[fic] Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi - SJM - The Path Untraveled - Chapter 2/9
Title: The Path Untraveled
Author: fonulyn
Rating: NC17? (overall)
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Other characters: side!Han Geng/Heechul, Ryeowook, Sungmin, Siwon, a lot of brief mentions of others (suju and shinee, mainly)
Warnings: (overall) blood and violence, hunting etc.
Wordcount: 4212 words for this part (~37k overall)
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: For as long as Kyuhyun can remember life has been the same in their village. Yet when their monotonous life is disrupted, when another pack settles on their territory, Kyuhyun can’t help but be drawn to them. Drawn to one of them especially. (wolf shapeshifters!au)
Comments: Here’s the second part! Please enjoy~
Previously; Chapter 1
That is only the beginning, if one asks Kyuhyun. He’s strangely grumpy for the following days, unable to explain where the mood swings come from. Deep down inside he knows it has something to do with the intruding pack and he’s convinced that if they just get rid of them things will return back to normal. That is the best possible solution. Attack and force them to leave, there, nothing to worry about.
Except he knows it isn’t his decision. That frustrates him even more and it almost drives him out of his skin, makes him restless and unable to stay still. After the second sleepless night he decides he needs to burn it off. Maybe it will calm him down at least somewhat. Usually it helps, running until he can hardly inhale, his lungs burning for air and his muscles hurting from the effort.
Kyuhyun sneaks out of his home early in the morning when nearly everyone is still asleep. He knows that if he’ll go towards the lake first he will probably avoid being seen, and that is exactly what he wants right now. Answering some stupid questions isn’t high on his list, so better not bump into anyone.
He sheds his clothes just outside the village, bundling them up so he can tuck them up into a tree where they will be safe until his return. Then, he just lets the change ripple over him. Morphing always hurts but it isn’t unbearable, it’s more like growing pains when bones shift and fur replaces smooth skin, his structure going through a complete reformation. He’s so used to the tinge of pain that he can ignore it almost completely, focusing on how he wants it to be over already.
Finally, he runs. His large paws make almost no sound as they thud on the ground, only some dry leaves shuffling and small twigs cracking under his steps. At first he makes leeway towards the lake, happy to run on open ground to warm up his muscles. Maybe he should jump into the water later on, even if he doesn’t like how it makes him smell like a wet dog. Right now, he steers away from the shore and instead delves into the forest. It’s like a game, dodging trees and running as fast as he possibly can. He allows his senses to guide him, uncaring as to where he’s headed.
Until he almost runs into someone. Not quite literally, seeing that he notices the strange scent already a bit further away and tries to quickly change directions. Shit shit shit. How did he ever manage to run straight towards the intruding pack he wanted to avoid at all costs? Ironic, he thinks, and just his luck. Maybe he could still manage to get away unnoticed, if he just runs fast enough. He can hope.
Kyuhyun’s mind is racing and he quickens his pace instinctively, trying to focus on the sounds to find out if he has been noticed. All he can hear is his heartbeat, along with the normal sounds of a forest. He even chances a look back, tilting his bulky head to catch a glimpse -
Until the solid ground suddenly vanishes from beneath his paws.
Startled, Kyuhyun releases a panicked yelp as he feels his balance disappear, the ground give in and his whole world tumble upside down. Suddenly he’s rolling down a steep hill, unable to stop his fall before he smashes right into large rocks that are like waiting for him right there. Sharp pain slashes through him and he groans, squeezing his eyes shut to hold back any further sounds that might slip from him.
Just great. This is exactly what he wanted. Get cut and bruised like a dumb kid just because he’s stupid enough to not watch where he’s going. He shifts carefully, grateful that at least nothing seems to be broken. Except for his pride. Which is basically dying, thank you very much.
Slowly he starts to move, tentative to see how much damage he managed to do to himself. He’s thankful that his kind heals fast, at least, since the smallest bruises and bumps are already practically gone. But there are some nasty cuts as well, on his back and his sides, and he has a feeling he sprained his ankle in the process.
Wincing, he reverses the change, until he lays there panting in human form. Instantly he brings his long fingers to his side, grimacing at the sticky feeling of blood. This will take hours to heal. Things are getting better and better.
Kyuhyun barely manages to finish that thought before a voice startles him out of his thoughts. “Are you alright?” In a split second Kyuhyun’s eyes snap up, right into the worried face of someone he doesn’t know. Or that’s wrong, actually, since he knows the man. Kind of. This is the tall man he saw when he accompanied Siwon to meet the intruding pack a few days ago, the man who just stood back and watched.
“Do I look alright?” Is the first thing Kyuhyun manages to groan out, from between clenched teeth. He tries to avoid the other man’s searching gaze the best he can. How amazing, now he’s lying here stark naked right in front of someone he had no desire to ever meet, but rather wanted to get rid of. His life sucks, he’s certain of that right now. But the look in the other man’s eyes is only honestly worried when he chances a glance at him. At least something.
“Well, you look like you could use a little help,” the stranger smiles genuinely, and before Kyuhyun even knows it he’s crouching down next to him and inspecting his wounds. Now, Kyuhyun is pretty comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t mind being naked in front of people, not really. How could he, he has to strip to change into wolf form if he doesn’t want to rip his clothes apart. But he isn’t exactly comfortable with a stranger - even an attractive one, he curses himself for this thought - poking his side and checking his wounds while he’s as exposed as possible.
