Kyungsoo felt something was wrong off since the time they entered the cave. He totally admit to himself that even if he was a hybrid, he is still affected by damp places and cannot be expose for long to water since it can still weaken his power. Same as iron that is poisonous to many fae and fairies but to him.. he can touch it, yet, if he got hit or cut his skin by it would be fatal to him. Plus, his body is usually in an abnormal situation whenever it is a day before his birthday since he is a hybrid wherein his fae side continue to get stronger, as well as his vampire side. He was informed that when he matures enough, he can choose which race he can eliminate or prefer with a unique ceremenony but he decided to be always in between. He doesn't want to leave his fae side because it reminded him of his mother's side and his vampire side which determines that his brother and friend accepts him as who he is. Call him greedy but he just love the way he is and never want to change that, for sure. Even the Baekhyun and the others respect his decision about that but there are times when the conflicts are stronger than the usual which makes his body irritated and throbbing of his chest or body becomes great that he needs a complete rest. 

He search for the highest tree that can give him a nice view of their surroundings as he search for clues. He saw plenty trees and lakes just as what he recalls on the book as he navigates the area. 

It took him few minutes when he felt dizziness again creeping at his system with a loud thumping of his heart making him clench it tightly. That is when he move to another branch which he nearly grasp when he felt headache this time.

"What the hell?" He groans and looks at another clue. 

When he saw the correct signs which he can recalls. He quickly turns around but the branch twitch making him loss his footing as he fell. Good thing Baekbeom was there to catch him before he falls further.

"You okay?" He saw Baekbeom holding him with bridal style as they settle in one branch.

" Y..yeah. I just lost some footing there. I'm okay know, ummm.... thanks." Kyungsoo answers him quickly retracting from the other male.

"I think you need to rest since you've been awake since yesterday." Baekbeom calmly suggest to him.

"That can wait later since we are near our destination. Look over there!" Kyungsoo points to he lake which is shaped in perfect circle. 

We need to pass that lake then we should see a symbol of a woman with a pail then that is where the flower can be found." He said without looking at the person since vampires are very sensitive to their surrounding and smell a hint of uneasiness around them.

"Okay. I guess we need to tell the others down. You sure you're okay? You look pale...I mean.. you're unusually pale than your skin color." The vampire sense something is wrong with him.

"I'm fine.... " His words are strong but his action failed him when he let's go of the others grip causing him to tilt side wards as Baekbeom holds him again. 

"You don't need to pretend. I'm not gonna taunt you or what-so-ever. Is it because of your birthday?" Kyungsoo's eyes become wider clearly indicating the other was right.

"I heard some rare hybrids are having a hard time in their body whenever their birthday comes since their races clash. Well, not when they are half humans though so I guess that happens to you too." Baekbeom looks at Kyungsoo who looks down.

"Yeah.... a lot but mine started when we are caged. A little too early than usual." He sigh at his confession.

" Why didn't you tell them? I guess if they know that, they will take consideration and make the search after your body is okay." Baekbeom tried to knock some sense out of him but what can he do? They are already here. 

"It's fine. I also want Tao to heal fast. They are also like my second family." He smiles as he looks at Baekbeom.

"That silly trait of yours will surely kill you. Come on, let's go down with the others." He assist D.O to stand up and hold onto his waist.

"Thanks......" D.O mutters.

"Beom... you can call me beom, baekbeom or whatever you want to. And I guess I can call you D.O too?" He asks him.

"Yeah.... I like that." D.O nods as he looks at his eyes.

"You know, if ever I will do something unacceptable... just trust my decision." Baekbeom told D.O.

"Huh? O....kay..... Beom-ssi." He nods again and they both jumps down from each branch and landed safely.

"Where are they?" D.O asks all of a sudden.

"I swear, I just leave them... wait... foot prints." Baekbeom assess the situation right away and saw some big marks over there.

"It smells like ogres captured them. Their scent are faint but I can still track them." D.O said.

"I think it would be good if I would be the ones which will retrieve them while you have some sleep here." The older suggest.

"But you can't smell them here." He protests.

