Random Rambles: Oi vey, I , I ended up splitting this chapter anyway, le sigh :\ I think my mind is subconsciously preventing me to get to the end, because somewhere I don't really want it to stop, I'm having too much fun with this xD But, all good things come to an end, right? Let's keep rolling (likeabuffalo) <3  

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We arrived at the same room we were before- well, sort of. The entire chamber was a mess. It looked like a war had waged here and perhaps that was the case. I cringed when a lose electric cable sparked nearby but Chen quickly took care of it. 

“There’s no one here,” Baekhyun breathed, looking around. “Did you kill all of them?” he asked, carefully stepping behind Kris and Chanyeol when the wolf glared at him. 

“He wants us to be careful,” Luhan translated. “They’re searching for us, so they could be anywhere.” 

“That’s comforting,” Chen muttered, giving a sheepish grin when the wolf looked at him, this time. 

You need to take the dagger into the forest, the wolf said. 

“But we don’t know what to do with it. The Black Snake said it himself- he needs something before binding the dagger with the energy of the earth.” I followed the wolf as he walked to the fake forest. It nearly felt as though we stepped outside. Even the ceilings looked like a starry sky, sans the red beams of the moon. 

“What if we try giving dagger-nim more of our blood? That seemed to work for it, didn’t it?” Lay then suggested reluctantly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can heal everyone, of course.”

“I don’t think that’s enough, hyung,” Chanyeol replied. “The way the snake said it, it seems like there’s something else- but what?” 

“Maybe the answers are closer than we think,” Suho looked around and the spherical computer came to sight. “Tao, do you remember how to activate it?” 

“Yeah, I got this,” Tao ran towards the computer, pressing buttons and swiping away at the holographic controls. With a final flick of his hand the forest came to life. The dagger pulsed in my hand when a holographic tree shot up from the deep crevice in front of us. 

“What now? We dump in the dagger and hope for the best?” asked Sehun, stepping to the side when the white wolf walked towards the edge of the rift. 

We watched the creature in anticipating silence as it gazed up at the tree. I quietly walked towards him, despite Suho warning me to just stay back, and carefully stood next to him, looking at the fake tree. 

Does it look like the Tree of Life that you know? I questioned.

Yes, and no. Mine was more majestic. This is an embarrassing replica. 

Well, in all fairness, it’s not real, of course. 

No, but it has to become real. With that, the wolf gestured at the dagger. 

Then tell me how. You seem to know more than you’ve let on, why can’t you just tell me? 

The wolf gazed at me then, wanting to answer, but- 

Yes. Go on. Tell her how to do it. She seems to be your favorite pet, indulge her. 

I turned around in alarm at hearing that venomous voice, quickly checking the surroundings. “Guys, she’s here,” I told the pack, the boys immediately searching the environment for signs of Miss Kumiho. 

“We’re trapped here, move to the other chamber,” Suho commanded as we started running towards the exit. A loud cackle sounded and Kumiho appeared, blocking our path. Green clouds soared towards us but Lay put up a barrier to deflect her attack. Before any of us could retaliate, the white wolf jumped from behind us and attacked the woman with a roar. I saw a flurry of black and white in the air before they both crashed on the ground. The woman hissed when she slid over the floor, glaring at the white wolf before her. I’ve never seen rage like hers before. She wasn’t even looking at us anymore. It was like we didn’t even exist. Her focus was solely on the wolf.

“Is that how you wish to play?” she asked and I noticed how disheveled she looked. She was scary before but right now, she was downright terrifying. 

“Fine,” she purred, cracking her neck. “Let’s play.” She leapt into the air, her black fur coat fusing with her skin. Her eyes glowed a hellish green as she shed her human skin and a large, nine-tailed fox landed on the floor. 

Two enormous beasts were fighting right in front of us and neither of them held back. The white wolf was slightly faster than the fox, but her graceful tails spat out venom towards him, which he only barely evaded. 