Besides, he has no idea why the other man - the other wolf - hasn’t just killed him already. He’s from an obviously hostile pack and hasn’t showed any signs of friendliness, and he could be there in bad intentions for all they know. “Just kill me now,” he growls defiantly, knowing he’s easy prey. Maybe he would serve as a warning and then Siwon would surely get enraged and attack the small bunch to rip them to bits. Sounds mildly comforting at least.
“No,” the tall man shakes his head a little, still inspecting Kyuhyun’s injuries gently. The soft touch of those warm palms feels kind of nice, he has to admit. A thought he banishes from his mind the second it appears there, deeming it completely improper. “We’re not here to harm you!” The man smiles at him again, sneaking an arm around his shoulders as if getting ready to lift him up. “I’m Zhou Mi. And I will help you.”
That now is a surprise. Kyuhyun is flabbergasted, he can’t deny. “W-what?” He stutters, half of his mind directed to struggling to free himself from the other man’s grasp. Zhou Mi might be strong although he looks thin and lanky, but it doesn’t mean Kyuhyun wants to be carried of all things. Finally Zhou Mi seems to take the hint and only helps Kyuhyun stand, allowing him to lean his weight on him.
“Let me take you to our camp,” Zhou Mi suggests, but something in his firm tone and the stubborn set of his jaw tells Kyuhyun it isn’t a question, it’s a statement. He’s going whether he wants it or not. The sun is already setting, diving into the horizon, and he knows he wouldn’t be able to run with his bruises. Still…
Kyuhyun doesn’t have many chances to disagree. Not before he’s already taken along no matter what he says. And if he thinks that the strong arm supporting him around his shoulders feels kind of nice, no one needs to know that.
Kyuhyun hardly even manages to re-think his decisions before he’s already dragged to a small camp that is surprisingly close to where he fell. Thankfully. He isn’t certain if he could have walked another step anymore, his bruises aching and his whole body like on fire even though he tries to ignore that. It doesn’t stop him from giving Zhou Mi long suspicious looks. What is this? It isn’t like it’s common to drag complete strangers - wounded or not - into your camp you are supposed to protect.
It seems that Zhou Mi deems him worth protecting though, even more than his camp.
“We’re only five, you know.” Zhou Mi smiles almost encouragingly as he crouches down in front of Kyuhyun, after throwing a thin blanket on his shoulders. For a second, Kyuhyun considers jumping up and trying to make a run for it, but he decides that it would be way too exhausting and just wraps the cloth around his naked form tighter. Besides, there’s nothing but sincerity in Zhou Mi’s sparkling eyes, so it’s easy to trust him, clever or not.
And of course there was the fact that his pack only consists of five wolves, which Kyuhyun knew beforehand and Zhou Mi just confirmed. Kyuhyun might’ve been more intimidated if there’d been a bigger group around him but this, this he believes is not so bad. At least he will have a chance to escape if he manages to regain his strength a bit.
Zhou Mi seems to take his silence as a good sign since a moment later there is a hand tentatively grabbing his wrist, pulling him up on his feet. “Let’s get you some food, alright. Can you move?” Zhou Mi looks at him worried, and Kyuhyun supposes that if he had said ‘no’ Zhou Mi would probably carry him. He only grunts as a response though, shaking the long fingers off his arm as he slowly follows the taller man.
Kyuhyun discovers that if he walks very, very slowly it barely even hurts at all. Still, the way he fell on those sharp rocks ensured that the deeper wounds would need hours to be better, and he doesn’t know if he wants to risk changing again before making sure there is no more damage.
When they reach the small campfire, Kyuhyun can easily spot two figures sitting beside it. The added light doesn’t really do anything for him, he could’ve seen them even in nearly pitch black darkness, but this way he can make out colours and distances better so he isn’t complaining. The redheaded guard he already met before gives him a long, evaluating look that quite resembles a scowl. “Why are you bringing him here?” He asks Zhou Mi, making sure to emphasize the pronoun enough to practically spit it out.
Zhou Mi ignores him though and instead turns to the other man by the campfire, his head bowed lightly in respect. “I found him in the forest and he’s hurt. I hoped we could spare him some food? He won’t cause any troubles.” Distantly Kyuhyun wonders how Zhou Mi can make such promises so lightheartedly when bringing him to their camp obviously was a stupid idea, even if he is hurt and outnumbered. Then again, he surprises even himself when he realizes that he wouldn’t have caused troubles even if he could have.
The man Zhou Mi addressed looks at Kyuhyun for a long while, not saying a single word. Long enough to make Kyuhyun want to squirm, but at least it gives him time to look at the man in turn, as subtly as he can. Which isn’t much. The man’s hair is almost frighteningly blond, giving him a slightly ethereal edge, even if otherwise he’s strong and muscular, his almond eyes dark and unreadable. His physical appearance is completely secondary though, since what everyone notices first is the clear authority radiating from him.
He’s the alpha of this small pack. Kyuhyun knows it the second he senses the man’s presence. It’s always easy to sense how dominant a wolf is, and this is a clear case.
