It was still dark by the time Jongin stirred awake; he noticed that everyone was still fast asleep. There wasn’t a single difference from the hour that he fell asleep, the forest was still engulfed in darkness and the lone figure of Soojung was still by the fire. Sleep still in his eyes, he didn’t even make an effort to stay a minute longer. Just like that, he fell back into deep slumber as quickly as he watched the fire illuminate Soojung’s breathtaking features.

o O o

The faint warmth of the sunrise signaled Soojung of the rise of a new day and Soojung’s eyes caught the subtle rays of sunlight peeking through the trees. “Hyung.” Soojung said, gently shaking the sleeping boy who stirred awake with a groan. “Morning already?” Soojung let the older wake up the Kim hunters as she slumped over her things to gather them.

“Joonmyun hyung, wake up hyung.” Taemin shook the lad’s body for him to wake up. After successfully having awoken up Joonmyun, the rest of the hunters were next.

Soojung outstretched her arm and pointed to a direction hidden in the trees. “North.” Casually, she walked over to said direction, bending over several times to dodge the branches.

Taemin followed giddily behind her, occasionally skipping along the visibly large roots like a child. Minseok’s head tilted to the side as he observed the two siblings; hardly even the same in any possible gesture.

“Minseok hyung, what’s wrong?” Jongdae had noticed the look on the elder’s face and couldn’t help but ask. Minseok shook his head in reply, motioning Jongdae not to worry even though Jongdae couldn’t help but do the exact opposite.

“He’s quiet.” Jongin said to Taemin above a whisper, starring at Soojung’s back. Not wanting to join the res of the party, Soojung had decided it would prove to be tons more profitable for her sake if she were to walk ahead. “Soomin’s nice once you get to know him.” Taemin defended. “He likes to put others before himself and it could get really troublesome, that guy.”

Jongin grew silent again, keeping a steady pace with Taemin yet his eyes can’t seem to escape the person ahead.

Soojung stopped suddenly, eyes piercing to something at her right. Thieves, she notices, waiting for an ambush. She stood unmoving, her gaze practically burning at the thieves who didn’t seem to notice her presence. Her unmoving body waited for the party to catch up and when they did their eyes followed hers to the thieves.

Jongin took a step forward and it triggered Taemin to stop him protectively. The clopping of horses became louder and louder, signaling the thieves to attack and Soojung to rush towards them.

“This is going to be fun.” Taemin smirked and sprinted behind the younger one. Taking the knife from its pouch, she sliced a nearby thief’s arm and sprinted at the carriage. Jongin gaped at the two’s agility, almost forgetting the situation at hand and it was only when Minseok patted his back that he realized he had to go help fend off the thieves in the honorary name of the Kim hunters.

Soojung couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the passenger who was held captive. “Jinri!” Soojung kicked the thief who was holding Jinri captive in the stomach and successfully knocked him out. Jinri nearly forgot how to speak, she couldn't believe what she had just seen. Soojung kicked another thief who had crept up behind the defenseless Jinri before turning to carry Jinri on her back despite Jinri’s taller build. “Let me off!” Jinri ordered, cautious regarding her own reputation.

Taken back, Soojung gave her a challenging glare. “You want to die, woman?” she deadpanned making Jinri turn quiet. With Jinri on her back, Soojung swiftly carried her to a safer spot hidden beneath the trees. “Stay here.” Soojung ordered, sitting Jinri down against a tree trunk. “Don’t move and don’t make a sound, I’ll be back.”

Jinri made sure not to utter another word and stayed in there as Soojung ran back to the battlefield.

Soojung dodged a number of blades before meeting eyes with the driver who had been caught up in the mess. “Come with me,” Soojung offered an outstretched hand and a trusting smile. The man reached for Soojung’s hand only to be stabbed from the back when their fingers had touched.

Bloodshot eyes met Soojung’s widened ones. One took a large leap forward and the latter took two small steps back, only getting away with a long graze upon her arm.

“Soomin!” Jongin pulled the thief away, knocking him against the carriage.

Soojung trembled; both hands tainted by the dark, horrible splash of red.