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A loud growl resounded through the forest reaching the house in the middle. Jeongguk startled, nearly falling off the armchair. Quickly he got up to his feet and ran towards the wardrobe, his small feet padding the wooden floor. He dressed himself haphazardly panic making his movements disoriented. The pained growls followed slowly decreasing volume. His hands slipped on the buttons in his rush. The door opened with enough force to portray emergency.“Master! Something’s wrong--”“Not now Daniel” Jeongguk slipped on his shoes. He speed walked to the door while slipping a Swiss army knife inside his arm holster.“But master—““Not now!” Jeongguk snarled. He yanked open the front door and rushed outside.“Where are you going in this weather!? It’s raining outside!--” Daniel shouted “At least take an umbrella”Jeongguk was too far away to hear in this rain. Daniel sighed. He walked inside to prepare something for his troublesome master.The growls and grunts were getting closer sounding more pained than before. Jeongguk moved through the shrubs unmindful of the rain pelting his skin. It isn’t long before he came to a clearing about a couple hundred yards from his home. Any other time the clearing would have made a pretty sight but not now. His steps faltered seeing the grizzly bear on the other side of the clearing. The closer he got the more he could see how wounded the bear was. A chunk of flesh was missing from its shoulder nearly taking away its throat. Deep gashes spread out on its body bleeding profusely. The bear was outright bawling now. On closer inspection, only the stomach was protected which was bulging.Shit. It’s a female.Female’s were known to be the most ferocious when threatened and with how much it’s protecting its stomach curling up, it looks like she’s pregnant.Jeongguk came forward slowly. Her eyes snapped to his, jaws clacking. He raised his palms in the universal ‘I mean no harm’ gesture.“Shh It’s okay. Shh” He crept closer ignoring her growls. Trepidation made his hands shake as he raised them to touch her furry hand. He ran his fingers through them grooming them. Her growls quieted slightly.
‘Please..’
Jeongguk startled and looked up. The grizzly’s eyes were beseeching.
‘Pl-Please’
‘Was that you?’ Jeongguk asked the voice.
‘Yo-u can he-ar me-e?’

‘Yes’

‘Are you a shifter?’
‘No’ he didn’t elaborate
‘Oh-h Then you mus-t be one of the-m’
His silence said it all.
‘It’s a pity-y..’

‘What is?’

‘To m-eet one of y-ou.. whe-n I'm in s-uch a piti-ful state'
She huffed a breath slightly amused. At herself or the situation he’ll never know. The grizzly’s eyes were too human looking. It’s facial structures mid shift.
‘You’re a shifter!? What were you doing to get mauled like this??”
After the fallout few centuries ago, shifters were hunted by humans and are nearly extinct with only a couple hundred remaining compared to the millions they used to be. To see one and in such a state was a huge shock.
‘Ye-s. Hun-ters caught-- up to- us. Help me-e’

‘What can I do? Tell me!?’

‘It’s too-- l-ate for me-e. Pr-otect my c-cubs’

‘Why didn’t you shift? You could have escaped easily’

‘Too ma-ny wounds-s.’
She grabbed his hands with her clawed paws.‘P-Please.. Save them-m’Her eyes were desperate. Rain matting her fur and washing away her blood. Jeongguk hurriedly shrugged off his jacket and covered her wounds. He kneeled on the muddy floor while holding her paws tightly.‘How? I don’t know what to do? Tell me how to help.’
‘I-I can’t pus-h. They will die-e. C–cut me.’

‘No! If I cut you, you’ll lose too much blood. You won’t make it!’

'I won’t make it-t any-way. I do-n’t ha-ve much tim-e. H-hurry’
Jeongguk trembled, the rain a mockery of the tears that never fell.
‘P-please. I w-ant to se-e their fa-ces.’
Jeongguk closed his eyes, his lips trembling. He hesitated but another pained whine from her made his mind. He took his Swiss knife out and held it to her belly. Holding her paw with one hand tightly, his other hand, the one with the knife massaged her belly softly. He looked into her eyes.
‘What’s your name?’

‘Ki-m Y-oon-a’

‘Yoona don’t look down okay. Look at my face. Only my face. Don’t talk. I want you to remember all you’re happy memories.  Can you do that for me sweetheart?’

‘o-okay’
Images rushed through his mind. Yoona with her parents. Her friends. Her graduation ceremony? Yoona with a brunette guy. Their date.. Their kiss on the first snow. Two grizzlies running through the woods, catching salmon in the streams. The grizzlies playing together. Their courting. Their expressions when Yoona got pregnant.
‘You’re doing so well sweetheart’
Jeongguk quickly made a horizontal cut on her belly, blood gushing out. Her pained whine stuttered.
‘Shh. Shh, It’s almost over. Happy memories. Focus on them.’
He punctured her uterus all the while muttering ‘I’m sorry’. Agony wrecked his insides making his gaze unfocused. He wiped them with his rain soaked arm.Dropping the knife he moved his hands inside when he saw a tuft of black hair. Gently he pulled them out one by one and placed them on his jacket. The cubs all weighed about 450 grams. The smallest one weighed even less. It is only when he’s covering them from the rain did he realize that none of them were breathing.His heart struggled against his rib cage. He panicked.
‘Yoona! Yoona they’re not breathing’
Blood gurgled from her mouth. Her maw nudged the tufts poking out in desperation making pained whines.
‘How many?’

‘Four..’
‘Four?’ she smiles ‘If only Heechul could have seen me. He would’ve burst his lungs’ Her voice grew sad.She nudged their heads grooming them while he held them. He held them up to her even when his puny arms burned from holding them up. Something squirmed in his hands. Thinking he was hallucinating he banished the thought.
‘Your mate would’ve been very proud. And happy’
The squirming increased almost making him drop the cubs. That was definitely not a hallucination. Heart pounding he opened the jacket blanket and lo behold the runt of the litter was squirming, mouth opened eyes closed. Jeongguk was mesmerized by its movements.
‘Yoona.. yoona look!’
He showed her the cub beaming. Her eyes lit up slightly, the pain of losing her cubs lessened minutely by that one cub. She nosed the little one making little sounds and huffs. A cough racked through her body, blood flowing down the side of her lips. Her head swayed, consciousness waning.
‘He’s so pretty..’
‘Yes. Yes he is. The prettiest’ He choked'My-y little trea-sure' she nosed the cubs head ‘Ma-ma love-s you-' she kissed his head one last time before handing him back to Jeongguk 'Take.. c..are of hi..m f..or me..'
‘I will. I won’t let anything happen to him. What do you want to call him?’

‘Jin.. s..eo..k..ji..n…’
Her head fell to the ground with a thud loud even through the puddle of water, her hands losing their grip on his hand.Rain streaked down his face in rivulets. Slight squirming caught his attention. He looked down. The little one was shivering.Right.. Gotta get you to some place warm..Turning to the dead grizzly, he lifted the small one and brought him inside his t-shirt. He placed the jacket full of dead babies within their mama’s arms and bowed his head and sent a small prayer.He stood and ran towards his home screaming for Daniel. What seemed like hours later whereas it was only few minutes he reached his house. Daniel was holding open the door looking concerned.“Master. Master are you hurt?!”Jeongguk’s blood soaked clothes and teary eyes making him concerned.“Help me. Help me keep him alive” 
*~*
 Baby Jin was the cutest thing ever. He didn’t open his eyes yet but seemed to sense the presence around him. Whenever Jeongguk picked him up to bottle feed him (because nobody there is lactating), Baby Jin would clutch Jeongguk’s fingers as much as he could. He doesn’t have claws yet, so the light fur growing brushes against him making him sigh. If Daniel were to pick him up, his face would scrunch cutely and he would squirm away from the hand till they went away. It was all so cute that Jeongguk was disturbingly happy since they found Baby Jin. No matter how much Daniel insisted it was annoying, Jeongguk could see the tiny smile around his lips whenever Jeongguk skipped around the house.It’s been seven weeks since the-day-that-shouldn’t-be-mentioned, and little Jin has yet to open his eyes. Young grizzlies usually open their eyes within six weeks. On that calculation, it’s already late a week. Jeongguk worried whether it was because of his small size. Runt’s usually don’t last. When he mentioned this to Daniel he smiled, told him not to worry and tucked him into bed. Jeongguk spotted Daniel checking Jin’s vitals and making sure he is healthy more than needed in a day. Jeongguk scoffed, ‘Annoying’ my ass!And finally Baby Jin opened his eyes on the eighth week.“Daniel! He opened his eyes!”Daniel rushed in to the room next to his master. He looked at the sight that greeted him.Little Jin squeezed Jeongguk’s fingers and is nuzzling on his chest. Jeongguk’s eyes beamed.“Isn’t he the cutest?”Jin left out soft huffs that had Jeongguk cooing at him while shaking his paw in one hand.“Let’s get you fed shall we?” Jeongguk nosed the small head, allowing the furry hands to catch them. He took the baby bottle from the table and brought it to the cub’s lips. Paws coming forward to hold them.Well it’s just like any other baby Jeongguk thinks; only Jin is slightly... hairy?The cub kept his eyes on Jeongguk watching his movements only lightly whining when Jeongguk didn’t look at him for more than few moments.Jeongguk looked up to see Daniel looking miffed at the pup not paying him any attention. Aw why is everyone around him so cute? He chuckled“Come ‘ere Daniel.” He held him palm out and when Daniel slid his fingers with his, Jeongguk pulled him down to sit on the armchair. He climbed on top and sat on his lap. Jeongguk looked up smiling at Daniel. “If he doesn’t let you hold him, I’ll hold him for you”Daniel’s lips twitched, his hands tightening on Jeongguk’s tiny waist.“That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard”“Hey! I’m holding him and if you’re holding me then you’re holding him too”“Whatever you say master.” Daniel nuzzled his face on the brown head in front of him “Are you sure it isn’t because you want to be held too?”“Jerk” Jeongguk glowered on his lap but made no move to get down. Little Jin squirming happily making Jeongguk coo at him.“I’m going to spoil you rotten”
*~*
Over the years Jin grew up. He shifted into a toddler at the first year. Babbling and gurgling and drooling. He was stuck to Jeongguk like a koala even sleeping in his bed. Jeongguk for his part was so damn gone for the little shit it isn’t funny. And he is a little shit. Always playing around, hide and seek being his favorite. Always laughing whenever Jeongguk tripped or generally when he is in misery. A perfect devil during the day and adoring angel in the night. Such a contradiction leaves him speechless sometime no matter how many years passed by. Baby Jin got along with Daniel too. The animosity evaporated to partners-in-crime. When alone one is a nuisance, put them together they give the devil a run for his money.Sometimes Jeongguk thinks he’s getting grey hairs dealing with these two. Over the years Jeongguk kept a record of Jin growing up phase.  Each time Jin did something Jeongguk was there to take a picture of him, going far as to walk around with a camera slung around his neck. He took out the picture book looking at random pages and the notes beside them.

