Mists Of The Calla (2/2)

[lakeheartbeat]

Morning comes too quickly, and Chanyeol wakes up groggy and confused to the image of Baekhyun looming over him, calling his name and shaking him roughly, looking pissed off. It takes a minute before Chanyeol's hearing turns on and Baekhyun garbled noises become words to his mind, and he sits up, pushing the Elf away from him, grumbling as he presses his palms to his eyelids. He has a migraine, intense and stabbing, and the sound of Baekhyun's voice, rambling and complaining, too whiny for him to handle is driving him up a wall.

"You need to get up. We need to leave and you're just sleeping here. Incredible. And Lu Han calls me spoiled and lazy." Baekhyun is yapping, and Chanyeol is vaguely reminded of a tiny dog yipping in his ear, and he smiles maniacally at the beautiful image of kicking Baekhyun the dog, before growling in annoyance, cradling his head in his hands.

"Would you shut the fuck up?" Chanyeol grunts angrily, anger boiling over at his sleepy state and pounding head, giving Baekhyun a dark look and practically throwing himself off the bed. He isn't shy about changing this morning, annoyed and angry, throwing on his robes, stomping around the room to find his discarded layers, voice rising as he finishes speaking. "You're so fucking annoying and the sound of your voice is giving me a headache."

Baekhyun stops mid rant, mouthing hanging open before he snaps it shut, whipping around and storming out of the room without another word, not waiting to see if Chanyeol is following him.

"Fucking snobby brat." Chanyeol complains to himself as he straps up his boots. "Why does such a pretty face has such an ugly attitude."

When Chanyeol joins the others, all standing around another horse-drawn cart, his mood is even worse, and he wants nothing to do with speaking, hovering on the outside of the group, brooding and scowling.

But Chanyeol remembers Yixing's words about getting along, about sticking together and being optimistic, and he plasters a hopeful look on his feet, greeting the others brightly and making a joke about the golden horse with longer hair looking just like Lu Han. This draws a weak spatter of laughter, and Chanyeol feels accomplished, nodding to himself as he climbs inside and sits down, gazing at the tall buildings of Karhaerin as they disappear into the distance, and eventually into the mist.

It's hard to keep his self assured gait up for long when they go further and further into the mist and to the edge of Thelgard territory, exiting the cart. It's cold at the edge of the forest now, damp chill seeming to reach Chanyeol's bones and he unconsciously moves closer to whoever's standing beside him, not even caring that it's Baekhyun, apprehension starting to fill his senses when Yixing turns to the group, and then to Lu Han.

"We need to take the moss tunnels underneath Lei and Gaelgorn." He says, and Lu Han nods in agreement.

"Chanyeol's been in there with me before so he knows what to expect." Lu Han says, and he gives Chanyeol an expectant look, silently ordering the Knight over to his side. "You can tell the others the rules. Make sure they stick behind me. This isn't just me and you now, and you're responsible for keeping everyone on track, got it?"

"Yes master." Chanyeol says dryly, trying his best to ignore Lu Han's commanding tone, and resisting the urge to roll his eyes. His brief sense of optimism has vanished, leaving him with the same sense of annoyance and anger as when he'd first woken up, a serious look taking over his features.

"Shut up Chanyeol." Lu Han mutters before turning to Yixing. "Can you navigate the tunnels? I don't know this side of them, I only know past Lei."

"And I only to know until the edge of Lei." Yixing says, sounding more cheerful than he probably should. "We make a good team then."

Chanyeol doesn't stick around for the rest of their conversation, explaining the tunnels to the others and shooting down Baekhyun's complaints of wanting to go the way they came.

"Look, it's either the dangerous way, or we waste time." Chanyeol snaps, glaring down Baekhyun and rolling his eyes for real now. He turns his anger on Jongdae and Minseok, sighing dramatically. "Can't you cage your fucking Prince? He's getting annoying."

Everyone looks shocked at Chanyeol's sudden - and out-of-character - outburst, but no one says anything, just silently nodding at Lu Han's orders to follow behind Yixing and him. The entrance to the moss tunnel is beside the river, the ground muddy and wet, squelching under their boots. It's different than the other entrance Chanyeol remembers, the Gaelgorn one being large and decorated, while this one is just a giant hole in the ground, sloping and disgusting, leading underground.

"Are we going under the river?" Baekhyun says, voice laced with disgust as he attempts to tip toe through the gunk filled river bank and protect his robes at the same time.

"Yep!" Lu Han grins at him, a feral kind of smile, looking pleased at the chance to make Baekhyun uncomfortable. "Do you want to go first?"

Baekhyun grimaces, hiding behind Jongdae who's carrying a fox Minseok in his arms. Minseok snarls at Baekhyun disapprovingly, but stills once they enter, ears laying perfectly flat and eyes sparkling with unease.

The tunnels are just as Chanyeol remembers them, dark and wet, making his headache worse as they turn corner after corner, the roar of the river loud above them. Chanyeol is less scared this time, knows that if he follows Yixing they'll be fine, though the human seems less in tune with the swampy terrain than Lu Han.

The one thing he can't ignore though is how close Baekhyun is to him, seeming to realize that Jongdae can't protect him if he's holding a fox in his arms, and Yixing and Lu Han are busy up front. He sticks to Chanyeol like glue, even gripping his robes and tugging on them in panic when the faerin dances too close. Chanyeol doesn't try to shake him off, just shushes his whining and focuses on Yixing calling to Lu Han to take over the guiding, a sense of security falling over him knowing they're in his hands.

Chanyeol recognizes some parts of these tunnels, clamping a hand over his ears seconds before Lu Han commands the rest to do it, catching a fleeting smile thrown in his direction before it's gone and Lu Han is back to being commanding.

They get through them quickly, with little to no problems other than Baekhyun tripping and nearly falling, not even thanking a flustered Yixing when he drags him up and along with them.

Seeing sunlight is just as beautiful as the first they exited the tunnels, but this time it's somewhere Chanyeol doesn't recognize, forestry with huge trees and nearly no sunlight. The mist is thick here, and Chanyeol is confused for a second, but then he remembers that they're no longer running away from the mist, but running into it, closer towards the source.

This forest has a different feel than the one surrounding lei, unforgiving and dark, and even in the mist there are animals abundant, every crack or rustle making Chanyeol jump in fear.

He's back walking with Lu Han, unconsciously feeling a stronger sense of security with him. Lu Han isn't talking much, lost in himself and in the forest, and Chanyeol doesn't try to push conversation, eventually falling back a half step. Close enough to feel safe, but far enough to not impose.

Baekhyun is complaining, snarling at Yixing who takes it surprisingly well, answering every whined complaint in an airy honest voice. Chanyeol isn't sure if he's being sarcastic or genuine, lilting tone never leaving his words.

They've been walking for about two hours when Chanyeol notices the feel of the forest change. It's quiet, too quiet, animal sounds gone to leave only the sounds of their footsteps. Chanyeol doesn't like it, but no one else seems to have noticed, keeping up the same steady pace, a hush over the group as they move deeper into the trees.

Chanyeol wants to say something, suggest that they be careful, but he doesn't feel qualified enough, is afraid of being wrong, and so he keeps his mouth shut. Lu Han pauses in front of a particularly large tree, tracing his fingers over a drawing carved into the wood, and looking above them.

"The wood folk live here." He says to Yixing, voice barely carrying through the dead and heavy air, but Yixing hears, stepping carefully over a decaying log, and tracing his fingers over the same drawing.

"The imps." Yixing mutters, and he gazes up into the sky, "Do you think they've survived the mist? It's probably been here for a while."

Lu Han is about to answer, but he's got off by a shrill shriek, whipping around to see Baekhyun on the forest floor, scrambling backwards and howling in pain, pupils blown out with fear.

Lu Han whips his bow off his back, but drops the pack of arrows in his haste to arm it, yelling out "someone kill that it's a finrar," but no one moves, frozen and unsure.

Jongdae backs up quickly, pinning a growling Minseok in his arms and telling him to transform in case the creature bites him.

"You can't survive a finrar bite." Jongdae snaps when Minseok gives him a baleful glare. "We don't have time for your shifter pride."

Lu Han has his bow armed and ready, aiming carefully for the rodent looking creature, but he never gets the chance to shoot because another arrow is piercing through the air, lodging itself in the finrar's neck. The small animal crumples to the ground, and Lu Han inches towards it slowly, poking it with his foot before deciding that yes, it's indeed dead.

He raises his eyes to towards the tops of the trees, hidden of sight in shadows and mist, calling out. Chanyeol has no idea what's going on, rushing to Baekhyun's side. He fights with him, lifting up his pant leg to see his calf stained a rotten purple colour. Chanyeol panics, leaning back on his heels to ask Yixing for help when two figures drop down from somewhere above them, landing gracefully on the forest floor.

They're petite, a girl and a boy, dressed in simple clothing, small knives and bows strapped to them using strong cords. The girl steps forward, surveying them carefully before turning back to the boy, speaking rapidly in a language Chanyeol doesn't recognize. The boy approaches them cautiously, and he glances from person to person, seeming unsure of who to address, but Lu Han lowers his bow, exhaling in relief and bowing to them.

"If you seek refuge we must move quickly." The girl says, and her voice is sharp and youthful, accent thick as she speaks the common tongue. "One finrar means fifty finrar and your friend is injured."

"Only until he heals." Yixing says politely, smiling in gratitude as he hovers over Baekhyun, waving his hand dismissively and moving Chanyeol out of his way. Baekhyun is panting, looking delirious, and Chanyeol hesitates before walking back near the rest.

"Come." The girl says, placing a hand on the boy's arm and whispering something to him. "The vines will take us up to where our companion is keeping watch."

"Be careful." The boys says, voice rising slightly over the clear sound of the girl calling in an animal like voice. The vines are thick, falling down like ropes and Chanyeol reaches out to grab one tentatively, scrunching his nose when it pulses under his fingertips.

"Just hold on tight and they will bring us up." The boy tells them, and he looks at them curiously, eyes large and glassy, resting on Jongdae for a heartbeat longer than the rest before focusing on Yixing. "Sorcerer, can you carry him?"

"Hm." Yixing says shortly, hoisting Baekhyun over his back and gripping the vine firmly.

Chanyeol's hands are shaking as he holds on as tightly as possible, knuckles turning white when the vine begins to rise, bottom curling around his legs and holding him into place. They move slowly, but Chanyeol gets used to it after a while, breath evening out and hands relaxing. Lu Han on the other hand has his entire body wrapped around the vine and eyes squeezed shut, reminding Chanyeol of when they rose on the giant leaf into Lei. He feels a stab of sympathy for Lu Han; even Elves like him have things they're afraid of.

They land on a wooden platform, vines dropping them with a thud onto the surface, and Chanyeol looks up to be greeted by another petite boy, this one with large round eyes and welcoming features. He's cute, at least from upside down where Chanyeol is lying on the cold wood, the kind of person you want to cuddle and be best friends with.

They're rushed inside of a rundown looking hut quickly, and it reminds Chanyeol of a lower class version of Lei. The place is destitute, walls torn down and bugs everywhere. The mood is sombre as they settles into a small room, the one intact and safe seeming part of the entire tree house system, making do with beds of leaves and moss.

"As you can see." The cute one says, looking downcast and sullen, cute image fading away quickly as he speaks. "We haven't fared the mist much. This is all that's left."

"Are-are you three the only imps left in the forest?" Yixing asks, eyes round and fearful, looking up from where he's been pressing his palm to Baekhyun's leg. The Prince is twitching slightly, high from some kind of fever, and Chanyeol wonders if they're already going to lose a person, recalling Lu Han's warning of the finrar. He shakes the thoughts from his mind, fingers curling into the front of his shirt with terrified grief. Baekhyun may be a brat, but Chanyeol feels strangely attached to this group of people, and to his own life, and he sinks into the wall.

This place is dreary, devoid of life, the only light coming from Lu Han, cradling the faerin infused energy in his hands, staring into it as if it holds all the answers.

It's calm though, enclosed and secure, or Chanyeol tries to think of it as secure at least, closing his eyes against the images of the war torn looking imp community.

"We're the only three left here at least." The girl says darkly, tucking a strand of damp short hair behind her ear, eyes flickering nervously. "But there are many other colonies, and we want to keep our hopes high. We may just die here though."

There are brief introductions, learning that the girl is Hyeri, and the two boys are Joonmyun and Kyungsoo, but there isn't much talking past that aside from Jongdae explaining the prophecy and who they are in hushed tones to an enraptured and terrified looking Joonmyun.

Chanyeol doesn't sleep this night, agreeing to keep an eye on Baekhyun and on the destroyed hallway outside, letting the others fall into a sporadic pattern of slumber and wake. Baekhyun is awake too, his fever having gone down but his skin is still breaking out into cold sweats, and he whimpers rather than speaks, pressing his body close to Chanyeol's, and for once Chanyeol doesn't complain.

He pushes Baekhyun's sweat soaked bangs back to check his temperature, forehead burning and eyelashes fluttering weakly. Chanyeol freezes with his hand on Baekhyun's forehead for a moment, staring down into his eyes that give away nothing but vulnerability in this moment, brimming with tears and devoid of their usual flash of conceit.

They don't talk - Chanyeol isn't even sure if Baekhyun can talk right now - but Chanyeol feels strangely closer to him after that night, falling asleep to the sounds of Yixing waking up and taking his place next to Baekhyun, whispering Ancient Elvish words over him.

Hyeri and Joonmyun are weirdly optimistic for their dire situation, joking around playfully with Jongdae and Minseok, eating their gifted portions of Lu Han's honey bread ravenously, thanking him with tears in their eyes.

"Minseok you should have been an imp, you're the right size." Jongdae says, smirking and friendly punching Minseok on the shoulder, receiving a spattering of laughter from whoever's listening. "I always knew there was a reason we never felt enough kinship."

Kyungsoo on the other hand remains silent and dour, unenthusiastic about joining into the lightened atmosphere, hanging back by himself and constantly leaving to roam the hallways, muttering something about always staying on the lookout for danger.

Yixing repeatedly thanks the imps for saving Baekhyun's life and for helping them overnight as Baekhyun finally sits up, weak and feverish still, but conscious, and much to Chanyeol and Lu Han's annoyance, capable of talking, complaining loudly about how much his leg hurts and could Yixing please do the healing thing to his pounding head?

Despite his annoyance, Chanyeol ends up sticking with Baekhyun, staying behind to look after him while the others venture out in search of food, Chanyeol begging them to stay safe, scarred by the state of the forest and by the mist.

"We used to employ imps." Baekhyun says suddenly, rolling onto his back and groaning, looking up at Chanyeol upside down. His eyelashes are doing the fluttering thing again and Chanyeol help but stare into his eyes. They're deep and beautiful, dark but sparkling and intelligent. Chanyeol could stare into them forever if he had the chance. "The imps aren't really fond of Lei Elves though. The Queen replaced them with sprites because they have more versatile magic and skill sets."

"Is that why the imps live out here in the forest?" Chanyeol asks, licking his lips unconsciously and trying to ignore the way his eyes dart down to Baekhyun's lips, chapped but soft looking, mouth looking delicate when it moves. He's doomed, catching feelings for a monster of an Elf with a whirlwind personality and what seems like no personal care for those around him. Chanyeol feels cursed, he could have been attracted to someone who's a decent being at least.

"No, the imps have always lived here." Baekhyun says, sitting up and yawning, looking a lot healthier than he had mere hours ago, and Chanyeol is momentarily impressed by Yixing's handiwork, hoping that Baekhyun at least has the grace to thank him. "A lot of them were put out of a job and into danger though, not knowing how to properly survive in their own forest."

"That's sad." Chanyeol says, frowning deeply. "Shouldn't the Queen have given them rights for helping her people for so long?"

"That's life." Baekhyun says airily. "The high status gets what the high status gets and the imps suffer. The Queen doesn't care, as long as her royal family stays safe."

"Do you care?" Chanyeol tries, confused about this conversation and where it's going, reaching out for a thread of humanity in Baekhyun, hoping to pluck a conscience out of his privileged brain.

"Why should I?" Baekhyun hums, looking genuinely confused. "I'm taught to care about my own people, not another species below us."

"No species is below another." Chanyeol says darkly, moving away from Baekhyun in his anger. "Everyone has rights and should be treated the same. How would you feel if you were an imp suddenly put in danger because your employer doesn't think you're good enough?"

"I would accept it, because that is the natural order of things." Baekhyun responds, and his cold voice is back, the one used when speaking to Lu Han at their initial meeting. "I would accept the life I was born into and go about it with no questions, as it should be?"

"Is that what your mother taught you as a child?" Chanyeol says scathingly. "To disregard basic rights because 'that's just how life works?'"

"I am not disregarding anyone's rights." Baekhyun argues, sitting up and huffing at him in annoyance. "I'm just saying that no one should expect what is above their rights, which are generally lower than that of an Elf. Anywhere, not just in Lei. I don't particularly like you and that Gaelgorn prince is scum, but I would sooner risk my life for yours than the sprites or the imps, simply because you are Elves and of higher status."

"That's not how it works, Baekhyun." Chanyeol says, but he's giving up. Baekhyun's never going to understand, just going to sit on his Princely throne forever, whether it be in real life or in his mind. "You save people because you care about them, not because of what their special and social standing says."

Baekhyun doesn't answer, laying back down and closing his eyes, body language saying this conversation is over.

Chanyeol is frustrated, feather's ruffled and conscience angry. This Elf is going to learn how to love and care about those other than himself.

