Chapter 17

Redemption

As more time passed Beomgyu still kept seeing Soobin every few weeks or so, mostly when he was alone but sometimes it was when he wallowed in his own thoughts.

There were times where he thought he wasn't doing enough, but Youngtaek was there to remind him that he was fine, he was doing more than enough with him and with Taehyun and Heeseung.

"It's okay," reassured Youngtaek as he sat beside Beomgyu who was looking rather depressed. "You're fine, we're all here," he added.

"I know," replied Beomgyu as he closed his eyes. "Sometimes I'm just not feeling it," he added. "I'm here, you're not going to force me away that easily," Youngtaek said with a huff.

"Stubborn fox," grumbled Beomgyu. "Kid," Youngtaek retorted with a snort, earning a laugh from Beomgyu. Youngtaek grinned when he heard the laugh, patting Beomgyu on the shoulder before getting up.

"Come on, I'm hungry," whined Youngtaek as his stomach growled. "You and your neverending hunger," commented Beomgyu as he opened his eyes, getting up and following Youngtaek to the nearest foodstand.

 

~



"Hungry again?" Called a familiar voice as Jay walked over with Niki. "I can't help my stomach okay?" Whined Youngtaek as he went to pay for his food, taking the sandwich from the vendor and going to sit down next to Beomgyu.

"It's nice to be here when it's not cold for once," remarked Niki as he and Jay stopped and stood in front of Beomgyu and Youngtaek.

"Visiting again?" Asked Beomgyu as he looked up at Jay. "For the moment, it's almost August," hummed Jay. "Ah, right, Kai's birthday is soon," remarked Beomgyu.

"How's my brother doing? He's not causing you guys trouble is he?" Asked Niki. "Nah, Taehyun's fine with him," replied Beomgyu as he shrugged. "They should be going to the fort with us soon," he added.

"Jungwon was wondering when you guys were coming back for gator hunting season," added Jay as he shrugged. "Probably won't be this year, depends on when we can make it over," replied Beomgyu as he shrugged. "Heeseung will probably make it, Taehyun wanted to try it this year," he added.

"Does Taehyun still change into that big wolf?" Asked Niki. "Only when hunting, why?" Asked Beomgyu. "That's cool," hummed Niki. "I'd ask him to show me what it looks like but from what I heard it's a painful change," he added. "Heeseung can vouche for that, and so can I," said Beomgyu as he shrugged. "Taehyun and his wolf have a pretty decent relationship though, from what I hear," he added.

"That's good," commented Niki. "Is what's his name going to be there? Yeonjun?" He asked. "I don't know," came the answer as Beomgyu shrugged his shoulders. "He hasn't been back this way since last winter, but he did say he'd try and make it," he added.

 

~



It took some time before they could head back towards Beomgyu's old home town but they did end up making it just days before Kai's birthday. Junhan had found a photo of Beomgyu and Kai with Kai sitting in a chair and Beomgyu standing behind him with his hands on Kai's shoulders so they were going to use that as a keepsake at the cross for the next few days before they decided to tear down the fort for good.

After celebrations they weren't coming back, everyone needing to finally move on from this place. Beomgyu just hoped that by doing this, it would be the final time he'd see Soobin.

Youngtaek was doing all he could to distract Beomgyu, though even that couldn't be enough. Taehyun would be back soon with Heeseung, but for the time being Youngtaek, Niki and Jay distracted him.

 

~



"Is he usually like this?" Asked Niki as Beomgyu and Jay were fishing in the river nearby. "I haven't seen him like this in a long time," replied Youngtaek as he sighed. "Is Soobin bothering him?" Asked Niki. "I don't know," replied Youngtaek as he shrugged. "It could also be partly because of how close it is to Kai's birthday," he added. "I don't remember if he was like this last year to be honest with you," he explained. "Hm," hummed Niki.
 

~



"Are you okay?" Asked Jay. "I'll be fine," replied Beomgyu as he reeled in a fish. "It's just a hard time right now," he mumbled. "You don't need to hide anything from me you know," reassured Jay. "It's nothing, really," reassured Beomgyu.

"Can you get the fish ready for dinner? I need to hunt," said Beomgyu as he reeled in the last fish and put it in the bucket before hooking the hook back onto the rod. "Sure," hummed Jay as he walked over with his bucket after hooking the hook onto the fishing rod. He took Beomgyu's fishingrod from him and went to pick up the other bucket, bringing everything back to the fort and the firepit. Beomgyu turned, sprinting off into the forest to hunt.

"Did you get anything out of him?" Asked Niki. "No," sighed Jay as he went to put the buckets down in front of Niki and Youngtaek who immediately went to skin and prepare the fish for frying. "I think this is something that Taehyun and Heeseung can only fix," he explained. "They should be here soon right?" Asked Youngtaek. "It seems like it," replied Jay as he shrugged, turning and going to put the fishingrods into the fort, leaning them against the wall before leaving the fort and closing the door behind him.

 

~



Beomgyu looked ahead of him, spying the two large wolves that belonged to Taehyun and Heeseung respectively, smirking as they both bow their heads in greeting. "Let's hunt then?" Asked Beomgyu. The two wolves nod and Beomgyu rushed off to hunt, Heeseung and Taehyun following after him.

They were joined by the other members of Gunil's old coven, everyone spreading out and going their own way to hunt once they greeted each other.

