After getting the vial of the sniffing fluid from Suho, Luhan was ushered out by Myungsoo to allow Suho to pack in peace. He didn't protest because with his brain preoccupied with Minseok, it was hard to carry out conversations like he ususally could. He silently went to Kris to let him know that he was ready to leave any time.

"Would you mind leaving at once? I don't want to waste even a second in case Minseok is in trouble. Please Luhan, find him." Kris was looking more and more haggard by the second. There was too much worry weighing him down, reducing his height to almost around Luhan's. Ok, maybe that was an exaggeration, but he still looked quite bad.

Luhan nodded, hoping to assure Kris that he was going to make sure Minseok is safe. 

"Don't worry Your Highness, I will find him as fast as I can, and bring him back. With the potion King Suho gave me, it will be much easier and faster than I had thought, so please don't worry about it."

"I wish I couldn't worry Luhan, but he is my son. He is more important to me than anything in this world. I don't think I will be able to live if I loose him too. I don't want to be alone."

Luhan contemplated for a minute about what he could say to make Kris feel better. "King Suho might..."

"I won't force him to stay with me. I haven't been a good husband, nor a good father. I wonder what my subjects think of me. Maybe I wasn't fit to be a King..." Kris shook his head, "I am keeping you. Go at once Luhan. Please make sure he is safe."

Luhan bowed before running out. He picked up with weapons, ration, and the bottle of potion before going to the stables. He was planning on traveling light, so riding a horse would be much faster, and more flexible. He rode out as soon as Taeyang brought his horse to him, thanking the other for his service.

While riding full speed, the same thoughts kept circling his head-

Was Minseok allright?

What was going to happen to Kris and Suho after this?

What would Minseok think once he realized what was going on?

What was Minseok thinking anyways?

What would Minseok do now?

Will Minseok be happy to see him? Probably , if he was in trouble...

How was Minseok?

Before he knew it, Luhan was at the forest edge. It wasn't even fully dark yet, so he was lucky. He quickly took out the vial and prayed that it worked. He dabbed its contents under his nose and took a deep breathed in. His heart was speeding at an impossible rate in anticipation of finally meeting Minseok. He sat there waiting for it to work, but he was starting to get disappointed when he didn't feel anything happening. He cursed in frustration as he frantically tried putting a little bit more on, hoping that the lack of action was only due to him putting on the wrong amount. He felt defeated when he put on the last drops he managed to get out of the small vial. Luhan pulled at his hair in frustration as he slumped down on the floor. The potion was a dud! It didnt work! Luhan pulled his knees to his chest. What was he going to do now? His only possible link to Minseok was broken. He remembered with a scoff how he had been so optimistic in front of everyone that morning.

Luhan was broken put of his self pity session when his horse nudged his head and then taking his hair in its mouth, it yanked at them. Luhan yelped and looked at his horse with a hurt expression. It though didn't seem to care as it blew a raspberry in Luhan's face, covering it with spit. Luhan just blinked a few times before hugging his horse's neck

"You are right! I don't need to depend on a potion or anything else as a matter of fact. I can find him myself. I have the skills and the determination."

Luhan's horse neighed, stomping its feet. Luhan got on its back again and decided to move in without waiting for something to happen. Time was of the essence. It enough that he had wasted a major portion of the day waiting for the potion to be made when  he could have been searching for Minseok. He would have to tell Suho that maybe he made a mistake when he got back...if he did that is. He was never going back if he didn't find Minseok.

Luhan rode into forest, and was trying to figure out which way to go in the dark under the canopy of trees when it hit him - the sweet scent of the one person he wanted to see so badly...with a hint of sock. The potion had worked afterall. All Luhan needed was patience. Laughing in delight, Luhan directed his horse in the direction he sensed the smell was coming from and picked up speed again.

---X--- 

Minseok had been feeling dis