They're ready to go by the next morning, dragging their feet as they prepare to travel once again. Everyone is drained, tired, and the morale is low, Chanyeol literally dragging Baekhyun to his feet, and glaring away his protests. Baekhyun tries to fight with him, but Chanyeol's grip is firm, and the Elf goes pliant, letting himself be pulled along, limping still on his injured leg.

They take the vines down to the forest floor, the imps landing softly beside them with adept skill navigating the trees and the forest, even in the conditions.

"Thank you for all your help." Lu Han says politely, bowing to each of them. They're about to part ways, Jongdae and Joonmyun exchanging hugs and promising to see each other again, Chanyeol eyeing them with suspicion and slight jealousy.

They turn to start walking, Chanyeol's fingers around Baekhyun's wrist in a way mirroring Lu Han's on his some weeks earlier, when a nervous cough makes them turn back.

"We have something to ask of you." Kyungsoo says, looking slightly apprehensive. "We were just wondering if we could maybe come with you?"

"Come with us?" Lu Han says, voice laced with confusion. "Why would you want to come with us?"

"Well, to be quite honest with you." Joonmyun takes over for Kyungsoo, voice soft and scared. "If we stay here we're probably going to die, and that’s just how it is."

"If you come with us you may as well meet that same fate." Lu Han says quietly, tilting his head to the side.

"Yes, but at least it would be meaningful." Joonmyun states, and he sounds firm, like the decision had already been made before they even asked. "Jongdae told me everything about what you're doing, and die assisting you guys in fixing this hell we're in would be a whole lot better than sitting in our destroyed tree house waiting for the wolves to come knocking."

Lu Han blinks slowly, mulling it over silently, but it's Yixing who speaks up.

"Alright then. Come with us. We could use people with your skill set for combat and food gathering." He says, fixing the rest of them with a look that dares them to go against him. "It's going to be a lot more dangerous out in Kíló Hægrimenn and on the Calla."

"We can handle it." Hyeri states and she scampers to the head of the group, tightening her bow before putting into straps. "What are you waiting for? We have to move with haste, right?"

"Right." Lu Han says, and Chanyeol recognizes the look of slight concern on his face, the same one he'd gotten back in Gaelgorn. Chanyeol smiles to himself, lifting a slouching and slightly green looking Baekhyun back into a proper standing position. Lu Han can't fool anyone with his impassive and uncaring nature.

Chanyeol sets off in high spirits, the addition of three people aiding him in feeling like they could actually make it out alive.

It takes them three days to reach the edge of the forest, not resting at all except for a brief intermission when Baekhyun's leg flares up and he sits on the ground, refusing to move. They take the rest with relief, collapsing onto the leafy ground, but Chanyeol can see the flash of impatience in Lu Han's eyes.

"Baekhyun stop being so whiny." He snaps, wanting nothing more than to just reach over and clap a hand over Baekhyun's mouth, maybe even have an excuse to see if his lips are actually as soft as they look. Yixing is has finished giving him a pain release, and they should be moving by now, should be up and walking, getting ready to face the marshlands, but Baekhyun is staying still on the ground, whimpering about his leg.

"I'm not being whiny fuck." Baekhyun swears, throwing a scathing look at Chanyeol and returning to whining. "It just fucking hurts."

"Well fucking deal with it." Chanyeol lashes out, voice uncharacteristically sharp. "We're all tired, we're all probably going to be injured at one point or another, but you need to think of the group and not just yourself. We need to keep moving."

"Fuck that." Baekhyun retorts, and he lays down, even daring to put his head on Chanyeol's thigh, cursing loudly when he's pushed off. He rolls over and props himself up, voice cutting out like knives. "Here, This is me thinking about the group. We should rest here and get sleep before going into the marshlands. What if we can't sleep and our judgment is impaired? What if my leg gets worse because Yixing is too dead to heal?"

Chanyeol goes silent. He can't tell if Baekhyun's being genuine or if he's just bullshitting, using his words to manipulate him, but Chanyeol gives in, sliding down the tree and onto his back. He struggles when Baekhyun gleefully uses his chest as a pillow, but gives up, closing his eyes and breathing heavily in an attempt to calm his flaring temper.

"He's right." Yixing says softly from where he's sitting behind Lu Han and massaging his shoulders, sparks of something yellow and sparkling running from his fingers and over Lu Han. "We should sleep here. We can sleep in shifts, taking turns to keep watch until we're fully rested and ready."

Chanyeol just grunts, ignoring the rest of the aimless chatter after that, and he begrudgingly falls into a sleep himself, wondering if he's imagining thin fingers curling around his waist, or soft hair tickling his chin.

--- Kíló Hægrimenn ---

The change from forest to swamp is abrupt, catching Chanyeol by surprise when they reach the edge of the trees. He can no longer see the shadows of the trunks in the distance, and the air is oppressive and wet, the humidity giving Chanyeol a headache.

They walk for nearly a day without anything happening, Baekhyun slowly regaining his leg and no longer limping. He still stays stuck to Chanyeol's side somehow, leaving Chanyeol confused about whether or not he minds it.

Finding dry ground is nearly impossible, and when they do, it makes Chanyeol nervous. Out in the open with only a few trees and some tall reeds, phantom splashes here and there making him jump. They stay here to rest in the end, too worried about not finding another spot, Lu Han staying up on watch, sitting cross-legged and cradling his bow as if it's his child. He asks - no, orders, Chanyeol to stay up with him, and Chanyeol agrees hesitantly.

He's barely spoken to Lu Han for the last couple of days, the other being busy with Yixing or looking lost in thought, and Chanyeol considers offering up Joonmyun to help watch. That thought is ditched when he sees Joonmyun collapse onto Jongdae's lap, exhausted, the others doing the same here and there. He sighs, resigned to an awkward night with the cold Elf, sitting beside him and squinting into the mist. He's looking for signs of trouble, but really Chanyeol's just pretending to be doing something, hoping that if anything does happen Lu Han can take care of it.

Chanyeol's gotten away with not having to do anything that requires particular skill yet, sword lying unused in it's holder, or on the ground beside him, and he plans to keep it unused, shuddering at the thought of having to prove himself and failing.

He's only a Knight by default, doesn't possess any real combat skills, and it leads him to wonder why Lu Han would ask him to help when he knows perfectly well that Chanyeol can't do anything.

"Why am I keeping watch with you?" Chanyeol mutters after a solid hour of watching Lu Han lovingly caress the golden arrows in his lap. Lu Han snickers, looking at him with friendly eyes.

"Because if something happens I can count on you to scream loud enough that everyone will wake up." Lu Han says seriously, and there's no teasing in his voice. "I mean, Baekhyun would do the job well enough also, but there's no way I'm spending hours with him."

"Pleased to be of service then." Chanyeol mumbles, more to himself than Lu Han, but it earns him a grin and he jumps in surprise when Lu Han pushes him playfully.

"Don't be a big baby, you're special." Lu Han says, and Chanyeol can't tell if he's being sincere or not, face still devoid of any proper emotion. "I wouldn't just sit for hours in the dark with the rest of that lot."

"That lot." Chanyeol says, a chuckle bubbling up inside of him, and suddenly spending hours keeping watch with Lu Han doesn't seem that bad. Chanyeol wonders about the Friend's Prayer. He kind of wants to bring it up again, see if Lu Han is willing to try it, but he remembers Lu Han's denial of them being anything close, keeping his mouth shut , staring into the murky water in front of them.

"You and Baekhyun seem … close lately." Lu Han says suddenly, eyeing him suspiciously over the tip of an arrow.

"I think he thinks we're friends now." Chanyeol says, scrunching up his nose and willing away the cheering in his chest that tells him yes! we're totally close.

"That's unfortunate." Lu Han says with a leer, and it really is hard to tell whether or not he's joking, voice staying the same level with each word he says. "Though maybe it's a step up. Maybe he has a soul."

"Well I mean, a couple of weeks ago I was convinced you didn't have one." Chanyeol says, and he means it as a joke, but Lu Han's face turns serious, the other Elf looking guilty.

"I expected you to be like Baekhyun." Lu Han says truthfully. "I thought Heiðrún Knights were patriotic and condescending."

"Most of them are." Chanyeol nods, but he glares at Lu Han. "Not me though, you should know this by now."

"Oh I figured it out that first night when you were scared of water and the dark and then cried in my bed." Lu Han teases, and now Chanyeol can tell he is playing around, face lighting up with laughter. It's nice to see Lu Han opening up, nice to him actually displaying something that isn't quiet indifference.

"I don't like being underground, or enclosed spaces or-"

"You're afraid of everything, Chanyeol." Lu Han interrupts, but his eyes are smiling, crinkling at the edges and Chanyeol smiles back, feeling refreshed as they look over the strangely calm marshes.


☁

Joonmyun is warm, cuddling into Jongdae's side and telling him stories about his colony, and about growing up learning how to shoot bows and leap through the trees.

His voice is soft and welcoming and his he smiles easily, making too many bad jokes, face looking ugly when he tears up talking about home. Jongdae is getting attached fast - too fast - and it should make him nervous, should make him worry when they're sitting in the heart of danger, with the entire world feeling like it's at sake.

It feels natural, his friendship with Joonmyun, and Jongdae feels as though they've known each other for years and not mere days, stomach fluttering traitorously at their natural touchiness. Jongdae falls asleep the first night in the marshes listening to Chanyeol and Lu Han talking quietly by the edge of the water, and fantasizes about what it could be like if none of this happened and he could have met Joonmyun normally.

Maybe he would get lost in the forest, floating along as a ball of crackling energy, scaring Joonmyun and popping back into himself, good-looking and sarcastic and irresistible. Joonmyun would fall for him and Jongdae could finally leave his job as royal guard, could learn how to leap through the trees and into Joonmyun's arms.

But it didn't happen like that, and instead Jongdae's trying to block out the whispering voices he always swears he hears in the mist, drawing his fingers through the imp's hair and thinking about better times. Their clothes are damp and their spirits are neither low nor high. Jongdae's never been one to be silent, never been one to cry in the face of danger, but he feels like lately, wondering when the first real test will be, when the first real crisis will descend upon them, much worse than a poisonous squirrel biting Baekhyun.

Chanyeol had mentioned the wolves, had recounted the utter feeling of hopelessness he'd felt trapped under one, and it makes Jongdae shiver. He may be armed, he may be experienced, but that's against common folk Elves and basic creatures of the forest. Jongdae can't imagine squaring up against a wolf the size of an ancient beast, and the thought keeps him up for a while longer before he succumbs to his fatigue, lulled by Joonmyun's soft breaths.


☁

The fog is heavier in the marshlands than it had been in the forest, gaining moisture from the dirty waters of the swampy lands. It chills Chanyeol to the bone, and he shivers, pushing a tall weed out of his way as he walks, constantly glancing behind him. The sloshing of the knee-deep water as they trudge through it is making him paranoid. Every sound, every splash, seems off in the distance, making Chanyeol stop abruptly every once in a while, bumping into Baekhyun.

Baekhyun has been sticking close to him for some reason, and Chanyeol almost has half a mind to reach out and hold his hand, which is ridiculous considering Baekhyun is insufferable, not to mention they’re in disgusting water, travelling in constant fear.

The imps are coping well, sharp and dignified, Joonmyun using his water specialty to practically glide through the water, earning him a shock and a scowl from Jongdae. Those two have become weirdly close in just a few days, and Jongdae no longer sleeps cuddling fox Minseok, opting instead for nuzzling himself into Joonmyun’s side.

Chanyeol wishes he could have someone like that right now, but his only option for closeness is Lu Han, and Chanyeol nearly giggles out loud into the dreary mist at the mental image of him and Lu Han cuddling. His giggle catches when his mind automatically supplies him with Baekhyun, and he frowns. It’s just his luck that they’re in the middle of a murky swamp with no end in sight and his only romantic interest is someone who still constantly complains when his royal robes get wet.

Chanyeol is so distracted by his conflicting thoughts that he accidentally bumps into Baekhyun again, elbowing him in the process. Chanyeol blushes before he can catch himself, apologizing quickly, but Baekhyun latches onto his arm instead.

“Can you fucking stop doing that?” Baekhyun hisses, gripping Chanyeol’s bicep tightly, pressing in close to his side. Chanyeol isn’t really sure how to feel about this, body screaming yes and mind screaming no, you hate him.

But Baekhyun is difficult to dislike, with his stupid fluttering eyelashes and soft skin, even despite his constant whining and sharp tongue, and Chanyeol is weak to it, relenting for half a second before he catches himself.

“Why are you so close to me?” He complains, pulling his arm out of Baekhyun’s vice-like grip and distancing himself. He winces when warm water seeps into his boots, mentally praying to Zafkra that Yixing’s healing powers cover hypothermia for when he freezes in the middle of the night via lack of sleeping partner.

Moving away from Baekhyun means moving closer to Minseok, who looks sullen, trapped in sprite form due to the swampy environment as per Jongdae’s orders.

“I don’t want you like drowning or tripping on something you know.” Jongdae had said, looking genuinely concerned, earning a glare from Minseok, but an agreement in the end.

Five minutes of walking next to the cloud of misery that is Minseok makes Chanyeol almost miss Baekhyun hanging off his arm, and he glances to left to see Baekhyun shivering, wrapping his tattered robes around himself like a curtain. It reminds Chanyeol of his own behaviour back on the way to Gaelgorn, when he’d hugged his Heiðrún robes close to his heart, struggling to keep up with Lu Han.

Chanyeol feels braver now than he had back then, walking confidently and speaking his mind, keeping his optimism up and his smiles wide, easily becoming the mood maker. His jokes aren’t always the greatest, and sometimes he’s the only one that laughs, but it’s worth it to see Hyeri break out into a shy smile, Lu Han giving him a look that almost seems fond.

He feels brave enough to help Lu Han stand watch again, and the marshlands are so calm, almost peaceful, that Lu Han tells him to rest, it should be fine tonight.

It's fine for a while, Chanyeol falling asleep on the damp ground wishing he had something to hold to his chest for comfort, eyes falling shut and mind singing.

The nightmares are back again.

They're almost easier to deal with now, a voice in Chanyeol’s subconscious telling him that these images are real, but it's the fact that they are real that has him bolting up off the ground and screaming, "cover your ears" mere seconds before the singing starts.

The singing is beautiful, slightly hypnotizing even through the cover of his own hands. He glances around to make sure everyone else has their ears covered, make sure they're safe, and he panics.

Hyeri is walking towards the water, eyes blank and body moving in a trance, taking careful steps one after the other, and that's when Chanyeol sees it. A mermaid like creature, grotesque in appearance but mouth open wide, impossibly wide, large green eyes bug-like and trained directly on Hyeri.

For a moment they all freeze, hands over their ears and unsure what to do, who will move and take the chance. Chanyeol steps backward, tripping over Lu Han's bow, and gasping, hands falling from his ears and singing loud, as if the siren is right next to him.

"Chanyeol. Use my bow, you have a clear shot and it's distracted." Lu Han shrieks, desperation in his voice, but the words come slowly into Chanyeol’s understanding, movements sluggish as he tries to pick up the bow, entire body shaking as he loads it.

It's quivering in his hands and he can't get the arrow to lock into place, aim wavering and arms hesitating to pull back. He does have a clear shot, directly into the sirens mouth, but he's never shot a bow outside the shooting range, has never felt the full brunt of a sirens song. He falters, the first arrow flying two feet and landing on the ground with a sad thump, and Lu Han barks an order at him, obnoxious and agitated.

"Chanyeol just shoot the fucking bow." Lu Han snaps walking forward towards him, but Chanyeol is frozen, eyes wide and mouth hanging open as he watches Hyeri.

He watches her walk forward, watches her fall face first into the water with a splash and a thud, and he watches, body frozen with horror and mind swimming with the sirens song and Lu Han's desperate screaming, as the siren lunges towards her, slicing her neck open with a knife like claw, song becoming a mindless scream.

It's a sound Chanyeol has never heard the likes of, and he drops the bow to the ground, stumbling and falling backwards. What happens next will probably etch it's way into Chanyeol’s thoughts forever, imprinted into his nightmares for months - years- to come.

Lu Han is diving forwards, retrieving the bow and aiming it quickly, but he's too late, and Joonmyun screams, louder than the rest of them, louder than the siren.

It takes one twist of the sirens claws to rip Hyeri’s head clean from her body, and another scream for it to devour it, Lu Han's arrow piercing through its skull and killing it a heartbeat too late, it's body falling next to the imps broken one.

It's silent save for Joonmyun’s whimpering, head squeezed into Jongdae’s arms. No one says a word, sitting in shock and muted terror, staring at the place where the siren had been, where Hyeri had been, until it breaks.

"You're fucking useless." Lu Han shrieks, turning on Chanyeol and grabbing the collar of his robes, face twisted into something ugly that Chanyeol is yet to witness until now. "You just had to shoot the bow Chanyeol. You just had to fucking shoot."

"I panicked, and the song, and I- I couldn't." Chanyeol screams back, voice cracking into a near sob.

"You should have tried harder." Lu Han snarls, releasing Chanyeol roughly, and he falls backwards, half on the ground and half on his ass. "You're so fucking useless. Why are you even here why. She would still be alive if you weren't so fucking useless."

"It's not my fault." Chanyeol yells, getting up and glaring Lu Han down, fingers curled into fists at his sides, not caring about the silent audience.

"Yes it is. Congratulations she's dead because of you. It is your fault." Lu Han says scathingly, not yelling anymore. But the words go straight into Chanyeol, and he deflates, hands falling to his sides and head towards the ground in defeat.

"Shut up." Baekhyun snaps unexpectedly, eyes dark and angry. "If he hadn't woken us up and told us to cover our ears we all could have been Hyeri."