~Diary~

[Three weeks old]
 
[He opened his eyes]

[Jin a master at climbing trees]

[When he’s annoyed but still wants his milk]
  His fingers stopped on the page horrified. Ugh Daniel you piece of shit. When, Daniel slipped this inside he’ll never know but Jin is cute in this so he’ll let it slide
[When master slipped into the lake LOLOLOL Jin was so done]
   
[He tried to hug in his animal form. Aw cutie<3]
 Jin was seven years old now. He towered over Jeongguk’s eight year old body, well it’s only natural considering Jeongguk looked like a six year old twig. He could no longer carry Jin anymore, both in his animal and human forms. So Jin has taken to smothering him and pulling him on his lap. He’s getting more territorial as he grows older even going far as to growling in his cracked voice whenever Jeongguk sits too long in Daniel’s lap. The little shit has no problem sitting on Daniel’s lap but Jeongguk shouldn’t sit too long, the little hypocrite. Daniel being his annoying self laughed his ass off and has taken to provoking Jin sometimes when Jin neglects him; with Jeongguk being the coveted chew toy. Idiots, Jeongguk thought fondly.Jin came running inside sopping wet. Jeongguk sighed"Jin what have I said about running around wet? You'll catch a cold""Ggukie! Daniel hyung said that we're going for the neighbor town. Is it true? Are we really going out??" Jin asked beaming, jumping up and down causing water droplets to fall everywhere.Jeongguk chuckled, "Yes. But only if you're ready, you can't go in your birthday suit remember?" he winkedJin offended yelled " Of course not!" and ran into his room leaving wet footprints as he went. Sighing Jeongguk set about to clean them. 
*~*
So they set about to the town on their car. They decided to park the car on the edge of the town and walk around. Both of them walked on each side of Jeongguk with his hand held in theirs leaving kookie baffled as to why he's walking in the middle like a baby. Jin dragged them to each and every store that caught his eye, his eyes were sparkling as he never left the manor or the words before. They were eating cotton candy when a concealed truck passed by. Jin and Daniel stiffened, with Jin slightly growling. The passerby's were watching them warily. Jeongguk dragged them both to an alleyway. "What is wrong with you two? And Jin" he turned towards Jin only to stop. Jin's eyes were wide open in fear. His mouth parted to let quiet frightened growls out. His body shook slightly as if he was about to shift. Jeongguk went forward slowly. "Jin? Baby? Are you okay buddy?" Jin's eyes focused on him razor sharp eyes watching his every movement. Jeongguk stopped. He held out his hand and eyed him warily. "Jin? It's me ggukie..." Jin's nose sniffed the air relaxing slightly. Jeongguk crept closer and when he was close enough to touch he was pulled so hard into Jin's chest his Jaw hit Jin's shoulders, his very bony shoulders. With the ache, he knew a bruise would form tomorrow. Jin's body trembled, his hands holding Jeongguk very close, his claws in mid shift making indents on Jeongguk's arms even through the clothes. Jeongguk winced when they scratched him but didn't remove himself. It seems he's bleeding because Daniel took a step forward with his hands stretched as if to pull him away to safety, "Master-" Jin growled backing away and crouching with Jeongguk tucked in his arms. His canines lengthening. Daniel eyes went dark simmering with anger. Jeongguk popped his head out from the crushing grip. "It's okay Daniel" he smiled "I'm okay. I'll take care of this. Don't come close" "But-" Jeongguk shot him a look. After slight hesitation Daniel nodded looking not too pleased. He turned towards Jin who was shaking slightly and wrapped his arms around him as much as he could from his caged position on Jin's lap.He patted his Shoulders and ran his hands through Jin's hair all the while muttering safe reassurances. He doesn't know how long they sat there like that in that dirty alley floor till he felt Jin calming down. He still held Jeongguk slightly as if he would disappear and finally a wet voice asked wobbling, "Take me home?" Jeongguk raised his head and kissed his wet chin, "Of course baby, whatever you want" They walked back to their car with Jin practically clinging to Jeongguk. The ride back home was a silent one. The minute they stopped Jin dashed inside. They shared a look and walked inside. "The way you both stiffened does it have anything to do with that truck?" "Yes.." "Is it bad?" "I'm afraid so master" "Hmm we'll talk after I speak with Jin" "Yes master. Do you want anything to drink? Something warm perhaps" "Hot chocolate if you will. Come when I call for you" "Yes master" Jeongguk walked up the stairs and stopped in front of Jin's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. He knocked to make his presence known and walked inside. There was a lump in the middle of the bed. He sat on the edge and looked down. "What happened baby?" There was no reply only the occasional shaking indicating he was crying. "If you don't tell me I can't help you" He sighed when no sound came. "Okay if you wanna talk you know where to find me. "No!" A hand reached out from the duvet to capture his wrist. Jeongguk startled looked down and saw teary eyes peeking between the folds of the duvet. His heart ached. "Aw baby. Tell me what wrong's so I can take your pain away" He hugged the lump blankets and all "I don't like seeing you cry" The lump squirmed under him before a voice came out, "I'm scared.." Jeongguk mock gasped, "Are you telling me there's something more scary than me young man" The lump vibrated a sound suspiciously like a giggle came out before it stopped. Jeongguk sighed and asked softly, "What are you scared of?" He didn't want to mention the truck just yet. There was silence before a quiet, "I'm scared... they'll take me away from you" Jeongguk stiffened before pulling apart the duvet to catch those teary eyes. He held those wet cheeks with his tiny hands, "Look at me. No one and I mean no one can take me away from you." his stare hardened "Do you understand?" Jin's eyes widened. "But.." his lips wobbled. Jeongguk's eyes softened. He tucked his head under Jin's chin and hugged him. "The day I part from you baby Jin.. is the day I die" Jin's hands tightened on his waist at that. "So don't be scared okay? I won't leave you're side unless you want me to" Jin scrunched his nose, "Why would I want you to leave?" he remarked disgustedly as if Jeongguk insulted him Jeongguk hummed, "You never know. You may not want me by your side anymore when you grow up" the thought pained him. "Why" he spat confused "Yo know.. you might meet and love someone and I'll only be in the way?" Jin sighed,"Sometimes you're so stupid Ggukie" Jeongguk gaped. "Why would I want anyone when I have you?" he said with a completely with a straight face as if he was stating a fact. Jeongguk colored and stuttered, "Uh.. um.. oh" Jin looked down and smiled seeing his blushing face, he poked his fingers in Jeongguk's face, "Aw is my Ggukie blushing?" Jeongguk swatted the annoying hand away. "I love it when you're all pink" Jeongguk turned even more red if that was possible making Jin chuckle. They were silent for few minutes enjoying each other's company. It is when they're completely relaxed that Jin spoke, "There was so much pain in that truck.. So much fear that I could taste it.." Jeongguk listened. "You know.. that soul despair one feels when they can't be hurt anymore.. It smelt like that Ggukie.. So much pain that tears wont fall.. There were a lot of them. They were being taken somewhere.." "Who" Jeongguk asked softly. A tear slipped down Jin's face, "People like me.."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jeongguk tucked Jin in for the night after he made him drink a warm glass of milk. It was past midnight when he reached his room. Daniel was sitting on the desk chair reading a book while waiting for him. A thin framed glass sat on his curt nose sliding on the edge. He didn’t look up when Jeongguk entered but calmly placed a plain bookmark on the page and closed the book. He placed the glasses folded on top of the book. Jeongguk rolled his eyes.“I don’t know why you bother using those when you have perfect vision.”Daniel smirked, “Aesthetics”“Ugh whatever. So?” He settled on the bed, back resting on the headboard with a pillow on his lap, “What’s the deal with the truck?”Daniel nodded his head to the table near Jeongguk to point out the glass of hot chocolate kept warm by a stasis charm. He didn’t start speaking till Jeongguk lifted the glass to his mouth and started taking little sips. ‘Mother hen’ Jeongguk smiled behind the cup.“They were slaves”Jeongguk startled “What?”“Slaves, pets, and servants it’s all the same. But slaves, yes. A whole truck of ‘em”“Slaves? In this age? Who do they think they are?  medieval dickheads?” Jeongguk shouted angrily. His hands shook so he placed the cup back on the table.“I’m afraid so master” Daniel’s eyes grew dark thinking about them “I think they were traded or stolen perhaps. Whatever the case, I’m sure they were tortured and starved if they were lucky.” If they weren’t... Jeongguk shudderedHe fisted the pillow on his lap. “How many were there?”“I’m not sure.. But a couple shifter’s... animals... and a few human’s too, the young ones” he counted them on his fingers.Jeongguk’s eyes darkened. Humans have reached a new low. To treat an animal like dirt can be written off as they being too prejudiced to come down from their egoistic pedestal. But to actually trade off someone of their own kind? Oh Jeongguk was going to strangle the heads of whoever orchestrated this nonsense. Moreover, they made Jin’s first day out in the real world sad. A day supposed to be spent happily was now a day full of tears and fear. Whoever made Jin cry, cries blood. Jeongguk will make sure of it.“Can you find the place?”“Of course master”“Take me there in the morning. I want to see those dipshits”“Yes master”Jeongguk was about to lie down when Daniel gave him a sharp look. Rolling his eyes he drank the remaining and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand ignoring Daniel’s pleased face. He was lost in thoughts as Daniel tucked him in and kissed his forehead. He muttered a soft, “Goodnight Daniel”“Goodnight master”He closed the door. 
*~*
 Jeongguk woke up to Jin wrapped tightly around him. It took a moment to remember what happened yesterday and the rush of fury. But something about Jin’s sleeping peaceful face calmed him. He wondered if it was wrong to let Jin sleep alone after the scare yesterday. Wah it doesn’t matter. Jin is in his bed now so he won’t go emo over it any time again. Jeongguk was happy that Jin reached out to him in his time of need. Maybe he was doing something right in Jin’s life. Jeongguk nuzzled closer to Jin.Reluctantly he got up and removed himself from those arms. He brushed and washed himself. Standing in front of the wardrobe, he took a plaid shirt and some black jeans and finished it off with a scarf and boots. He was going to that trader shop today, so he has to dress to intimidate. Though he looks like a kid playing dress up, at least he looks less cute than when he wears t-shirts and shorts.He debated not telling Jin hoping he’ll be back before he wakes up. But decides against it. No use making the kid wake up alone after the scare he got yesterday. He knelt on the bed and shook Jin awake.“Huh?.. uh? Ggukie?” He rubbed his eyes awake cutely.“Baby I’m going to the town okay? I’ll be back soon.”“What why?” he pouted“I have some work. I’ll be back before you know it.”“What work? You’re a kid like me” Jin grunted annoyed.“It’s a surprise baby” Jeongguk winked“Stop calling me baby” He glared“Oh?” Jeongguk grinned mischievously “You didn’t mind last night Baby Jin” he launched himself at Jin and started kissing his cheeks making exaggerated kissing sounds. Jin struggled against the grip.“Ugh stop you’re drooling all over me” He whined but didn’t move his face away.They cuddled for some time till a growl came from the body underneath him and Jeongguk chuckled getting up. “Come on let’s get you fed.”Jin blushed but went to brush his teeth. Together they walked down the stairs to the dining room. A range of delicious smells wafted through the air. They sat down on the chairs and after saying a small prayer they started eating.  Jeongguk rolled his eyes when Daniel and Jin started their age-old contest of who eats the most. A game Daniel came up with to make Jin eat more. Being the runt made Jin even more small and he ate even less. Daniel fed up (worried) made up a competition with a three year old over who could eat more. He is stingy enough to not let Jin win. And Jin with his chipmunk cheeks full of food tries hard every day. Daniel says it’s so that Jin doesn’t slack off but Jeongguk isn’t so sure, that gleeful mug when he wins is too suspicious.It was time for them to leave. They bid goodbye to Jin at the door after making him promise not to leave the manor. They didn’t stop on the edge of the town this time and kept driving following Daniel’s nose. He was also wound tightly with tension, like a coiled snake. It really doesn't suit him. Daniel should be cheeky and full of smiles not.. not this. Feeling miffed he poked his fingers on his cheeks. Daniel blinked and spared him a glance.“What?”“Stop being so moody.” Jeongguk pouted cheeks puffed. “It’s gonna be fine”Daniel sighed before taking his hand from the gear to ruffle Jeongguk’s hair “I’m fine.. I just don’t like this. This situation. Even after centuries, it shouldn’t but it still astounds me that humans can sometimes be this cruel.”“Hey” Jeongguk smiled and patted Daniel’s cheek in comfort “That’s why we’re going, to sort this shit out. We’ll get ‘em Hero”Daniel groaned “That sounds as disgusting as the first time you said it”“I don’t know what you’re talking about” He winked.Daniel made a face and wrinkled his nose “Well I hope you’re ready” The car came to slow stop “Because we’re here”Jeongguk turned around to see a mock image of a haunted house. The board was bright with neon lights which would’ve looked wonderful at night but only made the place look run down in the day. It spelt ‘Desire’ in cursive script. He was not impressed.“Wow” he deadpanned. Talk about lame.“’Desire’?” he echoed “for what? this dingy old building? Should’ve named it ‘Aversion’ instead” Daniel sniggered endeared by his master’s naiveté.