During the first sign of spring that year, she and her company men and women started on the outside of the forest with torches and began burning any bush too thick to see through. By doing this, she planned to void the trees of all places that were previously used for hiding and treachery. Just a few weeks into their journey, rakshasas stormed their camp and abducted three men! Maya knew she had to save these men without losing any more, so she threw on her armor and readied her weapons. Her favorite weapon was the sword, but she was a master of them all. She was the top at javelin throwing in her kingdom, and her sword abilities could cut anything clean and through. Her boomerang would hit anything she aimed at and return. Maya's most favorite weapon was her bow. For this trip, she decided to leave the javelin at the camp so it didn't weigh her down.
The great Joan of Arc, another mighty warrior like Maya (Wiki)
She set out in darkness to find where the rakshasas stayed. Not long into her journey she heard cackling like that of a jackal. She crouched down and edged closer. Peering through a thicket, she saw three of her men tied to poles surrounding the massive bonfire the demons had erected. A few of the stronger looking rakshasas picked up the man closest to her and began parading him through the camp over their heads. Onlookers yelled and cheered while eating their fest, which consisted of the last men that were wandering through the forest. These side rakshasas threw sticks and bones from their supper at the man as he passed by on the large rakshasas shoulders.
Maya had had enough. She burst through the bush and ran at the demon closest to her. With her mighty fists she punched two at the same time, knocking them out. Pulling out her bow, she began shooting arrows at every breathing creature but her men. The rakshasas advanced, less shocked now, and drew their swords. This was no match for Maya. Five, ten, fifteen at a time they came in raids and in one swipe of her sword she took them all out. Finally only a few were left. They were hiding behind the tent, so she pulled out her boomerang and took all of their heads off with one swift throw.
Finally, she had killed all of the demons, and she rushed to untie the three men from her company. They were so grateful that they each pledged their life, stating that they would follow her wherever she went and do what she needed done. They finished cleaning up the forest, and even started preparing some farming land for the farmers hiding behind the walls of the city.
Until Maya's last breath, the city was safe from any outside peril.
Author's Note. This story idea comes from the story The Felon Demon in Indian Fables and Folklore. It is about a demon with a shovel gifted from a god that has allowed him to be an all-powerful demon. No one could defeat him, not even an entire army. One day, he kidnapped the king's daughter (the princess). The king said that whoever saved her would be permitted to marry her. One prince was willing, and he fought the demon for three days straight. In the end, the prince won the battle and also won the princess.
I feel like this stories (and many I read like it) are so old times where the poor princess was a damsel in distress that couldn't lift a pinky for herself. This is why I decided to write a story of my own where the woman saved the man.
The picture I selected was done so very carefully. Joan of Arc was a famous warrior in France in the 15th century, and I likened my character, Maya, to her. The picture (painting) is of Joan in her battle gear, very similar to what I pictured Maya wearing. They both were also loyal to their country, and they only wanted the best, gender norms aside.
Bibliography. This story, The Felon Demon, comes from a compilation of short stories, Indian Fables and Folklore, by Shovona Devi in the year 1919.