"Why are you defending him?" Lu Han says sharply, directing his fury on Baekhyun, who simply shrugs, eyes wild, darting between the water and Lu Han.

"I hate you more than him." Baekhyun says simply, and he grins, looking manic. "At least he tried."

"Trying isn't enough." Lu Han says, voice rising in volume again, and he looks as if he wants to take out his dagger, wants to tear them apart. "You don't just try in situations like these. You just fucking do. Because you know what happens when you try? Someone's head gets torn off by a siren."

Baekhyun starts to retort, looking venomous as he inches closer to Lu Han, and Chanyeol is confused now, ready to yell out something about how it is his fault and he's sorry, but they're interrupted by a clear voice.

"Stop it." Minseok barks out, walking in between them, glaring at Lu Han and Baekhyun. "Fucking get over yourselves."

"I don't need-" Lu Han starts, but Minseok interrupts, looking completely furious, and it's something that Chanyeol thinks he doesn't really want to see again.

"Yes you do. Especially you." Minseok growls. "Do you think Chanyeol's ever properly shot a bow? Do you think he's ever had to deal with a siren face to face? No he hasn't. So it's not his fault that in the face of terror he couldn't shoot. In fact, it's nobody's fault. What happened, happened and we can't do anything to fucking change that, and snarling at each other's throats isn't going to magically fix things or bring her back from the dead. So shut up and let's fucking move."

No one moves at first, standing in shock at Minseok's words and at what's just happened, but eventually they start walking again, Yixing patting Chanyeol's shoulder consolingly before taking the lead. They walk like robots, stiff and without enthusiasm, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Even Jongdae, floating beside Yixing like a flashlight is dim, barely sparking.

The imps are quiet, walking with each other, but Chanyeol hears Joonmyun mutter to Kyungsoo that he's okay, that it was just an amount of time before they lost another of their colony. He sounds so broken that Chanyeol wants to break down and cry.

He doesn't have the energy to focus on what Baekhyun's trying to say in his ear, doesn't have the energy to focus on Baekhyun in general, too busy repeating Lu Han's screamed words in his head. He knows he's useless, and he knows it is his fault. You just had to fucking shoot.

Chanyeol is so broken, so defeated, moving on autopilot and trying to block out Lu Han's periodic sideways glares that he doesn't even notice the change in terrain, doesn't notice the murky water becoming smaller puddles, and eventually damp ground.

They're nearing the edge of the Marshlands, on the edge of the infamous Calla, a place that no one dares to brave even in broad daylight, and he doesn't think he's quite ready for more.

--- The Calla ---

The mist is thick as ever , and the murky water cold through the thin material of his pants, but Jongdae is okay with it, okay with anything right now really, because he's got the water imp by his side, calm, caring and loving, to guide him through this, to stay with him until the end

"I'll never leave, even when we get to Amfi, even when it seems dark, dreary, like nothing will ever be okay, I will never willingly leave you Jongdae."

And Jongdae remembers those words, treasures those words, and the boy behind him, struggling through the marsh, tripping slightly over the tangled roots.

Jongdae smiles at him, gripping his hand tightly, falling even more in some kind of twisted love, with every flash of arm light that involuntarily bursts through his fingertips and across Joonmyun's wrists, and yes, Jongdae thinks to himself this journey will be completely worth it, worth the pain and the sleepless nights, the bickering and the constant feeling of death surrounding them. Joonmyun is at his side, and will be when this is all over, and that’s all Jongdae really has to keep going.

Even as they reach the Calla, leaving the marsh behind, Jongdae feels strong. Two weeks is not a long time to know someone, but it’s long enough to become attached, long enough to cling to each other in bare desperation, to make promises.

Perhaps not everything is meant to stay beautiful. Perhaps not every promise is meant to kept, no matter how deep inside one’s heart it comes from.


☁


Jongdae is tired, limbs aching and eyelashes fluttering ever so often as if about to close, feet dragging and a kind of weird guilt building in his stomach.

Joonmyun. Jongdae is attached, too attached, and he needs it to stop, this thing they have with stolen kisses and using each other safety blankets. He feels guilty, wrong, especially when he sees Chanyeol and Baekhyun, in each other's faces and bickering. They fight a lot, even more than Baekhyun and Lu han do, but neither of them notices the long stares they throw at each other when one isn't looking. Neither of them notices the way they gravitate towards each other, even in their sleep.

Jongdae notices. He notices everything. He notices the way Yixing tends to Kyungsoo each night, palms pressed to his forehead to relieve the mind numbing stress migraines. He notices Lu Han, estranged from the rest of the group and walking alone now, reading words off his bow and whispering them to himself, too full of his own pride to apologize to the closest thing that Elf has to a best friend.

Jongdae notices Minseok staying in fox form constantly, fur falling off in patches along his tail, limbs looking tired as he curls himself up into Baekhyun's arms and virtually ignores the Calla.

The Calla has been unforgiving, full of wind and storms, hyenas and harpies attacking them at every corner. It's tiring, this surviving thing, and Jongdae is guilty when he notices other things like his growing attachment to someone that he might die on, his own selfishness when he realizes that he's the only one out of them that doesn't sleep alone.

It needs to stop, this Joonmyun thing. The imp doesn't deserve it, doesn't deserve to be swept into the arms of someone who will either die or be forced back into the royal service. Jongdae can't protect Joonmyun forever, can't hide the imp behind him while he slashes the throats of every dangerous animal that attacks them.

In the end it isn't Jongdae who puts a stop to it. In fact, he doesn't even get a chance to open his mouth, Joonmyun waking up and brushing his hair back, genuine smile on his face for only a second before it falls, and he tells Jongdae they need to talk.

There's a lull here, an aura of calm in the air, and they've settled behind one of the many rocky hillsides on the Calla, eating their only source of food, Lu Han's honey bread. Jongdae despises the bread, loathing the flavour after eating it for too many weeks, but the bread smells like Lu Han, smells like Gaelgorn faerin, and it's kind of nice to know that Lu Han's brought a food that seems special to him.

Chanyeol and Lu Han are the only ones that seem to like the bread, Lu Han having eaten it his whole life, and Chanyeol saying it makes him nostalgic. Lu Han gives him a strange look at this, but they've been ignoring each other for days, being petty even in times like these.

Jongdae can't enjoy laughing at Lu Han and Baekhyun argue bread because he's being lead to an area away from the group, both of them ready to defend in case something attacks them. They are yet to see an elusive Calla wolf, but they take no chances.

"Jongdae, um." Joonmyun starts, licking his lips nervously and staring at Jongdae like he's unsure, and Jongdae hates when Joonmyun looks unsure. "This needs to end, this thing with us."

"I know." Jongdae says, blinking in surprise at Joonmyun's words. "I was just going to talk to you about the same thing."

"Oh thank Zafkra." Joonmyun says with a tiny relieved smile. "I feel guilty you know. Like we're stealing feelings from other people, we're being selfish when there shouldn't even be time for things like these."

"I understand. We can't cling to each other when everyone needs us." Jongdae agrees, and his heart hurts, but it's for the better. It's for the better.

"So I guess, this was easier than I thought it would be." Joonmyun mutters, looking at Jongdae with a soulful look in his eyes, large and pure and beautiful.

"Why did you think it would be hard?" Jongdae says, and he puts a hand on Joonmyun's arm out of habit, looking concerned. "Everything will be the same. We just can't sleep together, or kiss or whatever. We can just be friends."

"No Jongdae. We can't. I don't think I'll be able to look at you and just see us as friends." Joonmyun says, and it makes Jongdae's heart sink as he finally understands what Joonmyun is really saying. "I want us to not talk to each other, just take a complete break and focus on living."

"But-" Jongdae stutters, and his voice comes out weak.

"I need to take care of Kyungsoo." Joonmyun interrupts, and his eyes look sad, brimming. "Hyeri's death has hit him the hardest even if you can't tell, and I need to look after his needs. And I can't do that with all your needs."

"My needs?" Jongdae says incredelous. "What do you mean my needs? I'm the one that takes care of you constantly."

"No you don't Jongdae. You're clingy and you insist on taking care of me without bothering to ask if I can take care of myself." Joonmyun says slowly. "I don't want to fight, I want us to take this break or whatever it is on good terms. Let's go back."

"Thanks for telling me it bothered you. Thanks for just letting me do something you didn't want." Jongdae snaps, getting up and leaving Joonmyun alone. "You should have done this earlier if it's such a big deal to you. I was just doing what I thought was right."

"And so am I." Joonmyun calls out to him, but Jongdae is already out of earshot, grabbing a piece of bread out of Chanyeol's hands and eating like his life depends on it.

Not all promises are made to be kept.


☁

It’s calm. The mist muffles their footsteps as they walk, hushed conversation here and there, weapons hanging idly at their sides. Only Minseok seems readily alert, ears swivelling back and forth, claws digging nervously into a very annoyed Baekhyun’s forearms.

Lu Han leads as usual, walking swiftly at the head of the group, alone and quiet. He looks collected and nonchalant, like nothing could go wrong, but Jongdae knows better. Knows that Lu Han is constantly on edge, hand never too far from his sword, ears trained with supersonic hearing. Always waiting, always watching, always listening.

Jongdae is walking alone, trailing behind the group a bit. He watches Chanyeol pretend to listen to Yixing’s chattering. The Heiðrún Elf is chewing his nails, eyes boring into the back of Baekhyun’s head with an intensity that would normally make Jongdae laugh. Not today though.

Jongdae is fuming, warring with himself, wanting to go over to where Joonmyun is walking with the other imp. Joonmyun is talking with Kyungsoo, acting as if last night had never happened, as if he hadn’t calmly told Jongdae that they needed a break.

How the fuck is Jongdae even supposed to take a break when there’s barely even any of them here, when they’re trudging through a deadly mist on a mission from hell, when at any second they could be ripped from the Calladron and thrown into the afterlife. He’d wanted it, He’d wanted this break but not like this, not fucking like this.

Joonmyun had said back in the marshlands that he’d never leave, and Jongdae holds onto that even as he fights back tears, as he falls further and further back from the group. He tries to find it in himself to laugh when Minseok transforms in Baekhyun arms spitting at him as the other bats him away.

The sounds of bickering, of Lu Han snapping at them to pay attention and stay on guard, the sounds of Joonmyun’s twinkling laughter. They’re all muffled by the mist, by Jongdae’s loud, overbearing thoughts. He feels far away from the rest.

Jongdae knows he should just walk over to Joonmyun, apologize to him, beg him for forgiveness, say sorry for being an overwhelming idiot, for believing that they were stronger, for taking him for granted. He can’t. Jongdae’s pride is too much, and even as his mind screams at him to fix things, he stays back, watches, uncharacteristically quiet.

Jongdae is ready to ignore the group bickering, sighing softly to himself and focusing on the light noise of the ground crunching beneath his feet, and of the humming winds that attempt to cut through the thick clouds surrounding them.

Then he hears it. A snapping noise, followed by the scuffling of a nose sniffing along the ground. A split second warning, brief, nearly unnoticeable. A split second of sheer terror before the mist explodes and Jongdae is thrown sideways, sailing through the air to land on a sharp rock.

Calla wolves. Five of them, gigantic and powerful, fur glistening even in the dull sunlight, darting in and out of sight in the fog, snarling jaws and huge limbs. It’s Lu Han who jumps into action first, whipping out his bow, barking out orders; clear even in the chaos.

“Joonmyun, Kyungsoo watch out, look behind you!”

The two imps don’t hear Lu Han’s warning, swallowed by the shrill trumpet of the wolf that lands on the two of them, and Jongdae chokes on his own blood, trapped by the rocky ground, paralyzed with pain and fear.

He tries to call out, tries to join Lu Han in his orders, but Jongdae can’t move. He can only watch, pain subsiding into an almost pleasant numbness as a single fang pierces through Kyungsoo’s heart, lifeless body dropping to the grass to be forgotten forever, last breath taken in a shaky, seizure like motion.

Yixing streaks to Jongdae’s side, eyes wide as he surveys the damage, prodding and poking, using a ferociously fighting Minseok as cover against the wolves.

“The wound is too deep right now. I can’t move you yet Jongdae and I can’t stay here.” Yixing is speaking quickly, loudly, but Jongdae can barely hear him, struggling to keep his eyes open. “I need to go. I need to help. Hang in there okay?”

Jongdae can only do what he thinks is a nod, eyes streaming with tears, watching Baekhyun fight for his life against a wolf three times his size as Chanyeol flies across the Calla on all fours, trying to hide but failing.

Then it happens. A single wolf, the largest one, silver and beautiful, rising over the group as it rears on it’s hind legs, pouncing on Joonmyun like a cat pounces on a mouse. Teeth slashing through flesh, as the imp writhes helplessly, thrown in the air and caught, almost as if the wolf playing with it’s food.

Joonmyun's loud shriek is barely heard, drowned out by the screams of the wolves, of the others, desperately trying to stay alive.

The group is in chaos. Nothing is quiet, nothing is order, and no one really notices Joonmyun at first. No one notices Kyungsoo’s body beside him. No one notices his half mangled body, hanging from the mouth of the giant wolf, but Jongdae does. Mouth open in a silent scream, frozen in place, even as Yixing yells in his ear, tries to pull him away, to get him to move to safety.

Silence.

That's all Jongdae hears right now, like he's been caught in the blast of a nuclear bomb. Joonmyun's final cry is ringing in his ears like the fading sounds of a siren in the distance, but he feels nothing. No emotions are running through him, no tears fall. He’s frozen, legs stiff and eyes squeezed shut, unaware of his surroundings, unaware of anything but the anguish threatening to pour through him and out of him. Jongdae barely registers himself being carried, lifted off the ground by the strong arms of the human sorcerer.

He can hear screaming. Loud, shrill, desperate, and it takes him a while to realize that it's his own voice, never stopping, nearly silent to him, but deafening to everyone else.

Hysterics.


☁

When Jongdae opens his eyes he’s on a bed of leaves, the giant ones of the trees back in Lei, and he can barely recognize Yixing through his blurry vision. He tries to sit up, but a gentle hand pushes him back down, and it’s then that Jongdae finally feels the pain of his injuries, making a strangled choking noise, blinking fast to try and clear his sight.

“Jongdae don’t move.” Yixing’s voice is right in his ear, comforting, but too loud, and he winces away from it, trying to sit up again. He needs to find Joonmyun and make sure he’s okay. He needs to apologize to him for their fight. Yixing pushes him down again, threatening to have Lu Han bind him to the hard ground.

“Yixing, why can’t I see?” Jongdae manages to croak out, turning his head to try and see Yixing, and gagging back an intense need to throw up, world spinning and pain shooting up his spine.

"When the wolf threw you, both your head and back were severely injured hitting a rock." Yixing says, voice still too loud, and Jongdae deflates into the ground. He can barely remember what had happened back on the open calla, just remembers being thrown, and screaming and-

“Joonmyun.” Jongdae yelps, once again trying to get up from the ground, snarling when Yixing tightly grips his arm, unaffected by the feeble electricity escaping from Jongdae’s fingers. “I need to talk to Joonmyun.”

Jongdae can’t see Yixing, but he hears him sigh, and Jongdae knows the reality before he hears it, squeezes his eyes shut to fight the world, collapsing back on the rocky ground, fingers digging into the leaves.

“Joonmyun’s dead Jongdae.” Yixing says quietly, as if afraid to break the news, but Jongdae just nods, laying back down and staring into the nothing that his eyes can see right now. The pain of his injuries is becoming weak, overcome by a sheer hopelessness, loss of faith in the days ahead.

"I'll never leave, even when we get to Amfi, even when it seems dark, dreary, like nothing will ever be okay, I will never willingly leave you Jongdae."

Not willingly, never willingly, but on bad terms yes. It still doesn't hit Jongdae right away though, and sleep takes over as Yixing chants something quietly to him.


--------------------------
♔; bravery ; : the quality that allows someone to do things that are dangerous or frightening : the quality or state of being brave.
--------------------------

The wolves don’t return that night, or the next, but Chanyeol can’t sleep, can’t even close his eyes, not when they’re so in the open like this, surrounded by the mist. He fails to see even ten feet away, and his heart pounds as he tosses and turns on the ground, knees brought up to his chest. The silence isn’t crippling tonight, but the fear is, screams fresh in his ears, blood swimming behind his eyelids.

The others beside him are fast asleep, wearied and spent, and though Chanyeol can feel the same fatigue they feel, he can’t shake his fear. He can’t stop the images of the tiny water sprite trapped between the jaws of a great monster, can’t stop the memories of Jongdae’s shrieks, shrill and awful piercing the air from invading his thoughts, living behind his eyelids as he closes them.

Chanyeol doesn’t seem to be alone in his struggles of sleeping though, and he flinches at the sound of a soft whimper coming from his right. He sits up immediately, eyes wide, scrambling backwards until his back hits one of the tall ominous trees, thin and dead, shadows in the darkness of the fog.

His fear is short lived however and he blinks in surprise to see a pair of eyes, glowing, deep, regrettably beautiful. Another kind of fear makes it’s way to Chanyeol’s surface, and he blinks slowly, breath coming out in a great swoosh.

Something is wrong and the eyes come closer until the source is right next to him, and Chanyeol can’t look away, but he wants to. The only thing that stops him from crawling back to his sleeping spot and ignoring the presence next to him is the quiet voice, devoid of any snark, slightly wobbling as it tumbles out into the air.

“I’m scared.”