“I believe it’s the desire for sadistic and perverse impulses. The run down building might be intentional as to not arouse suspicion. Slave Trafficking is a now a crime master”“It is?” Jeongguk wondered. “The government did something useful for once” he scoffed and noted the building “Some people are surprisingly innovative and wise when attempting crime. They enjoy what they do. And somehow that’s amazing and disgusting in it’s own way”Jeongguk is all for passion and love. He loves when people enjoy what they do and have fun. But to enjoy another’s misery is something he doesn’t approve nor forgive.When he turned to open the door Daniel stopped him “Master, I want you to be silent. Let me handle all the talking.”Jeongguk blinked but nodded. Daniel has a reason for everything he does. Come hell or high water it’s always in Jeongguk’s best interests. He doesn’t need to think because trusting Daniel is as easy as breathing.Together they walked to the door with Daniel in front. The old bell jingles announcing their entrance. The inside is run down too but if it was in top condition it could have passed for a pet shelter.Daniel pressed the bell on the table top and Jeongguk gave him a look. He shrugged and raised his hands to say ‘that’s what it’s there for’ and Jeongguk rolled his eyes.After few minutes a short pudgy man entered through the doorway while buckling his pants. It was evident what he had been doing. Jeongguk felt his lips curl up in a snarl so he quickly brought his scarf to cover his mouth lest he say something kind. Daniel was all high society pompousness and arrogance. It made him smile into his scarf. Every once in a while the man’s eyes would flicker to him with a greedy shine. It makes him shudder. It also sort of makes him understand why Daniel didn’t want him talking.They both finished their chat and were moving to the door behind the desk.When Jeongguk followed them, the man sneered “Are you sure you want to bring the kid into this? He could be…. traumatized.”Daniel gave him a hard stare while looking down his nose, “I’m sure”He leered and licked his vile lips, eyes roving up and down. Disgusting. Jeongguk grimaced. The guy looks like an A+ coward fully submerged in his act of macho. He secretly dubbed him ‘pansy’ inside his head. Shrugging they moved to the door.After several turns, pansy knelt down to open a door on the ground. Despite himself Jeongguk’s eyes sparkled, he mentally noted to ask Daniel whether they could have a door on the ground too. It seems the door has a ladder. Kind of like a hidden room (It also made him think of the sewer on the streets but he didn’t want to ruin his own excitement so he banished the thought) They got down with Jeongguk being the last. A long hallway lead to the entrance of a metal door. Pansy pulled a silver key from the loop of keys and inserted it on the keyhole. He turned the knob and went inside signaling them to follow.The room was dark, pansy went and lit a few lanterns on the wall with a matchstick. It burst to life.(This looks more and more like the medieval era.)  Rolling his eyes he looked around. The light from the lanterns cast shadows on the walls and passed light to the cages. There were a lot of cages. Animals of mostly all kind. Each kind labeled by a board on the cage pointing out their species. At the back stood a huge cage full of animals of all kind. Moving closer he saw it was a cage for shifters. Anger simmered below the surface but he forced himself calm and counted them. There was a total of seven shifters ranging from the smallest cub to an adolescent. They were all staring at him with their back to their cages, fear in their eyes. Jeongguk pursed his lips but didn’t move closer ignoring his need to move closer to them. One of them, a small kitten, maybe a two or three year old crept closer to the bar of the cage. It let out little chirrups pushing it’s paws through the cage at Jeongguk. It let out chirrups a little louder but still quiet while stretching it’s paws towards him. One of the shifters horrified tried to yank the kitty back. The kitten struggled in his hold making painful little meows and stretched it’s paws towards him. It’s whines grew sad when he remained on his spot. Something about the upset kitty with its drooping eyes tugged at his heartstrings, so he threw his acting to the curb and crept closer silently to not attract attention from the dirty guy. The kitten seeing him come forward struggled more letting out chirrups and meows happily. He squatted on the ground and held his hand out, the adult shifters were hissing and growling at him but he had eyes only for the kitty struggling to reach him. Fed up, the kitty scratched the adolescent panther holding him making it hiss and drop him. He smiled when the kitty rushed towards his hand nudging it. He scratched under it’s chin and behind the ears it’s face raising higher and higher towards his hand till it tumbled sideward. It rolled around and nudged his hand with little nips till he started petting it again. Damn if that wasn’t endearing.In a sudden rush of affection Jeongguk lowered his scarf and brought his other hand inside the bars to lift the cute kitten by it’s arms. The other animals in the cage growled slightly taking a step forward. But he didn’t mind them, didn’t mind the dirty fur of the kitty, didn’t mind if his head banged on the bars, he crept forward while bring the kitty up to his height and nuzzled it’s nose with his, ignoring the wetness. He laid a soft kiss on it’s nose because he can’t reach its head.The kitten looked wide-eyed at him before shyly covering it’s nose with both paws and peaked through them. He smiled softly before leaning down kissing its paws making it meow surprised. He chuckled and placed the kitty back down. To his amusement it refused to let his hand go, clutching it with both paws stubbornly. He was about to pet it again when quiet sniffles reached his ears.His eyes roved over the cages stopping at the corner one. He couldn’t see properly so he got up to move closer after calming the meowing cat. Trepidation seized his heart as the sniffles suspiciously human like, drew closer with each step.  Finally he stopped at a cage covered by a dirty blanket. Daniel did say human children were kidnapped. With a heavy heart he lifted the sheet.Good Lord.Two small children maybe eight nine year old crouched shivering, hand over mouth to muffle the sniffles threatening to come out. Cuts and burns littered their bodies. The little girl had semen and blood running down her legs, the rags covering her small body barely able to cover the huge handprints bruising her skin. Chunks of her hair were on the floor and her forehead was bleeding lightly. The little boy had hand prints on his wrists and ankles, dried semen smudged on his cheeks and chin. They were shivering and hugging each other with fear on their eyes. Jeongguk felt like vomiting. Hot fire rushed through his veins, his sight blurred with how hard he was shaking, one thought passed through his mind
‘Destroy’
The room erupted in a cacophony of noises. Gone was the fear, instead something feral took upon their souls. His rage became their rage. Animals of all kind growled, hissed and banged on the cages savagely making them shake. Their weakness their pain lay forgotten as they hissed and growled like an animal at its prime. A dark satisfaction curled inside him.A whimper.Jeongguk snapped his head to see the two children try to hide, covering their ears, afraid. The shifters all shuffled together trying to make sense of what is happening, they cuddled together in the middle of the cage. And the kitty... the kitty looked fearfully at him. Jeongguk staggered back, body hunched, feeling hurt.Why is he looking at him like that? He would never hurt them.Sadness spread through his body when he realized that everybody was afraid of him. His eyes stung. He raised his scarf to hide them when sad fearful meows reached his ears. His mouth curled with disdain. Yes, he understands he is a monster, it doesn’t mean he likes that thrown in his face. The meows grew louder in volume, demanding. Against his wishes, he felt a sad smile creeping on his lips. Sharp meows followed with a hint of desperation.Alright alrightJeongguk looked up. Somehow the kitty removed itself from the cuddle-pile and was near the bars facing him, it meowed with fear at him struggling to move closer. It took a moment for Jeongguk’s dense brain to realize that the fear was for him. His eyes went wide with awe. Here he was the source of everyone’s fear and the little kitty was worried for him. Adoration rushed through his veins like a cool balm to a burning itch dousing the flames in his heart. As suddenly as the noises started they stopped.Jeongguk chuckled throatily.His mood improved, he turned towards the human children and asked, “Do you want to be free?”They looked up confused and still scared.He repeated, “Do you want to be free? To go back to your family?”At the word of family more tears filled their eyes before they hesitantly nodded wondering if this was a trick.He reached behind to pull his handkerchief from his back pockets and handed them inside the cage. “Here” the children were still confused “Wipe yourselves” He gestured to the mouth and legs.The boy reached his hand still hesitant. He began to wipe the girl first and then started on himself. Jeongguk waited till he was done.“Tonight, I will come and get you out. Don’t tell anyone about this, even that disgusting old man. Is that clear?”They nodded slowly.“You’ll be safe. I promise” with that he turned and walked towards Daniel who was still keeping up with his act and was arguing with the guy about the ‘savage animals’. He stopped next to him, pulled his sleeve and murmured a quiet, ‘let’s go’. They walked towards the door with Jeongguk behind.Pained meows followed his back. Hardening his heart he moved on. He will be back tonight dammit, why is it so hard to leave.His steps faltered when a quiet whispery voice leafed through his head.
‘Don..n’t go..’
He turned to see the pitiful eyes of the kitty beseeching him.He smiled and pushed his mind forward until only the little one can hear.
‘I will come back for you... little one. Calm yourself’
The kitten fell back on his butt wide eyed no doubt hearing his voice in its head.With a secretive smile, he kissed his fingers and wriggled them to say bye.The door slammed shut behind him. 
*~*
 Jeongguk had a wild idea.They’ll creep around the building, slink inside stealthily like well-trained ninjas and open the door using the key which they stealthily borrowed from pansy’s house which coincidentally happens to be above the shop. They open the big cages to let the humans and shifters out and keep the small ones closed and levitate everything outside above the ground. They hear something getting down the stairs and everyone are levitated high up the ground hugging the ceiling. Pansy would walk sleepily towards the ground door. By this time Jeongguk would be sweating. He would watch in slow motion as his sweat dribbled down to his chin making a huge drop which just so happens to fall on pansy’s chin. Pansy slowly looks up no longer sleepy with his mouth open. They would be hanging on the ceiling like the girl from the grudge. He screams, his men rush inside. Daniel and him would fight, blood splashes, gut splatters and they escape. All of this without waking the town up.A good plan? YesUnfortunately, that was what he wanted to happen.But no, what happened was this.Daniel broke the locks swiftly and silently all the way to the door which led to the forbidden room. (Curse you vampire strength!!. ) He broke the locks on the cages too. The animals especially kitty made happy noises and humans having generally high intellectual prowess remained quiet before Daniel. (Good thought.) Jeongguk leaves for few minutes on a personal mission and comes back. Daniel gathers everyone together, makes them hold hands together as if he’s performing a sacred (or dirty/ dark) ritual and bam! He teleported them right into his manor, specifically his living room. (Show off! ) Simple and sweet with no destruction and no chasing. (Ugh he gives up... that man has no sense of adventure.) He pouted. He got all geared up for nothing.  Sighing he looked around at the beings on his floor. All scared and trying to be brave (It’s gonna be a long night…)“Master”“Huh?” Kitty didn't come near him or make noises at him. Though it showed it's happiness when he came back it kept far away from him as possible and huddled with the others. It bothers him, he wonders why that is.“Where did you go? You disappeared for some time there”“Hmm?" He wanted to go to kitty but he didn't want to frighten it so he stayed put and turned his attention to Daniel "I went to see Pansy. Had to give him some parting gift at least.” He smirkedDaniel jerked “Master that-““Dangerous- yes I know” he wondered what to make for dinner. Can they all eat now? Or in the morning?“What if he recognizes you? Or better, reports you??”Daniel won't stop stop asking till his protective instincts have been sated. He set about allaying his fears else he'll have an annoying vampire, chewing his ears off not letting him sleep.Jeongguk winked. "Let’s just say he won’t have the balls to do anything” Daniel gaped gob smacked before he laughed a full out belly laugh endeared by the brat. After few minutes he raised his eyebrow, gaze expectant.Jeongguk grunted relenting, “Ugh fine. If it’s any consolation I put him to sleep before he could see me.”Daniel nodded satisfied. Jeongguk rolled his eyes with a muttered ‘Mother hen’A stray thought hit them,“What do you reckon Jin will do when he sees this”“10 Bucks says he screams”“You’re on” Daniel smirked “10 bucks says he faints”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A shrill scream jolted him up.“I’m awake! I’m awake.. what?” He wiped his sleepy eyes and looked around. All the animals, humans, him, Daniel everyone was spread out on the living room, blankets randomly thrown on each corner. That god-awful noise was still there.. Wiping his face he looked up and a sleepy smirk curled his lips. He wriggled his eyebrows at Daniel who was standing in the kitchen doorway with a pinched expression.
(‘I so won the bet')
Of course Jin had to ruin his victory by fainting in the middle of his screaming fest. For a moment, everything was silent.Daniel and he inched forward towards the prone body cautiously. Jin is so dramatic, you never know what he might spring at what time. He’s unpredictable that way. So they to be vigilant always.There wasn’t even a twitch from the body below.“Well at least we both won the bet”They fist bumped. 
Fast forwarding to what happened last night.