It feels like much longer, even if it’s only two minutes at most, before the alpha speaks up. “Alright. Take a seat, stranger. You are welcome to stay the night.” His voice is surprisingly soft and gentle, but there’s no mistaking the authority hidden within.
The words make Zhou Mi practically beam and he turns towards Kyuhyun as he gestures for him to sit down next to the large log lying two feet away from the fire, nearly perpendicular to the one the alpha and the redhead are sitting on. “Kyuhyun,” Zhou Mi pronounces the name carefully, as if both making sure he gets it right and let the other two hear it well, “this is Han Geng. The head of the camp. And this is Heechul.” He gestures towards the two, and despite the redhead’s - Heechul’s - obviously hostile glare his smile doesn’t fade in the slightest.
“I’m going to get you something to eat!” Zhou Mi announces, before vanishing into the shadows. It leaves Kyuhyun alone with the two strangers and he doesn’t exactly feel comfortable in his skin right now. He’s itching to run away, anything to get rid of the awkward situation and the way he’s being stared at.
Thankfully the silence is broken when Han Geng addresses him a few heartbeats later. “What happened to you?” He sounds polite, and even honestly curious.
Kyuhyun might blush lightly as he thinks back to his foolishness, how he managed to hurt himself like a cub on his first run. That is definitely not cool. Nothing he’s proud of. “I… fell.” He answers curtly, careful to keep his eyes trained on the ground next to his knees. He tries to sit as unmoving as possible, leaning on the tree trunk, giving his wounds time to heal. “Unfortunately straight on some rocks that knocked me out for a moment. Then that idio- I mean, Zhou Mi found me. And dragged me here.”
If Kyuhyun had to guess, he would’ve never thought that by almost calling their friend an idiot he manages to make a friend. His jaw nearly drops from surprise when Heechul actually gives him a lopsided grin, glancing affectionately into the direction Zhou Mi disappeared into. “He is an idiot. But you can thank that idiot for bringing you here since it’s a whole lot more comfortable to sleep in a camp and not starve to death.”
The idiot in question manages to just walk back then, grumbling playfully at his friend. “I heard that, Heechul. Next time I find you lying somewhere I’ll make sure to leave you there.” He threatens even though they all know that’s just empty words with no force behind them. Heechul just laughs, and Zhou Mi ignores him in favour of sitting down next to Kyuhyun, only a few inches between them. “Here. It’s just something simple. We’re not exactly farming land here or anything, so we only get as much.”
“Thanks.” Kyuhyun tries to aim for a smile as he accepts the bowl of food given to him. It’s a simple wooden cup, rough and obviously self-made. That makes sense, too. There’s only so much five persons - or wolves - can carry on them and of course they’d try to make everything they can themselves.
Kyuhyun has nothing against a simple meal of roots and berries, even some meat that tastes of smoke and isn’t quite well done. It’s still nearly heavenly, and his stomach underlines that with loud grumbles. That is the only sound except for the silent crackling of the fire, and he is acutely aware of three pairs of eyes on him. How awkward. Thankfully it doesn’t last too long.
“I am not here to challenge your alpha.” Han Geng speaks suddenly, gazing at the fire instead of any of the others. “We will leave when we’re ready for it.” It isn’t a question, not a suggestion, he isn’t even asking what Kyuhyun thinks of it. He simply announces things how they are and there will be no buts. Kyuhyun doesn’t wonder how the man has earned the respect of his pack. It is obvious in the tone of his voice, in the way he emits authority without being intimidating.
Slowly, Kyuhyun nods. He knew it’d make no sense to comment on that so he chooses a different route instead, asking what he is most curious about right now. “Where do you come from?” They aren’t from anywhere close, that much is certain.
It’s Zhou Mi who explains, almost eagerly. “We come from the south. I don’t know if you heard about the battles there, bloody wars over territories. That drove us up north.” He smiles a little, but there is certain melancholy laced into it, mirrored by his eyes.
“We are a bigger pack but we lost many in the battle. And many got wounded,” Heechul goes on without being asked, a deep frown on his face as he obviously doesn’t like thinking back to it, the pain still too fresh. He probably doesn’t even realize it when he brings a hand to Han Geng’s shoulder, the touch gentle and almost protective. Only now Kyuhyun notices that Han Geng is wounded, too, deep cuts on his side gauzed and only partially hidden by his jacket. Those are no small injuries. “Now we’re headed north to find the rest of them, if they ever make it.”
Again Kyuhyun can only nod. So they had been a bigger bunch and then ended up attacked and now only five remained, the rest lost or killed, or too wounded to move. Somehow the thought makes his stomach turn and he loses all of his appetite. Thankfully he had almost finished his food already so there isn’t much lost. He keeps the bowl between his palms though, just to have something to hold on to.
“Besides us three, there’s Jinki and Donghae. They’re keeping watch,” Zhou Mi explains with a smile, obviously trying to lift the mood at least somewhat by saying something, anything. “Or in their case, Donghae is on watch and Jinki is trying to watch him to make sure he stays focused.” It is obvious from the teasing glimmer in his eyes, as well as the light tone of his voice, that these five are all close to each other.