In this moment, this late night fog, with the thin light of the moon barely peeking through, Baekhyun doesn’t look like the prince he usually does. He doesn’t have the passive arrogance he normally possesses, and his eyes don’t flash with contempt. Instead he looks vulnerable, drawn into himself, eyes shining with unshed tears and robes tattered, the scar from his torn earring seeming to stand out in the dim light. Chanyeol is overcome with the need to just pull him into his arms and hold him, to let him know that they will get through this, and everything will be alright.

But Chanyeol can’t do that for him, because Chanyeol can’t even do that for himself, and he looks away from the Lei Elf, staring down at his hands instead, breathing hard, a sound that seems amplified in the dead quiet air. His own eyes are brimming full, ready to spill over. Their situation seems hopeless now, even more hopeless than it had when they’d started out, and Chanyeol’s ears droop, shoulders sagging. He lets himself slide down the tree, curling his arms around his legs.

He doesn’t answer Baekhyun, but his body language does the talking for him, and he starts at a tentative hand on his shoulder, feels delicate fingers pry his hands away from his knees. He glances over to the Elf Prince in confusion, and his heart nearly breaks just looking at him, at the pain in his gaze, and the desperation in which grips one of Chanyeol’s hands in both of his, tears flowing now.

“Please, just. I need someone right now. Please Chanyeol.” Baekhyun’s voice is strained, barely above a whisper, and Chanyeol just stares at him, breathing uneven, heart pounding in his throat as he fights to hold back the emotion and terror that’s been consuming him the whole night.

Chanyeol can’t do it though, can’t act like he doesn’t care, like he doesn’t want to, and he slides his hand out of Baekhyun’s grasp, holding open his arms in a kind of weak invitation. If this were earlier in their journey, even a couple of weeks ago, he would have blushed at this kind of contact, but the way Baekhyun crawls into his lap and tries to melt himself into his body, shaking with the sobs he’s finally let go is heart wrenching. Chanyeol stills, wrapping his arms around Baekhyun’s thinning frame, burying his nose in hair that once soft, is now matted and disgusting, with blood and dirt. He doesn’t care though, can’t bring himself to care, stomach twisting at the pure anguish he feels coming from the Elf and from himself.

They stay like this for a long time, silent and still, and for the first time in a while, Chanyeol feels a sort of comfort emerge in their embrace. He understands, thinks about Joonmyun and Jongdae, and the pain that they all feel, and he knows that within this group, on a journey like the one they’re embarking on, he doesn’t have room for petty fights, for feelings of hatred, and he doesn’t have the time for internal denial. All they have is each other.

When sleep finally takes them, finally blankets them in the depths of nightmares, to look upon the two, curled into each other, and clinging like the whole world depends on the feeling of the other, one would never guess the snapping tongues of the daytime, the annoyed shared looks. One would only see beings stripped of their own selves, lost in the fever of a pain that should not be theirs, that should not be anyone’s.

Looking back, Chanyeol will say this is the night that changed everything, the night that made him feel a glimmer of hope, even in the suffering misery that consumed them all, and he thinks before his eyes finally droop and his tense fear subsides as he drifts into a twitching horrible sleep, that maybe, just maybe things might actually be okay.

Because right here, right now, someone who was once so strong, who once hid behind a veil of himself, is depending on him, needs him, and Chanyeol needs this, needs to feel like he means something, and is important, even though his mind is telling him that he’s the only one awake, the only one available and that it doesn’t really mean anything.

Baekhyun’s soft breaths on his neck, and fingers gripping tightly to his shirt, even in his sleep tell him otherwise, and it’s with renowned hope that Chanyeol falls asleep.



------------------------------
♔; cour•age; : the ability to do something that frightens one. : strength in the face of pain or grief.
------------------------------


“Being alone isn’t going to help you, you know.”

The voice is soft, quiet, familiar to it’s usual tone but less deceptive, less veiled than usual, and it’s that observation that has Jongdae glancing up from the rippling water, and at the face that’s hovering over him, looking down at him genuine concern.

“I'm not spreading my misery to the others this way." Jongdae murmurs, turning back to the water and continuing the therapeutic dragging of a twig through the clear stream, intent on seeing every tiny wave move in front of him. "It's easy to pretend while we're travelling, but it's harder when we're still."

He looks up at the Elf who's sat down next to him, and is relieved to not see the same sad and pained expression that the other's give him. Jongdae doesn't want their pity, he doesn't want their condolences. He drops the stick into the water and watches it splash before floating away, too far into the mist for him to see it any more. His ribs ache, screaming from his injury, healing fast, but not fast enough. Not enough.

"Sitting there and just watching everyone who has someone and I have no one now. And then I'm reminded that I didn't have to come on this journey. I'm not in the prophecy. I could have stayed back in Lei and fought off the mist with the rest of the Sprites there." Jongdae's voice comes out faster and higher pitched the more he continues, but he can't help it, the anxiety and the fear and the grief. It's all just too much. "I could not have even met him and I would never know, I would never know and now, here we are lost on the fucking Calla with no hope left and what do I see?"

Jongdae stares at Lu Han, eyes stretched wide open and lips curving almost manically. He's stopped talking, as if waiting for Lu Han to prod him into continuing, but Lu Han says nothing, crossing his legs and looking right back at him. Lu Han is patient.

"I see water." Jongdae spits out, sounding pained, voice almost choking in the back of his throat. "I see water and- and that's Joonmyun's magic you know. And everyone is so fucking happy to see water because our supplies are running low and it feels safe here. And I'm not happy. I'm not fucking happy because I'm just a pile of misery."

Jongdae is crying now, silently, tears rolling down his cheeks and hitting the water. The sound is amplified by the stillness of the air around them, the characteristic silence of the mist.

"So you loved him then?" Lu Han finally speaks, and he doesn't move to comfort Jongdae, doesn't hug him or even touch him. His tone betrays nothing but impassive curiosity, and usually Jongdae would detest it, would snap at him to be compassionate for once, but right now it's oddly soothing.

"I don't know." Jongdae chokes out, stifling a sob with his fist, not caring about the stray shocks stinging his tongue. "How could I have loved him? I only knew him for three weeks. But it hurts like I did."

"That's because love doesn't just decide to enter someone's heart on a schedule, Jongdae."

Jongdae is surprised by Lu Han's words, looking back up at him, eyes shining with dewy tears. He's curious now, leaning his head in his hands, breathing slowly.

"I've never understood that whole concept that love is something that must grow over time. 'oh you've only known them for a week how could you already like them so much?' You know? We feel other deep emotions for people so much quicker, so why not love?" Lu Han still sounds collected, and his voice has a serene effect. An artificial warmth seeps through Jongdae's skin, and a smile nearly tugs at the corners of his mouth at Lu Han's silent and subtle comfort.

"We feel hatred within seconds, and it's the opposite of love; a strong emotion in it's on." Lu Han continues, "So why not love someone quickly? See our circumstances. Being forced together, seeing the most awful things together. A being becomes attached, and it's very usually immediate, no matter the species. So did you love him?"

“I guess I did then.” Jongdae says, and he shakes himself, heaves in a deep breath. “I still do. Just because he’s not here doesn’t mean I don’t still love him.”

“That’s right.” Lu Han’s voice is gentle, more so than Jongdae has ever heard it, and Jongdae swear he sees the hint of a fond smile. “Jongdae, do you know what people who love each other want to see from the other?”

Jongdae shakes his head in confusion, but he doesn't say anything, just waits for Lu Han to continue.

"They want to see them be happy." Lu Han says simply. "They want them to stop moping, and to talk to their friends and to do the job they're supposed to do."

"What friends?" Jongdae replies, sharper than intended. "There are no friends here."

"We're all friends here." Lu Han says, sighing deeply and settling into the thin yellow grass beside Jongdae. "We want you to come back and eat with us."

"We're all friends?" Jongdae mutters disbelievingly. "Are you and Chanyeol friends?"

Lu Han hesitates, blinking to himself, and Jongdae knows that not even Lu Han knows the answer to that.

"I don't know." Lu Han says quietly. "But you're missing my point, Jongdae. Stop wallowing in misery. Kyungsoo didn't wallow in misery, Joonmyun didn't wallow in misery. Your injury is supposed to be healed soon, but we need to leave tomorrow."

"How am I supposed to walk?" Jongdae asks, and he sounds bitter, voice scathing.

"You can shrink." Lu Han says shortly. "One of us can carry you until you can walk on your own."

"Doesn't that set us back?" Jongdae says uncertainly. "I won't be able to help if anything happens and two of us aren't that helpful."

"It'll be fine." Lu Han says, and he gets up, exhaling slightly and reaches out for Jongdae's hand to pull him up. "If we stay here we're just sitting out in the open waiting for the wolves to come back."

Jongdae falters, but he takes Lu Han's hand and let's himself be led back to where the others are sitting, some asleep and some eating tiny rations of the dwindling food supply.

Yixing is as quiet as usual, but he smiles gently at Jongdae when he sits down, running his hands along his sides and humming, probably assessing his state. A warmth spreads along Jongdae's skin and he sighs, grateful to have someone like Yixing here, grateful that he wasn't left for dead back at the rock.

"You should lay down and rest." Yixing says gently, a suggestion, but the way he pushes Jongdae's shoulders tells him that it's not a suggestion but an order. "I think it's safest if you let Lu Han carry you. He's the most versatile person we have and you can fit in his pocket."

"Look at me, the great Kim Jongdae, riding in someone's pocket for a day." He mutters darkly, rolling onto his stomach like he's been instructed to and glaring at Baekhyun. It's all his fault, Jongdae has decided. It's all that asshole's fucking fault for being his employer. Jongdae could have had a normal life, maybe died in the mist at home with his family.

Instead he's in the middle of a barren wasteland filled with wolves and other awful things in the middle of bone chilling mist with a bunch of bitchy Elves and a human that speaks as if he's on some diplomatic mission with every word. At least he still has Minseok. He still has his best friend, small and petite but perfect, ready to slap the daylights out of him when he's being stupid.

He looks around for Minseok and finds him asleep, tail twitching nervously and ears swivelling, always on the look out. Jongdae stares at him, not able to get up and go over, and not able to call out either, not wanting to risk people asking why he's calling Minseok over, but Jongdae needs small animal snuggles, needs something to hold amidst the desperation he feels.

Minseok doesn't wake up though, and Jongdae falls with Yixing quietly humming more warmth into him. Strangely enough, the last thing he remembers are Lu Han's words to him.

"Jongdae, do you know what people who love each other want to see from the other?"

----------------------------
♔; loy•al•ty; : giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. ; the quality of being loyal to someone or something.
----------------------------

Chanyeol doesn't have time over the next few days to really think about his night with Baekhyun. They're too busy scrambling to catch up for lost time, not sleeping, not eating, just going. Always on edge now, the consequences of letting their guard down hanging over everyone's heads, making things tense.

Baekhyun is the same, the same snarky remarks, the same biting temper, and the same whining. He acts as though he never crawled into Chanyeol's lap, acts as if they barely know each other, but Chanyeol catches him more often than not, staring. The same heavy gaze that he'd received back in Lei, back when they knew nothing about each other.

It confuses Chanyeol, makes him feel lost. He's been having his nightmares again, huge looming shapes, bigger than the Amphaerie drowning out his sleep and pouring into his waking thoughts, always vague, never properly remembering.

He never says anything about them though, just quietly stores them away in case they turn out to be real like the siren nightmares. He's heard the voices of the Amphaerie so much, seen them glide through murky tunnels and weave through ruins so much that he feels like he could almost know them, almost see them standing right in front of him.

But there's no hope for it to stop. He doesn't have a protection prayer, doesn't have anyone close enough to him for a protection prayer, and it bothers him. Chanyeol knows the Amphaerie can see them, and he knows by some vague understanding of hand gestures and cloudy pools of water that it was them who sent the wolves.

The Amphaerie seem to be angry that they're surviving, confused about this channel into Chanyeol's mind. They've realized that he can see them too, and they seem to be arriving in his dreams less and less. He hopes he's made them nervous, hopes that maybe they'll leave him the fuck alone.

Chanyeol is terrified of the Amphaerie, and he almost wants them to slow down, almost wants to laugh at the thought of more wolves, because there's something worse to come ladies and gentlemen

Ever since the first day, Jongdae hasn't appeared from inside Lu Han's pocket, and it could almost be cute, the way he pops out to be fed bread from the Elf, but to Chanyeol it's heartbreaking.

There's one terrifying thing that's become clear as they walk for days without seeming to get anywhere. They're lost. The wolves had put them off track in their haste to get to safety, to escape the hulking demons, and even Yixing seems confused, pulling up his magical map in mid-air and frowning at the original route.

"We should at the tunnels by now." He says gloomily, making it disappear with an angry crack and glaring at the rocky ground. "I think we're accidentally heading towards the ocean, which is bad."

"So should we just try heading in a direction we think is right then?" Lu Han says, and he's fiddling with his bow again, a habit that Chanyeol has come to despise, annoying him for no good reason at all.

"That's really the only option we have." Yixing says quietly, and he sits down on the ground, blowing air through his nose in exasperation. "We should settle here for the night though. We can't lose any more time and we need rest."

As if on cue, Baekhyun yawns loudly, reaching for Lu Han's satchel and pulling out the meager amount of bread that's left. He stares at it hopelessly, like he's expecting it to suddenly double, and he looks up at Lu Han with pleading eyes.

"How is this going to be enough to survive the rest of the way and home?" He complains, tearing off a chunk and chewing it down, actions the opposite of his worried words.

"It'll last if you don't fucking eat so much." Lu Han snaps, grabbing the other had of the bread from Baekhyun and breaking it into two pieces, handing one to a surprised looking Chanyeol. "We need to start rationing. Eating every two days. There's too many of us to keep eating what we have been."

"Well it's handy that the number of 'us' keeps dwindling isn't it." Baekhyun bites out, and his words are searing, cutting through the air like a knife. Even Lu Han looks shocked at his outburst, mouth snapping shut and eyes looking homicidal, but it's Jongdae who responds, appearing out of Lu Han's pocket with a deafening clap, landing in front of Baekhyun and looking terrifying.

"What the fuck did you just say you insensitive bastard?" Jongdae looks furious, fingers crackling with electricity waiting to burst, and Baekhyun scrambles backwards, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. "I'm so fucking sick of you making comments all the time about shit you shouldn't be saying anything about when you do nothing."

"I don't-"

"It's true. You don't do anything." Lu Han cuts in, stopping Baekhyun's excuse before it has the chance to breathe air. "I mean neither does Chanyeol, but at least he tries."

"I thought you said trying wasn't enough." Chanyeol pipes up from where he's been sitting silently next to Baekhyun. "Thought you just had to do."

Lu Han's eyes flicker to him, and for the briefest of moments Chanyeol thinks he sees regret, but then it's gone. "That doesn't matter right now. What matters is that Baekhyun has a fucking attitude that needs to change because no one here is going to deal with it any longer."

"He's not that bad." Chanyeol mutters, but he says it mostly to himself, only Baekhyun hearing. The Lei Elf glances at him quickly before looking back up at the other two, breathing shallowly and angrily.

"Of course I have an attitude. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn’t be forced to fucking wade through water and witness death and be in constant danger. I should be at home safe in the shelters waiting for you lot to fix everything." Baekhyun snarls, and Chanyeol feels a flash of sympathy for him, because in Baekhyun's mind he doesn't belong here. He's lived his whole life with the notion that he should be doted on, that he should be protected and valued and that he is better. In Baekhyun's mind, his words are completely justified, and though Chanyeol doesn't agree with it, he's finally starting to understand it, to understand that Baekhyun simply doesn't know how to not be that way.

In Baekhyun's mind, his words are completely justified, and though Chanyeol doesn't agree with it, he's finally starting to understand it, to understand that Baekhyun simply doesn't know how to not be that way.

Yixing and Minseok stay silent, observing but not butting in. They're usually like this, sitting on the sidelines and only speaking up if they think it's absolutely necessary. Yixing looks like he wants to speak, but he also looks hesitant, like this is an argument that he has no place in, and in a way it is.

It's something that Chanyeol's seen coming a long time, a standoff between Lu Han and Baekhyun that he thought would happen back in Lei, during the cold crackling tension that was their first conversation.

"If you think you shouldn't be here, why don't you just go home?" Lu Han says with a note of finality in his voice, turning away from Baekhyun and sitting on the ground. Jongdae goes with him, and they talk quietly as if these words were never exchanged, as if Baekhyun isn't sitting still, shaking slightly.

“You know, being an Elf is all about honour.” Baekhyun calls after him, voice carrying surprisingly well in the muffled, heavy air. “It’s all about honour, and you have none.”

“Excuse me?” Lu Han growls, whipping back around to face Baekhyun, and his face twists into an awkward looking sneer, unattractive and feral. “What do I care about honour. Honour is a lie.”

“Honour is how we conduct our lives. Respect only the deserving ones. Give honour to everyone and expect it in return. Loyalty. You have none of that. I may be some snobby brat that you hate but I have my loyalty, and I have my honour.”

"Honour is a lie. Death before dishonour? Blood is thicker than water? What is true honour, but the honour you give to yourself. What is true loyalty, but the loyalty you give to the individual; to the personality and very being, not loyalty and honour to which you are forced through tradition. Your entire system is a lie. If someone is kind to you, you're not indebted to them, you're not responsible to pay them back.” Lu Han pauses, eyes murderous now, glinting with a different light than they usually do, a dangerous one, void of any emotion but pure anger.

“You believe in your flimsy royalty? For what. You can see now that the second war hits you are suddenly nothing, thrown into the mist with no skills, no royalty, no fancy code or alliances. Where is your honour now, forest prince? or did you leave it back in the marshlands with your precious, precious robes?