“Jae, we have to go,” Suho pulled me with him as we tried to run to the other side of the room, avoiding getting caught up in the battle. I thought I saw something huge slither in the corridor on the other side of the door, but before we could even reach it, the white wolf was thrown overhead by the black fox, sliding over the floor in a whimper and unfortunately, blocking our path. 

“Leaving so soon?” 

When I turned around, Kumiho had changed back, spitting out blood. “I’m going to take my time with you,” she said, but her eyes weren’t fixed on any of us. She was looking at the wolf. I stood protectively before it, the pack moving as well. 

“Oh, you’re still here, are you?” she sneered. “I’m tired of looking at you! My master may wanted you alive, but you mean nothing to me!” I was pulled away by Kai when she attacked before he turned into a wolf himself to fight her. But once she changed into a fox, Kai looked so infinitely small and powerless compared to her. It didn’t take her long to overpower him, but she wasn’t given the chance to deliver a fatal strike. A deep gray wolf jumped at her from nowhere, both of them changing back as Mr. Kang held onto her. 

“Enough, Kumiho!” he panted, holding her tight as she struggled to get free. “You found them. Now, let Mr. Yok take care of the rest!” he grunted. “Please,” he added softly, though his eyes darted wildly from us to the white wolf on the floor nearby. His gaze lingered on the great beast before his eyes fell in regret. 

“There’s no use in fighting,” he started, looking at us. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.” 

“Then give up,” I yelled at him. “Surrender, and we won’t have any reason to fight anymore,” I told him, hardening my heart since I didn’t want to feel sympathetic towards Mr. Kang. Even now, while he was holding Kumiho back, he held her with gentility. 

“I’m sorry, Miss Jae, but you know as well as I do that you don’t have any ground to stand on.” I resented that he sounded so sincere. 

“Miss Jae? Why are you even speaking to this worm?!” Kumiho nearly shrieked. “She is nothing! She’s vermin that we have to exterminate, and you talk to her as though she has the worth to be treated like that?! You’re weak, Dee Kang, you always have been so weak!” 

“Yes, Kumiho, I am weak,” Mr. Kang replied calmly, his eyes shifting towards the white wolf now. The creature was breathing heavily and was obviously injured. 

“Where did that wolf come from?” he asked. 

“What’s it to you?” Kris replied, gesturing for Lay to try and help the creature. 

“Did she hurt him?” the young man continued to ask, referring to Kumiho. 

“Of course I did! It’s killing him that I want- I want him dead!” she shrieked, and I startled at seeing the woman so emotional. She knew who the ghost wolf was. She actually knew him. Judging by the look on Mr. Kang’s face, I’d say that he knew him as well. I stepped forward, Luhan and Xiumin twitching to stop me. When I gestured that it would be alright, they settled with keeping an eye on me. 

“Would you take this dagger from my hands right now,” I started, voice shaky. “Or leave the dagger in my possession in order to freely be able to do whatever you want with the white wolf?” 

I was startled myself at the words that came out of my mouth, but this wasn’t the first time that curiosity had won over. Mr. Kang was obviously taken aback by the question, but Kumiho- damn, that woman was seething. 

“Screw the dagger,” she spat out. “I want his head!” 

“Wow. You need anger management, lady,” I said. Luhan pulled me back out of annoyance then, for even daring to ask something like that to her.

She cackled at this. “And you will need more than just a doctor after I’m through with you,” she threatened, eyes gleaming as she changed before my eyes. 

“Kumiho, no!” Mr. Kang was thrown roughly back against the wall where he hit his head and fell limp on the floor. I found myself facing a giant black fox, pouncing at me with every intention to rip me to shreds…Except, she didn’t. Trust me, she would if she could, but her attack was foiled by the white wolf, who must’ve gotten up when he saw what she was planning. He stood before me, where Kumiho would not be able to touch me and I jumped lightly at seeing him being flanked by the boys in their wolf forms. 

