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Chapter 5 - The Gentle Awakening

🌌 Episode 5 –

The night after the tiger battle. The campfire burns low. Karan and Manish sit slumped against a rock, exhausted. The forest is quiet, but the air feels heavy with something new.

Panel 1 – Close-up:

Karan stares at the last unbroken figure beside them — Ananya Sharma, still frozen in stone, faint cracks glowing faint blue across her arms.

Karan (thinking):

"…We made it through today. But what about tomorrow? We can't survive alone…"

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Panel 2 – Manish's POV:

He looks at Karan, then at Ananya, noticing how gently Karan's hand rests near her stone form.

Manish (softly, teasing):

"You really want her back, don't you?"

Karan (blushing, mutters):

"Idiot… it's not like that. She's… important."

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Panel 3 – The cracks on Ananya's stone surface spread, glowing brighter. Small chips fall to the ground. The boys' eyes widen.

SFX: CRRRRKKK—

Manish (alert):

"She's… she's waking up!"

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Panel 4 – Wide shot:

Stone shatters around her shoulders and hair, long black strands flowing free, catching the firelight. Her eyes slowly open — deep brown with a faint golden glow.

Ananya (weak, whispering):

"…Karan? Manish?"

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Panel 5 – Emotional close-up:

Karan and Manish rush forward. Karan kneels beside her, steadying her as she struggles to move. Manish hands her water from a leaf bowl.

Karan (relieved, smiling faintly):

"You're finally here… Ananya."

Ananya (blinking, softly):

"…How long was I gone?"

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Panel 6 – The three sit by the fire together. Ananya listens quietly as Karan explains their struggle and the tiger battle. Her face is calm, but her hands curl into fists — she's determined.

Ananya:

"So the world has fallen this far…"

"…Then we'll rise with it. Together."

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Final Page – Wide cinematic shot:

The campfire glows brighter, illuminating all three for the first time — Karan, Manish, and Ananya, side by side.

The forest feels less lonely, less dangerous. The true core team is born.

📢 Narration (bottom text):

"And so, the flame of survival found its heart.

The Stone Age of India… now had its first light of hope."

⚡ TO BE CONTINUED… ⚡

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