Probably the hardships have forced them to rely more on each other, trust each other and fight for each other. Suddenly Kyuhyun feels a pang of envy at that. True enough, he cares for every member of his pack and would defend any of them. But he doesn’t feel like he belongs this much, is wound as tightly into the pack as these five are bound together. It seems like they would go down fighting for any of their friends.
Zhou Mi seems determined to ease the atmosphere though and as he keeps on talking about everything and nothing, he slowly manages to get everyone else involved too. Kyuhyun keeps silent for most of the time but he can’t help but chuckle lowly at some of the things Zhou Mi says, along with the way he is wildly gesturing around when he gets excited over something. Heechul is a talker, too, he sometimes launches into long explanations and doesn’t let anyone else get a word in between. While Han Geng stays silent most of the time, he takes part in it and by the end of their chat he is relaxed enough to even laugh gruffly at something the other two are up to.
It’s obvious that Han Geng is more tired than usual, though, and after some time he gets up from the ground. Heechul instantly jumps on his feet to help him but Han Geng only pushes his hand away with an annoyed little huff. His pride isn’t going to allow anyone helping him stand, especially not in front of a stranger they don’t really know yet. Heechul bites his lower lip but steps back, hovering close enough to help if needed but still respecting Han Geng’s personal space.
They don’t go far, only a few steps to the shelter they have built for sleeping. Essentially those are three, all consisting of a few large branches of a tree supported against a steady enough pine to serve as a slight protection against rain, a few other branches laid down on the ground to form something to lie on. Apparently one of these makeshift sheds is for Han Geng and Heechul. Kyuhyun wonders if Zhou Mi sleeps in one of them alone or if he shares it with one of his friends. He doesn’t ask, though. It isn’t his place.
For a moment they keep silent, and when Kyuhyun speaks he doesn’t even realize it at first. ”Why did you save me?” He asks the flames, refusing to turn his gaze even an inch.
Zhou Mi sounds honestly hurt, and Kyuhyun senses how he turns to look at him, even if he can’t see it. “I couldn’t have just left you there!” He exclaims, a bit too loudly considering that his friends are lying only a few feet away, trying to sleep.
The words burst out of Kyuhyun before he manages to hold them back. “Yes! You could have. You should have.” The other man simply frowns at that, and somehow that frustrates Kyuhyun more than he is even willing to admit. “What if I had wanted to harm you? Your alpha is obviously injured, I could’ve been here to kill him.”
At that, Zhou Mi laughs. “It’s not that easy to get Geng. He is stronger than you think.”
Kyuhyun grumbles, chancing a glance towards the other man. “You’re missing my point.” He should’ve known it wouldn’t stay as a glance. Resigned, he crosses his arms on his knees and leans his cheeks against them, not averting his eyes anymore.
“I’m not. I just don’t agree,” Zhou Mi smiles, honestly this time, and it makes Kyuhyun wonder how a person can convey so many different emotions with a simple smile. It’s like Zhou Mi has perfected that art. “You’re a good person. You wouldn’t hurt anyone when they’re wounded. Or assassinate anyone.”
Now that is flattering. At the same time, Kyuhyun can’t get over the naïve trust that is placed in him, completely dumbfounded since he has never ever met anyone like this. “You don’t even know me,” he bursts out before he can think twice. Only to be surprised by the answer, once again.
“Don’t I?” Zhou Mi asks but somehow it feels like he already knows the answer. Kyuhyun does not reply.
It seems like a cue to end the discussion though and Zhou Mi gets up, getting rid of the small bowl before coming back to drag Kyuhyun along again. He explains that Donghae and Jinki won’t be sleeping that night and that Kyuhyun can have one of the free sleeping shelters just for himself, to get better fast as he puts it.
They don’t talk anything more, and only a few heartbeats later Zhou Mi is already sleeping in his makeshift bed. Kyuhyun, though, needs hours to fall asleep. Even when he does, a certain smile and a set of dark eyes keep on invading his dreams.
You don’t even know me.
Don’t I?
Kyuhyun doesn’t sleep long, but even a couple of hours of rest is enough for his body to pick up the healing, fix whatever is damaged, and when he wakes up he only feels slightly sore. For a second he panics, waking up in a strange place and surrounded by strange scents, but then the happenings of the previous night come crashing down on him. The run, the fall, the food, the talk, the gentle smile and sparkling eyes…
Quickly he shakes his head to get rid of such unorthodox thoughts. He clearly hit his head when he fell if he starts to entertain ideas like that. At least, that is the only explanation he is willing to believe, even if his brain helpfully tries to supply him with more possibilities. Those are all silenced, mercilessly.
Staying in here would bring just more problems, Kyuhyun decides and tries to sneak out of the sleeping shelter as silently as he possibly can. He knows that if any of the others are awake he will sound like a rhino and there is no way in hell he’ll be able to leave unnoticed. But if they are asleep… well maybe he stands a chance.
For once luck is on his side and even if someone hears him, no one stops him. He jogs a bit further away from the camp before he allows the turn to come over him, switching into his wolf form. It is slightly more painful than usual, but he knows that it’s because of the fall and the effect will be gone soon enough. Now he just needs to get back home, as soon as possible.