Or perhaps back on the slopes of the Calla with the water sprite. Do you think he died for honour? No he died because circumstance called for it, not because some higher order led him to it. So don't come fucking shoving your 'honour' down my throat because it doesn't exist, and never will"

Lu Han turns away again, this time not turning back or even acknowledging Baekhyun, and a note of silence rings through the air.

Baekhyun continues to shake, making small movements like he's about to get up, but falling back down again, confused. He glances to Chanyeol once, stares at him for a long time, for reasons unknown to Chanyeol, before reaching and taking his hand, squeezing it slightly in a way that's uncharacteristic and kind of frightening.

"Thanks." Baekhyun says, and his voice sounds bright even if his eyes look dead. "I'll be going home now."

"What?" Chanyeol blurts out, gaping at Baekhyun, hoping that he's heard wrong. "You can't just go home."

"Yes I can." Baekhyun says smiling. "I'm not needed here. I don't want to be here, I'm going to walk home."

"With no food or water or protection." Chanyeol says, and his voice is hushed, words tumbling out quickly and nervously. "You can't."

"Yes. I. Can." Baekhyun says, punctuating each word, and the look he gives Chanyeol is fond. "I'll probably die whichever direction I go in, with you guys or home. So I choose home." He pauses. "Lu Han chooses home, and he's in charge around here. So off I go."

"Baekhyun." Chanyeol tries, but he stops his words when Baekhyun gets to his feet, waving to the edge of the tiny treed area they're hiding in and turning back, only once.

"I'm going home now." He calls out to the group at large, eyes resting on no one, but on everyone. "Have fun."

Baekhyun disappears into the mist, walking confidently and briskly, and Chanyeol is left sitting in shock. He feels suffocated and confused, knows that Baekhyun is walking into a fog bank of death, knows the wolves will easily take someone alone, but he's torn.

"Should we go after him?" Yixing asks tentatively, looking to Lu Han for guidance, but the Elf is silent, gazing after Baekhyun with a mild curiosity and some kind of relief splayed across his smug face, Jongdae sitting tiny on his lap.

Minseok doesn't say anything, but he looks at Chanyeol, eyes betraying nothing of what he's feeling. Chanyeol sees it as a signal, an order almost, to go, and he confirms it when the sprite tilts his head slightly in the direction Baekhyun had gone in.

"I'm going to go get him." Chanyeol says, and he glares in Lu Han's general direction. "Can I borrow your bow?"

"What so you can never return it again after being slaughtered by wolves?" Lu Han scoffs, and his eyes are dark when they meet Chanyeol's, that flash of regret from earlier not returning.

"Oh I'll be back." Chanyeol says, and he's surprised at how self assured his voice sounds, at how confident his words tumble out, despite the shaking of his hands, and the sweat on his forehead. "I'll be back with your bow and with Baekhyun. He can't have gone far, and don't you dare say good riddance that he's leaving."

"Well I mean-" Lu Han starts, voice sounding sarcastic, but Chanyeol cuts him off with a wave of his hand.

"I always knew you didn't have a heart Lu Han, but not this bad." Chanyeol says impassively, in a way that mirrors Lu Han's own mannerisms, and there it is, the spark of bright gold in Lu Han's eyes, the concern that he's seen before.

"Go then." Lu Han says, pushing his bow into Chanyeol's arms and giving him a long measured look. "Prove your worth useless Knight."


☁

Being in the mist with the others is one thing, but being alone is something that Chanyeol isn't sure he's okay with experiencing again. The silence is smothering here, pressing down from all sides, almost like the first time Chanyeol went into the mist, the first time he encountered a wolf. He walks without direction, scanning the ground for signs of Baekhyun, clutching Lu Han's bow close and breathing heavily, lungs on fire and eyes burning from how long he's kept them open, afraid to blink.

He feels his steps faltering, wants to sit down and calm his breathing, make the pounding of blood in his ears just stop already, but he can't. He needs to find Baekhyun.

A part of Chanyeol isn't sure why he's even out here, why he's even bothering chasing after someone who's hot and cold, someone who has outdated views and a superiority complex, but another nagging part of him tells him that of course he's risking his life to find someone who probably won't come back with him because he likes him.

He really does, has since the second he saw him. Baekhyun is beautiful, even with his words that make Chanyeol want to tear his tongue right at the seams, because strangely out of everyone, even Lu Han, Baekhyun has stuck with him the most. Even while complaining he glues himself to Chanyeol, claiming to despise everyone yet curling up next to the taller Elf at night when he thinks no one is watching.

And Chanyeol will never forget the vulnerability in Baekhyun's eyes when he'd pleaded with him, will never forget just how soft he had felt cradled into his chest.

The mist is thick, foggy, blowing in from all sides like a rolling cloud right now, and Chanyeol can barely see three feet in front of him, tripping over a branch that nearly sends him careening into a rocky pile. He ends up with his knee throbbing, cursing out loud and remembering Lu Han's words, useless repeating itself in his head, over and over.

Screaming. Shrill screaming, off in the distance, or maybe close by, he can't tell, but it's screaming, familiar, terrifying, and Chanyeol sprints towards the sound, heart pounding, knee shrieking, and hands trembling as he loads the bow, holding it at the ready.

Chanyeol isn't prepared for what he sees, isn't prepared for an image that will scar him for his entire life, skimming into his nightmares even on the brightest of nights, even when the stars shine over top of him and he has love on his side.

Baekhyun looks unrecognizable, matted with blood and curled up into a ball, a wolf over top of him but he's alive, screaming, a sound that has Chanyeol's blood curdling and his hands wanting to come up to his ears. It's like sheet metal being dragged along a floor, a violin bow used wrong, and Chanyeol raises the bow, steadies himself, tries to steady himself, tries so hard.

He's frozen again. Hands shaking so badly he can't even hold the cord back, arms like jelly and strength all gone. Chanyeol can't move, can't breathe, just stands there watching Baekhyun writhe on the ground in agony, watches the blood drain from his body and his convulsing slow, and then he hears it, a voice in his head, screaming in desperation, ordering him.

"Chanyeol just shoot the fucking bow."

And Chanyeol does, aiming high, right for the monsters jugular, and his hand is steady now as he pulls back, as it pierces through fur, and flesh and bone, exploding into a flurry of golden fire. The wolf screams now, howls echoing back through the dense fog wall, lost among the vapour.

He's too late. He's too fucking late because Baekhyun isn't breathing, isn't moving, body limp and mouth hanging open, and fuck, there's too much blood, one arm twisted back so far the bone is sticking out. Chanyeol crumples to the ground beside him, trying to find a sign of life, cradling him in his arms and lifting him up, praying to Zafkra that Baekhyun doesn't die, that he doesn't give up.

It feels like a month, walking back to where they've set up camp, blindly, feet on autopilot, arms screaming from the dead weight of Baekhyun, bow hanging loosely from his back. There's blood everywhere, on Baekhyun, on him, on the ground, staining the gentle purple grass an ugly red, glistening even in the dreary light of the mist.

Chanyeol doesn't remember much of getting back, barely registers Yixing nearly fainting at the sight of Baekhyun's mangled body, barely registers Lu Han standing in front of him after Yixing's taken him away. He feels faint, nauseous, pressure rushing in from all parts of his head, from all parts of his body, vision blurring and hands feeling numb.

Lu Han is talking to him, but Chanyeol hears nothing, just hears the shrill screaming of Baekhyun, and the howling of the wolf. Lu Han seems to realize this, tugging on Chanyeol's wrist and pushing him down by his shoulders, and he doesn't let go, doesn't uncurl his fingers, but Chanyeol doesn't care.

He turns to Lu Han with a weak smile, the world swimming in and out of vision, as the full brunt of his held in panic hits him, swaying forward and lurching, but accomplishing nothing but air.

"I did it. I killed a wolf, I shot when I was supposed to." Chanyeol babbles, eyes dazed and wild as he stares at Lu Han, as he tries to make sense of what's happening around him, but he grins. "I was too late though, wasn't I? It's my fault again right?"

He doesn't hear Lu Han's answer though, falling forwards and not waking up until much later, consumed by the swirling mist, by the intense trauma he doesn't understand.

--------------------------------
♔; at•tach•ment; : full of affection or fondness; the condition of being attached to something or someone, in particular.
• affection, fondness, or sympathy for someone or something.
--------------------------------

Chanyeol isn't sure how he survives the next few days, isn't sure how anyone survives the next few days. He might not make it. Yixing had said solemnly. Even with my magic he might be too far gone.

The atmosphere should be awkward, should be tense, but it somehow isn't. Everyone is focused on whether or not Baekhyun will live, and Chanyeol should be blaming Lu Han, should be blaming Jongdae but he can't. He can't because he knows what it feels like to accidentally cause a death, knows that no matter what, it isn't their fault. They had every right to be upset with Baekhyun, and Baekhyun had every right to be upset himself, and to leave.

The only blame lies in the wolf, in the Amphaerie, and Chanyeol feels a spark of pure hatred flow through him, clenches his hands into fists, and stares into the disgusting mist, stares across the moor and the shadows of a few trees in the distance. He holds back his tears, doesn't cry now. Chanyeol doesn't feel a sense of desperation, sitting next to Baekhyun and waiting, hoping he'll wake up. He feels a numb sense of need. Baekhyun needs to wake up because Chanyeol is selfish, and Chanyeol had just started to understand the Elf, and to become attached, and he can't have that torn away from him now.

At least Baekhyun is breathing, laying shallowly on Yixing's overused leaf, limbs put back together and blood cleaned from his face and body. Those are the minor injuries, the minor things that can be taken care of right away, the broken bones and internal bleeding, gashes and bruises. It's the trauma that Yixing is struggling to fix, struggling to piece back together his very mind. Head damage is the hardest, Yixing had explained. It drains him of his power, makes his mind dizzy and his throat dry, and he borrows faerin from all of them, taking so much gold light from Lu Han that the Elf keels over out of exhaustion, waking up much later.

He's borrowing power from Chanyeol today, sitting in front of him with his eyes closed, clasping both of Chanyeol's hands, drawing forth every bit of faerin he can get from deep inside. Yixing is shocked at how much faerin Chanyeol has, a rich red, flowing from him like flames, licking at Yixing's arms and face, hot and powerful. It's the laws, the Heiðrún laws that prevent the proper use of magic, that tell them not to use their full strength, and Chanyeol is full, brimming with it. He's ready to give it all up, to let Yixing take every last bit of energy from his body and transfer it to Baekhyun, to feel like he's somehow helping, somehow fixing the dying Elf next to him.

Chanyeol wants to stay with Baekhyun while Yixing hovers over around his head, massages and chants, but Lu Han pulls him away, unexpected and confusing. Chanyeol is weak, teetering from the loss of energy, but he follows him, past where Jongdae and Minseok are sleeping, and behind the large rock. It's quiet back here, more so than the rest of the Calla and Chanyeol leans against the cool surface, fanning his face and attempting to stop the overbearing heat that's coursing through him.

He looks at Lu Han with a kind of tired curiosity, taking in his exhausted demeanor, eyes drooping and golden hair greasy and matted. Lu Han is sitting cross-legged in front of him, hands clasped together in his lap like he's addressing a high council, eyes glittering gold, but a shade Chanyeol doesn't recognize, an emotion he can't quite read.

"So um." Lu Han starts, and then stops, licking his lips and glancing behind him, a nervous habit they all have now. Look behind you. Look around you. Danger is everywhere.

"Why are you talking me?" Chanyeol says, and he tries to sound cold, but his voice just comes out sounding strained and uneasy, and he sighs, regarding Lu Han with a long, careful look.

"Well, how are you feeling?" Lu Han asks in a stiff voice, scratching the back of his neck and looking awkward. He's trying, and it's kind of nice, but now isn't the time. Chanyeol can't deal with Lu Han's on and off feelings and morals.

"Why do you care?" Chanyeol mumbles, hoping that Lu Han will just leave him alone, will let him go back to Baekhyun's side to listen to his soft breathing, to make sure he still is breathing.

Lu Han doesn't say anything, just gives Chanyeol another one of his piercing measured looks, and it's maddening the way he just sits there, no biting remark, not even the flash of fake concern he usually sees. It drives Chanyeol crazy, just sitting here in silence with his thoughts threatening to make his very heart cave in. If Baekhyun can't act like his snarky self, someone has to.

"Spit it out Lu Han." Chanyeol says, irritation seeping into his voice, and Lu Han hesitates, but he's suddenly crawling close to Chanyeol, getting up on his knees and hovering in front of him in a way that makes him kind of nervous.

"I'm going to hug you." Lu Han says, and his voice sounds metallic, tense and Chanyeol almost wants to laugh because the Elf looks so sincere about it, eyebrows creasing and bottom lip jutting out slightly. "Yes I'm going to hug you. You need to be comforted and I'm bad with apologies."

Chanyeol leans backwards, as if molding himself to the rock and just stares at Lu Han. This is new, this Lu Han. He looks like he's actually trying, to be nice, or whatever he's aiming for, and Chanyeol relaxes, opening his arms dramatically and rolling his eyes.

"Hug me then you fucking idiot." He says, beckoning Lu Han forward. Lu Han awkwardly wraps his arms around Chanyeol, and it's painful almost, how he squeezes him once and pulls back as if on fire, eyes doubtful.

"Congratulations." Chanyeol says weakly, and this could almost be funny, will maybe be funny later, but Baekhyun is dying and Chanyeol can barely breathe, let alone laugh. "You have a soul."

"I'm sorry." Lu Han says, and he's frowning deeply, words coming out slowly, as if he's afraid to trip on them. "I've been kind of horrible to you since we first met."

"You kidnapped me." Chanyeol points out, and he does feel a better, resting his face on his palm, leaning forward sleepily.

"If I hadn't kidnapped you, you would have died in the mist."

"You still kidnapped me."

"I had to."

"I know. I know." Chanyeol says, and he exhales shakily, closing his eyes and running a hand through his hair, wincing at its disgustingness. They need to find clean water soon.

"I know it's not your fault Hyeri died." Lu Han continues, and his emotions are on his face now; guilt, worry, insecurity. "I was just-"

"We were all upset. Things happen. People say things." Chanyeol says shrugging and standing up, ready to go back and be by Baekhyun's side, mind flying away from the current conversation and into thoughts of his and Baekhyun's arguments, confusion over his apparent attachment. "It's okay."

"Okay." Lu Han says, almost to himself, and he nods, also to himself, smiling only the tiniest bit, gentle and genuine.

☁

When Baekhyun wakes up, Chanyeol is asleep, holding one of Baekhyun's hands in his, lips pressed to the tips of his fingers. Baekhyun doesn't notice at first, eyes staying closed and breathing increasing rapidly, before his system calms and his eyes flutter open. He feels heavy, body thrumming with some kind of warm magic that feels almost familiar, yet so different from how his body usually is. Baekhyun tries, and fails to lift his arms, getting frustrated when he can't move anything, can't even turn his head. He's too weak, too tired, and sleep seems like such a good option right now, though his brain is fuzzily arguing with him that he's been asleep for too long, that he has to wake up or Lu Han will yell at him.

The ground feels hard against his back, uncomfortable and not what he's used to, and Baekhyun frowns, opening his eyes for real this time and turning his head, slowly, blinking away the dizziness, the blurring of his vision and the pressure that feels like it's closing in on his eyelids. He gives up halfway, breathing out harshly, coughing out the dryness in his throat, jolting when the action causes a spike of pain to shoot through his spine, eyes welling up with unwanted tears.

His hand feels warm, and that's weird too, because the other one doesn't feel warm, but Baekhyun can't bring himself to care because his arms are so heavy, and his back hurts. He tries to talk, to call out to Yixing to help him because it fucking hurts, but nothing happens, just a squeak that throws him into a painful coughing fit that has him curling up in pain, turning his body towards the warmth he feels tingling through his hand.

Baekhyun jolts in both shock and pain when he rolls into something solid and warm, eyes shooting open, still brimming over with tears. He meets eyes, wide and familiar, before the figure next to him is sitting up quickly, gripping his hand tightly and staring at him. Baekhyun doesn't like being stared, it makes him uncomfortable, but his mind isn't working right, and his memory is confused. He should knows this beautiful Elf in front of him, should know why he feels so sick, so sluggish, but he can't right now.

Baekhyun drags himself into a sitting position, trying to focus his ears on what this Elf is saying to him, catching words here and there, but only one phrase reaches home, swimming through the jumble of nonsense and rumbling into his ears, deep and lovely.

"You're alive." The Elf says, and he touches Baekhyun like he's made of glass, holding his hand gently and keeping him upright with the other, which Baekhyun is grateful for. Without he would probably collapse back down, and that would hurt probably. "I thought you were going to die but you're alive."

That's when Baekhyun remembers. The pain of being thrown through the air, the feel of teeth slashing through his skin, and the sound his arm had made when the bones cracked. He remembers the Elf too, Chanyeol, Chanyeol streaking out of the mist and shooting an arrow before he'd blacked out.

"Chanyeol." Baekhyun croaks, and starts coughing again, tongue on fire and throat constricting. He wants to say a lot of things, wants to get this intense feeling in his chest out, but all he ends up saying is, "Water. Need water."

Chanyeol's eyes go wide and he scrambles, returning with a flask that isn't his own in his haste, handing it to Baekhyun. But Baekhyun is too weak, and he drops it, large eyes staring at it as if he can't comprehend why it's on the ground, movements slow. Chanyeol has to pick it up himself, tipping it into Baekhyun's throat and making sure he drinks it all, rations be damned.