"I can manage. I can try to track the others if I can't smell them." He insists.

"You can't do that since they used scented bombs to cover their preys scent. I guess I can lead where they are and...."

"And you will stay there. I'll let you take a short nap then i'll deal with them. That's final!" Baekbeom insist and D.O can't help but to nod to him. 

After few minutes of travel by them, they are headed near a grassland and a swamp beside it since they both now can smell their friends from there.

"You should rest for a while now, I'll go ahead from here. Just stay hidden since we might not know if there are enemies here." Baekbeom warns D.O and he nods again.

"I'll stay inside this tree here. I'll leave a mark so you can tell where I am." D.O place his palm on the tree and then it was marked by a head like that of a wolf or a lion. 

"Goodluck!" D.O bids goodbye as he enters the tree like a tree nymph while Baekbeom smiled unconsciously before tracing where are the others.

It took him less than fifteen minutes to track them and he decided to take a peek on the situation by hiding on the nearby tree. 

He saw the group tied against each other while Xiumin is separated from them since he is a special one. 

"I wonder what vampires meat tastes like?" A big bulky ogre was speaking as he eyes the chubby cheeks having his red eyes glares at him.

"You know that is prohibited right? Unless you want die already." He spats at the ogre. 

"Hah! As if we believed that! We've been eating many creatures for a while which only makes us stronger than usual. Besides, a little vampire cannot be that to risky, right?!" The ogre inches closer and smile letting his ugly face with flattened nose and green teeth shown.

"Ew.... have you ever heard of floss or freshener?? You stink!!" Xiumin protests at him.

"Hey! Pick up your own size!" Chen yells making the ogre turns around and look after them. 

"Okay... how about Kris size here?!" Chen laughs awkwardly when the ogre steps near them. 

"Good going dino!" Kris mutters.

"It's been decades since we've eaten humans but nevertheless, they're very tasty." He rubs his stomach and grab his club on the other hand. 

"Do something!!" Chen yells to Xiumin since he have can use his ability.

"I'm trying!!" He groans in protest when he can't access his powers. 

"It wouldn't work since we've got special kind of rope that can hinder your ability vampy.. except for the humans here of course." The ogre laughs and with that word, Kris got the message as he whisper to Kai while the monster moves closer to them.

"Can you teleport near Xiumin to free him?" Kris hollers Kai while he concentrates for teleporting.

Kris gestures Chen to be ready who got his message across starts to materialize his weapon while the other ogres are busy cheering for their boss for their meal. That is when Kai suddenly disappears making the rope loosen as Kris pull out his gun and shot the ogre making it fly few meter as they adjust on their situation. 

Just when they are free, the other ogres starts to attack just in time for Kris and Chen go to Xiumin's side and Kai who tries to rip the rope off him. 

One by one, ogres starts to surround them and attacks them when the leader shouts alarming them to kill their prey. 

They group of ogres lunges forward to the four males which Kai successfully frees Xiumin from the binds then raise his hands in the air freezing ogres while the others are also attacking them. Some of the frozen ogres are smash into pieces then explodes into dust when Chen swing his whip on them while Kris shoot some more ogres through his gun and Kai fights one in one. That is when the leader decides to attack the group with brute force and his club.

The ogre defends the shots of Kris gun and Xiumin's icicle by whipping his club blocking its direction while heading forward to them. Chen decided to swing the whip towards the ogre but it intercept it by its other arm as he let electricity to pass through it making the ogre kneeled down to the ground. 

Kai decides to grab the opportunity and stab the ogre on its back making the monster groan in protest. But he didn't anticipate it when the ogre grabs the dagger but his hand instead. Kai swear he can hear something crack and felt an intense pain and numbness on his right hand which is in grasp on the ogre.

"Aaacck!!" Kai shout in pain while he was faced with the monster who open his mouth to devour him.

"Kai!!!" Kris shots the ogre on his free will to distract it from eating his friend while the other monster joins the ruckus.

"! There's too many of them." Chen was trapped between the monsters and saving his friend. 