Everyone was standing straight and stiff ready to bolt any second. He sighed, he so doesn’t have the patience to coax forty animals out of their fear induced high. The animals listened to him, but the humans not so much. The shifter’s were kind of in between struggling between the two halves.

He cleared his throat. “Alright listen up people! I’m going to say this only once. I will never hurt you. You can listen to me and I’ll clean your wounds, you’ll get a nice bath, food, clothes and a nice bed to sleep in. Or you don’t listen to me; walk out the door dirty and in pain, get your wounds infected and die within a few weeks in misery. It’s your choice. Frankly I don’t want to deal with your fears right now. It’s late, we’re all hungry and I’m tired and I know you’ve never had a good night’s sleep. So I’m asking you, do you want to live or die?”

Pin drop silence filled the room.

He made sure to make eye contact with each and every being, mind linking those who can’t understand. Nobody moved.

His voice was stern when he spoke again. “I’m taking your silence as yes, you want to live. Don’t be scared. If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it in that room” He turned towards the bathroom “Now follow me”

The beings shuffled forward slowly. Mindful of their injuries he opened the door to the bathroom on the ground floor. He rolled his sleeves and kneeled beside the bathtub. He lifted the first animal inside the tub and used the jet nozzle sprayer to wet and clean them. He used his soap for the animals. And sprayed them clean. He took out a bath towel and fluffed them dry, finishing it off with a kiss to their head or nose, whichever he could reach at the moment.  And so all the animals were done and were in the living room under Daniel’s watchful eye so they don’t scratch off their wounds till he returns. As usual, they gave Daniel a wide space.

Then it was the humans turn.

They were uncomfortable. Who wouldn’t when someone your own age was wiping you clean? He gave them a new soap and asked them to clean themselves. Their relief was way too obvious. But it became clear after few minutes that they try to avoid the hurt areas like children usually do. So he asked them before he took initiative and washed their wounds clean of puss and grime. He was awkward but there was nothing sexual about his touch as he probed the girl’s lower half for injuries and grimaced when he felt that her folds were torn. He cleaned them quickly and wrapped them in fluffy towels.

Finally the shifters. The older ones were headstrong and defiant, two males and one female. They ‘accidently’ scratched him one too many times. Petty bastards. He let them have their little tantrums. He smirked at their petulant huffs when he kissed them done.

The four remaining little one’s, all male were surprisingly docile and cute. A panther, tiger, wolf and kitten. They were constantly nuzzling his hands. It kind of freaked him out. Unless he approaches them first no animal has ever approached him.

He entered the living room with the last of the shifters (the four of them waited till he was done cleaning everything) following him.

He turned towards Daniel “I- “ He was already standing before him with the healing salves and first aid kit. Jeongguk spared him a smile before he fully involved himself in treating each and every one of their wound not noticing when Daniel left to prepare a meal for them all.

When Jeongguk was finally done they all looked like miniature mummies. Right on time Daniel came carrying plates of raw meat lightly minced, some veggies (Jeongguk avoided looking at that) for the herbivores, and some leftover lasagna for him. His mouth watered.

He wolfed down his food like starved man in a dessert. What? Rescuing needs nourishment. He fed the little ones some of his food from his hand.

Since the little ones followed him whenever he got up for something and the others were still in new surroundings they decided to sleep on the living room. Jeongguk gave the couch to the little children and laid on the ground near it, the little ones curling around him.

