At the end of a raging storm, the sun would return to claim its reign. Such was the hope people held on to during miserable times. The house provided physical shelter, but the restlessness in their heart continued an outpouring as great as the upheaval outside, left to wonder when the storm would end.   Tiny drizzles of raindrop morphed into sharp elements of hail and ice shards, piercing one’s skin in a foreign manner. The Stygian nightsky painted a picture of death, deluding onlookers through a sporadic mirage of a heavenly white glow that illuminated for brief seconds only to hear the nocturne of disturbing roar bellow afterwards.   Donghyun whimpered at the monstrous noise, wrapping his trembling arms around Hyunmi’s waist to seek solace. “I’m scared.”   Despite her worries regarding her brother’s whereabout, she cherished the little boy as her own son and needed to calm him. Hyunmi wrapped her fingers around Donghyun’s and knelt down at his eye level, prepared to spin the terrifying storm into a delightful tale.   “You may fear the rain and thunder for now, but you musn’t forget the plants and crops outside are enjoying their rain bath. Frightening phenomenons may bring positive outcomes beyond our understanding.”   Donghyun blinked his tears away. “What about the thunder? Do plants take thunder baths as well?”   Woohyun chuckled at the little boy’s curiosity and knelt down beside Hyunmi to address him. “Nay, the thunder is needed to part the dark sky with its b light.”   “But we have the moon and stars for that,” Donghyun reasoned.   “Why, what a bright young man you are! The thunder is a friend to the moon and stars because they are different, yet serve the same purpose,” Woohyun said, tousling the little boy’s hair affectionately. “You are the smartest and bravest man I know. Chin up, I have a task for you.”   His words showered Donghyun with a tremendous sense of pride. He stood upright and clicked his heels together like a soldier at rest. “What is it, Mr. Nam?”   “I require you to stay and watch the house during my absence as I embark through the storm to find Dongwoo. Can I trust you with this important task, Donghyun?”   “Certainly!” Donghyun saluted firmly, trying to conceal his trembling fingers. Words of confidence surpassed his fears, igniting a willpower to be brave.   Woohyun returned to his feet, offering a hand to Hyunmi to follow his movements. Despite her atypical silence, he deciphered her worries and gratitude through the gaze in her disparate eyes.   “Do not worry about me.” He always reserved a softer and gentler tone when addressing her. His fingers caressed the side of her face, yearning to remove her worries with a small kiss against her hands, her cheeks, or her lips. He heaved a breath, feeling the falter in his restraints had he stared at her a second longer. “I shall find your brother and return home.”   The moment he turned to leave, Hyunmi hooked her finger with his. The small move elicited a great uproar in his heart. He gazed at their fingers before looking up to meet her chocolate brown eyes; the color of earth, comfort, and home.   “Be careful,” she said, pressing her lips together to prevent herself from bellowing a longer parting sentence. She let go of his hand, watching his brilliant smile of assurance before he disappeared into the darkness of the night.   “Mr. Nam may require our assistance,” Daeyeol spoke, staring at the rest who did not hesitate joining the search party.   “Let me join,” Jineul volunteered, but before she set foot outside the house, Jangjun held her back.   “Nay, you will remain here,” he commanded.   “Nobody has the authority to order me around. Move aside! I shall go and find Dongwoo myself. You lousy good for nothing rats wouldn’t be able to carry this simple task,” she said, pushing Jangjun aside.   “You need to cease your mannish ways. You are a girl, Jineul. We wouldn’t forgive ourselves if something were to overcome you,” Jangjun continued arguing.   “Indeed,” Daeyeol nodded, using his tall frame to block Jineul’s path. “You are part of our family, and that likens you to a sister now. You must stay here with mother and watch over her instead.”   His words managed to simmer through Jineul’s resolve, loosening the tension in her shoulder. Despite her tendency to disagree, she failed to reject compassionate words. For once, the pariah within her managed to receive a sense of belonging she never had the privilege of experiencing. The stubborn warrior within her melted.   “Please return home safely,” Hyunmi told the boys, her eyes transfixed until they disappeared from her sight. Only Joochan, Donghyun, and Sungjong remained in the company of the two ladies.   “You are a coward!” Jineul suddenly addressed Sungjong who had been observing everything in silence.   “What?”   “You are a man, yet your wealthy bum decides to bask in the comfort of a warm house, devoid of any noble intention to rescue a man. I have never seen anyone more selfish than you are!” She spat out at him, speaking with such derision to ensue a fight. Jineul needed an outlet to minister her frustrations on, and the poor young man became her victim.   “Mind your language, filthy harlot. I rescued you from the brothel, and defied my brother by remaining here,” Sungjong countered.   “I heard the tale myself and beg to differ. You didn’t rescue me because of your benevolent heart; you rescued me because you fear guilt chasing after you. You did not remain here to defy your brother, you fear returning to his presence! Do not hide behind a pretentious nobility, for you possess none of it, dratted boy.”   Sungjong’s lips twitched to retaliate a response, his hands clenching into a fist. How dare the lowly ranked harlot insult him without pertaining knowledge of his situation? Yet, deep within, he knew she hadn’t been far off from the truth.   “Your quarrell matches the thunderous atmosphere outside, both equally noisy,” Joochan spoke.   How unusual it was for him to take up the pacifist role that had belonged to Hyunmi. Not once had she halted the arguments, having detached herself from reality when her concern lied in the matters outside. Joochan stayed at home to safeguard all of them, knowing their beloved mother had other matters in her mind.   Donghyun released Hyunmi’s hand, stepping closer toward the door that separated him from the rainstorm outside. A brave man would not remain in hiding and would daringly choose to rescue another amidst the storm, as Jineul said.   Perhaps, he was not the bravest after all.   ***   “Mr. Nam, I suggest we split up in pairs,” Daeyeol spoke as they caught up to the man heading towards the forest.   “Nay, return to the house at once, I beseech you. The search for Dongwoo is a one man’s task, and I shall oblige it,” Woohyun uttered, adjusted his sight to the blinding surrounding. The pouring rain started to deteriorate their stamina and blur their vision from continuing.   “Are you always this arrogant? Your wealth and money won’t aid you in finding a missing person,” Youngtaek sneered aversely. The solution to a rich man’s problem always appeared in the form of money, which bore no value in this dire situation.   “That was not my intention. I do not wish for the weather to harm you,” Woohyun explained.   “Your intention is noble, however, you musn’t forget Dongwoo is a family to us as he is to you,” Daeyeol reminded.   “A collective group effort yields better result than an individual man’s striving,” Sungyoon added, missing the slowing pace in Woohyun’s steps who reluctantly surrendered to this new idea. “Now Jangjun, where do you suppose Dongwoo would be at?”   “I wager he has run into the forest, believing the trees could shield him from the storm,” Jangjun answered, bearing better understanding of the elder he had religiously cared for. “My greatest fear lies in the debacle of his sanity. If his mental disturbances were to resurface, I dread knowing what will become of him in this storm.”   His heed of warning became a grim reminder to them. None said a word, but an unsettling panic rushed over their system, syncing their pace to quicken without a verbal command.   The enormous forest was a foreign territory to those who had never trespassed its boundary. Every tree took on a monogamous shape, bearing no individual characteristic to distinguish it from one another.   During their walk, they heard occasional noises of a rusty object swishing against a rough surface. Turning around, they beheld Youngtaek moving his arms in front of the tree trunks, each movement accompanied by the swishing chime.   “Youngtaek, why do you wield a knife?” Daeyeol questioned with wide eyed surprise. The darkness didn’t conceal the sharp metal tip of Youngtaek’s small knife.   “It is a means of protection against the potential ambush from any wild beast roaming around this area. However, I realize they make excellent indicators of our location. With this, we wouldn’t lose our way in