If he didn't feel so confused and weak, Baekhyun would have complained, would have fought with Chanyeol to drink on his own. A Prince should never be babied like this, a Prince needs his dignity. But the water feels so nice going down his throat, and he's so cold, and Chanyeol is so warm, and Baekhyun can't even bring himself to make a comment, to make an excuse for why he suddenly glues himself to Chanyeol, climbing into his lap and ignoring the way his body screams at him for doing so.

He cranes his neck to look up at Chanyeol, who looks a combination of confused, relieved and nervous, and he smiles. The wide face changing smile that crinkles his eyes and makes his lips shape into a square, and he does something he rarely ever does.

"I'm alive." Baekhyun says, clearer now that his throat isn't trying to choke him with dryness, and his voice sounds amazed, like he's never experienced being alive. "Thank you."

Chanyeol doesn't answer Baekhyun because Yixing is suddenly sitting next to them, features pushed into something that also resembles relief, plucking him off Chanyeol easily and running a hand over his forehead, humming a tune that Baekhyun is used to by now. He feels the warmth run through him, and it feels different than when Yixing had healed his leg, less faded yellow and more fiery red, and it's hot, so hot but also so nice, senses exploding with the smell of a crackling fireplace. It's nice, and Baekhyun smiles again, delirious off the feeling running through his veins, barely registering Yixing's calm voice telling him to rest.

He feels secure, still smiling because he's alive, falling into a deep sleep, hands unconsciously clutching at something that feels so safe and warm, so warm.


☁

"Is he delirious?" Chanyeol frowns, looking down at the heavily slumbering figure in his lap with concern, hand resting on Baekhyun's head gently. "He was acting so weird when he woke up."

"How so?" Yixing asks, fingers intertwined with Minseok's to pull faerin from him, a rusted orange vapour that smells like the citrus fruit back in Heiðrún.

"I don't think he recognized me at first." Chanyeol muses, watching Minseok frown when his faerin is too low for him to transform. "He was also being nice."

Yixing laughs, but it isn't condescending, just mildly amused. "Everyone has the capacity to be nice, Chanyeol." He says, lifting Baekhyun's head up slightly to whisper a pain relief chant into his ear, laying him back down gently. "Even Baekhyun."

"I know that, it was just strange. Do you think he remembers that I helped him?"

"Maybe." Yixing says, but he puts a gentle hand on Chanyeol's shoulder and smiles at him comfortingly. "He's on his way to being healthy now. He'll need someone with him, and me and Lu Han are going to go off on our own tomorrow for a bit."

"On your own?" Chanyeol echoes, eyebrows shooting up. "Where?"

"We're going to travel a bit in the direction we were heading, see if we can figure out where the tunnels are." Yixing says, and he's dripping orange faerin into an empty flask, sealing it with a wave of his hand. "It'll be easier for Baekhyun if we can just take a straight route there without wandering around. He can't recover if we're constantly lost and in danger."

Chanyeol nods, wondering how they're going to fare with just him and the sprites for protection - or just him and Minseok he discovers when Jongdae refuses to let Lu Han go without him, disappearing into his pocket and not coming out. He just hopes Baekhyun doesn't sleep the whole time, mentally shaking over having only Minseok for company.

He's barely spoken to Minseok, some of it due to the fact that Minseok stays as a fox most of the time, and some of it due to the fact that Chanyeol is awkward and Minseok doesn't seem to trust anybody.

Yixing, Lu Han and Jongdae leave in high spirits, and even Jongdae seems optimistic, smiling at Chanyeol gently and telling him how glad he is that Baekhyun is alive.

"He may be a bitch, but I've known him since we were both young." Jongdae says, and his eyes light up at the memories. "He was always a little shit, but me and Minseok have been with him a long time and I don't think I could handle losing another person so close to me."

Chanyeol isn't sure what to say, so he just nods awkwardly, which gets a small chuckle out of Jongdae, and an awkward hug from Yixing. Lu Han just sort of looks at him, and nods, but Chanyeol understands their strange friendship by now and grins at him from where he's sitting beside a sleeping Baekhyun.

"Don't die on me okay?" He calls, and Lu Han actually laughs. He doesn't answer back but the twinkling in his eyes leaves a promise.

Chanyeol almost forgets in his brief happiness that the worst part is yet to come.

☁

Nothing happens the first day of waiting aside from Baekhyun complaining weakly that the faerin Chanyeol is sprinkling (as per Yixing's instruction) isn't as nice as the 'healing stuff' that felt warm and red. Chanyeol grins wide, and Baekhyun shoots him a weird look over his meager piece of bread. Baekhyun's snark is back, and he's returned to making sarcastic comments and complaints, but it only makes Chanyeol smile wider, makes him full to the top with relief because Baekhyun is alive, and Baekhyun is going to stay alive.

Minseok just quietly observes them, looking bored and on edge, but Minseok is always on edge really, as if he's always expecting the worst.

Chanyeol is on edge too, but for different reasons, nervous about the lack of nightmares, and the lack of knowledge of what the Amphaerie are up to, images of Lu Han and the others mangled and on the brink of death swimming through his mind. He has to will himself to not think about it, bring himself back to the present where Baekhyun, is hanging off his arm and telling him that he should cut his hair.


☁

The second day of waiting has Baekhyun walking around, looking like a toddler first using his legs, grinning brightly and forcing Chanyeol to help him keep steady, becoming dead weight and whining at Chanyeol until the Heiðrún Elf gives up and carries him back to his tattered leaf bed.

"You're heavy." Chanyeol complains, just for something to say to ease the anxious thoughts from crawling up into his mind from his chest. "I'm never carrying you again."

Baekhyun just flops over his knee, looking up at him and smirking, something so very Baekhyun that Chanyeol almost despises him again, getting ready to push him off.

"You carried me back though." Baekhyun says, voice sounding serious even as his smirk stays. "At least that's what Minseok said."

Chanyeol shoots a napping Minseok a glare before turning his attention back to Baekhyun and sighing.

"Okay I did but-"

"I'd call you Prince charming but I'm both the Prince and the charming one around here." Baekhyun cuts him off, and he's laughing again.

"Why are you in such a good mood." Chanyeol grumbles, ignoring the fast beating of his heart and the constricting of his chest, because Baekhyun is cute and he can't get any more attached to this confusing creature.

"Because I'm alive." Baekhyun says as he sits up, looking up the tiniest bit to meet Chanyeol's gaze. "I'm grateful for it." He pauses. "I'm grateful for you."

Chanyeol's heart does some weird thump that isn't appropriate, and he pushes down all the thoughts and words he wants to say and settles for grinning, the kind that stretches his entire face and shows all his teeth.

"I missed being pissed off at you everyday." Chanyeol says, and Baekhyun hits him playfully on the arm, wincing a little bit when it pulls on his still sore shoulder, but it's gone a moment later.

"You love me."

"That's debatable."

"You're on your way to loving me." Baekhyun says, and it doesn't make sense the way he says it, confidently and calmly, dragging Chanyeol down and insisting they sleep.


☁

The third day of waiting is when it happens, when the strange tension breaks, leaving Chanyeol's chest heaving and lungs empty of breath.

They're alone, Minseok having gone to the same alcove behind the huge rock where Lu Han had dragged Chanyeol a week prior, supposedly to sleep, saying with a wistful note in his voice that he misses when they hated each other because it was a lot quieter back then.

Chanyeol wants to argue with that because even when they hated each other all they'd done is bicker, but Minseok ignores with a wave of his small hands, disappearing into the mist. Chanyeol is a little nervous, being left alone, and Minseok being alone, but Minseok insists he'll be fine, says with a confident tone that the others will probably return with good news tonight.

It happens when they're sitting together, trading stories of their childhoods, Baekhyun's marginally more interesting with his tales of his first council visits, first time meeting the Heidrun royal family. It's when Baekhyun talks about home that Chanyeol doesn't see a haughty Prince, but someone who's smart, someone who's been raised into dealing with the fragile politics of the Elven kingdoms. Baekhyun knows what he's talking, eyes lighting up as he explains how the class system in Lei works, explains the relationship between them and the lake, borrowing faerin from the faeries.

"That's where faerin stems from." Baekhyun is saying, but Chanyeol isn't fully listening, too busy taking in the different parts of his face as they move, animated and beautiful. "They release it from their bodies when they breathe, and we take it in through our skin. That's wh the natural faerin is so strong in Lei. It's the homeland of the faeries."

"So we're like trees." Chanyeol blurts out dumbly, and he opens his mouth to say something to sound less stupid, but Baekhyun laughs and it's all okay.

"Kind of exactly like that actually." Baekhyun says, nodding his head. "We drink it up greedily. But we need to let it just run it's course. That's why Gaelgorn worries me so much. It's not that they use the magic freely, it's that it's trapped, unable to return back to the faeries naturally."

Chanyeol remembers the Gaelgorn palace and the way the faerin had just hung in the air, clinging to everything around it, and frowns. Lu Han is stubborn, more stubborn than Baekhyun even, and if they make it out of this alive, things are going to get tense. Chanyeol keeps frowning, thinking about how he considers everyone here friends, but he doesn't know if they consider him that, worries about the rifts in between the kingdoms, the different alliances.

Lu Han, Baekhyun and Yixing are people of power, of high status that can make changes, but Chanyeol is no one, just a lower class Knight, and a failure of one at that.

Chanyeol shakes himself from his thoughts and looks at Baekhyun, waiting for him to continue speaking, but Baekhyun is giving him the look, the heavy gaze that he'd first given him, and Chanyeol swallows thickly.

And then it happens, slowly, Baekhyun keeping his eyes locked onto Chanyeol and crawling into his lap, looking determined and serious before sliding his hands into Chanyeol's hair and leaning in, hesitating only slightly before pressing his lips to Chanyeol's. It's quick, just a brief press of lips before he's pulling back, looking at Chanyeol with an unsure gaze, and Chanyeol freezes, heart hammering and brain fuzzy and confused. Baekhyun's lips are just as soft as Chanyeol initially thought, and he feels like his lips are burning where they'd been touched.

"What?" He says, confused and already breathless, but happy. So happy.

"Don't think about it." Baekhyun mutters, and he's still so close that Chanyeol can feel his breath, and Chanyeol would laugh if he wasn't sitting frozen with shock.

"But."

"Just don't think about." Baekhyun says, and he sounds so persuasive, voice soft and eyes even softer, so Chanyeol doesn't think about it, just leans forward to meet Baekhyun. It's innocent at first, close mouthed and exploratory, Chanyeol leaning back and balancing himself on his hands, unsure of what to do with them.

Baekhyun is eager, sliding his tongue past Chanyeol's lips and licking into him enthusiastically, hands tugging at his hair. They break apart again, but only for a second before Baekhyun kisses him again, hot and deliciously wet, hands sliding down his chest to push him backwards, gasping when Chanyeol tugs on his bottom lip.

It's Baekhyun rolling his hips that has Chanyeol properly breaking away, sitting up quickly and breathing heavily. Baekhyun's hands are still pressing down heavily onto his chest, and he smirks at Chanyeol, falling off his lap and onto the ground next to him.

"I win." Baekhyun says, flopping onto the ground and flinching when he lands too hard on his spine. He pulls Chanyeol down next to him and curls up in the same way he usually does, devoid of snark and like nothing even happened.

"Don't think about it." Baekhyun repeats, and Chanyeol listens, wrapping his arms around him and trying desperately not to think of anything.


☁

The others return the next morning, early enough that the sun hasn't risen, miraculously unharmed, but exhausted, and Yixing nearly keels over he's so tired, draping himself across an unhappy Minseok and staring at the sky.

"We found them." Yixing says yawning, and he looks ready to go to sleep, leaning back and closing his eyes, but he sits up quickly eyeing Baekhyun and crawling over to him. "How's your condition."

"I'm fine." Baekhyun says, and he grins, dutifully holding out his arms and staying still while Yixing checks him over. "Chanyeol was good at helping me cope. Stress relief and all that."

He says the last part with a wink in Chanyeol's direction, but says nothing more, just waits patiently for Yixing to finish, devoid of petty comments.

"You're being nice." Lu Han comments, sitting down next to Chanyeol and fixing Baekhyun with a suspicious glare.

Baekhyun's face falls when Lu Han speaks and he fixes him with his own glare, the one that Chanyeol doesn't like.

"Yes well Yixing here saved my life and I believe in respect, amazingly." Baekhyun says, dislike seeping through in his words, and now Chanyeol can tell the difference, can tell how he sounds talking to someone he dislikes versus someone he does like. Baekhyun pauses after his words before adding, "Chanyeol first though. I would be dead if it weren't for Chanyeol."

Lu Han blinks at Baekhyun, but doesn't answer him, turning to Chanyeol and patting him on the shoulder.

"Was he annoying while I was gone?" Lu Han says, and his lips are quirked up into an almost smirk, making Chanyeol sigh.

"No he was fine."

"What a miracle." Lu Han sighs sarcastically, placing the back of his hand on his forehead. "Truly."

"Since when were you two friends?" Baekhyun asks, and he's passing it off for mild curiosity, but his face seems anything but disinterested, eyes narrowing as he glances between the two.

"We kissed and made up." Lu Han says offhandedly, dismissing the conversation with a wave of his hand and getting up, heading over to Minseok and crouching beside him, saying something in a hushed, urgent tone that Chanyeol can't catch.

Baekhyun is fuming, something that isn't uncommon for him and Lu Han, but they haven't even fought, and Chanyeol can't figure out why the other is so irrationally angry, attitude coming back in full swing when he snaps at Yixing to hurry up.

They're left alone, and Chanyeol frowns at Baekhyun disapprovingly. "Why are you acting like this? What's the point?" He says, shaking his head.
He didn't do anything really."

"I hate him." Baekhyun spits out, looking livid, and Chanyeol wants to question further but Baekhyun is glaring at him now, temper triggered and eyes flashing.
"Just don't worry about it. Don't think about it. It's nothing."

"You said don't think about it the other day to me." Chanyeol blurts out before realizing what he's saying, mentally cringing. He can't take it back now, so he continues, "Was that nothing too?"

"Yes." Baekhyun says simply, and he too dismisses the conversation, leaving Chanyeol sitting by himself, confused and angry.


☁

Chanyeol sleeps alone that night, curled up by himself and feeling strangely cold, refusing to admit that Baekhyun's words hurt more than they should have, wondering just where he's gone wrong.

But there are more pressing matters, more important things to think about. They leave early in the morning, or what Chanyeol supposes is early morning, unsure when everything is either sort of light or very dark, a side effect of the dense atmosphere.

Yixing leads the way as usual, having caught his bearings accurately now, walking swiftly and confidently.

"We didn't run into any wolves, but we heard howling." He informs them seriously, a warning. "Stay on guard. We should stay in pairs, so I'll walk with Minseok. Chanyeol, stay with Baekhyun, you're the stronger of the two."

Yixing sounds so somber, so serious, that Chanyeol shudders in fear, wondering what's in store for them, thinking about the nightmare from a while back that involved something large, looming, terrifying.

"The tunnels are underground, and we don't know anything about them, so we will need to stick together as soon as we enter them." Lu Han adds, tense and nervous, and Chanyeol finds himself thinking that this is it, the final stretch.

None of them know what to properly expect, none of them know what exactly lies at the end of the tunnels, deep in the ruins of Amfi. All they know is that they have to be careful, they have to stick together.

"Chanyeol." Lu Han calls out, walking over to where he's standing lost in his thoughts, chewing on his already destroyed nails, something that's probably not sanitary considering the last time he touched a washcloth. Lu Han looks hesitant as he approaches Chanyeol, nervous even when he grips his wrist and pulls him away to somewhere secluded, and Chanyeol doesn't miss the look of clear dislike on Baekhyun's face, still not understanding what it is this time.

"We're going to try something before we leave." Lu Han says slowly, unraveling a piece of crumpled and dirty parchment, full of words that Chanyeol can't read from where he's standing, motioning for Chanyeol to sit down.

"You consider me your friend, yes?" Lu Han asks, and even though he's agreeing with his own question, he doesn't sound sure, looking at Chanyeol almost imploringly.

"Yeah." Chanyeol replies, and he's sure of it now. They are friends, they have been since he'd stayed in Gaelgorn, and they are now, even after everything. "Yeah we are."

"Okay good." Lu Han says, and he coughs slightly, waving the paper weakly in the air. "This is the Friend's Prayer."

"Oh." Chanyeol says, eyes going wide and voice wavering, and he breaks out into an ear splitting grin. "The Amphaerie won't be able to see us any longer."

"Exactly." Lu Han says, placing the parchment in his lap and holding out his hands to Chanyeol, waiting for him to take them. Chanyeol does, placing his palms over Lu Han's upturned ones and looking at him expectantly, smiling with relief and with hope when Lu Han begins to read and the faerin bursts from both their fingertips, gold connecting with red and creating multicoloured sparks, sinking into their skin.

They're invisible to the Amphaerie now, protected and prepared for an ambush, Yixing talking over the spell that will calm the mist. He also explains some other things, some solemn things that they all know will have to be faced, be dealt with.

Calladron will probably be in ruins, will probably need to be rebuilt from the ground up, cities fixed and governments reestablished. But they all agree with what Yixing proposes: they will not erase history this time, and they'll work towards reuniting the Kingdoms. Chanyeol is surprised when both Lu Han and Baekhyun agree to the truce, to the merging of their systems, but he worries about the Heidrun government, whether or not they will see fit to the plans of the two princes. If the government still stands, that is.


☁

There is no worry of not being able to see when a plan has been laid out beforehand. They are smart, hungry, laughing, ready. The power of friendship cannot stop fire. Hiding in daylight where the shadow overcomes the sun, and they shall perish. The laughter of Amphaerie sounds louder than even the largest church bell.