The black fox growled as she attempted to throw poisonous substances from her tails at them, but Lay’s barrier easily deflected them. When she drew near, either Chen zapped her back or Chanyeol shot out a sea of flames in warning. Snarling and baring her teeth, she hopped anxiously from side to side, trying to find a way to get to me. But each time she attempted to get close, the pack prevented her to do so, the white wolf never leaving his place in front of me. 

I think that was the moment that something inside of her broke. There actually seemed to be something human in her vicious green eyes and it surprised all of us when she changed forms again. My eyes widened at seeing her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but she was far from being sad. 

“How dare you…” she whispered, her voice cold. “How dare you stand against me like this,” she continued, the pack steadily retreating to stand by me while the white wolf advanced forward to meet her. 

“Who is she?!” she suddenly yelled, pointing at me. “Who is she to you?! You would protect her, but injure me?! Was hurting me once not enough?!” she screamed as something pitiful came over her and I looked up at Kris as he put his hand protectively on my shoulder. 

“Don’t you dare enter my head without my permission!” Kumiho continued as if it felt like we were watching a very intense drama unfolding before us. “You face me like a man, you coward! Or I’ll kill you right here and now without a trace of regret.” 

You could hear a pin drop in the silence that ensued afterwards. I think I wasn’t the only one holding my breath. All this time I assumed the white wolf was just that- a mysterious wolf that appeared and disappeared at will, but it never occurred to me to think that he might have been someone like us.

I didn’t blink when the white wolf moved. I made sure to keep my eyes open to witness how he transformed. His coat of fur was gone. His tail disappeared, his paws changed into arms and legs. The only things left that were white were his clothes and his hair. 

My jaw slacked at seeing this new person, this muscular, handsome man with the softest eyes I’d ever seen. The green color pooled away each time he blinked and amber eyes replaced them. He was calm and quiet as he stood before Kumiho who was staring at him as if she was seeing a ghost. Then, as if she had confirmed whatever she was thinking, she balled her fists tightly, her eyebrows twitching into a knot. 

“So, there you are,” her voice was devoid of any emotion, but the tension was there. I was still not over the fact that the ghost wolf had been like us all this freaking time. Can anyone even keep up with all of this anymore?! Honestly, how is my brain still functioning?! 

“Back from the dead,” she mused, as goosebumps blanketed my skin. 

“From the dead? Y-you’re an actual ghost wolf?!” Tao was unable to express his shock, even taking shelter behind Sehun a bit as he didn’t seem to care that we were technically still facing the enemy. However, the tension between the two people was so thick and intense that neither of them paid any attention to him. 

What were we supposed to do? Just stand here and watch? With Kumiho distracted, now was the perfect time to head back to the fake forest and figure out how to work this dagger, but… I need to know. Who is this man? 

“Look at you, you haven’t changed a bit - Yongsun.” Kumiho spoke as she appraised him with a skeptical eyebrow raise, jaw clenching. 

Yongsun? That was his name?

“I wish I could say the same about you, Kumiho,” the voice in which he spoke was indubitably that of the wolf and I swallowed hard, trying to follow what was going on. 

“Your beauty has turned cold, your heart has turned black. You are not the Kumiho I once knew.” 

GASP! He knows her too? What? What?! I exchanged glances with Chen who stood beside me as he scratched the back of his head. 

“You choose those words to say to me after all these years?” Kumiho replied, a soft chuckle escaping . “And you have the audacity to sound disappointed, yet you didn’t stop to think why I’ve changed the way you say I have,” she stated, her fingers twirling by her side, clouds of poison accumulating there. Yongsun simply looked at her, heaving a sigh as if he was burdened by guilt. 

“I never made you this way,” he started. “I never intended to make any of you this way. I never thought that you were already poisoned by darkness before I even left.” 

Left? Wait, is he…is he who I think he is?! 

“No, of course. It’s never your fault, is it? The Great Guardian of the world never makes mistakes! He never does anything wrong!” Kumiho’s voice trembled with hidden rage. “The only thing you’ve never done, was take responsibility for your actions!” 

“Kumiho,” he started. 

