Minseok was ready for the question this time. He gulped hard hoping things go his way, but before he let them know about his situation, he needed to confirm something. "I... So you guys aren't smugglers?"

Sehun laughed obnoxiously, "I really like him!"

Jongdae answered after every one had stopped laughing, even kyungsoo showed a sliver of a smile. "No! What made you think we were?"

"Um.. Well your house is so pretty and it's covered with gems and is in the middle of a forest...."

They laughed again, "we are dwarves, kid. We mine for gems and gold. What did you expect?"

Minseok looked down shyly, "I guess I didn't think about that... I am.... I didn't mean to come here. I was running away from someone. "

At once all mirth died down. Chanyeol asked, "who?"

"It's just that someone is trying to kill me and I need shelter. He is too strong and I can't fight him and I can't go back home yet.... Will you be so kind as to let me stay here?" Minseok asked, mentally slapping himself at his smoothness before hurriedly adding, "I won't be a burden, I promise!"

Yixing put his hand on Minseok's shoulder. He was dressed now due to the silent urging by kyungsoo. "We will let you stay. Don't worry about being a burden, we love having guests. Not many come by since, like you said, we are in the middle of the forest. And we can't look away when someone is in need." 

Minseok looked at everyone's faces to see if they agreed. None seemed to have a problem with it.

Just then his stomach growled loudly again and they all laughed.

"Come on kid, let's feed you before your stomach revolts against you." Sehun said with a poker face, but minseok could see the kindness in his eyes. Marshmallow indeed!

---x---

Tao ran, trying to track Minseok. His heart was thundering, and his eyes were full of tears. He was afraid that something really did happen to minseok. How was he going to face Kris and Suho now? He lost their child, he lost his goose! 

His heart was gripped with fear as he tracked signs that indicated minseok had passed by there. It was hard even for an expert like him. Minseok had already been taught in the arts of concealing his tracks and the kid was good to be able to give Tao such a hard time.

Tao sighed, it was going to be a long search and he couldn't rest since the coming rain was going to wash away the tracks.

---x---

Minseok's maid finally cornered Luhan and whispered to him that she had important information about minseok.

Luhan followed her to minseok's room.

"Did you get the message minseok sent?"

"Yeah... Is everything OK with you? You seem on edge."

"Why haven't you done anything then? Where is he? He was supposed to meet you. You were supposed to have taken him back to your kingdom with you. Where is he? He left to meet