When the ogre felt no more distraction for his meal he decided to make a bite for it.

"No!! Kai!!!!" Xiumin desperately summons his power as he release it all at once freezing more ogres on the way and letting some to those who decided to step back flew few feet away with Kris, and Chen but that doesn't stop the ogre. They almost lost hope until there was a small light that move quickly flew pass through them and hit the ogres chest making him stop at the exact timing when Kai's head is near his mouth. Good thing Kai's eyes are shut because of the sudden light that spark through the ogres chest and it explodes leaving Kai fall to the ground with the amused trio on the side.

"Now, I would want a worried or crying Fae afterwards." Baekbeom appears near Kai helping him stand up while look at the large swollen purple arms he have. 

"YOU!! You knew this would happen right?!" Kai hissed at him.

"What. are. you. saying? I've just rescued you and that is how you will thank me? What kind of low creature are you?" Baekbeom roll his eyes in annoyance to Kai's judgement. 

Then a club decided to hit Baekbeom on the head but good thing he dodges it revealing a tall angry and ugly wounded ogre at them. He decided to shove Kai back a little and fights the ogre.

"How dare you interfere with my meal!" He angrily wave his club in the air. He targeted Baekbeom with his club which he easily evades and decided to jump and touch the ogres shoulders then escape at his back. When the ogre turns around, the part where the older vampire suddenly explode leaving a torn flesh with purplish blood oozing from it.

"Wow!! Cool...." Chen exclaimed while they fight for the other monsters. 

" Now don't get excited since we are not done yet." Baekbeom said when he saw the wound he has done is suddenly healing.

"You can't kill me that fast. I guess the unicorns blood really made the trick this time." The ogre laugh more to them. 

"Well I guess I have to purify you in able to kill you huh?" Baekbeom click his tongue and raised his arms upward while chanting something.

"Holy sh..... close your eyes!! Xuimin instructed Kris and Chen while he quickly turns around covering their eyes with his hand indicating them to not peek at any cost.

"You better close your eyes, lad." Baekbeom smiles at Kai which he then controls him so he could close his eyes. 

"What the....... NOOOOOOOO!!!" A loud shrieking voices can be heard caused by the ogre and other monster until there was complete silence. 

The other guys decided to open their eyes and saw their surroundings clean from any ogres a a while ago. 

"I can't believe you use that ability without warning us!" Xumin hissed at him.

"Oh, by I do. To this lad only and I bet you already knew what to do. Let's get treatment this guys arm since it seems that there are broken bones here." Baekbeom poke slightly the injured arm of Kai making him wince.

"Luckily I have my kit here!" Chen pulls out the kit from his magical bag.

"I'll go get some twig nearby for support." Kris said to them before turning around.

"Where's D.O?" Xuimin asks the older.

"I left him resting in the nearby tree..and before you start reacting, he is safe inside that tree so don't worry." He looks particularly at Kai.

"He seems to be out of it lately huh?" Xiumin speaks to Baekbeom, while Kai and Chen also listen as doing their job.

"Use this twigs as cast." Kris went back really fast.

"Yeah. He needs a little rest since he's been up for a while now and his body is acting strange lately. You know, hybrid stuff when they age before their birthday and stuff." He pick some stuffs that can interest him on the ogres leaves behind.

"What? I didn't even know that." Xiumin bit his finger as he thinks about it.

"Come to think of it. He is a little secretive since Baekhyun didn't even know that too. I can't believe he is with you for long time and yet you don't know when is his birthday." Baekbeom rolls an eye and toss more object aside.

"What? It's Kyungie's birthday? Ouch!!" Kai suddenly said while being tied up by Chen.

"I think that is tomorrow if I'm not mistaking based from their conversation." Kris hums.

"Unbelievable! You should check or ask things about him too since he looks like the type who does keep information all for himself." The older exasperatedly stands up and gestures for them to follow him since they are finished treating Kai. 

They are now searching for the tree where Baekbeom left him and found out that the male was still in there rubbing his tired eyes as he went outside the tree.

"Are you feeling fine now?" Baekbeom checks the male who only nods when he place an arm over his head.

