Discoveries Aren't Always for Yourself

Walking down the trail and following his nose, he looked for Heechul. Even though his brother could be rash he was sure he hadn’t just up and vanished. Stopping at a nearby body of water and sniffing. “He’s definitely been here…” He said, ear flicking to the side as he heard a noise.

Pulling his robe around him better, he smiled and headed in that direction, bare feet padding softly against the grass.

He made his way through the forest and smiled when he picked up Heechul’s scent once more. What he didn’t expect was to find the other butt naked and kneeling by a foal with his robe wrapped around the animal.

“Heechul?” Sungmin whispered, startling the other who put his finger up to shush him. He motioned him over soon after and let him kneel down with him. “Sorry for the view. I honestly was going to go home but I found this foal. She’s sick I can’t leave her but I can’t carry her by myself. Help me will you. I’m sure Kyu would let me help her.” Heechul said and Sungmin was taken aback. He could tell from this distance why Heechul had left, his heat, but at the sight of the distressed foal it seemed that Heechul was able to push it to the back of his mind.

“I’ll help you get her back to the house but then you need to get dressed and have a hot bath so you don’t get sick. C’mon, get up and help me.” Sungmin said standing and encouraging the foal onto her feet.

Heechul stood and helped the foal as well and the two of them picked her up, carrying her the short walk back to the house. “Yah someone open the door!” Sungmin shouted, kicking it with his foot. When it opened they walked inside while Ryeowook gaped at the fact they just walked a wild horse into the house.

“Kyu can you send word to the castle that we need supplies? Please? I gotta help her.” Heechul begged, running to his room to get another robe so as to not scar anyone in the room further than he already had.

“It looks like it’s pretty bad off, want me to go there myself?” Donghae asked Kyuhyun, taking a look at the foal and sighing when it didn’t react as much as it should have. “Tell him to expect the worst.” He said and headed out to the castle.

Ryeowook petted the horse’s head and smiled as Kyuhyun patted his shoulder. “Don’t get attached.” He mumbled as Heechul came back into the room. “I know her chances are slim but I couldn’t leave her.” He spoke, stroking her head.

Ryeowook smiled and got up from the floor. “I’ll make a blanket area for her just in case.” He spoke.

………

It took Donghae nearly half a day to return, having gotten his horse from the stables on his way back. He got off the stallion and tied him, making sure he could get to grass to eat. He headed inside to give the supplies to Heechul.

Once inside, however, he dropped the supplies at his feet. He’d been about to hand them to Heechul when he spotted Ryeowook and Kyuhyun on the makeshift couch sharing a kiss. He turned and helped Heechul pick up the supplies and smiled half-heartedly.

Heechul smiled and caressed Donghae’s cheek. “You and I need to talk. As soon as I feed her and get her warmed up I’ll be in the room and Sungmin will not need to be in there.” He said, standing and going to the fire to warm the horse milk up a bit.

After seeing to it that she was fed and covering her up to sleep Heechul glared at Kyuhyun and Ryeowook. “What happened to one night stand? Yah break it up.” He said shoving Ryeowook off the couch before going to his room and pushing Sungmin out.

Sungmin blinked, tongue stuck out with wide eyes, having been in the process of bathing himself in his lion form when he was thrown out. Ryeowook giggled and Kyuhyun blinked. “I pity your future lover.” Was all he said and Sungmin huffed. ~Better than wasting water.~ He thought.

……….

Inside, Heechul sat down on the bed where Donghae waited and crossed his legs indian style. “I’m a very observant person Donghae… I know you’re in love with Ryeowook. Just like I know Ryeowook is in love with Kyu and Kyu is not in love with Ryeowook. The unfortunate thing is that he doesn’t have eyes for you in any other way than friendship. I suggest you leave. I’m leaving after the foal is alright… the thing is Donghae… I know what path I’m meant to lead. I can’t lead yours for you but it’s not here. Trust me.” Heechul said, running his fingers through Donghae’s hair as he spoke.

Donghae sighed. It was painful hearing the truth but Heechul had always been the one he went to with his troubles since the other was always right with these things. “So you don’t think sticking around will help?” He asked, almost brokenly.

“No I’m afraid not… listen.” Heechul said and grasped Donghae’s chin. “I know you’re Kyu’s friend but you have someone out there for you. I know it will be hard but I’ll be around if you need me.” He said.