Next Chapter.
add | masterlist | tumblr
I hope you liked :)
@DW.
Author: fonulyn
Rating: NC17? (overall)
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Other characters: side!Han Geng/Heechul, Ryeowook, Sungmin, Siwon, a lot of brief mentions of others (suju and shinee, mainly)
Warnings: (overall) blood and violence, hunting etc.
Wordcount: 4212 words for this part (~37k overall)
Disclaimer: I own no one, only my dirty imagination.
Summary: For as long as Kyuhyun can remember life has been the same in their village. Yet when their monotonous life is disrupted, when another pack settles on their territory, Kyuhyun can’t help but be drawn to them. Drawn to one of them especially. (wolf shapeshifters!au)
Comments: Here’s the second part! Please enjoy~
Previously; Chapter 1
That is only the beginning, if one asks Kyuhyun. He’s strangely grumpy for the following days, unable to explain where the mood swings come from. Deep down inside he knows it has something to do with the intruding pack and he’s convinced that if they just get rid of them things will return back to normal. That is the best possible solution. Attack and force them to leave, there, nothing to worry about.
Except he knows it isn’t his decision. That frustrates him even more and it almost drives him out of his skin, makes him restless and unable to stay still. After the second sleepless night he decides he needs to burn it off. Maybe it will calm him down at least somewhat. Usually it helps, running until he can hardly inhale, his lungs burning for air and his muscles hurting from the effort.
Kyuhyun sneaks out of his home early in the morning when nearly everyone is still asleep. He knows that if he’ll go towards the lake first he will probably avoid being seen, and that is exactly what he wants right now. Answering some stupid questions isn’t high on his list, so better not bump into anyone.
He sheds his clothes just outside the village, bundling them up so he can tuck them up into a tree where they will be safe until his return. Then, he just lets the change ripple over him. Morphing always hurts but it isn’t unbearable, it’s more like growing pains when bones shift and fur replaces smooth skin, his structure going through a complete reformation. He’s so used to the tinge of pain that he can ignore it almost completely, focusing on how he wants it to be over already.
Finally, he runs. His large paws make almost no sound as they thud on the ground, only some dry leaves shuffling and small twigs cracking under his steps. At first he makes leeway towards the lake, happy to run on open ground to warm up his muscles. Maybe he should jump into the water later on, even if he doesn’t like how it makes him smell like a wet dog. Right now, he steers away from the shore and instead delves into the forest. It’s like a game, dodging trees and running as fast as he possibly can. He allows his senses to guide him, uncaring as to where he’s headed.
Until he almost runs into someone. Not quite literally, seeing that he notices the strange scent already a bit further away and tries to quickly change directions. Shit shit shit. How did he ever manage to run straight towards the intruding pack he wanted to avoid at all costs? Ironic, he thinks, and just his luck. Maybe he could still manage to get away unnoticed, if he just runs fast enough. He can hope.
Kyuhyun’s mind is racing and he quickens his pace instinctively, trying to focus on the sounds to find out if he has been noticed. All he can hear is his heartbeat, along with the normal sounds of a forest. He even chances a look back, tilting his bulky head to catch a glimpse -
Until the solid ground suddenly vanishes from beneath his paws.
Startled, Kyuhyun releases a panicked yelp as he feels his balance disappear, the ground give in and his whole world tumble upside down. Suddenly he’s rolling down a steep hill, unable to stop his fall before he smashes right into large rocks that are like waiting for him right there. Sharp pain slashes through him and he groans, squeezing his eyes shut to hold back any further sounds that might slip from him.
Just great. This is exactly what he wanted. Get cut and bruised like a dumb kid just because he’s stupid enough to not watch where he’s going. He shifts carefully, grateful that at least nothing seems to be broken. Except for his pride. Which is basically dying, thank you very much.
Slowly he starts to move, tentative to see how much damage he managed to do to himself. He’s thankful that his kind heals fast, at least, since the smallest bruises and bumps are already practically gone. But there are some nasty cuts as well, on his back and his sides, and he has a feeling he sprained his ankle in the process.
Wincing, he reverses the change, until he lays there panting in human form. Instantly he brings his long fingers to his side, grimacing at the sticky feeling of blood. This will take hours to heal. Things are getting better and better.
Kyuhyun barely manages to finish that thought before a voice startles him out of his thoughts. “Are you alright?” In a split second Kyuhyun’s eyes snap up, right into the worried face of someone he doesn’t know. Or that’s wrong, actually, since he knows the man. Kind of. This is the tall man he saw when he accompanied Siwon to meet the intruding pack a few days ago, the man who just stood back and watched.
“Do I look alright?” Is the first thing Kyuhyun manages to groan out, from between clenched teeth. He tries to avoid the other man’s searching gaze the best he can. How amazing, now he’s lying here stark naked right in front of someone he had no desire to ever meet, but rather wanted to get rid of. His life sucks, he’s certain of that right now. But the look in the other man’s eyes is only honestly worried when he chances a glance at him. At least something.