“Don’t you come any closer, unless you wish to die by my hand!” she warned and he didn’t move. “You left us! You left us to defend the world you held so dearly and all this time it was because we thought that you trusted us to take care of your world, but instead, you were out looking for a replacement!” she yelled now, throwing a ball of venom his way, which dispersed when he simply lifted his hand. 

“You abandoned us!” Kumiho hissed again. “You abandoned me! And for what, hm? For them?” she gestured at us. “For that little worm who thinks she’s worth something because she holds the dagger?” 

I blinked a little awkwardly when the man’s soft eyes glanced at me. My cheeks turned red, which Kumiho interpreted in all the wrong ways. 

“She’s a little young for you, don’t you think? What did you tell her, hm? What did you do to tempt her to fight for you?” she started circling him now, but Yongsun kept perfectly still, nearly stood there submissively as if he felt he earned her treating him like this. 

“Did you whisper sweet nothings and promises into her ear? Did you tell her how she captured your heart with her smile?” she mused mockingly. He turned around to face her. 

“You know very well that my heart only belongs to one person. How could I give it to anyone else when you’re the one who’ve kept it all this time?” was his casual, sincere reply that had all of us gasping at the revelation. If this was a movie, I would’ve been choking on my popcorn ages ago. But this was far more complicated than that. We kept as quiet as possible, not moving if we didn’t have to, and barely breathing out of fear that we’d interrupt something. I couldn’t help but glance at an unconscious Mr. Kang, how he said to me that everyone had their reasons for doing what they did. Was this what he meant? Was this why Kumiho was the way she was, a heartbroken woman who felt betrayed by her lover? 

“Nothing changed in that aspect, Kumiho. Nothing from my side, at least. You have more reason now, to keep my heart, since I fear that my brother seduced you to give up yours. Once I saw the light shining from your chest, I often mistook it for the sun. But that sun has set, darkness is left. I’ve been looking to see a glimmer of a star inside of you, but there’s only shadows,” he said in regret and worry, surprised as everyone else was when she unexpectedly slapped him across the face. The sound of it rang through the chamber. 

“You were once my brightest light,” he spoke softly, sadness taking over. “I’m sorry,” he murmured gently. “I’m sorry that my actions drove you to what you’ve become today. I never meant to hurt you.” 

“Never meant-,” Kumiho bit down on her bottom lip that had started trembling and for the briefest of moments she wasn’t the evil, cold-hearted woman that was out for my head. She was just a woman. Stripped away from everything else, she was just- human. I never understood her. I’m not sure whether I understand her right now, but I suppose this made a little bit more sense now- taking away the fact that apparently her former lover is her current master’s brother… Aish, I’m gonna get a headache…

For a moment it seemed like her gaze had softened, but one look at him and she hardened. “Never meant to hurt me? You left! I thought you dead for all these years after you blatantly replaced me with- with- Argh!” 

She let out a shriek out of frustration, starting to slam against him. Yongsun took it all with stride, never punching back, not once defending himself. She slammed him against the ground and I knew that must’ve hurt, but he still didn’t do anything. 

“Fight me!” she yelled at him. “Stand up and fight, you heartless coward! You’re not supposed to be here, how dare you meddle in business that you’ve long turned your back to?! You don’t have the right to start caring! You certainly don’t have the right to expect any forgiveness for your sins!” she shouted, taking another swing, but this one, he stopped. He grabbed her wrist and slowly got to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips, from his nose. 

“I left, but I never died, Kumiho. I left, but I never disappeared. I was always here, always watching over you,” he elaborated so gently, I couldn’t believe that he felt no anger towards her whatsoever. “This is what my brother reduced me to, all those times he tried to kill me. He took pieces of my energy away, I was weakened. What guardian can defend all that he loves with half his strength?” 

“You had us! Why weren’t we enough for you?!” Kumiho wouldn’t budge. She was hurt and I doubted whether she remembered what it was like to forgive. I can’t even begin to fathom how long she’s been holding onto her grudge. Still…she must at least feel something, right? 