It took an hour before everyone appeared back at the fort, Heeseung, Beomgyu and Taehyun coming back last since Taehyun and Heeseung had to change back and get their clothes back on. By that time Yeonjun had come over, helping with the fish frying.

"You made it," called Beomgyu as he walked over to the firepit. "I had some time off, I was able to use it," explained Yeonjun as he shrugged. "Besides, I couldn't just let you guys take down the fort without me," he added.

"We should do a group photo with the fort in the background," chimed in Junhan. "With you, Beomgyu, and Taehyun first," he added. "Then we can make one giant group photo again," he explained. "We can do that yeah," hummed Beomgyu. "Also we should get a photo of Soobin," he added. "It is his and Taehyun's fort first," he added.

"You don't have to," protested Taehyun. "Nah, it's fine," explained Beomgyu. "You guys made the fort first," he added. "It's only right to have you two get the picture first," he explained. "Do you have a picture?" He asked. "I do, I think," answered Taehyun as he went to see what he could find in his pack. "I got one," chimed in Yeonjun as he dug through his bag to get the picture. "Here," he said, handing a picture to Taehyun who walked over and took a look at it.

 

~



A few days later Kai's birthday had passed and everyone had fun celebrating it. The pictures were taken, and Yeonjun was taken back home with Junhan who was switching with Keonhee and Jangjun while they had headed back west to visit some friends.

Taehyun had taken off the tarp before Yeonjun left, letting him take the tarp with him as a keepsake before the rest of Gunil's coven left, having needed to head back to wherever they needed to go.

"God, I'm going to miss this place," remarked Taehyun as it was just him, Beomgyu, Youngtaek, Heeseung, Jay and Niki left. "It was only right to tear it down though, right?" Asked Beomgyu. "We weren't coming back here, and it wasn't being used anyway," he added.

"Is Soobin here?" Asked Heeseung as he turned to Beomgyu. Beomgyu looked towards the river, seeing Soobin walk over from the riverbank. "He is now," responded Beomgyu as he turned back to the fort.

"Are you ready for this?" Asked Taehyun as he looked at Beomgyu. Beomgyu took a deep breath, nodding. "I'm as ready as ever," he breathed, slumping his shoulders as he took the first step, walking up to the fort and taking apart the door. The others soon joined in, breaking down the fort one by one and bringing it to the fire pit to make one last giant bonfire.

Beomgyu could feel two sets of eyes on him, and knew Kai was now here.

"You're tearing down the last of the good memories you have of this place," remarked Kai as he followed Beomgyu around. "Just to what? Move on?" Asked Soobin as he shook his head. "You won't be able to move on from something like this," he added.

"Gyu," called Heeseung as he noticed Beomgyu stop what he was doing. "It's okay," he reassured, walking over and putting his hands on his shoulders. "We're here okay?" He asked. "You need to do this, you know we won't be able to come back here," he added. "Right," sighed out Beomgyu as he closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "I'm okay, we're okay," he chanted, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes and moving his head to look at Heeseung.

Heeseung watched him with a raised eyebrow, questions visible in his eyes. "They're gone, for now," huffed Beomgyu as he noticed it being silent. "Good," responded Heeseung. "Come on, you can light the fire," he added, moving back towards the fire pit where the others were throwing the last pieces of the fort into the pit.

Youngtaek handed Beomgyu his lighter and a piece of bark, and Beomgyu lit the piece on fire before throwing it into the pit and watching as the fire grew.

The silence was deafening, but Beomgyu was glad for it as he sat down in front of the pit, sighing in resignation as he felt someone put their hand on his shoulder.

 

~



"So where are you going next?" Asked Beomgyu as he turned to Heeseung and Taehyun. "We're headed back to the states with Jay and Niki," replied Heeseung as he shrugged. "It's almost gator hunting season," chimed in Jay as he shrugged. "Jungwon needs us back there, as Jaehwan can't hunt this year," he added. "So you two are having a go at it huh?" Asked Beomgyu as he turned to Taehyun.

"I honestly wanted to see what all the fuss was about," Taehyun replied with a shrug. "Have fun," Beomgyu said with a chuckle.

"Where are you going?" Asked Taehyun. "I'm on this side of Russia for the next few months," responded Beomgyu. "And I guess I'm with you," chimed in Youngtaek.

"Back where we started huh?" Asked Beomgyu. "It seems so," hummed Youngtaek.

"Well," started Taehyun once the fire was burned out. "We'll head on now," he added. "Keep in touch will you?" He asked. "Sure," replied Beomgyu as he nodded. "We'll do our best to keep in touch also," chimed in Heeseung before he left with Taehyun.

 

~



Beomgyu stood before the cross for the last time, picking up the picture they were using for both Soobin and Kai and putting it in his pocket.

"Goodbye you two," he whispered into the air, putting a hand on the cross before turning around to face Youngtaek who tried to give a reassuring smile to him. "Are you ready?" Asked Youngtaek. Beomgyu nodded. "Let's go," he said, turning and sprinting off, Youngtaek following after him.

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akirasanogame
Epilogue. That's the end! I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it :D

Also the next story has already been posted, go read it after reading this one~!

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luminous_nana #1
Excuse me, can I translate your story into Vietnamese?
dubustan
#2
Congrats on winning the bid!