“Well, you look like you could use a little help,” the stranger smiles genuinely, and before Kyuhyun even knows it he’s crouching down next to him and inspecting his wounds. Now, Kyuhyun is pretty comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t mind being naked in front of people, not really. How could he, he has to strip to change into wolf form if he doesn’t want to rip his clothes apart. But he isn’t exactly comfortable with a stranger - even an attractive one, he curses himself for this thought - poking his side and checking his wounds while he’s as exposed as possible.
Besides, he has no idea why the other man - the other wolf - hasn’t just killed him already. He’s from an obviously hostile pack and hasn’t showed any signs of friendliness, and he could be there in bad intentions for all they know. “Just kill me now,” he growls defiantly, knowing he’s easy prey. Maybe he would serve as a warning and then Siwon would surely get enraged and attack the small bunch to rip them to bits. Sounds mildly comforting at least.
“No,” the tall man shakes his head a little, still inspecting Kyuhyun’s injuries gently. The soft touch of those warm palms feels kind of nice, he has to admit. A thought he banishes from his mind the second it appears there, deeming it completely improper. “We’re not here to harm you!” The man smiles at him again, sneaking an arm around his shoulders as if getting ready to lift him up. “I’m Zhou Mi. And I will help you.”
That now is a surprise. Kyuhyun is flabbergasted, he can’t deny. “W-what?” He stutters, half of his mind directed to struggling to free himself from the other man’s grasp. Zhou Mi might be strong although he looks thin and lanky, but it doesn’t mean Kyuhyun wants to be carried of all things. Finally Zhou Mi seems to take the hint and only helps Kyuhyun stand, allowing him to lean his weight on him.
“Let me take you to our camp,” Zhou Mi suggests, but something in his firm tone and the stubborn set of his jaw tells Kyuhyun it isn’t a question, it’s a statement. He’s going whether he wants it or not. The sun is already setting, diving into the horizon, and he knows he wouldn’t be able to run with his bruises. Still…
Kyuhyun doesn’t have many chances to disagree. Not before he’s already taken along no matter what he says. And if he thinks that the strong arm supporting him around his shoulders feels kind of nice, no one needs to know that.
Kyuhyun hardly even manages to re-think his decisions before he’s already dragged to a small camp that is surprisingly close to where he fell. Thankfully. He isn’t certain if he could have walked another step anymore, his bruises aching and his whole body like on fire even though he tries to ignore that. It doesn’t stop him from giving Zhou Mi long suspicious looks. What is this? It isn’t like it’s common to drag complete strangers - wounded or not - into your camp you are supposed to protect.
It seems that Zhou Mi deems him worth protecting though, even more than his camp.
“We’re only five, you know.” Zhou Mi smiles almost encouragingly as he crouches down in front of Kyuhyun, after throwing a thin blanket on his shoulders. For a second, Kyuhyun considers jumping up and trying to make a run for it, but he decides that it would be way too exhausting and just wraps the cloth around his naked form tighter. Besides, there’s nothing but sincerity in Zhou Mi’s sparkling eyes, so it’s easy to trust him, clever or not.
And of course there was the fact that his pack only consists of five wolves, which Kyuhyun knew beforehand and Zhou Mi just confirmed. Kyuhyun might’ve been more intimidated if there’d been a bigger group around him but this, this he believes is not so bad. At least he will have a chance to escape if he manages to regain his strength a bit.
Zhou Mi seems to take his silence as a good sign since a moment later there is a hand tentatively grabbing his wrist, pulling him up on his feet. “Let’s get you some food, alright. Can you move?” Zhou Mi looks at him worried, and Kyuhyun supposes that if he had said ‘no’ Zhou Mi would probably carry him. He only grunts as a response though, shaking the long fingers off his arm as he slowly follows the taller man.
Kyuhyun discovers that if he walks very, very slowly it barely even hurts at all. Still, the way he fell on those sharp rocks ensured that the deeper wounds would need hours to be better, and he doesn’t know if he wants to risk changing again before making sure there is no more damage.
When they reach the small campfire, Kyuhyun can easily spot two figures sitting beside it. The added light doesn’t really do anything for him, he could’ve seen them even in nearly pitch black darkness, but this way he can make out colours and distances better so he isn’t complaining. The redheaded guard he already met before gives him a long, evaluating look that quite resembles a scowl. “Why are you bringing him here?” He asks Zhou Mi, making sure to emphasize the pronoun enough to practically spit it out.
Zhou Mi ignores him though and instead turns to the other man by the campfire, his head bowed lightly in respect. “I found him in the forest and he’s hurt. I hoped we could spare him some food? He won’t cause any troubles.” Distantly Kyuhyun wonders how Zhou Mi can make such promises so lightheartedly when bringing him to their camp obviously was a stupid idea, even if he is hurt and outnumbered. Then again, he surprises even himself when he realizes that he wouldn’t have caused troubles even if he could have.
The man Zhou Mi addressed looks at Kyuhyun for a long while, not saying a single word. Long enough to make Kyuhyun want to squirm, but at least it gives him time to look at the man in turn, as subtly as he can. Which isn’t much. The man’s hair is almost frighteningly blond, giving him a slightly ethereal edge, even if otherwise he’s strong and muscular, his almond eyes dark and unreadable. His physical appearance is completely secondary though, since what everyone notices first is the clear authority radiating from him.