Sleep blessed sleep

End of reel.
 Jeongguk dumped a glass of water on Jin and laughed his ass off when Jin woke up sputtering and red-faced but relented and threw a towel on his face.“Wake up princess” He mentally counted the seconds... five... four… three.. two.. one…“What the heck guk-ah!?” He shouted wiping his face and pointed around the room “Who are they and why are they in our house??”The animals especially the shifters grew closer to Jin smelling a comrade.“They were the ones in the truck”“What? What are you…" and like a light bulb his eyes popped out "are you insane!!? How did you even manage to bring them here? Why did you bring them here?”“You cried for them remember? You were sad that they were getting hurt so I saved them”“I cried so you.. ugh you’re not making sense. Do you even know what you did? How will you care for all of them?”“I won’t care for all of them. I will bring them back to their homes”“And how pray tell, are you gonna do that?”“Er.. I set them free and take them where they ask me to?”Jin gave him an unimpressed look.“Did you even think this through”“No” he mumbled“Then why?”“Look I didn’t know what I was thinking okay? You were crying and I just..” he drew circles with his toe on the ground.“You just what…?” Jin asked softly.“I just wanted you to stop crying! Now you can’t cry about this even if you want to anymore…” he huffed out.“So you did this... for me?”“Eh... not only for you” when he saw Jin’s unimpressed look “But yeah mostly for you”“Oh ggukie…”“What’s up with the tone? ....and why are you looking at me like that?” He took a step back.Jin gave a beautiful laugh and launched himself at Jeongguk and nuzzled his neck.“Ggukie…” he murmured “You little sap” he kissed his pulse point. 
*~*
 After three days, the wounds were fully gone thanks to the ‘magical’ healing salve. So they let out all the animals into the woods, dropped the kids at a station (with instructions to not tell anyone about them only that someone saved them and left) and dropped the older shifters wherever they wanted, who left with a begrudged thanks. As for the little ones... they just won’t leave.Jeongguk was in a deep dilemma. It isn’t that he doesn’t like them, it’s just... he doesn’t want to like them. Liking leads to attachment and attachment makes him do stupid things and he really doesn’t want that. Still, he can’t very well throw someone out who is insistent on staying can he? So he lets them stay.They were so adorable falling over themselves trying to follow him everywhere. Jeongguk was endeared, Daniel rolled his eyes and Jin… was not amused.After Jin realized that the little ones were here to stay, ‘sweet Jin’ left his body and ‘Bully Jin’ entered. He outright made sure that the little ones knew that they were not welcome.  This made them stick to Jeongguk more. He thinks it might be some territorial fight but he doesn’t know so he let’s them be. Let’s them solve their fights in their own way. Come to think of it, Jeongguk always feels some murderous aura directed at him nowadays. He shivers. And to make matters worse Jin was avoiding him. He doesn’t smile at him or hug him or just plain look at him. Jeongguk doesn’t miss him. He’s just noting what he’s doing and what he’s… not. That doesn’t mean he misses him right? Right? Urgh.Today was a movie night. Moody Jin occupied the couch leaving Jeongguk the beanbag. ‘The hangover’ was playing on the screen. For all it’s funny scenes it might as well have been a staring contest with the blank screen. Not a twitch was to be seen. And Jeongguk felt too stiff to disrupt the quiet in the room. He was about to fall asleep from the awkwardness when movement caught his eyes. Kitty was slowly inching forward on the couch. Jin was oblivious still focused on his staring contest. The kitty neared Jin and placed his paws on Jin’s lap.A second passed.A hand pushed back the kitty so hard it fell backwards to the ground. Jeongguk rose up so fast his legs shook . Jin snarled face angry “Don’t touch me”The kitten let out a pitiful meow and he raised his hands again as if to strike. “Jin that is enough!”  he took kitty in his arms and placed it on the beanbag with Jin glaring at his hand. He’s had it with the boy, anger and frustration at being ignored exploded and he’s fed up of it all.“I’ve had it with your nonsense Jin! What is wrong with you? Is this how you treat someone?” Jeongguk spit out.Jin glared hard at the ground.“Is this what I’ve taught you? How to bully someone 101?” Jeongguk snarled “Answer me!”The stubborn boy was staring resolutely at the floor.He marched forward and grabbed his chin forcing him to look at him “Look at me when I’m taking to you” Tiny drops of tears were gathering in Jin’s eyes. His anger evaporated in 0 seconds. “Jin-?” The boy brushed past his shoulders and ran up the stairs leaving him to stare at his back.Jeongguk felt lost. He doesn’t know what is happening anymore. The house felt bereft without Jin’s laughter and he’s going insane trying to figure out what’s wrong.The little ones were shivering with fear. Sighing he walked up to them and kissed their heads nuzzling them. He checked kitty for injuries and was glad that there was none. He patted their heads one last time and walked towards the stairs.He hesitantly opened the door, afraid as to what he might find when he does. It wasn’t a surprise that it was empty. But it was a surprise the room didn’t have any damage. He walked towards the closet and opened it. Ignoring Jin who was sitting at one corner, he moved the clothes on the other side to make room for himself because he doesn’t know whether Jin will strangle him if he comes too close so he leaves some space between them and shut the door plunging them into darkness. It was a little congested, their knees knocked against each other.It was a while before Jeongguk brought up the courage to ask an “Are you ok?” Because come on, he did make the kid cry even if he was in the right.Jin kept on sniffling.“I’m sorry for shouting at you Jin but I’m not sorry for scolding you.” He continued watching the light coming through the crack. “I don’t know what came over me. I was just so frustrated and angry this past week. Not at you, at myself. And I just exploded tonight. I’m sorry. Don’t cry anymore” he picked the non-existing lint blindly on his pants.It was so quiet that Jeongguk almost missed it“You don’t hug me anymore…”“What”Maybe he gained confidence or is about to burst himself because he shouted, “You don’t hug me anymore. You don’t kiss me anymore. You don’t smile at me and you never even touched me this past week. Am I so boring now that you’ve got new friends to smother?” he sobbed out, tears and snot running down his face.Jeongguk was stunned into silence. Here he was worrying while his baby was worrying over the same. Ugh he was an idiot! Waiting for Jin to make an effort? Why didn’t he try? What did he accomplish by waiting? He only ended up making them both sad.“Oh… Oh baby noo.. no okay?.” He tumbled forward between Jin’s legs, kneeled and sat on his heels so he could hug his stupid baby. “I wanted to hug you and give you gazillion kisses. I wanted to hug you while you slept and while you read. I wanted to talk to you so badly.”A wet voice asked wobbling “Then why didn’t you?”“Because I’m an idiot okay?” He kissed the head on his chest “Because I thought you didn’t want me to. I thought you were mad at me.”Jin was quiet for a few minutes before he said, “You really are an idiot”He gave a shaky relieved chuckle, “I know baby”Jeongguk slithered down and laid his head on Jin’s chest, still in between his legs while his own was spread out. They cuddled like that for a while.Jeongguk drew patterns on the chest, “You know... what you did back there was bad.”Jin sighed “I know..”“You knew?”“Yes”“Then why did you..”“Because they’re thieves.” All of a sudden Jin got fired up “They stole your affections and they even stole you from me”Jeongguk smiled and raised his head to get his point across. “ Nobody stole me baby Jin… I’m still here in your arms. And besides” he palmed Jin’s cheek “no matter the reason, what you did was still wrong.”His lips jutted angrily “So it doesn’t matter they occupy all your time with me?”“Their kids baby. What can they do in an unfamiliar place? You glare at them. Daniel is a vampire. So that leaves only me. They have no other choice” He looked into his eyes “You are the eldest, the hyung. They will automatically look towards you. You should learn to take better care of your donsaengs. What kind of example will you be if you bully them and make them scared of you?”Jin was looking bewildered. “I’m the hyung?”“Yes you are. That means you have to teach them what they don’t know and help them whenever and literally just be there for them always and not scare them away. Do you get what I’m saying?”His eyes were wide “What can I teach them... I’m almost the same age as them...”“They might not know everything. They were slaves remember? They wouldn’t have had the means to study. So there are lots of things you can do for them.”“Oh.. How do I do that?”“First off. Start by apologizing. You know what you did was wrong right?” Jin nodded “Then take responsibility for it”“Okay... I’ll do it later.” Jeongguk opened his mouth to reprimand his lazy ass “Cuddles first” he hugged Jeongguk tighter. Rolling his eyes fondly he indulged his little brat. He played with Jin’s fingers tracing their outline. They were an interesting shape, slightly bent in some places but were warm around his hands.“Say baby..””You call everyone baby. Don’t call me that anymore.”He was confused, “What? Who else did I call baby?”“You did!”“Did I ? I don’t remember”“Yes! I was supposed to be your baby. Instead you called those runts ‘baby’” He spat the words like it was an insult.Jeongguk laughed. He can’t help it, who can when their little one is jealous?  Jealous Jin was an adorable sight. He was pouting angrily cheeks puffed as if Jeongguk made a huge crime. Jeongguk fangirled internally.“Aw Baby Jin I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He cooed “You are my only  baby”“No I don’t want to anymore. You can have them as your babies. I don’t care” but his wobbling lower lip betrayed how much he really does.“Noooo how can this beee?” Jeongguk wailed dramatically “Jin doesn’t want to be my baby anymore” he wiped away his nonexistent tears “I don’t want anyone. If Jin is not my baby no one is” he declared with a hand to his chest.Jin’s lips twitched to control his laughter as usual whenever Jeongguk acts silly. He tried to resist but gave up, pulling Jeongguk closer.“No more okay?” Jin said sternly “If you call anyone baby again then I won’t be your baby anymore” he said with all his seriousness.“Okay” Jeongguk played along nodding determinedly. They pinky promised and kissed it to seal the deal.“Now that that’s over” he said still serious “let’s cuddle” he smiled goofily“Okay” Jeongguk giggled 
*~*
 Jin did well on his word and apologized. Seeing his sincerity the little ones started approaching him even going far as to play with him. It wasn’t a miracle anymore to see Jin snuggling with the little one’s or them lying on his chest while sleeping. It would all have made Jeongguk feel lonely if he didn’t spend most of his time in Jin’s arms. Jin even took the initiative to ask him whether they could bring the little ones to their monthly outing to the lake. Jeongguk was kind of shocked but also immensely proud.Starting from their stay the little ones have yet to shift even once. When he pointed it out to Daniel,“They have been abused master. It’s only natural that they would retreat into themselves. I’d be more worried if they weren’t”But Jeongguk couldn’t shake off his worry and walked away upset. He couldn’t sit still so he decided to do something about it. And that is how he ended up giving private lessons for them. When he tried to mind link them he could only bits and pieces of half formed words which only proved Daniel’s theory of the little one’s retreating far into their mind out of fear and now only their baser instincts are in control.So he made Jin speak to them in his animal form and forced him to shift and shift back. By the end of the day Jin excused himself, flopped on his bed and promptly passed out. They tried this the next day too with no result. On the third day, kitty’s form was blurring whenever he tried and the others… were still trying. Unsurprisingly Kitty was the first one to shift. And what a sight he was. He was a chubby doll with small cute eyes and small petite hands. His hair was untamed and reached his mid back and his bangs were wild covering half of his face. His lips red and his lower lip was slightly fuller than the upper making him look he was constantly pouting. He was shy and blushed every time he did something wrong. And Jeongguk never knew Jin could coo so much. We learn something new every day, he thinks. Maybe it was because he’s been in his animal form for years or he never had someone to teach him, he was a little slow and had trouble speaking and reading. Deciphering his babblings and hand movements, they learned his name was Jimin. Park Jimin.  He doesn’t know his age though.The next to shift was the little wolf. ‘He’ turned out to be a thin boy with cute almond shaped eyes and rich chocolate brown irises. His hair would jump a little whenever he walked exuding energy because the boy literally is a ball of energy. He can’t sit still for more than few minutes. Though his speech was slightly better than Jimin’s it was still not up to par. His name was Jung Hoseok. His smile is the total opposite of Jimin, like when Jimin laughs he literally falls down laughing like he really laughs with his whole being making everyone smile with its innocence and purity and Hoseok… Hoseok laughs with his eyes. His whole face lights up, blinding in its simplicity and elegance. Where Jimin makes you smile, Hoseok stuns you so badly that you forget how your facial muscles work. It makes Jeongguk laugh because Jimin makes one’s heart race and Hoseok makes them skip beats. Hoseok was blinding. Blindingly stunning. He dubbed him as ‘sunshine’ in his mind.By this time they have another theory. The younger you are the less years you have been vulnerable and since children usually are fickle enough to be angry one second and forgetting it the next, it makes it all the more easy for them to coax the child out.The panther is sure to be the toughest because he looks like he’s older and sure enough; the tiger was the one who shifted next. Clumsy is the word to describe the boy because he literally slipped on his own legs face first on the floor after shifting. A lanky boy with long limbs and strong sharp eyes. Eyes of a leader. They need not have worried about his speech because he spoke a mile long speech thanking them for saving them all, each word crisp and precise. By the time he finished his speech everyone was gaping, their mouths wide open. His name was Kim Namjoon and he was five years old and that Hoseok is also five and Jimin is four. And his concentration? Wow just wow. He remembers everything he sees or hears and he was conscious when his inner self was in control. Jeongguk absently dubbed him a ‘prodigy’ in his mind, eyes glazed. And don’t get him started on his smile. Namjoon oozes genuineness. Like whatever he does, he really really means it. And his smile is so genuine that you really feel warm inside even when it is not directed at you. And he has dimples! Cute little dimples that bloom whenever he smiles. Jeongguk’s inner fangirl is screaming.The panther… was a murderous brat. Hair so dark and skin so pale he was a living fairy tale. His eyes were shaped like small tiny fishes with dark ebony irises. For a small kid he sure does look like a serial killer with how hard he is scowling and glaring at everything. 6 year old Yoongi (the panther) was jumpy. He sits as far as possible and avoids all kinds of touching contradicting his other self. His lips were small but red and full. His eyes look like they hold all the sadness in the world and Jeongguk longs… He longs to hug him. And his smile? God it’s so sudden and jarring. His mouths stretch wide to show his gums cutely and when he laughs it’s so serene that it makes you blabber anything to keep making him smile like that. To keep looking at you like that. If he were to describe Yoongi it would be safety and comfort. He is the type who fills your lonely nights and tired hearts with peace simply by being present. Yoongi is the most sensitive person he has ever met and the most caring. He worries for the sweet boy with his tough exterior who makes all his protective instincts explode.After they learnt how to shift, everything went to shit. Honestly it looked like they were back to square one. Humans are really weary creatures. Compared to their animal counterparts the human form of theirs was guarded and they always maintained some distance. One step forward and two steps back.They were each given their own room. It doesn’t really seem like they sleep all much there. Because come next morning, they were all sprawled outside Jeongguk’s door in their animal forms. When this happened more than once, he silently started leaving his door open. Often times he woke up with a mouthful of fur. After the first time he caught them in his bed, they started waking up early to leave before he woke up. As if he didn’t know what they were doing. But meh he let's them have their secret.And it seems they have the same aversion as Jin. They don’t like when he calls others with the same name. They don’t say anything but the way their little face shows utter displeasure makes him feel like he committed a universal mistake and incurred the wrath of the Gods. Little children are so terrifying nowadays. He ignores their pleased expression when they noted that they each had their own name. Territorial bastards. He was running out of pet names to call others because he can’t use the ones he always uses. They don’t talk to him but they stay as close as they can without touching him. They smile tiny smiles whenever they think he is not looking. And the staring… God the staring. Jeongguk has never fidgeted this much in his whole life. He sheds a silent tear for himself because he is so painfully awkward in his own house. Who the hell feels like a stranger in their own house? That's how sad his life has become. Daniel and Jin were their usual dorky selves. They didn’t mind anything around them except their food contest. Was it just him who was awkward?Something had to be done about this.And when the days dragged on, he was losing hope. They were doomed to remain an awkward family and die without smiling. Finally, when all hope was lost,.....The answer to his prayers came in the form of one tiny angel called,Kim Taehyung.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It was a lovely day. The sun was shining; the birds were chirping, warm breeze fluttered now and then. Jeongguk never appreciated the scenery more, because that’s all he can do now. Every little sound, every little thing was heightened by how quiet the manor was. The little ones were still the same. Silent, moody, and generally depressing. Daniel and Jin were still the same, uncaring of the mood around them and lost in their own world. They’re all lovely wonderful people who just can’t seem to connect with each other and Jeongguk was stuck in the middle. The fact that Jeongguk doesn’t know how to connect either is another story. So they all move around in the manor like zombies. Eat sleep rave repeat. Except there’s no rave’ing part which makes all the fucking difference.They never have visitors. Nobody would be willing to visit a manor in the middle of the forest which was crawling with wild animals. So they have no reason for their doorbell to ring this obnoxiously in the wee hours of the morning. Oh did he mention the hard banging that would knock anyone’s door off? The soon-to-be-dead-asshole did that too along with screaming some sweet curse words. Whoever that is he was going to have some serious words with him for disturbing his and his little ones sleep. They shuffled on the bed squirming and showing signs of waking up. He ‘ssh’ed them and ran his fingers through their bodies trying to calm them back to sleep. And the banging still continued. Grinding his teeth, Jeongguk pulled himself out of his warm bed and ran down the stairs in his ratty t shirt and sweatpants just in time to see Daniel slamming the door open. Oooh Daniel’s not in his pristine condition, he must be pretty pissed right now to open the door with his bed hair.Complete silence ruled the mood for few minutes and a little chuckle could be heard.“Please..” a male voice whined “Please Daniel..”He knows Daniel? What’s with the whining? And is that Daniel chuckling? This he has to see.Jeongguk tried to shimmy himself through the gap between Daniel & the door. After some huffing and panting his head popped out. Satisfied he looked up.A tall blonde wavy haired guy was standing on their porch step. Tell-tale signs pointed out that he was a vampire. Huh. Explains how he knew Daniel then. The guy would have been pretty handsome if he didn’t have scratches and bite marks littering his hands and face. He had a cardboard box in his hand which was moving.“Please Daniel..” the guy whined. “Take this thing off my hands.”Jeongguk sniggered. The sight was pretty funny.The sound brought the guy’s attention to him. His eyes darkened and he smiled through the cut on his lips.“Who’s the snack?” and winked at himExcuse me? Did he just call him a snack? Jeongguk glared.Thank God Daniel’s chuckles have stopped or he would have been seriously forced to karate chop the guy to death.“You would do well to not insult my master Brother” Daniel said sternly.Atta boy! You tell him Daniel!- Wait brother!?? Who knew mister lone wolf had a brother? He was having a moment to himself trying not to freak out over Daniel having a brother and him not telling him. Meanwhile blondie continued insulting him.“Master? You mean this shortie?”“You can leave” Daniel made to shut the door. Loyal to the core, his Daniel.“Okay okay! I won’t insult your precious master. Just get this thing off my hands”“Why should I? It’s your problem”“Wait! Don’t close the door. Your master likes animals’ right?? Take him”Jeongguk perked up at animals peering closely at the cardboard box.“Master does. But I don’t like savage animals that are capable of making a vampire bleed near him”“See he is interested.” Blondie huffed before laying the cardboard on the ground “Do you wanna see him?” This was directed at Jeongguk.And before Jeongguk could reply, the box was opened. Curious Jeongguk leaned over it. A cute little puppy was running on the cardboard walls trying to topple it and staring around curiously. It’s cute button nose twitched to take in the different smells around.“This did that to you” Daniel deadpanned“Hey! You don’t know the extent of its savageness!! “The puppy growled at Blondie’s voice paws hanging over the cardboard’s top. It was fearless in the way it tried to be menacing but ended up making himself cuter. Jeongguk giggled making its attention focus to him. It tilted it’s head to the side and sat down on it’s hind legs unusually quiet, staring at him. Jeongguk took a step forward to pick it up but a hand on his chest stopped him.“Master no. We don’t know it’s nature yet. Let me go first” Ugh Daniel and his over protectiveness. He opened his mouth to say just that when a growl caught their attention.They turned to see the puppy barking at Daniel standing on all fours. Daniel shot him a look as if to say ‘I told you so’ and tried to pick up the puppy who barked loudly and when the hands came closer bit him on his hand making Daniel hiss and swat the dog away. Patrick was laughing his ass off at his brother’s misery.“Well I think you have everything under control. I’m off then bye” With that Patrick vanished.“Wait! We didn’t agree--”  Daniel hissed “And he’s off like all the times he dumped his burden on me” he rounded on Jeongguk “You just have to be interested don’t you?”Jeongguk looked up blinking innocently.Daniel rolled his eyes “Get the little terror inside”Jeongguk eyes sparkled. He shot a finger heart at him making Daniel shake his head in exasperation. He came closer to the dog who was whining with pain.Jeongguk squatted down next to the whining dog. “Hey” The dog lifted it’s head up from the ground and looked at him curiously.