☁

The mist is thinner here, and Chanyeol can see the tunnels up above, can see the first source of clear, running water they've come across in a long time, a roaring river, separating Calladron from the forgotten lands, and from there, the vast unexplored ocean.

They stop to bathe, thinking nothing of the sunlight peeking through the mist, thinking nothing of the unnatural stillness of the water, or the lack of general wildlife.

They're used to seeing nothing, hearing nothing, being shrouded in clouds of fear that they barely take the chance to even stay on the lookout, even laughing, re assured, optimistic, enthusiastic.

The end is near, just one more step, just one more fight to the finish. They have it all planned out, with Chanyeol, Yixing and Baekhyun sneaking deep into the ruins, to the dripping caverns where Hongbin the Necromancer had chanted his spell some time before. Lu Han, Jongdae and Minseok are to stay outside, to hold off the hell creatures that are the Amphaerie.

It won't be easy, and they know, they know that someone may not make out alive, be it by Amphaerie or by uttering the poisonous chant, but they're satisfied.

Baekhyun still weighs in the back of Chanyeol's mind, beautiful and heartbreaking, but he doesn't dwell, doesn't have the time to dwell, not in circumstances like these, not when the Calladron is at stake, his Kingdom at stake, their very lives at stake.

There is no room for petty romance, that can wait until after, until they travel home, fatigued but grateful. It's then that they can argue it out, that they can deal with the politics of Calladron and the politics of their own problems.

They sit on the riverbank, bathing in the sun and feeling grateful that the mist is thin, that they can see all around them, crystal clear and glaringly beautiful, reflecting off the surface and the river and off their irises. It's comforting to be able to see, to be able to keep guard without thinking of what's going to come tumbling out of something they can't see, out of the death of the fog.

The one place they never think to look is up.

---------------------------
♔; drag•on; : a mythical monster like a giant reptile; typically fire-breathing and tends to symbolize chaos or evil; associated with water, fertility, and the heavens.
---------------------------

The only warning they get is the sun disappearing, blanketing them in darkness, the shadow of two colossal sized shadows, like wings over top of them. And then the ground is on fire, scorched and burning, screams echoing out of them and drowning in the river.

It lands, huge, overpowering, eyes bigger than moons and glowing hotter than the sun above, but the sun is dimming now, the mist returning in billowing like the smoke from a forest fire. It's jaw is huge, teeth long and curved and dripping with saliva. But it's also majestic, beautiful, green wings spanning further than anything Chanyeol has ever seen, than anything he's ever faced.

It's let out a sound unlike anything Chanyeol has ever heard before, deep and beautiful, yet earsplitting and horrible, and Yixing's eyes widen beside him in pure, unadulterated terror, unable to believe what's in front of his eyes. A myth, said to not exist, more erased history, except this time it's lethal, unknown to anyone and yet known to all.

"Dragon." He whispers, sounding entranced, taking a step backwards before the world explodes around them and Lu Han is screaming louder than Chanyeol has ever heard him scream.

Run.

And they do run, tripping and falling, desperate and terrified, running for their lives and towards the gaping entrance of the tunnel, slipping on the moist ground, Baekhyun crying in pain as he strains muscles that should not yet be strained, Minseok howling as he transforms into a fox, darting between their legs and in front of them, scampering.

It's not enough, not fast enough, and the flames light up the trees around them, and Chanyeol squeezes his shut in fear, trips backward and crawls across the ground, not knowing if anyone's alive, not knowing.

He does open them, looks to see the dragon looming above them, above Baekhyun who's on the ground, alone, far away from them and shrieking for help. Shrieking for anyone to help, but they can't. They don't know how, aren't equipped to fight a dragon, even with Jongdae and Lu Han using their faerin as weapons, shooting crackling bolts of lightning and shattered arrows of pure gold.

Chanyeol feels his legs give out beneath him, feels his knees crash painfully into the ground, and the pain is excruciating, but he can't do it, doesn't know how to help.

But Baekhyun is floundering on the ground, still weak, still helpless, and Chanyeol can't see it happen again, can't watch his mangled body fly through the air or hear his shallow breaths that don't even seem like breaths.

There's a voice in his head screaming at him to do something, screaming at him to move, to fucking move and this time it isn't Lu Han's voice screaming at him, it isn't the power of someone else's words, but his own. His own voice making him barrel forward, ignoring Lu Han's shrieks of 'what the fuck are you doing you idiot', stopping in front of Baekhyun and standing his ground, staring into the dragon's orb-like eyes with both of his.

He doesn't know how it happens, not quite, but he does know that it's triggered by the dragon opening it's mouth wide, blazing heat enveloping Chanyeol and igniting him, flames licking his entire body. He closes his eyes and waits for the pain, waits for the sky to turn black and his vision to disappear, but nothing happens.

He feels nothing, sees nothing but the roaring orange and deep reds, the piercing blue of the scorching flames, but there is no pain, there are no screams, no bright light falling out of the darkness to tell him where to go.

In fact, the flames surrounding him feel almost nice, warming him up and making him lightheaded, as if he could float into the sky and above the dragon. He thinks he does, and maybe this is death he thinks, watching the faerin seep from his body, watching it flare up and join the heat that's now dancing across his skin, pouring out his sides and becoming wings.

And now he is floating above the dragon, looking down on it as it flies up to meet him, shooting fire that accomplishes nothing, just makes his wings grow bigger, makes him float higher, and oh he can shoot the fire back, take bits of his wings and toss them, like an arrow directly into the dragons eye. He watches in mild fascination, dizzy, warm, burning up in the best way possible as the dragon writhes on the ground, lizard skin lit up and burning.

Chanyeol doesn't quite like the smell of it, putrid and too strong, wafting through his protection and reaching his nose. It's getting colder now, the ground coming up to meet him, but that's okay because he's just had the most amazing experience, the most amazing feel. The voices screaming at him to do something were right, he'd done something right, and Baekhyun is alive, hovering over top of him and radiating some other kind of warmth, large scared eyes looking into his own blurry, glassy ones.

The power of friendship cannot kill fire, but a phoenix can.

----------------------
♔; lust; : have a very strong sexual desire for someone. Can occasionally be confused with love.
----------------------

It's Chanyeol who wakes up feeling heavy this time, eyelids pushing down with unimaginable weight and body feeling weirdly absent, a husk of life, drained of something, but he can't place what it is right now, arms betraying him and flopping back down when he tries to move. He's on something soft and warm though, a different kind of heat from the intense feverish burn that had trickled down his spine and into him.

His eyes open, expecting bright light to hit them, but instead he's met with a ceiling, grey, dreary, dripping with water. He's confused, blinking a couple of times and turning over, only to find that he can't turn over, trapped by a pair of arms and a body.

Chanyeol pushes himself up off the damp cave floor, trying to squint in the pitch black darkness, unable to see, the only sounds penetrating his still numb ears are the sounds of soft breathing. The arm securing him falls loosely to his waist when he sits up, and Chanyeol wants to lie back down, shivering with a kind of instant chill, reaching out for the body that he'd been using like a pillow and suddenly finding himself face to face with deep dark eyes that he knows well.

"You're awake." Baekhyun says, and he sounds relieved, breathless from fear and voice husky with sleep, with a drowsiness caused not just by fatigue. Chanyeol blinks. "You're awake, thank God."

"You care?" Chanyeol asks, voice hushed, bewildered and timid.

"Shut up." Baekhyun says, but his voice has no venom, sounds astonished and lovely, has that sultry tone that Chanyeol remembers, has wanted to hear again for so long. "You saved my life again."

"I did?" Chanyeol mutters, and he can't remember, just remember anger, and heat and floating, floating so nicely and feeling like drowning in the sky.

"You saved my life even after I took advantage of you. Even after I-" Baekhyun looks almost choked up, eyes intense, teeth worrying his lip, and he grips the front of Chanyeol's charred and tattered robes, staring at him, into him. "You're a fucking phoenix. You're fucking amazing."

"A phoenix?" Chanyeol asks, perplexed, breathing shallowly, startled by Baekhyun's proximity, by the blue shimmering on his skin and flickering from Baekhyun's fingers onto his arms, cool and electrifying.

"Yes. A phoenix. You just exploded. All of your faerin just bloomed and you rose and you set a dragon on fire, and I think I like you." Baekhyun is rambling, eyes looking glossy and far away, yet still burning into Chanyeol's scull. "I need to, we need to. Come with me."

Baekhyun leaps to his feet, nails digging into the flesh of Chanyeol's wrist as he tugs him up after him, and deeper into the murky tunnel.

The last thing Chanyeol is expects is to be dragged to a quiet corner of the creepy tunnels, somewhere far off from the others. Private, dark, they're alone here, and that's exactly what Baekhyun is going for, pushing Chanyeol into the stony wall with a force Chanyeol didn't think the smaller Elf even possessed.

Baekhyun yanks him forwards off the wall by the front of his worn out robes, leaning up briefly on his toes to ghost his lips over Chanyeol's. It’s confusing, not the right time, and Chanyeol still needs answers, still needs an explanation as to why he can suddenly shift, as to why he can grow into flames and burst into the sky, but Baekhyun is looking at him with some kind of adoration, eyes confessing soft, and he loses his self control, sighing and giving in to something he knows he could never reject, even with every bit of snark and every bit of awful attitude.

"Want you." Baekhyun murmurs, and he's so close to Chanyeol, gazing up at him with glassy eyes, lips still stained a red from the fruit, and Chanyeol absently thinks that they'd look even better bitten and swollen. Baekhyun presses himself flush against Chanyeol, but keeps their lips just barely touching, and Chanyeol feels his next words more than he hears them. "Please Chanyeol."

Chanyeol wants nothing more than to close the distance between them, to claim Baekhyun's pretty mouth, to turn him around and take him right here on the rocky ground, but now isn't the right time, it's never the right time.

"We don't have the right stuff to do this properly." Chanyeol breathes out, afraid to speak too loud, afraid to break this moment.

"Don't care." Baekhyun says, and he kisses Chanyeol, chaste and quick. Just like the one he'd given him after he'd woken up in the moss. "You don't need to fuck me. Just, I Need something."

"Why is it that you only say please when you're desperate?" Chanyeol says, and it's clear he's just stalling at this point, teasing.

"I don't beg for just anyone." Baekhyun mutters darkly, and he doesn't seem to catch Chanyeol's joking tone, dropping down from where's been on the tips of his toes.

Chanyeol takes his chance, gripping Baekhyun's forearms and switching their positions, this time pushing Baekhyun to the wall, leaning down so that their foreheads touch.

"So why is it that you keep doing it for me then?" Chanyeol says quietly, and he grins. Baekhyun is visibly flustered, pink dusting his cheeks, lip caught between his teeth.

"It's not my fault you're so, so tall." Baekhyun blurts out, gritting his teeth and looking ashamed. "Even when I wanted to hate you oh my Lei you were so hot. But you’re also brave. And you tried, you tried even when I was shit, even when I was on the brink of death and no one else wanted to try."

Chanyeol laughs softly, and he feels a rush of confidence, leaning down to claim Baekhyun's mouth. They kiss slowly, like they have all night, all week, like they're not currently hiding in a murky corner of some creepy underground tunnel.

"Tell me more." Chanyeol breathes when they part, and Baekhyun chases his lips, presses them together again and again, hands tangling in Chanyeol's hair and tugging him down slightly, as if telling him to stay, to continue.

"Talk later." Baekhyun snaps, hands travelling from Chanyeol's hair and down his sides, settling gently at his waist, before curling fingers around his hips and digging in hard. "Just shut up and kiss me."

Chanyeol does kiss him, gripping his arms and pinning him flat against the wall of the tunnel, not caring for the water dripping down them, leaving spots against Baekhyun's shirt. Chanyeol wastes no time deepening the kiss, catching Baekhyun’s tongue and sucking on it, eliciting the softest of moans from the smaller Elf, and it shoots a jolt of arousal through him.

He almost wants to laugh at this situation. On the brink of death constantly, making their way to what is probably the end of the journey, and here he is with his tongue sweeping across the teeth of the prettiest boy with the ugliest attitude. Chanyeol grinds his hips down without warning, and he can feel everything through the thin material of their clothing, can feel Baekhyun’s erection drag against his, and Baekhyun moans loudly, causing Chanyeol to clamp a hand over his mouth warningly. He doesn’t stop his actions however, rolling his hips over and over, feeling Baekhyun pant into his hand.

Baekhyun starts to lift his hips to meet Chanyeol’s, knees nearly giving out when Chanyeol pauses to shove a hand into Baekhyun’s trousers and stroke him roughly. Chanyeol’s other hand keeps him pinned to the wall, and he scrapes his teeth across Baekhyun’s Adam’s apple. Baekhyun bucks his hips and moans loudly again, and this time Chanyeol doesn’t bother to muffle him, dropping his cock and going back to grinding his hips, slowly, almost torturous.

“I like you, you know.” Baekhyun gasps out, holding onto Chanyeol’s shoulders for support, hands shaking and Chanyeol grunts in response, annoyed at the timing.

“Shut up Baekhyun.” He says, voice low and breathless, and for some reason that’s what does it, Baekhyun coming with stuttering hips and a whine that Chanyeol will dream about for a long time after, following him quickly with his own orgasm.

They both stay like this for a bit, half leaning and half standing, and Chanyeol drops his head onto Baekhyun’s shoulder, not able to stop himself from placing a small kiss to his neck, one that makes Baekhyun shudder.

“I like you too dumbass. I thought that was clear for a long time.” Chanyeol mutters, muffled by Baekhyun’s skin, and the Elf just laughs underneath him, a bitter, almost sarcastic one.

“I was too focused on protecting myself to care how others thought of me.” Baekhyun says, snaking his arms around Chanyeol’s waist and pulling him closer, teeth nibbling gently on the tip of his ear. “I never really realized until last- or was it two?- something weeks ago. When you comforted me after the wolves came. I didn’t expect you to be so nice to someone like me. And then you saved me and I was so confused.”

Chanyeol pushes himself off the wall, feeling awkward and embarrassed realizing that they can’t bathe for a while. Or forever, his mind tries to tell him, but he bats the thoughts away, tries to keep a positive smile on his face.

“Well you’re kind of a bitch you know.” He says cheerfully, grabbing Baekhyun’s hand and dragging him back to where the others are, some sleeping and some sitting against the wall. “But you’re also annoyingly cute, even when I’m trying to hate your attitude, so there’s that.”

“That’s … comforting.” Baekhyun mutters, but never gets the chance to finish because Yixing is waving at them wearily, raising an eyebrow at their interlocked fingers.

“Where were you guys?” He asks, eyes wide as they survey him, and Chanyeol feels Baekhyun stiffen beside him, reminding him that they’re not perfect yet, they still have a long way to go.

“We needed to have a talk.” Baekhyun snaps before Chanyeol can speak, letting go of his hand and practically throwing himself onto the ground. Chanyeol just sighs, scrunching up his nose in frustration before dropping down beside Lu Han. The Gaelgorn Elf is fast asleep curled up on his side like a small child, holding a miniature Jongdae in his hands. The image would be cute if they were in any other place than this, but right now it only serves to make Chanyeol’s mood drop l, and he leans back against the cold, damp wall, closing his eyes, and breathing deeply.

Yixing doesn’t say anything about the dragon, or Chanyeol, and he’s grateful for that, needs to figure out on his own why it happened, and who he really is. For now, he’ll sleep, curling up beside Baekhyun on the cave floor, ignoring the dampness of his bones and the twisting of his stomach.

--- 3 Hours north of Calladron ---

It's Lu Han who explains what happened to Chanyeol the next day, looking at him not with hungry astonishment and emotion like Baekhyun had, but with casual curiosity and logical understanding.

"It was your faerin finally reaching it's true potential." Lu Han says, and he grabs Chanyeol's hand, drawing faint wisps of red from him. "See, you're drained right now. It's probably never been that strong, with the Heiðrún laws and all."

"So I've been a shifter my whole life without realizing it?" Chanyeol says, amazement seeping into his voice and he lifts his hand, shaking sparks of red from his fingertips.

"Exactly, and some kind of intense emotion triggered the transformation." Lu Han says, and his eyes flicker to Baekhyun for the briefest of moments before settling back on Chanyeol. His eyes are shining, glowing a dazzling gold and he smells strongly of honey today, the rich kind that makes mouths water.

"I'm glad it did." Lu Han continues sincerely, and he smiles at Chanyeol, before turning serious, eyes losing their colour and euphoric honey smell disappearing, leaving a bitter taste on Chanyeol's tastebuds. "We'll be in Amfi by tomorrow."

"Who's going to be reading?" Chanyeol asks, and he knows Yixing wants to, knows the human has come with the only goal of sacrificing himself for Calladron, but maybe, maybe someone else can read or Chanyeol can. The healer has given up so much of himself, so much of his energy, quietly and without complaint. They wouldn't be alive, wouldn't here in this murky tunnel, waiting to walk forwards to their deaths.

"I'll be doing it." Yixing says, walking over to where they're standing, and he doesn't look scared, doesn't look like what he wants to do could lead to his death. He looks calm, collected, everything a real man should be, and Chanyeol feels a surge of affection for the level-headed human.

“You’ve done so much for us though.” Chanyeol says, frown on his lips, eyebrows furrowing. “You don’t deserve to take that risk.”

"It's what I came here to do." Yixing says with finality, and Chanyeol doesn't argue, just nods his head solemnly.

They're leaving now, inching through the tunnels and pressing themselves against the filthy walls, trusting nothing, on edge for anything to attack, for the ceiling to cave in. Lu Han's faerin is flickering, growing weaker as they walk to save energy for what's to come, for holding off the Amphaerie.