Donghae smiled. “Thanks Heechul…. I’ll think about it for a while. Either way, I have to tell him how I feel before I decide.”

……………

Several weeks passed by quickly, with everyone getting into the swing of things at their new home. Ryeowook had awoken to the foal chewing his hair the day after she arrived and now she stayed outside during the day.

Snow had settled on the ground to become a constant sight and Ryeowook loved it, though, he and Kyuhyun had fought and now Ryeowook slept in the room alone while Sungmin roomed with Kyuhyun.

Several nights he would cry himself to sleep but he couldn’t exactly blame Kyuhyun for dumping him. He wasn’t even dumped really. He was never really dating the other to begin with.

Heechul stood in the room that Ryeowook occupied, hand on his hip and tail swaying. “You knew this would happen when you slept with him. I’m heading out today. I came to say goodbye. I’m going back to the castle. Take care of my Minnie, okay?” He said and Ryeowook smiled. Heechul’s words might have seemed harsh but he knew that was the elder’s way of saying he cared about him. “Alright, Heechul Hyung. It hasn’t been that long since Donghae left, are you sure you can’t stay a little longer?” Ryeowook asked.

Heechul smiled and hugged the smaller boy as he sat on the bed. “Just be strong. Hyung will check up on you once in a while.” He whispered, pecking Ryeowook’s temple before grabbing his bag and heading out the door. He had already said his goodbyes to Kyuhyun privately and he didn’t think he could bare to say it to his brother, even though he was only a couple miles away.

Looking at the foal as he left, Heechul hugged her and smiled as she nipped at his hair. Reaching around, he undid the rope that tied her and let it drop from his hands. “You can go or come with me, your choice.” He murmured, shifting to his fur, a darker colored lion with two different eye colors, and took off running. A whinny was heard and he could hear hooves. One more horse at the stables couldn’t hurt.

Ryeowook watched him leave from the window and smiled a bit. “So… it’s just me, Kyu, and Sungmin.” He sighed, turning to look at the door that the two mentioned were hiding behind.

………..

“Kyuhyun, I’m going to miss him.” Sungmin said, curled up on the bed while Kyuhyun sat at a desk and wrote. “I know, I will too… he was one of my closest friends.” Kyuhyun said without looking up. “Isn’t it your birthday tomorrow?” He added, turning to look at Sungmin. “Yeah… Kyu I should tell you something.” Sungmin hesitated, making Kyuhyun give him his full attention.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to ask him, Sungmin continued. “Heechul is really, and I mean really good at telling people’s relationships. He’s really observant. He told me that you imprinted on me.” Sungmin finally admitted.

Kyuhyun blinked at him and for a moment Sungmin had no idea what to expect. “I know. I talked to him the night after I slept with Ryeowook…. See Sungmin, I’m far from an idiot. I knew that even though I wasn’t in love with him the way he was with me, I shouldn’t feel… guilty. So I asked him what was going on and he told me. To be honest I’m not really surprised.” Kyuhyhun said and Sungmin frowned, not expecting that.

“So you knew… all this time?” He asked and Kyuhyun sighed, standing and walking towards him, taking a seat beside him on the mattress. “I did. I didn’t want to just outright say it because let’s face it, it’s odd… I mean, you’re not even human.” He whispered.

Sungmin jumped up, glaring at him. “Is that all you can think of?! That I’m not human?! Even though I stand before you as one!” He snarled, misinterpreting Kyuhyun’s words.

The younger one stood and smiled at him, taking his wrist and lacing his fingers with Sungmin’s, looking at them. “You and I both know that’s not what I meant. I don’t deserve such a proud… beautiful beast to love. No, you’re not human, yet, despite the claws, our fingers match perfectly.” He spoke, running his hands over the other’s fingers.

Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was 11:59PM. Leaning in, he stopped, lips a breadth away from Sungmin’s own, when the blonde turned his head, his newly re-grown hair brushing Kyuhyun’s nose as he did.

Sungmin looked at him through guarded eyes. “I’m not ready yet.” He whispered, disentangling himself from Kyuhyun’s grasp and running from the room and soon after, the house. Kyuhyun looked up, eyes locking onto Ryeowook’s, the older wearing nothing but a bed sheet wrapped about his form.