“You were. I didn’t think it fair on my part to leave you all the dirty work while I retired. You were with me since the beginning, I didn’t want to burden you,” he tried to explain. 

“And so you return out of guilt, for your own selfish reasons,” she stated coolly. 

“Yes. I was selfish,” he answered truthfully. “When I saw what you’ve become I could never begin to forgive myself, so how could I ask you for forgiveness? But I realized I was wrong. I never meant to make you feel like I threw you aside. I assumed you would understand, that you would know how I had to retreat because I was ashamed that I wasn’t stronger, ashamed that I wasn’t worth your support and love. I was wrong in thinking that everything would heal itself,” he gave a wan smile. “But you’re right, Kumiho,” he conceded. “I never took responsibility. Even now I pushed that responsibility onto someone else. Thought it was enough if I just helped in the background while letting others do the work. I see that was wrong of me now.” I didn’t know what to do when he looked at me, before focusing on a tense Kumiho. She was heaving as if she tried to keep herself under control. The hurt look in his eyes was heartbreaking when he tried to reach her while she jerked back as if he was made of fire. 

“Stay away from me,” she hissed. 

“Kumiho…” he sighed ruefully. “Have you really thrown your heart away? The woman I used to know was not made of anger and hate. Please, there’s no need for all this hatred. What rest has it given you? The Kumiho I know is still there, somewhere.” 

Kumiho scoffed, a single tear rolling silently from her eye. “Well then, I suppose we’re both disappointments.” 

Wow…I can’t believe this but, I think it’s really him, said Luhan in awe while the two people were at a stalemate. 

He’s the Tree, I stated more than asked. Hold on, does that mean that he knew what had to be done all this time and just didn’t tell us?! 

I think it’s a little more complicated than that, Jae, D.O. replied. Look at him. His strength is waning. I don’t think he has that much time left. 

Then why is he here? Why would he use the last remains of his energy like this? Tao wondered in confusion, though I would’ve thought that at least that much was clear. 

Because he loves her, I said, understanding what he meant when he told me he was here for atonement. 

He loves…oh… was Tao’s reply and I smiled at him. 

I’ll explain when you’re older, Taozi, I couldn’t help but tease. 

“You always have a choice, Kumiho,” Yongsun then stated. “It doesn’t have to be like this. You can walk away. Dee, and Seunghyun too. Please, don’t make an entire world suffer for my mistakes.” 

“Is that the only reason that you saved up the last bit of strength you had left? To clear your own conscience?” Kumiho scoffed. “You’re pathetic. I once believed that there was no one stronger than you. But your brother showed me your true, deceitful nature. You hide behind a mask of righteousness and light, while nothing but selfishness and deceit make up your character. You should’ve stayed dead.” A green aura showed around Kumiho as the air vibrated. “I will never forgive you,” she whispered through clenched teeth. “I hate you!” she exclaimed with such calm and suppressed rage even I felt the sting of her words.

“That’s okay,” Yongsun replied, but his breath was shaky as he still persistently tried to approach her. “My love for you never waned, and it never will. Like I said, you, who claim to be without a heart, still hold mine.” 

The tender words broke something in Kumiho, and for a split second I was convinced that she may actually listen to his words. Maybe, just maybe, she may have a change of heart. Maybe she could find some peace in them? Was it absolutely psycho of me to suddenly wish for a good outcome for my enemy, of all people? 

“You can’t save the world anymore. It’s not yours to save,” Kumiho replied and my heart actually sank. Her pain ran deep and she was beyond help. I wonder if Yongsun realized this as well. 

“Then help me instead,” he still tried to convince her. “If I can’t save the world, doesn’t mean that you can’t. There is good in you, Kumiho, I know it. Your kindness is not one that dies easily.”

