Sorry about this short update. I injured my arm and will be taking a break from writing longer chapters for a while. Thanks for reading!

--------

Soojin looked behind her, just as the deadly hail of arrows rained down on Jimin. He reeled back as arrows sprouted from every point on his body, so much so that he looked like a pin cushion. Time seemed to slow as he stumbled and raised his hand. It looked like he was reaching for the heavens as he tumbled, almost gracefully, to the ground. Soojin willed him to get up—this couldn’t be happening, he wasn’t dead. But he lay still and silent and she knew he had given up his life for theirs.

“Soojin, focus! We need to get away from here!” Krystal growled from beside her. 

Soojin ground her teeth and tore her eyes away from Jimin’s prone body. She concentrated on urging her steed faster and faster, trying to put as much distance between her and the pursuit she knew was coming. Their horses would soon tire out from carrying double the weight, with Moonbyul and Amber. But Soyeon would have extra horses with her, as long as they could rendezvous with her at the clearing.

Behind her, Moonbyul groaned and unwittingly wrapped her arm tighter around Soojin’s waist. Soojin looked down ruefully at the fallen soldier. She didn’t mean to hit Moonbyul so hard but the way Moonbyul struggled to reach Jimin necessitated the use of force. Soojin didn’t know why she saved Moonbyul, she’d only be dead weight in her condition. But something about how she fought tooth and nail to try to protect Jimin made Soojin’s heart soften.

Krystal and Soojin rode silently out of the city. They entered the forest, the moonlight strea