When they see the light at the end of the tunnel there's no happiness, there's no sighs of relief or smiles, just a hollow feeling in their guts. Chanyeol has seen the Amphaerie, if only in his mind, if only in the fleeting glimpses he catches in his dreams, in his nightmares, and it's enough, enough to have him hesitating at the exit, pushing down the contents of his stomach that threaten to surface.

Baekhyun seems lost, staring forward but not really looking at anything, hands gripping Chanyeol loosely, and he doesn't know what the Elf is thinking, doesn't want to know.

He has to focus.

The mist is so thick here that it can't be called mist anymore, concentrated and dense, like the the smoke from a fire, even Lu Han's faerin doing nothing to help guide them, and they move slowly, crawling almost.

No one dares to talk, eyes darting here and there, shallow breaths and some not breathing at all, Jongdae peeking out carefully from Lu Han's pocket with wide eyes and blowing hair. The ruins are massive, cracked pillars and ancient stone, and it would be beautiful on any other day, but right now they cling together, the thought of imminent death hanging over their heads.

A bow cannot kill the Amphaerie, a phoenix cannot kill the Amphaerie, nothing can kill the Amphaerie aside from the fragile material in Yixing's shaking hands, the words that hold more power than anything else in Calladron.

There's a temple in front of them, crumbling and decaying, roofless yet still intimidating, and it's here they have to enter, here they have to crawl through the cracks in the stone and deep underground, to where the Amphaerie call to their higher power, fall into deep trances and sing, sirens and melodies and the screaming of children.

It's quiet. Too quiet, the air heavy, pushing down on their backs and blanketing them, so thick that no sound reaches them. Chanyeol remembers this feeling, remembers the mist this dense, no breathing, no heartbeats. Baekhyun takes Chanyeol's hand, melts into his side, and he could be crying, he could be screaming, but Chanyeol can't hear, can barely see, but Yixing is suddenly in front of him, pulling them both towards the rotting entrance that looks as if it might collapse at any second.

Sound.

Exploding back into their ears, unimaginable, terrifying screams that sound more like white noise, creeping across the ground and materializing in front of them. Tall beings, mystical in appearance, dark gleaming eyes and hollow gaping mouths, teeth shining through from the back. There are three of them, gazes locked on Chanyeol, recognizing him, knowing him. And he knows them too, knows them by name, shivers and steps backwards.

That breaks the spell, and the one called Zitao raises it's hands, speaking words Chanyeol cannot understand, but Yixing understands them, and he leaps into action, pulling Chanyeol backwards and hissing into his ear.

"Lu Han is going to distract them, keep them busy. He has something they want so they won't kill him. We wait until all their focus is on him and then we sneak into the crevice." He whispers to Chanyeol, and then grabs Baekhyun by the arm as well. "You. Follow whatever Chanyeol does."

They hang back, look terrified, sticking themselves against the wall and watching with a creeping feeling of dread crawling up their spines. Lu Han approaches the creatures, cradling Minseok in his arms and standing straight, tall, fearless. Chanyeol is proud of him, of the way Lu Han looks as if he's persuading another royal figure, as if he's speaking to Baekhyun in clipped formal tones.

Lu Han begins to speak, voice carrying back to them, clear and concise, telling them to spare them, give them immortality, and Chanyeol isn't sure at first, isn't sure who the "them" Lu Han refers to is, until he remembers. Him and Baekhyun are Elves, him and Baekhyun are prime examples of who can be changed, gifted with the immortality, the powers of an Amphaerie.

The Amphaerie are focused on Lu Han now, or rather they seem to be focused on Minseok, but it's enough, their greed for power letting them down as the one called Kai starts to speak, voice like melting chocolate and howling wolves.

Yixing tugs on Chanyeol, mouth's "it's time" and then they're running, into the crevice, into the temple and underground. Chanyeol takes one last look before going in completely, freezing in terror and grief, hearing Lu Han's desperate, image of a fox writhing in the air imprinting into his mind.

------------------------------
♔; sac•ri•fice; : an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
------------------------------

They’re here. The part of the ruins where Hongbin had sat and spoke his spell, had lit the candles and called upon things other than Zafkra for his bidding. Chanyeol can see the fallen candles, wax cooled on the ground, can see the wolf hide laid out to sit on.

It's eerie, disconcerting and he doesn't like it, doesn't like being here, and he presses closer into Baekhyun, taking deep shuddering breaths.

Yixing sits down carefully, takes his own shuddering breath, faltering before taking a piece of paper from somewhere, one Chanyeol has never seen and placing it on his knees. He smooths it out and looks it over, glancing back up at them.

"This is it." He says quietly, and he reaches for each of their hands, drawing the slightest bit of red and blue from their skin. "I need to take as much faerin as I can get. This needs to be strong."

Baekhyun pulls back suddenly, jerking his hand out of Yixing’s grip and fixing him with a hard stare. He begins to say something, stops, and starts again, and then stops, taking a deep measured breath, pointedly avoiding Chanyeol’s confused and frightened eyes.
“I want to do it.” Baekhyun’s words tumble out quickly, but seriously. Yixing looks taken aback, opening his mouth to protest, still holding Chanyeol’s hand but not seeming to notice, entire being directed at Baekhyun.

“No.” Chanyeol says sharply, glaring at Baekhyun as a kind of fury build in his chest, fiery and frantic. “I didn’t risk my fucking life for yours twice to have you throw yourself away.”

“Shut up Chanyeol.” Baekhyun snaps, and he’s still not looking at him, still staring straight ahead at Yixing, who drops Chanyeol’s hand and moves closer to Baekhyun. He leans in and scans him, large eyes trained right into Baekhyun’s own.

“Are you sure about this Prince?” Comes Yixing’s reply, cautious, unique features lighting up with some kind of apprehension. “I don’t think we should.”

“I’ve done nothing but hold this entire operation back, the whole time.” Baekhyun says, and he doesn’t sound manipulative, he sounds sincere, real, ready. “I’ll accept my fate. I need to do something.”

“You’ve done a lot.” Yixing answers, and he doesn’t sound like he’s bullshitting, sounds truthful and earnest, speaking in his straightforward manner. “You’ve learned how to love, and to sacrifice, and you’ve helped others see who they truly can be.”

“I’m doing it.” Yixing says before Baekhyun can retort, before Chanyeol can make sense of his words. His voice is firm, inflexible, no one is going to be arguing with the fact, with fate, rearing it’s head and plucking Yixing along with it. “We don’t have time to be arguing about this. I fear lives have already been lost outside.”

Baekhyun struggles, tries to pull back from Yixing’s hands, from his iron grip, but the healer’s eyes flash dangerously, and he yanks Baekhyun forward, drawing faerin from him quickly, against his will.

Chanyeol and Baekhyun's faerin blends together in Yixing's hands, creating an orb of swirling magenta, deep and beautiful. Chanyeol is entranced by it, eyes fixated on the colour, watching it bleed into Yixing's skin, paling and dancing, skittering up his arms and down his throat.

Yixing is glowing now, filled to the brim with faerin, and it sticks to him like a film, causing his eyes to glow dark, burning and brilliant, fingertips dripping with it, like the blood of faeries. It would normally terrify Chanyeol, to see the soft healer blur and become sharp edges, breathing out ice blue puffs of air and looking as if he's the immortal being, magnificent and ethereal.

He sits down on the wolf hide rug, lights the candles with a flick of his wrist, Chanyeol's borrowed faerin climbing the walls and lighting the cave like room up in flames for the most fleeting of moments, before it softens to a dull glow. Yixing turns back to them, and his voice comes out layered, whispering from his mouth in wisps of energy that curl into Chanyeol's hair, catching in his throat and constricting his lungs.

"I need the parchment." Yixing orders, and his words fall from his mouth and crawl across the floor, Chanyeol scrambling to put the spell into his hands, taking a huge step back and breathing harshly, reaching blindly behind him for Baekhyun's hand.

With how terrifying Yixing looks, how terrifying the over concentrated faerin feels in the air, with the mutated creatures from the depths of the Flux, the crevice of Hell, Chanyeol understands.

Balance. Power. Things that should be, and things that should not be. One thing is for sure, the Amphaerie are things that should not be, and this Yixing, this unrecognizable figure speaking a chant that sounds like it's falling off the tongue of a demon, is also a thing that should not be.

And Chanyeol is selfishly grateful, watching Yixing's body shudder, watching the faerin ignite the parchment and scream along the walls, watching the healer clutch his head, sounding like a vast entity. Chanyeol is so fucking grateful that it isn't Baekhyun imploding, dying from the inside out, and he turns next to him, sees Baekhyun eyes drowning, tears falling down his cheeks and shattering in the oversensitive air.

Yixing's death is beautiful in a way, body rising to the ceiling and crashing back down again, the deafening cracks of bones breaking, the choked sound he makes as the faerin escapes, blood freezing in his veins and dripping to the floor, diluted and rainbow, delicate and exquisite.

And then it's all over. Silence deafening once again, the candles going out with a shriek of wind, faerin hanging in the air heavily, and clinging to their shivering frames.

"Is that it?" Baekhyun whispers, voice coming out choked, defeated, desperate, and Chanyeol just nods, sliding a hand down his side soothingly until he reaches Baekhyun's hand, intertwining their fingers. "Should we go outside?"

Chanyeol nods again, unable to speak, reaching a tentative hand up into the air and touching the hanging strands of faerin, deep blue and beautiful, cool to the touch but sending sparks through his veins. He pauses though, turns back towards the charred and burnt corpse now lying on the ground, kneels beside it, raising two fingers to his lips and pressing them to the ground.

A thank you, not enough, but all he can do. A true sacrifice, the truest kind of honour, of duty, and of devotion. The hero that Calladron may not remember, but that Chanyeol will always hold close, always take the parts of thoughts, the bits of memory and cherish them.

The parts of everyone, of the forest imps, of the lives lost back home, of the slayn dragon and of Yixing. Important, beautiful, things to be remembered even when the names disappear and the generations have passed. Those who gave up their lives, willingly or unwillingly.

Only a bit more to go.


☁

Gaelgorn code; : to use your passionate tongue, words dripping with honey and tainted with tragedy, to use the persuasiveness you naturally possess, is key. Do not back down, even when a sacrifice must be made for someone else. Cover weakness with lies.

☁

"I'm not here to destroy you like you've been led to believe. I will not harm you. I cannot harm you. We cannot harm you."

Lu Han's voice does not waver, does not crack or lower in volume, and his eyes stay sharp, trained on the tallest Amphaerie, the one with the black cat eyes and robes that seem to be made of clouds, dark and thunderous, the deepest of indigos. The Amphaerie with the hair like sand smiles, showing all of it's teeth, long, jagged, gleaming. It speaks like silk, like smothering curtains and and rolling waves of blood, and the fox in Lu Han's arms, cowers into him, ears folding and eyes shut.

"Prove it."

"How can I do that?" Lu Han says, refraining from his urge to pace, hands only just beginning to tremble, but he holds himself still, steels his gaze and looks right into the Amphaerie's eyes, can feel the air start to crackle and burn around him, the pressure becoming unfathomable as the mist darkens, the fog grows heavier. He follows the rules, does not move, does not break eye contact, keeps his voice level, respectful, keeps his faerin hidden, dormant.

"Give us the fox." They say in unison, and Lu Han can feel Jongdae stir from inside his pocket, gulps inwardly in fear, in horror. He has no choice, but he can try. He can try.

"He is precious to me." Lu Han says, and his voice falters the slightest bit, just enough that the Amphaerie pick up on it, and the pressure deepens. His lungs feel smaller, shrinking, vision blurring and head growing dizzy. Lu Han sways but manages to right himself, stepping forward and breaking a rule.

"Give us the fox." The voices repeat, and Lu Han is only somewhat aware of the sky darkening around them, of the ocean roaring in the distance and the pressure building.

Lu Han takes another step forward, daring, taunting, and Jongdae punches him through his robes, but stays quiet, stays hidden. He will not back down, and he will keep them occupied, even if it causes his death. But Minseok is stirring in his arms, leaping down to the ground and growling at Lu Han, sitting at the Amphaerie's feet and looking up at them.

No one notices the others slip away, too focused on the fox seated primly on the ground, defiant and courageous, glancing back at Lu Han with twinkling eyes, blinking slowly. A silent goodbye. A sacrifice from the unlikeliest of creatures.

Lu Han steps backwards, swallows thickly, but keeps his face impassive, keeps his hands from shaking and his knees from giving out, feels the pressure lessen and his lungs inflate, breathing deeply and slowly.

The tallest Amphaerie waves it's hand, trails a claw across Minseok's ear and across his tail, raising it's arms to the sky once more, and along with it, Minseok. The fox floats, writhing as it's raised higher and higher, choking, screaming. Lu Han can hear Jongdae let out a cry, drowned out by Minseok's animalistic shrieking, but he keeps his eyes trained, doesn't blink, doesn't move, proves himself to the Amphaerie.

They toy with Minseok, draw his death out, but the quiet Amphaerie with it's voice of warm milk orders them to a stop, holding Minseok by his tail and slashing his neck with one long, clawed finger.

Lu Han will never forget the glassy eyes staring out, or the way the Minseok's entire body convulses with his last breath, will never forget the blood dripping from his neck or the sound he makes when he lands with a dull thump.

"You have proved yourself." The Amphaerie say, unaffected, terrifying, swirling their robes and staring down at him, beauty flashing into something grotesque, dripping, awful. "The ritual will start now."

"The ritual will start now." They repeat, and Lu Han stays still, so still, praying, hoping, hopeless.

But the ritual never starts because the ruins are suddenly crumbling around them, broken pillars falling and sky screaming, whistling like the wind through a tunnel.

The Amphaerie are floating, writhing, thrashing in the air, faerin pouring from their bodies like an overturned teapot, the colour of sludge, thick and putrid. Lu Han scrambles backwards, falls to the ground and crawls on all fours, avoiding the torrent, avoiding the sticky feel in the air, back hitting the wall as he watches the Amphaerie burst as if being squeezed, and then he can't see again, can't breathe, can't think, bringing his knees to his chest and feeling warmth encase him. Jongdae is full sized, crackling with protective electricity and forming a barrier around them, sealing them off from the storm of faerin, from the shrill noise indescribable noise. Lu Han clings to him in a way he's never clung to anyone before, nails scraping down his arms in desperation as he fights off the pressure in his head, building and terrifying, sobs wracking his body.

To stare into an Amphaerie's eyes means death, means lifeless floating existences, but Lu Han is alive, fighting down the feelings of sheer emotion he feels, thousands of years of history coursing through the air.

And then it's gone. Silent, clear, bright sunlight filtering down, rays piercing through the black sparks and tendrils of shadow, landing on Jongdae and Lu Han. He tries to breathe, heaving and shaking. They sit there, wrapped in each other, a familiar position, comforting and real, and this time it's Jongdae's turn to speak calmly, to ease the unforeseen emotion pouring from Lu Han.

"We did it." Jongdae says quietly, and then he grins, pulling Lu Han to his feet and cupping his face, staring into his eyes with a strange kind of intensity. "We've lost so much, I've lost so much, you've lost so much, but Lu Han, they did it, we made it. Calladron is, it's safe."

Lu Han nods, staring back at the temple, watching the light hit it, light it up, listening to the waves of the ocean. Chanyeol and Baekhyun are there, clinging to each other like terrified cats, eyes wide and figures slumping, but Jongdae turns to them too, tears in his eyes and manic smile lighting up his kittenish features.

"We can go home."

Epilogue

But what is home? What is home to Chanyeol, who's never felt at home anywhere in the first place? What is home to Lu Han, who has nothing but his people, ripped of his family? What is home to Baekhyun, who isn't the same, will never be the same as he once was?

They're questions to be answered later, thoughts to be dealt with not now, but in the future.

"We'll figure it out." Baekhyun says when Chanyeol asks what they'll do, what they are and who they'll become.

"We'll figure it out." Lu Han mutters as he falls into the grass at the river bank, as he closes his eyes and tries not to let the images of the past flicker across his thoughts. But they do, and it's Lu Han who now has nightmares, it's all of them who are afraid to close their eyes, afraid to succumb to what they've experienced.

The Calla is beautiful under the warm sunlight of summer, when the pale grass goes on for what seems to be miles, when they're not quivering in fear behind rocks, waiting for something to burst from the darkness and rob them of their breath. The river is beautiful too, strong current pulling it away where it will go.

They still have a long way to go, still have to travel home, still have an entire Kingdom to rebuild, politics to be had, but for now, they rest, close together and blissful, high from relief, from the knowledge that they accomplished what they set out to do.

It's Chanyeol who suggests the lanterns, five of them for each sacrificed life, for each person, be it sprite, imp, or human that died in the face of bravery. They light them, blue, gold, red, yellow, mixed together and glowing, beautiful and iridescent under the soft moonlight.

They cry, hands clasped together and eyes shining, and Baekhyun holds Chanyeol's face gently, apologizes to him, apologizes to Lu Han, apologizes to the very air itself, climbing onto his lap and into his heart, lips soft and eyes softer, sharp around the edges but his.

Baekhyun smirks, blooming into a full blown smile when Lu Han sits him down, tells him that he understands, spins an apology in a way only Lu Han can, cryptic and indirect, muttered words about honour, and about flowing streams of loyalty.

Jongdae sits by himself, tears shining and falling down his cheeks as he whispers words into a lantern, placing it in the water and seeing it off. A goodbye that is bitter, but he's smiling, words like willows as he climbs back into Lu Han's pocket to sleep.

And when Chanyeol takes a bite of Gaelgorn bread, rich and wonderful, the taste of honey feels like home.