“Neither was my heart until you trampled on it,” she spewed. “You want me to help you? Very well. I’ll help you,” she narrowed her eyes as she prepared an attack, but instead of throwing her orbs of poison towards him, she had unexpectedly turned around and directed the attack on me. Too stunned to react, I just stood there, watching her with gaping mouth. This would’ve been the umpteenth time I nearly died, hadn’t Yongsun stepped up in front of me to thwart her attack, which only infuriated her more. 

“Why do you keep protecting her?!” she shrieked. 

“Kumiho, enough,” he replied, calm as ever. “Enough. Aren’t you tired of all of this? The hatred is consuming you!”

“Stop talking! Shut up!” she yelled, attempting another strike, but he wouldn’t budge. “What is she to you?” she demanded to know and, honestly, I was starting to wonder as well. Up to this point I had been the only one who could see him. There had to be a reason for that, right? I mean, why only appear to me before, and not to any of the guys? 

“We are guardians, Kumiho. We guard the living. Have you forgotten that?”

“Is she important to you? This peasant girl?”

He didn’t answer her, which she took as a positive answer to her question. “More reason for me to dispose of her.” 

“K-Kumiho, stop it,” someone groaned in a hoarse voice. Mr. Kang tried to lift his head as he drowsily watched the scene in front of him. “This isn’t you. Spilling blood isn’t worth this,” he breathed as she grew more frustrated by the second. 

“You would betray me as well, Dee? Have you forgotten on which side you’re on? Mr. Yok will dispose of you if he hears you speaking like this.” 

“I know whose side I’m on, Kumiho. I’ve always known, that’s why I’m asking you not to do this, please. Let go of your hatred, your anger. You’re not alone,” Mr. Kang pleaded.

“So you are on his side, you traitor!” she spat out, while Mr. Kang desperately tried to get up, but failed to do so. 

“I’m not on his side,” he told her. “I’m hardly on Mr. Yok’s side,” he strained himself when he looked up at her. “I’m on yours. Always have been. The only reason I’m here is because of you,” he confessed which silenced her. 

“Do you see, Kumiho?” Yongsun then spoke. “You’ve hated so much you couldn’t recognize love anymore, even when it followed you around, even when it tried to heal you.” 

Kumiho inhaled for breath, her eyes watery but her expression still fierce. “I never asked to be healed,” she breathed, her eyes slowly shifting towards me. “There’s only one way I know to stop the pain I feel,” she continued, her eyes scanning over the boys who grew nervous at seeing her calculating glances before she fixed her eyes on me again. The hurt look on her face made me nervous, but at the same time I pitied her. It was the pity she read on my face that set her off. 

“I’m sorry, Kumiho. I mean every word. Please, you have a choice,” the White Imoogi tried. 

“I know,” she whispered, gazing intently at him as she didn’t fight her tears any longer, letting them roll freely over her cheeks. “I’ve made my choice.” When she stepped forward, she changed back to a fox, leaping towards me with her jaws opened. 

“Kumiho- no!”

I didn’t know what happened. It went too fast. The one moment I’m staring into Death’s glistening rows of teeth, the next, Death was gone, and so was Kumiho. 

All I heard was the faint whimpering of a creature, and when I followed the sound, I caught sight of a black snake’s tail slowly changing into a human who had his poisonous fangs latched onto Kumiho’s neck. The woman twitched, her eyes wide with shock and confusion when Mr. Yok pulled away, wiping the blood from his chin, still holding her up. 

Blood flowed freely from her creamy neck, ugly black roots slowly traveling over her veins, leaving horrid trails on her skin. 

Where did he even come from? I never saw him enter the chamber, but there he was, looking at Kumiho as the woman was gasping for air. He brushed her hair from her face, wiped the tears from her eyes and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. 

“There, there, my little fox. Oh, don’t look at me like that,” he mused. “A snake remains a snake, after all. I am truly sorry, my little fox, that you, of all creatures, was fooled twice by two brothers. I didn’t want this. You should know that, but I couldn’t have you kill what my dear brother so desperately tried to protect. You understand,” he spoke soothingly, before turning to look at us. “Now then, how shall we proceed?”