He’s the alpha of this small pack. Kyuhyun knows it the second he senses the man’s presence. It’s always easy to sense how dominant a wolf is, and this is a clear case.
It feels like much longer, even if it’s only two minutes at most, before the alpha speaks up. “Alright. Take a seat, stranger. You are welcome to stay the night.” His voice is surprisingly soft and gentle, but there’s no mistaking the authority hidden within.
The words make Zhou Mi practically beam and he turns towards Kyuhyun as he gestures for him to sit down next to the large log lying two feet away from the fire, nearly perpendicular to the one the alpha and the redhead are sitting on. “Kyuhyun,” Zhou Mi pronounces the name carefully, as if both making sure he gets it right and let the other two hear it well, “this is Han Geng. The head of the camp. And this is Heechul.” He gestures towards the two, and despite the redhead’s - Heechul’s - obviously hostile glare his smile doesn’t fade in the slightest.
“I’m going to get you something to eat!” Zhou Mi announces, before vanishing into the shadows. It leaves Kyuhyun alone with the two strangers and he doesn’t exactly feel comfortable in his skin right now. He’s itching to run away, anything to get rid of the awkward situation and the way he’s being stared at.
Thankfully the silence is broken when Han Geng addresses him a few heartbeats later. “What happened to you?” He sounds polite, and even honestly curious.
Kyuhyun might blush lightly as he thinks back to his foolishness, how he managed to hurt himself like a cub on his first run. That is definitely not cool. Nothing he’s proud of. “I… fell.” He answers curtly, careful to keep his eyes trained on the ground next to his knees. He tries to sit as unmoving as possible, leaning on the tree trunk, giving his wounds time to heal. “Unfortunately straight on some rocks that knocked me out for a moment. Then that idio- I mean, Zhou Mi found me. And dragged me here.”
If Kyuhyun had to guess, he would’ve never thought that by almost calling their friend an idiot he manages to make a friend. His jaw nearly drops from surprise when Heechul actually gives him a lopsided grin, glancing affectionately into the direction Zhou Mi disappeared into. “He is an idiot. But you can thank that idiot for bringing you here since it’s a whole lot more comfortable to sleep in a camp and not starve to death.”
The idiot in question manages to just walk back then, grumbling playfully at his friend. “I heard that, Heechul. Next time I find you lying somewhere I’ll make sure to leave you there.” He threatens even though they all know that’s just empty words with no force behind them. Heechul just laughs, and Zhou Mi ignores him in favour of sitting down next to Kyuhyun, only a few inches between them. “Here. It’s just something simple. We’re not exactly farming land here or anything, so we only get as much.”
“Thanks.” Kyuhyun tries to aim for a smile as he accepts the bowl of food given to him. It’s a simple wooden cup, rough and obviously self-made. That makes sense, too. There’s only so much five persons - or wolves - can carry on them and of course they’d try to make everything they can themselves.
Kyuhyun has nothing against a simple meal of roots and berries, even some meat that tastes of smoke and isn’t quite well done. It’s still nearly heavenly, and his stomach underlines that with loud grumbles. That is the only sound except for the silent crackling of the fire, and he is acutely aware of three pairs of eyes on him. How awkward. Thankfully it doesn’t last too long.
“I am not here to challenge your alpha.” Han Geng speaks suddenly, gazing at the fire instead of any of the others. “We will leave when we’re ready for it.” It isn’t a question, not a suggestion, he isn’t even asking what Kyuhyun thinks of it. He simply announces things how they are and there will be no buts. Kyuhyun doesn’t wonder how the man has earned the respect of his pack. It is obvious in the tone of his voice, in the way he emits authority without being intimidating.
Slowly, Kyuhyun nods. He knew it’d make no sense to comment on that so he chooses a different route instead, asking what he is most curious about right now. “Where do you come from?” They aren’t from anywhere close, that much is certain.
It’s Zhou Mi who explains, almost eagerly. “We come from the south. I don’t know if you heard about the battles there, bloody wars over territories. That drove us up north.” He smiles a little, but there is certain melancholy laced into it, mirrored by his eyes.
“We are a bigger pack but we lost many in the battle. And many got wounded,” Heechul goes on without being asked, a deep frown on his face as he obviously doesn’t like thinking back to it, the pain still too fresh. He probably doesn’t even realize it when he brings a hand to Han Geng’s shoulder, the touch gentle and almost protective. Only now Kyuhyun notices that Han Geng is wounded, too, deep cuts on his side gauzed and only partially hidden by his jacket. Those are no small injuries. “Now we’re headed north to find the rest of them, if they ever make it.”
Again Kyuhyun can only nod. So they had been a bigger bunch and then ended up attacked and now only five remained, the rest lost or killed, or too wounded to move. Somehow the thought makes his stomach turn and he loses all of his appetite. Thankfully he had almost finished his food already so there isn’t much lost. He keeps the bowl between his palms though, just to have something to hold on to.
“Besides us three, there’s Jinki and Donghae. They’re keeping watch,” Zhou Mi explains with a smile, obviously trying to lift the mood at least somewhat by saying something, anything. “Or in their case, Donghae is on watch and Jinki is trying to watch him to make sure he stays focused.” It is obvious from the teasing glimmer in his eyes, as well as the light tone of his voice, that these five are all close to each other.