"What happen to your arm?" The male immediately walks towards Kai who smile at him.

"Nothing, just a scratch. Hey, where should we head next?" Kai ruffles his hair playfully and lay the hand on his shoulders. 

"We all knew that a scratch doesn't leave a cast." He pouts at Kai who only laughs at him.

"Don't worry about Kai baby D. He'll leave anyways. So where to go next?" Kris assures him.

" We need to go pass through the lake there and saw a sign or picture of a woman with a jar of water." D.O points towards east and they all head towards that direction fast since it was getting dark outside.

"You didn't tell me that your birthday is tomorrow hyung." Kai talks at him while walking.

"I guess, you guys never ask so I didn't mind to share it. Also, Luhan and the others don't bother to celebrate their own birthday or any other occasions so I kept it mum for them also. Sorry." He bows down apologetically.  

"Nah...it's okay. " Xiumin wave his hand gesturing Kyungsoo that it doesn't really matter and they saw the lake.

"Anyways, aren't there suppose to be a girl here with a jar?" Chen asks the group.

"There should be. Maybe she is gone since it is night already?" Kai tilted his head answering them.

"Let's try to look around for more clues or something." Kris suggest and they all do.

They are looking through the place and search for something or someone since the lake is huge. After hours or searching, they still got no clue so they decided to search for fish in the lake and cook some meal since it is past their supposed dinner.

"I don't get it! It supposed to be here. Why?" Kyungsoo slump his shoulders as he roast the fish near the fire.

"Don't worry Soo. We'll find it, eventually." Kai seat next to him and hug him close by rubbing his hand up and down his arms while having a fish on other hand bringing it close to him.

"There is it again." Kris murmurs enough for the ever observer Byun to hear.

"What is it?" He asks.

"I can still here that same murmuring all over again just like in the cave." Kris explains to them.

"Something has been following us lately if your hunch is correct." Xiumin speaks for them and they all becomes alarmed.

"I think we don't need to look for the water girl anymore!! Look!!" Chen shouts out of nowhere when he was looking over a rock. The boys surely goes to where he is now.

"What's it Chen?" Kris rushed towards his side.

"See this? I think this is our water bearer, the symbol of aquarius." He points to the crack on the stone with illustrate the symbol of the zodiac, two zigzag pattern. 

"Wow..I never though you are that smart to think that Chen-chen!" Kai exclaimed.

"What? Do you think I'm an idiot?" He flushed his hurt face and laughs.

"Neh, I don't see any flower? Does this means we need to get in?" Baekbeom ask.

Kyungsoo trace his finger on the symbol and it glows sudddenly. They all step back when the stone wall adjust and formed into a dome shape opening clearly indicating that was the entrance.

"Shall we go in or we will go in?" Chen stated dumbly with Xiumin and the other shaking their heads.

"I think this will help inside." Baekbeom summons some light balls from his hands that quickly surrounds them for proper illumination. 

"Let's go in." He said as they ventures inside the cave. 

If they only knew there is clearly an eye watching over them as they enter the cave and venture to the unknown.

~~~~~~~~

I'm still alive.... sorry for the boring chapter... I've been struggling about how to put what i think in words for now and I have a hard time finding also some time to write.. 'coz my boss is literally a watch dog and seems to be paranoid while I pull out my phone out since I only type on my phone. 

( They will scold me for sure if i brought out my laptop in work for sure 'coz i'm assisting in the information area... now i'm being upgraded ... (or tormented) to be in charge of the releasing of books... *sigh*

Now all I have to do is to stock up.. pile.. and arrange the books according to year level which involves big muscles in lifting boxes of it... haizt...... Although we are three in the books... but.... i'm still a girl though and ooohhh... muscle pain. 

Meet you guys after a week again.....and I've been writing another fic... but I decide to not publish it first since I still have another pending fic... I also saw many abandoned fic about Kaisoo that hurts my heart since the plot were too good to be stop... i can't blame the authors though since they all have reasons... Thanks for keeping up with me! Take care my dear subbies!! ;3