“Wanna come inside?”The puppy didn’t bark or anything but his tail was wagging lightly so he took that as a yes. He rose to his feet and turned to walk around hoping the pup will follow him when the whining started again.He turned to see the pup on all fours and when the pup saw that it got his attention, it took a step limping and toppled forward comically in an fluid movement. His lips twitched. The little actor.Behind him, Daniel scoffed disbelievingly, “Come on, you’re seriously not going to fall for that are you?”Jeongguk picked the pup up who was wagging his tail happily miraculously healed now that it got its way. The pup’s weight was a comforting pressure on his arms.“Shush you. I like holding him. And if he wants me to then I’ll hold him for however long he likes.”They parted ways inside, Daniel to do his grooming and Jeongguk to the couch to cuddle and get to know the little terror more. The pup was dozing off in his lap when Jin came down the stairs sleepily. He dropped beside Jeongguk on the couch and cuddled his side nosing into his shoulders after kissing his forehead in greeting. It doesn’t take long before Jin’s sluggish brain catches the new scent in the air. Jeongguk waits expecting an explosion as Jin slowly looks down at the sleeping pup on his lap.Seconds pass before Jin sighs heavily and resumes his cuddling.Jeongguk stared in disbelief at Jin on his shoulder. He expected screaming at least. This type of calm acceptance is just not possible. It seems too good to be true. He nudged him softly.“You’re not gonna say anything?”Jin didn’t look up but his breath left goose bumps on Jeongguk’s skin as he spoke. “Do you want me to?”“No.. I expected a little screaming at least”Jin bit his collar bone slightly in retaliation, “Sorry to disappoint you”“So you’re okay with it?”“Hmm... As long as he doesn’t steal our time together it’s fine”Jin being all mature is not surprising. It was only that one time he showed his petty self and his tantrums. Jeongguk was, is and will always be surprised whenever Jin does anything.Jin continued, “Besides… you already have your hands full”“What do you mean?” Jeongguk asked confused.“The brat has been awake since the time I walked down the stairs. He is still laying relaxed showing that he doesn’t perceive me as a threat even though he knows I can wring his pretty neck off easily. Blatant disrespect”“He is?? Wait ‘he’?”“Yes ‘he’.” Jin lifted his head and blinked blearily at him “You didn’t know he’s a shifter?”“He’s a shifter!?”Jin sighed before lying down again. The pup nudged it’s head under his hand which stopped the petting and didn’t stop till he resumed. Demanding little shit. Are shifters supposed to be this trusting?One by one everyone started coming down for breakfast. Jeongguk woke Jin up and they went to brush their teeth, the pup close at their heels. Jeongguk doesn’t know why he’s all of a sudden popular nowadays but it must be because of all the invisible perfume he is wearing. Meh who’s he to say no when he gets some love?Jimin, Hoseok, Namjoon, and Yoongi all look curiously at the pup that trots into the kitchen behind Jeongguk. They didn’t mind his presence till Jeongguk placed him on his lap and fed him from his fingers. Cue the glaring. But the puppy was oblivious to it all or so they thought. In reality he just didn’t care, he happily licked Jeongguk’s fingers clean. Breakfast was not so silent with the pups little yips and whines filling it. After breakfast Jeongguk called everyone to the living room.“So er..”  He started awkwardly holding the pup steady when it wriggled and was now lifting its nose trying to reach his chin. “He is a shifter and an acquaintance left him with us. He’ll be living with us from now on. Hope you all will take care of him.” Daniel and Jin nodded but the rest didn’t say anything. “Are you guys okay with it?”He was met with blank faces who just stood up and walked to their room.Jeongguk sighed. Tough crowd those four. He looked down towards the pup who was staring at the ground silently. It may not be that visible but it’s ears have drooped down slightly. He felt bad for it. Rejection hurts.“Hey” He held the puppy to his chest with one hand behind it’s neck and one on it’s bum. “It’s okay alright? They will love you when they grow to know you. See Jin likes you yeah?” Jin waved at him smiling “It’s a start for now.” He said kissing the nose because he couldn’t help it. The pup stared dazed at him and licked his face and nose.Maybe it’s because he was surprised or he just didn’t expect it at all when the small body in his arms suddenly gained weight making him drop him almost. He most certainly didn’t know that he would be carrying a small naked child in his arms who had his own wrapped around Jeongguk’s neck. The arm at the child’s neck shifted absently to below his arms to better accommodate the weight. He would have noticed his hand at the child’s butt but he was too busy gawking.The child was pretty with his chocolate brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. He had an adorable little mole on his mouth which were stretched in the widest smile possible. The smile was filled with childish delight and openness. The boy wriggled slightly and the action made him blush, bringing his hand away from the boy’s butt to behind his knees. The boy’s eyes twinkled at him. His cute mouth pink and perky.The kid raises one of his arms from around Jeongguk and caressed his cheeks “Hi” he said cutely “I’m Kim Taehyung. But you can call me TaeTae.” The adorable grin was back “We’re gonna be best friends”And that was the most sweetest fucking omen he had ever heard. 
*~*
 Kim Taehyung, Jeongguk discovered was adorably persistent and downright lovable. He followed him everywhere, chatted his ear off, teased him endlessly, but was really easy to talk to and was the most thoughtful person ever. It was so cute how he tried to make the other shifters comfortable by observing them silently, like how he leaves the lone armchair for Jimin who likes curling up on it, leaves the pillows on the couch for Hoseok to hold on to, makes sure snacks are available because Namjoon likes snacking when he watches something interesting, and makes sure there’s always a blanket on the couch because Yoongi likes being warm and comfy. Jeongguk always cuddles Tae during movie nights because Tae likes lying down on the couch on someone’s lap but he can’t because Jin, Namjoon & Hoseok like sitting there so he doesn’t say anything. Little things like these happen every time and Tae keeps on taking care of them silently. So Jeongguk makes sure that he is always within his arms and never feels lonely because the others don’t notice how much Taehyung does for them and are still not welcoming him.Taehyung doesn’t spend too long being upset though. He bounces back quickly and thinks up ways to make them like him.Taehyung was a breath of fresh air. Enchanting in his own way he is so expressive and he can’t lie for shit. His eyes are a pretty brown like liquid chocolate and if you look closer with flecks of amber. His lips smooth and cherry kissed. He’s pretty much a camera. Nothing escapes his eyes even the tiny subtle bits that people usually gloss over and he’s so straightforward? Like if he finds something he likes about you he damn well makes sure you know it explicitly. Jeongguk can’t relate because he’s always been a ‘no words only action’ type of person but it is endearing. Yes, Jeongguk thinks everything Taehyung does is endearing some might say he is probably biased but he isn't the only one who thinks so.Jimin's little smiles, hoseok's eyes lighting up, Namjoon's mouth twitches, yoongi's soft stares and of course Jin and Daniel don't have an ounce of discretion they openly smother him whenever they see him.Though nothing is good yet, he gets to see them happy even if they're not happy together.And for now, that's all that matters. 
*~*
 Maybe it’s a bit cowardly to dump the work on Daniel but he can’t help it. His mind is a dump of void right now and ideas especially ideas about how to make enemies become friends is out of his orbit. Daniel smiled darkly which sort of raises his hackles because it looks like he has something horrifying in mind. Bleh must be his imagination.The next day Daniel rounded up everyone in the house and said that he was taking them on a road trip. He set about doing his Blood ward thingy, pricking his hands and drawing designs in the air which hanged in the air.The others gaped except Jin and Jeongguk. After you’ve seen it a million times it loses its appeal.“What is he doing?” Tae asked curiously“Raising the wards”“What are those red drawings”“Protection”“How is he doing that?”Jeongguk sighed “Ask him yourself”Tae pouted and sulked when Jeongguk refused to answer his questions but brightened when Daniel who came close to them after finishing his solo ritual.“Danny, what are those red drawings? How did you do them? Why did you? Can I do them too?” he asked a million questions a minute.“It’s called Blood Magic. I did them using my blood. It’s a type of protection, kind of like an enclosing shield and no, you can’t do them” He handed them each a backpack and motioned for them to put it on.“What why? I wanna do them too” Tae’s cheeks puffed.“You just can’t do it. It’s a vampire skill”“Why” He sulked.“Do you want to know the reason?” Tae nodded excited, sulk forgotten, always eager to hear a story“For vampires, blood is something sacred. Be it sustenance, protection, or anything else really. Blood is what makes a vampire, vampire. So you can imagine how powerful a vampire’s blood will be compared to the average human. And so blood magic came into existence because it gave added benefits. It is something we have common among all vampires. It’s a basic defense or offense for any vampire, and it’s strength depends on how strong the vampire is.”“You made us disappear from the dungeon that day you saved us. And then we were in your living room. No vampire we knew could do that. What are you?” Namjoon asked eyes narrowed, no longer with-holding his questions now that the topic has been breached.Daniel smirked at the insolence, his eyes flashing dark quickly.“Individual Pureblood Vampires have powers and mine is teleportation”“Pureblood?” Jimin asked timidlyDaniel smiled softly at him. Everyone is soft for Jimin, Jeongguk thinks rolling his eyes amused. Even powerhouse vampires are no exceptions.“There are two kinds of vampires. Some are born and some are turned. Like most kinds, vampires also have mates but it is very rare. Vampires can’t impregnate anyone other than their mates and if they do find their mates it is said they’re offspring’s are stronger than a hundred turned vampires. These offspring’s are called Pureblood’s. Being a pureblood comes with many perks, one of them is being blessed by magic.” He winks“Magic?” Tae asks astonished. Daniel bopped his nose.“Yes. Compared to turned vampires pureblood vampires are stronger and not easily killed. And each of them have an individual power which nobody has. For example, the one who brought you here has fire magic” he nodded at Tae“So we can’t kill you?”Daniel laughed at the cheek. “No you can’t. At least not yet” He raised his hands. “Now hold each other’s hands.”After checking whether they did, Daniel teleported. They landed in the middle of a clearing. Trees surrounded them at all the sides. Daniel clapped his hands to get their attention and when he had it, he started speaking“Alright listen. We’re gonna play a game. You all like games right?” They nodded hesitantly feeling a sense of foreboding. Jeongguk looked around curiously, wondering what type of game would require coming to the woods. Daniel was still speaking,“There is only one winner and one prize”“Prize? We get a prize?” Hoseok asked hesitantly“Yup.” He said popping the ‘p’ “If you win, you can ask for anything you want”“Anything?” Jimin’s eyes were wide.“Yes” He looked into all of their eyes “Do you want to play?”They nodded determinedly.“Okay. You can’t back out now. You have your backpacks. Open them”They opened their bags and were confused to see a pair of clothes with under wears, brush and a small tube of toothpaste, soap, a blanket, a water bottle and a couple of snack bars.“Those are your necessities. Keep them safe and don’t lose them. You’re gonna live in these woods, literally live, hunt for your foods and protect yourself from not becoming food yourselves for the predators here, sleep, wash and take care of yourself. We won’t be back till the end to pick y’all up  so don’t go thinking we’ll do this game with you. You’re in this alone… er… you’re all alone together. Whatever. You get my drift. Don’t be scared, it’s just a game. Or more accurately,” Daniel kissed his fingertips smiling cunningly “It’s just a game of survival”Jeongguk snapped his head towards Daniel so hard he was surprised it was still hanging on his shoulders. He was horrified.
Daniel you devious little bastard
When he asked for his help he imagined something along the line of locking them in a room and not opening till they sort their differences out, not dropping them in the middle of a forest with bloodthirsty predators and leaving them with that to sort their differences out. God this is so not what he imagined. The children were no better than him staring with pale faces and wide eyes.“Now that the explanations are done, we’ll see you in a few days.” He smiled “Please don’t die”Daniel placed his hand on Jeongguk’s shoulders.“Wait! Daniel you can’t serio-------“ he didn’t even finish his sentence before he was whisked away. He was a little dizzy from the sudden movement and took a minute to orient himself.“Are you okay master?” He was leaning on Daniel who was looking down at him in concern. He pulled himself from the grip forcefully.“What the hell man? Why would you do that?” he glared at him.“I did what you asked me to”“I asked you to make them get along with each other, to make them friends! Not to kill them!”“Precisely. So I would very much appreciate it if you stop inserting your opinions on my methods”Jeongguk glowered.Daniel sighed, “I’m sorry if you’re feeling bad. But it truly is the best choice, for both our wishes”“What do you mean both our wishes?”“Exactly that. You wanted them to be friends, I want to know their intentions; present and future”Jeongguk sighed pinching his nose “Explain your plan please before I go insane.”“It’s quite simple. Humans when pushed into a corner or when faced with death exhibit inner qualities which have been dormant. It may be positive or negative. You being the emotional fool you are master, is easily deceived. Simply put, I’m putting them up to test now before we end up being backstabbed on the battle field someday and die a tragic death. I want to know whether we can trust them. As for them being friends, it’s ‘dire circumstances cause love to evolve’ method. Everyone wins”Jeongguk gaped.“Daniel don’t you think that’s a bit dramatic? They’re only kids for God’s sake.”He shrugged. “Even serial killers were kids at some point”His jaw might as well have a permanent place on the ground with how much he’s dropping it.Daniel made a frustrated sound when Jeongguk still looked at him like he just said he is a doctor for kinks “Do you trust me?”“Of course” Jeongguk rolled his eyes. It’s true. No matter how dark or sadistic Daniel may seem at times Jeongguk will always trust him, without a doubt.“Then you know I won’t let them get killed”“I know you won’t. I don’t doubt that. I’m just worried you know… It’s really stupid but it’s kinda hard not to get attached to them? They’re the only ones who stayed this long, the only ones who liked me even without my aura. Truly liked me for myself and not because they were entranced by my powers. Heck they don’t even know I have powers. It makes me feel weird things” Jeongguk sighed, and dragged a hand over his face, suddenly exhausted.Oh Daniel knows, knows how much Jeongguk is affected by them. Daniel has been there; all the times people and shifters all alike tried to use his master whenever they sensed his aura. He remembers all those times his master cared and was only used in return. Maybe that was the time Daniel realized his master only knew to protect others and that he gives so much he forgets to take care of himself. That was when Daniel changed. He could still remember the day he pledged to take care of his master.
They had just finished killing a group of rogue vampires who were attacking the nearby villages. His master was sweating, face covered in dirt and a huge gash was running on his abdomen bleeding profusely, the armor torn apart.

