There were rustling sounds near by. Everyone could sense the growling sounds approaching. Prince Karan was looking helplessly. He cursed himself for being over enthusiastic. Princess and Pinaka approached him and were trying to rescue him. The other princes in their party who were proficient in archery came forward. This lion saw the scene in front of it. It was a majestic beast weighing around 200kgs.It seemed to have a great intelligence. It sensed the killing intent of people. It gave a low growl and retreated into the bushes. People were hesitating whether to follow the lion or not. The princess said, "let us all set up tents here for the night, we will try to follow the tracks of the lion in the morning. Now we need to tend to Prince Karan"s injuries. "Hearing this everyone was relieved. They nodded and started preparing the tents. There was a prince proficient in medicine. He helped Pinaka and Samyukta to tend to Prince Karan"s injuries.
Some of them went in packs, hunted some deer, rabbits etc., made a bonefire and started roasting the meat for dinner. Everyone ate sitting around the fire.
Princess Samyukta entered her tent and tried to sleep. All the members agreed to split into two teams and stand guard one after the other. Pinaka"s team was on watch while Samyukta"s team was resting. After few hours, Samyukta and her team took charge while Pinaka and team rested.
Soon morning came. Song birds were chirping. The sky looked as if someone painted it with shades of red, orange and yellow. Samyukta and Pinaka woke up and prayed for the blessings of the sun G.o.d with folded hands. Many princes followed suit. Solar worship was a part of Indian tradition since long. Since sun is one of the sources needed for life on earth, sun is worshipped as G.o.d since ancient times in India.
Without any further ado, the team started following the tracks of the lion deep into the forest.Prince Karan recovered, but was asked to stay back at the camp with two people taking care of him.
The tracks of the lion lead them on. They could sense that they were entering deeper into forest. Samyukta was having a tensed heart. She was not afraid, but somehow she felt restless.
Pinaka was worried. He felt that they were walking into a bigger danger. As they reached a point, they could hear low growls and cries of anguish. Samyukta signalled everyone to keep quiet.
Pinaka too could sense something ahead. They kept their weapons at the ready. They just stepped into a clearing as an unbelievable scene met their eyes.
There was a large metal cage with lions trapped inside. They saw one lioness and three cubs in the cage. The lioness looked at Samyukta and team approaching them. The lioness roared menacingly, baring her sharp teeth. She put her fore arm protectively around the cubs and stared ferociously at the people.
The lion whom they saw yesterday was coming from another direction, it seemed to not notice the humans. The lion was carrying its hunt in its mouth. It dropped the food near the cage, approached the cage and extended its paw towards the lioness. The lioness too extended her paw. This expression of love was not what the humans expected to see.
Samyukta understood the situation. A hunter has set up a trap and the lioness and the cubs got caught. This lion was wandering near the cage and tending to his family getting them food. He couldn"t go deep into the forest to hunt for food since he is scared that some one might harm his family in his absence. So he was hunting from the nearby tribal settlements. Samyukta was shaken to the core. There were tears in her eyes. But a princess couldn"t cry in public. She held on to her tears and strengthened herself. Every female has a strong maternal instinct in her. She felt that maternal instinct kick in when she saw the cubs.
Suddenly there was an arrow shot from a different direction. It was shot by Prince Deepak. His party approached. The Lion and the lioness let out a huge roar. Luckily the arrow missed its target. The Lion was ferocious. It was about to pounce on Deepak when princess Samyukta called out.
She said, "oh lion King, listen to me. We will help to release your family from the trap, please step aside, trust me, I will not let anyone harm you and your family. But once we set you free, you need to go inside the forest and never return to hunt in tribal settlements. " Everyone was shocked. Samyukta was speaking to the Lion. How could a Lion understand human tone. Some people felt that The princess was crazy.
She didn"t care, she stood her ground. She didn"t know why she felt like talking to the Lion. But she did. The Lion looked at her for some time, roared in a different manner as if in agreement with her and gave her way stepping aside. It was a huge shock to the people.
Samyukta stepped forward, everyone was shocked. Pinaka accompanied her. She walked around the cage, found a latch and opened it. The door of the cage swung open.
The cubs ran out and jumped into Samyukta"s arms and cuddled into her bossom. They playfully licked and nibbled her fingers. She smiled and patted them loving. She seemed like a lioness tending to her cubs at this moment. Slowly the Lioness came out, let out a low growl. The cubs jumped out of Samyukta"s arms and licked their mother. Then the family of five, left walking majestically into deep forest.
The people were still in a daze. Deepak looked at Samyukta with wonder. Prince Surya asked, "how did you do that" she shrugged and gave a look which said that she was not sure.
Rudra Verma and team too saw this. Then the general said, "women are closely connected to nature. The way in which a woman can nurture life inside her is a wonder in itself. By right ,woman is a mother. Animals are closely a.s.sociated with nature and depend on nature for everything. There must be an equation between women and animals too. Well done Princess" he said.
Samyukta was still dumbstruck. She could not understand why she did so and how it all fell into place so easily.
Pinaka recovered and said, "since this is the case, may I suggest that we return to the palace"
Everyone agreed and nodded.