Rabin taunted, lunging toward Kavi. "You play a dangerous game, sister! You've chosen this path!"
And in that moment, she realized they had entered a new phase of the battle—one where hesitation was a luxury they could not afford. With no time left, Aruna made a choice, one she had not anticipated.
"Lira!" she shouted, her voice breaking through the chaos. "We need to protect Kavi! We can't let him see us fall!"
With a surge of unexpected strength, Aruna focused her will, embodying the soul of a warrior. She charged forward, confronting Rabin, not as a fear-driven daughter but as a sister willing to sacrifice everything for love.
As she moved, Lira followed closely, strength bolstering from the unity they shared. With blades flashing in determined fury, they stood together, two fierce sisters against a world that sought to divide them.
"Let's finish this!" Lira declared fiercely as they lunged at Rabin, their hearts synchronized and their spirits entwined, destined to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The battle for survival had only just begun, and together, they would face the storm.