“I told you to protect the villages! Why did you come after me??” His master was angry. Rightfully so, because he disobeyed a direct order. But he didn’t regret it. The moment his master got hurt, everything disappeared; he didn’t care about the scared villagers, he didn’t care about himself when he jumped into the fray, he didn’t care about anything around him except the way to his master. His vision tunneled, his breathing hiked, his hands shook and he could only breathe when he was standing next to his master. He knelt on the ground and placed his left palm on his left knee, the right on his heart and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry for disobeying master. I won’t say I won’t do it again because I will.”

His master didn’t look angry, he just stared at him thoughtfully and when Daniel is about to go mad with the silence he asked a simple “why”

“Because I want to protect you. I know you’re capable of protecting everyone. I trust you to take care of that. But I don’t trust you to take care of yourself. So please…”  It was maybe defiant but Daniel didn’t care as he raised his eyes of the ground and stared straight into his master’s eyes  “let me take care of you.”
And He changed. His master may be too trusting but he was not. He doesn’t forgive anyone who has wronged his master. He may be cruel in his tactics but has grown to care for the little ones so he sincerely hopes they pull themselves through this test because his master has gotten attached to them as does he and he doesn’t want to rip them away from him.“I know master. Give me five days. A week max.” Daniel ruffled Jeongguk’s hair when he made a face “I know you can’t stop worrying so you can amuse yourself with this”He pointed towards the television in the room. Jeongguk stared at it then Daniel unimpressed. Daniel chuckled and muttering ”Impatient” he turned on the tv.Jeongguk doesn’t know how he can make himself amused by a television when the little kids were roaming in the forest alone or with god knows what chasing after them. Imagine his surprise when he sees six videos moving on his lcd screen like the shit in control rooms where they watch everything through security cameras.“You really thought about everything didn’t you?”“Yes.” He handed him the remote.Jeongguk quietly watched the tv, the kids were talking among themselves. The camera was stuck on them he thinks because he can only see what they’re focusing on and not themselves.“Did we have to leave Jin there too?”“Yes. It’ll be too suspicious not to”They were having a quarrel. Jin was looking frustrated, Tae suspiciously silent, Jimin looked afraid, Yoongi looked strong but the shivers gave him away, Hoseok was hugging Namjoon’s arm, and Namjoon… Namjoon looked scared but was still trying to find ways around it.Jeongguk sighed for the umpteenth time. This makes him sick with worry. But he understands why it should happen. Coddling them like he’d been doing is bound to make them pretty messed up in the head in the future, unable to connect with their other selves and simply going mad by losing control. Making the young ones fend for themselves is practically a ritualistic practice strongly upheld even to this day. Since the kids don’t have their own packs to do certain things the burden falls on their head to teach them and theoretically teaching them the way of the wild is useless and nothing beats practical experience anyways. Daniel’s just takes it up a notch by testing them too.He hopes they’ll be okay.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

There’s not a lot of things that makes Taehyung upset.He was upset when his village was burned and when everyone he knew and loved was gone. He was upset when everyone hated him. But other than that there weren’t many instances. His mamma always said that he was very happy for a baby. He never cried even when he was born, never threw tantrums, was always a quiet child and it was something his mamma was proud about saying that Taehyung was something special when everyone in the village looked at him like an abomination.He was fine when he lived in the woods for weeks before he was found by that vampire. He has always been fine in tough situations. And this right now is not even a tough situation. So he doesn’t understand why it hurts now.When he first saw his ggukie, he was shocked because he has never seen a human among vampires before and a pretty one at that so he was curious. The first time he smelled him though, something in him somewhere near his heart ached. It ached in such a way all his bones hummed in pleasure. At the time he felt something for the boy and wanted to touch him to see if he is as real as he looked. Maybe the human boy felt the same way because he reached out like he wanted to touch him. Anger rattled his insides when the vampire placed a hand on the boy’s chest, a growl tumbling out of his lips making it easy for him to bite the hand off that dared to touch the boy.His animal counterpart was oozing content when the boy held him. For the first time, the ever-present war in his mind was silent. Tae didn’t like that his animal counterpart has so easily liked the boy when it had never liked anything before. The animal didn’t like when the bear shifter snuggled the human boy. He was scared, logically the animal should have also felt scared to be near a predator and not get jealous that a predator is hugging the human but the animal didn’t mind anything except the hands petting him.Though it was a surprise to see others of his kind inside the same house and not fight each other, it wasn’t a shock when they glared at him. Animals were territorial he shrugged because he is too. The bear and the vampire were kind of nice though. They welcomed him.It became very obvious that the human boy was very kind. Taehyung might look dense but he knows when someone cares and when they don’t; the little boy, He cared about Taehyung. Maybe that’s why Taehyung shifted for the first time, a year after his parents death to proclaim them as best friends. It was a nice though.. he had a friend now and he was happy.Soon he noticed that everyone in the house was possessive about his ggukie. It made his hackles raise because ggukie was his best friend and they can’t have him. His eyes narrowed, his nose flared and he hates how he’s behaving but he couldn’t stop. The more he pushed those thoughts behind the more he noticed something, he started caring about the other shifters. Palms on cheeks, eyes wide mouth open, the perfect expression for horror. But he starting to mind it less when they want ggukie’s attention. As long he’s ggukie’s first best friend and the bestest. But then he started wanting their attention like they gave to ggukie and that was not cool. It looked an awful lot like he is starting to like them.Mamma always said Taehyung loves easily.So it wasn’t a surprise when he started being considerate about everyone in the house. It may sting sometimes when they reject him but that’s nothing he’s never felt before. Nobody wanted to be his friend except ggukie. And as long as he has ggukie everything was fine in his world. The moments he spent beside ggukie, the hugs he shared with Jin and Daniel, yoongi’s scowl, Jimin’s shy looks, hoseok’s curious gaze, Namjoon’s analyzing looks. Those all are what matters. (Minus the scowls and glares because he wants them to look at him with love) Everything was fine!And now everything is not fine because he is left alone with the others in the middle of a forest and ggukie is nowhere in sight. Tae knows he shouldn’t but he feels sad and hurt that ggukie brought him here and left. Okay Daniel did but still… Gggukie should have found a way to reach them. He wasn’t sure this ‘game’ is truly a game and not something they cooked up to get them out of their hair. It stings but he’s not sure what’s true anymore.The night was cold, the flimsy blanket doing little to protect him. Jin hyung was curled around him trying to provide warmth. Jin hyung spent the whole day being annoyed and angry but he wasn’t scared or crying like the others and when Tae asked the reason he said that ggukie will come for them when the game is over. He stated it like it’s a fact as if he doesn’t believe anything other than that to happen. Taehyung hopes so because he doesn’t mind being abandoned but the thought that it’s ggukie abandoning him makes his throat choke up.His stomach growled, the snack bars doing little to his hunger. They have to hunt in the morning. For now he’s about to sleep; memories of flowers and garden and whispers of a singing voice pulling him under. 
*~*
 The morning was terrible. It’s clear that the five of them have never hunted before or even knew how. They were currently quarreling very loudly in the silent forest making enough noise that would scare off all the prey in the vicinity. Usually shifters form packs and live together like one big family. They hunt as one too and this is Taehyung’s first time in a pack hunt. All the excited sparkles in his eyes vanished like they were doused in flames leaving behind a tired gaze. He feels a headache forming. Is this what a pack feels like? Because he’s glad he’s not in one.“-I’m very sure that if we do that it’s not gonna work!”“But it has a 90% success rate! It is bound to work!”“Yeah well what about the other 10%!?”“Why don’t we set a trap?” Jin points out“How would you do that? It’s a lot of work to even make a knife out of the bark”“And you need something sharp to even cut that bark”They were making plans and plots with their human minds their arguments making his head throb. The first step to surviving in the woods is to trust your instincts. Mind gets you nowhere here. Taehyung knows. He opened his mouth,“Um... I know how to hunt. I can help you?” it ended as a question rather than a suggestion but it might as well have been ridiculous because of the way they were staring.Yoongi snorted in disdain “Yeah right”They were all rolling their eyes and even Jin hyung looked doubtfully at him. That kinda stung his pride a little. Was the doubt because he’s younger than them? Or because they don’t like him? At the least they should give his idea some thought before striking it down. But Taehyung kept his mouth shut not wanting to make them angry.He kept his mouth shut when their plan didn’t work. He kept his mouth shut when day passed to night and they never had a single bite in their stomach as they turned in for the night. Two days passed and still they didn’t find a single prey. Their stomachs were making killing noises. It would have been funny if they had been hungry because they worked too much but as it is they are hungry because they don’t have anything to eat. On the second night Tae couldn’t handle it anymore. They were hungry. He was hungry. If only they would have listened to his point. He lived in the woods for a year! He might not be a professional but he sure as hell knew more than them.“I know how to hunt..”Hoseok rolled his eyes “And I know how to cook”“Really?” Jimin asked excited“No” Hoseok huffs“If you’d just listen to me for one second!”“Listen to you?” Yoongi scoffed “So we can all be stupid?”Taehyung was getting angry by the second. These people were too blinded to see past their hate. His face must’ve made a disturbing expression because Jin hyung took a step forward, hands outstretched to console him; for what? To not sound like he’s insane? Anger was consuming him. Hurt at being ignored, hurt at being tossed aside as something stupid and useless, hurt he’s feeling all alone when there are so many people surrounding him, hurt because he misses ggukie. Too angry he growled without knowing, sharp and rebelling. Silence surrounded him when he realized what he did but he still didn’t care if he was challenging them because they were being a dumbass and Taehyung is never afraid of standing up to dumbasses.Namjoon growled, his eyes dilating not changing color yet because of his age. But Taehyung stood his ground. They all made Namjoon the pseudo-leader because Jin hyung doesn’t know shit about hunting and so does the rest of them but Namjoon knows theory. That makes all the difference it seems so he was automatically hailed as leader. He’d make a good leader one day but not now. Not when he doesn’t know what is going on around him and is too absorbed with his little gang to look at the outside world.“Submit” Namjoon growled.An elderly shifter would’ve cooed at the sight, little children playing pack politics. As it is no one is passing by and this is a crisis for the little children.Taehyung’s legs shook slightly but he stood his ground.“Taehyung” he warned eyes narrowedTaehyung lifted his chin up not backing down.“Last chance. Submit.”Taehyung glared defiantly.“Either you Submit or leave” Taehyung’s eyes widened. That was low. Even if they didn’t see him as pack they lived together and to throw him out means he‘s saying he doesn’t really care what happens to him. Jin took a step forward as if to protest but Taehyung doesn’t care.  Namjoon has said what he really wanted and the others don’t look like they were opposing the idea very much.“Fine! Die for all I care!”He regretted the words the moment he said them but he didn’t look back to see the damage because he was running. Jin hyung called after him but he didn’t stop till he can hear nothing but silence and the blessed sounds of the forest at night. He fell to his knees on the muddy ground.  Darkness blanketed him sucking the almost non- existent happiness around him. His lungs burned, throat constricted as the abandonment settled in his bones. He lay down feeling lonely wanting ggukie’s arms around him holding him telling him everything was okay. His eyes burned but tears wouldn’t fall.Everyone who cared about him left him and will leave him eventually. He has no one by his side anymore.Was he doomed to be alone?He curled into a ball feeling vulnerable. 
*~*
 Taehyung woke up bright and early with the sun shining on his face. He stretched languidly; the pain in his abdomen was reduced to a dull throb no longer blaring the red signs of hunger anymore. He needs something to eat. Somewhere to sleep preferably somewhere near a lake. First things first, he’ll find something to eat. Then he’ll go on his little quest. Mind made he got up to get ready for his hunt.Excitement bloomed on his face.He hid his backpack on a hole in the tree marking it so he could find it later. Changing into his animal form, he prowled silently.It was easy to slip back into hunting and preying. His mind was melded almost completely with his instinct now. He attacked an old sick rabbit which is bound to die in a few days and dragged the rabbit to the campsite which he set up temporarily near a lake and dumped it on the ground. He arranged the gathered twigs and sticks together and rubbed two rocks to create a spark. As for skinning the animal since he doesn’t have claws yet, he grabbed a rough rock and skinned them with the jagged side. After washing the blood off he poked the meat with a long sturdy stick so that it is perfectly sat on the stick and didn’t topple to the ground when he lifted it and set about cooking it on the fire.It wasn’t tasty. There was no salt, just traces of edible leaves which he used as spices and slightly charred meat. But it might as well have been ‘the holy food’ with how ravenous he was after two days of no food.. He bathed himself and donned a new pair of clothes from his bag. He stuffed the dirty ones into a ball, he’ll wash it when he finds a place to stay.He didn’t know how long he’d been walking before he found a small cave between some rocks. It was hidden nicely away from wandering eyes. It doesn’t look lived in. He went out and gathered many leaves filling them in his bag and brought them back to the cave. At one corner of the cave he dumped all the leaves and arranged them to make a makeshift bed and spread his blanket over it. A couple feet behind the cave was a nice lake, the water was the right temperature for a soak but he resisted and started washing his clothes taking care not to tear them by scrubbing too much. After squeezing the excess water he hanged them on a rock nearby and placed a hand sized rock on it so it doesn’t fly away.He ate another rabbit for dinner; washed his hands using his water bottle and settled on his bed.The thing about trying to sleep is that thoughts enter unbidden. He wondered if the others were okay, if they ate anything. He felt bad about leaving them alone and for what he said but they were the ones who told him to leave and no one even stood up for him. What would ggukie say if he saw them now? Will ggukie also think he is too young to believe?Lost in his thoughts, sleep claimed him fast.

