When they were a day’s march from the village, Asha told Enti and Hana that she was going to go ahead of them, and reach the village through a route that she knew, which followed a dry streambed up the hill, and would be shorter, even if a lot steeper than the winding path that was the regular route. She explained that she was impatient to be home again.
She readied her things, and left the camp just before dawn. Some were asleep, and some just beginning to stir.

Asha and Moti started their journey when it was still dark, and the morning star shone brilliant in the dark blue sky. An early bird had already started his song to welcome the coming day. There was light enough to see by, and it would only grow brighter. She would be in the village hours before the rest of the group reached it. Asha loved the chill of autumn in the air, and her heart always grew eager with the promise of a new day. She was also looking forward to being home again.
The path was narrow, a deer track which led across a stream, and beyond, into the forests, and then started to climb. She found the old streambed, and began climbing. After a steep climb of an hour, she stopped at a pool of water ringed with rocks, and trees, to bathe, and eat breakfast. She splashed about happily, and climbed out of the pool to dry off.

A little later, she sat humming to herself, drying her hair, thinking of Vayu, and the expression in his eyes when he had looked at her when they had all sat combing out their hair in the sun, by the Goddess’ pool.

Suddenly Moti gave a low growl. He was standing facing the tangled undergrowth, hackles raised, fangs bared. She heard a deep snarl in the bushes, and Moti backed away, still with his hackles raised. She saw a head looking at her from the bushes, pitiless feline eyes fixed unblinking on her, golden skin with black flower shaped spots.

Asha looked back at the leopard, fascinated. She stood up slowly, helpless, her weapons on a rock, just out of reach. “Fool that I am!” she thought, “my head was too full of a man to think straight” The leopard started walking slowly towards her, and Asha inched towards her weapons, her eyes on the leopard.. Moti was barking now, frantically. He stood between the leopard and Asha. Moti rushed at the leopard, and the leopard swatted the dog away. Asha saw Moti land awkwardly on the ground. He lay in a heap, without moving.

She screamed, angry now more than afraid. The leopard crouched, tail twitching, readying for the leap. Asha lunged sideways as the animal sprang, grabbing at her knife, and bringing it up as the leopard leaped at her. The knife got the leopard in the shoulder as she twisted away from the leopard, and his claws just grazed her side. The leopard had turned and launched himself at her again with an angry grunt. As she stepped back, her foot slipped, and she fell. Her fall saved her, because the leopard missed his mark, and landed a few feet behind her.

Quick as a flash, with a terrifying snarl, he turned and prepared to spring again. Asha had no way of defending herself, her knife was lodged in the beast's shoulder, and there was no time to get up and run. With a sudden pang of disappointment Asha thought - what a pity that this was how her life would end.

As the beast launched himself in the air, a spear thudded into his chest, and the leopard fell, landing heavily inches from Asha as she crouched, her arms raised crosswise over her face. He was so close, she felt his rank breath as he growled. Then there was silence. A few moments later, Asha raised her head slowly, and saw the leopard still and unmoving at her feet, and behind him, she saw Vayu.

And then everything went dark, as Asha lost consciousness.