*~*
 Taehyung immediately knew something bad was going to happen that day.When he woke up the clouds were a cluster of dark grey pillows hiding the entire sky within it. It looks like there’s a storm coming. He looks outside worried.He has to stock up on food immediately. He only has a few pockets of berries but it wouldn’t last him the day. He ran outside.Hunting in itself is tough and hunting while a storm is brewing? Even more tougher. What usually takes only an hour of careful preparation took four hours today but he was glad because he found a lot of game today. It looked like it will start raining any minute when he reached his cave with more rabbits than usual. Thank God he gathered lots of sticks and branches yesterday.The rain was pelting everything making it hard to see in the cloud of fog. It was dark outside even though it was only the evening. His mind immediately went to the others worried despite the lingering hurt. He wants to see if they’re alright, whether they managed to get to a shelter. A mini war between his mind and heart brewed inside him making his head pound.Everybody knows heart always wins in the end. Huffing in defeat, he ran through the forest blindly, the rain making it harder to see. This is gonna go either two ways. One he is gonna run in this storm just to find them perfectly safe somewhere and end up looking stupid or two they might be dying somewhere. The possibility is daunting. Taehyung ran with everything he had even when his legs felt like they would fall off and his muscles burned the strain. Still he pushed through. Step by step.Maybe God is smiling down at him because he heard a whimper. Feet stopping he tried to hear above the roaring and thundering. Just when he thought he might have imagined it, it sounded again. There! A big tree, imposing on all the nearby ones stood smack down in the middle of the clearing with branches so long and leaves so thick it looked strong where it stood. There in the middle of the tree bark is a hole small for humans but big enough for little pups. All of them were curled together inside with Jimin in the centre. Jimin was the one who was whimpering, looked like he was sick. It isn’t good for him to be this wet, must take him somewhere warm.“Hey” he started.
‘Hey’ he says as if they’re meeting in a park and not standing in a big storm.
His inner commentary was not what he needed right now. The shifters all looked at him sluggishly, defeat in their postures. Taehyung was concerned; if they’re feeling sluggish then they’re on the way to being sick.“Can you walk? We have to get somewhere warm” The others stared at him like they didn’t understand.When it doesn’t look like they’re moving anytime soon. He made a move to walk a few feet and did the ‘come on’ action hoping they can understand it now. He probably looks an idiot making stupid actions in the rain fully drenched but they looked like they understood because they sat up with doubtful faces but Jin let out a low growl and might have said something because they deflated like balloons like their pride and ego was just shot but they took a brave step forward. That was all the indication Tae needed before he jogged back to them.“You have to shift. It’s far we have to run there.”Their animal forms were too tiny to run that far in this weather. Jin growled again to get them moving. Tae took Jimin in animal form and held him under his shirt to his body hoping to provide what little warmth he could. Together they ran, they slowed down some when it looked like one of them was lagging behind. But eventually they reached the cave.The fire had died out making the cave a little cold but bearable. Tae walked towards his bag and took out the clothes he washed yesterday because the stupid vampire forgot to leave them a towel.“You can dry yourselves with this. Leave your wet things to one side and sit here. I’ll have a fire running soon”The others looked around the cave a little curiously with a bit of awe. Soon they were sitting naked on the ground because everything in their bag looked like it came straight from the ocean so they sat naked watching him work.Tae dumped the sticks on the remaining charred sticks and arranged them. He didn’t have a slab yet to make fire rubbing it with a stick so he took his two rocks and started rubbing them.“What is he doing?” Hoseok asked curiously.Tae body jerked as he was startled but he kept rubbing them.“He’s making a fire” Namjoon said with wonder. He didn’t reply. They were not speaking to him.It was a little hard because the sticks were slightly wet due to the cold but he managed.Soon a fire was running and he set about skinning a few rabbits. If they were in their animal forms there’s no problem eating it raw but it’s a little disgusting for humans so he made the tasteless meat fry and gave them each a stick who were staring at him like gave them the world. His cheeks blushed unused to the look.He gave Jimin a tiny portion of the meat and gave him all the berries he had to nibble on because he can’t stomach heavy foods when he was sick.His bed was a little small for all six of them to sleep in. They were a little hesitant sleeping in his bed when Tae told them to have it but agreed in the end.Not feeling sleepy, Taehyung sat near the fire. He sat there lost in thoughts long enough while lazily poking the fire to get startled when a body sat near him.“Hy- What are you doing?” It’s too early to start calling him hyung. And by yoongi’s sharp look he might have noticed his slip-up. Yoongi didn’t respond to his question and stared pointedly at the fire as if it was something fascinating. It was, but Yoongi was more fascinating to him now.Comfortable silence settled around them each lost in their own world. It was nice, sitting with Yoongi who was not glaring at him for once.“How do you know all this?”“What?”“Hunting… making fire… and stuff”“Oh” he shrugged “I lived in the woods for almost a year.” And just to let him know that Tae is not a forest expert so they know not to trust him too much he continued, “And living like that for that long you’re bound to pick up a thing or two. I may not be the best but I know my way around things”He can feel Yoongi staring at him but he didn’t turn to look.Tae doesn’t understand what Yoongi hopes he’ll find in his face. Does he think he’ll find something if he stares harder? The rain washed away all the dirt so he might not be staring at that. The silence seems weighted somehow like every second is precious. This is how billionaires feel where every second is a billion. Looks like Yoongi came to a decision because he breathes out heavily like a grandpa who is carrying the whole world and not the six year old twig he actually is.“You’re okay kid. You’re… not stupid” Did he assess all that from staring at him and wow was that an apology? What does it cost to say sorry? It’s blaringly obvious that’s how close an apology he could get “We..were..wrong” Yoongi sounded like every word was wrenched painfully out of him. Ouch. Yoongi was struggling; to apologize no doubt and he wanted to hear it. But he also wanted to not force him to give more than he could.Taking pity on him he smiled sadly “It’s okay. I understand”It must be something he said (or it’s his can’t-hide-anything-face which gives him away) because something passed through yoongi’s eyes and he sat up determined with hard-eyes.“No it’s not okay. We treated you badly. You shouldn’t have to say things are okay when it is really not Taehyung” Yoongi stared him down, making him feel like Thumbelina even though they were the same height.“I’m sorry okay! We treated you badly even though you’ve only ever been nice to us. Even now when we threw you out, even when you clearly didn’t have to, you came after us and for that I’m grateful. It’s because of you we’re alive and here Taehyung and not dying somewhere in a tree. So don’t you say it’s okay as if all we did was not give you blocks to play with”Taehyung was staring at Yoongi eyes wide. Yoongi may have realized just what he blurted out because his eyes widened and he turned his head away fast but not before Taehyung saw a glimpse of pink lovely cheeks. Taehyung wanted to speak, say anything to portray that he understood yoongi’s feelings but he had a feeling that Yoongi wouldn’t appreciate his deeper dive into the open can of worms.So he schooled his features and pointed out the obvious,“So you like to play blocks hy- Yoongi-sshi?”Yoongi flushed even more “Shut up”Taehyung grinned good-naturedly. He was so happy now.A low whimper broke their conversation. Growls and purrs rushed to comfort the distressed pack mate. Taehyung’s smile became a little forced. Yoongi was open about his dislike and while the others didn’t say anything he knew they didn’t like him too. He doesn’t know what he’s going to say to them tomorrow that is if they’re gonna talk to him. Yoongi notes his strained smile and was guilty all over again. This time not for himself but for his pack mates. It’s makes Taehyung fond of the elder who is very open about his feeling and protective of his pack. His hurt lessened a little, smile becoming less forced because of the compassionate shifter next to him. Yoongi wringed his hands together anxious. Taehyung wanted to sooth the elder. So he did what he did best when confronted with heartfelt feelings he douses it with humor.“They’re sorry too… they just don’t know how to say it… Go easy on them?”“Oh like I did with you?”Yoongi glared at him making him give a wide cheeky smile. Seeing his smiling face Yoongi rolled his eyes fondly.“You can call me hyung you know”Taehyung looked up innocently.“Cut the act, I know you want to.” Yoongi stood up dusting himself.“Are you going to sleep?” He was disappointed a little; he wanted to talk to Yoongi a little bit more.“Yes. Running takes a lot out of me”Yoongi walked to the bedding and when he saw Taehyung still sitting by the fire, he raised a dark eyebrow “Well? Aren’t you coming?”Taehyung’s lips stretched in the widest smile if that was possible. That was an open invitation if he ever heard one. It felt like being invited, being asked to join when no one had ever asked him that before. He quickly got up and made his way as if; if he delayed longer the offering would be taken back. They shifted and Yoongi curled around him. His insides were feeling warm.And when the others moved so he ended up being cuddled in the middle with Jimin, there were fireworks inside him bursting a million different hues. He felt safe and protected like how a pack should feel. If only ggukie would have been here, the feeling would have been complete. But he still loved the closeness. He hopes they can do this again in the future sometime with ggukie. He nosed Jimin’s fur curling around him to provide warmth. He was so happy his insides felt like exploding with the influx.Was it possible to explode from being too happy?