Probably the hardships have forced them to rely more on each other, trust each other and fight for each other. Suddenly Kyuhyun feels a pang of envy at that. True enough, he cares for every member of his pack and would defend any of them. But he doesn’t feel like he belongs this much, is wound as tightly into the pack as these five are bound together. It seems like they would go down fighting for any of their friends.
Zhou Mi seems determined to ease the atmosphere though and as he keeps on talking about everything and nothing, he slowly manages to get everyone else involved too. Kyuhyun keeps silent for most of the time but he can’t help but chuckle lowly at some of the things Zhou Mi says, along with the way he is wildly gesturing around when he gets excited over something. Heechul is a talker, too, he sometimes launches into long explanations and doesn’t let anyone else get a word in between. While Han Geng stays silent most of the time, he takes part in it and by the end of their chat he is relaxed enough to even laugh gruffly at something the other two are up to.
It’s obvious that Han Geng is more tired than usual, though, and after some time he gets up from the ground. Heechul instantly jumps on his feet to help him but Han Geng only pushes his hand away with an annoyed little huff. His pride isn’t going to allow anyone helping him stand, especially not in front of a stranger they don’t really know yet. Heechul bites his lower lip but steps back, hovering close enough to help if needed but still respecting Han Geng’s personal space.
They don’t go far, only a few steps to the shelter they have built for sleeping. Essentially those are three, all consisting of a few large branches of a tree supported against a steady enough pine to serve as a slight protection against rain, a few other branches laid down on the ground to form something to lie on. Apparently one of these makeshift sheds is for Han Geng and Heechul. Kyuhyun wonders if Zhou Mi sleeps in one of them alone or if he shares it with one of his friends. He doesn’t ask, though. It isn’t his place.
For a moment they keep silent, and when Kyuhyun speaks he doesn’t even realize it at first. ”Why did you save me?” He asks the flames, refusing to turn his gaze even an inch.
Zhou Mi sounds honestly hurt, and Kyuhyun senses how he turns to look at him, even if he can’t see it. “I couldn’t have just left you there!” He exclaims, a bit too loudly considering that his friends are lying only a few feet away, trying to sleep.
The words burst out of Kyuhyun before he manages to hold them back. “Yes! You could have. You should have.” The other man simply frowns at that, and somehow that frustrates Kyuhyun more than he is even willing to admit. “What if I had wanted to harm you? Your alpha is obviously injured, I could’ve been here to kill him.”
At that, Zhou Mi laughs. “It’s not that easy to get Geng. He is stronger than you think.”
Kyuhyun grumbles, chancing a glance towards the other man. “You’re missing my point.” He should’ve known it wouldn’t stay as a glance. Resigned, he crosses his arms on his knees and leans his cheeks against them, not averting his eyes anymore.
“I’m not. I just don’t agree,” Zhou Mi smiles, honestly this time, and it makes Kyuhyun wonder how a person can convey so many different emotions with a simple smile. It’s like Zhou Mi has perfected that art. “You’re a good person. You wouldn’t hurt anyone when they’re wounded. Or assassinate anyone.”
Now that is flattering. At the same time, Kyuhyun can’t get over the naïve trust that is placed in him, completely dumbfounded since he has never ever met anyone like this. “You don’t even know me,” he bursts out before he can think twice. Only to be surprised by the answer, once again.
“Don’t I?” Zhou Mi asks but somehow it feels like he already knows the answer. Kyuhyun does not reply.
It seems like a cue to end the discussion though and Zhou Mi gets up, getting rid of the small bowl before coming back to drag Kyuhyun along again. He explains that Donghae and Jinki won’t be sleeping that night and that Kyuhyun can have one of the free sleeping shelters just for himself, to get better fast as he puts it.
They don’t talk anything more, and only a few heartbeats later Zhou Mi is already sleeping in his makeshift bed. Kyuhyun, though, needs hours to fall asleep. Even when he does, a certain smile and a set of dark eyes keep on invading his dreams.
You don’t even know me.
Don’t I?
Kyuhyun doesn’t sleep long, but even a couple of hours of rest is enough for his body to pick up the healing, fix whatever is damaged, and when he wakes up he only feels slightly sore. For a second he panics, waking up in a strange place and surrounded by strange scents, but then the happenings of the previous night come crashing down on him. The run, the fall, the food, the talk, the gentle smile and sparkling eyes…
Quickly he shakes his head to get rid of such unorthodox thoughts. He clearly hit his head when he fell if he starts to entertain ideas like that. At least, that is the only explanation he is willing to believe, even if his brain helpfully tries to supply him with more possibilities. Those are all silenced, mercilessly.
Staying in here would bring just more problems, Kyuhyun decides and tries to sneak out of the sleeping shelter as silently as he possibly can. He knows that if any of the others are awake he will sound like a rhino and there is no way in hell he’ll be able to leave unnoticed. But if they are asleep… well maybe he stands a chance.
For once luck is on his side and even if someone hears him, no one stops him. He jogs a bit further away from the camp before he allows the turn to come over him, switching into his wolf form. It is slightly more painful than usual, but he knows that it’s because of the fall and the effect will be gone soon enough. Now he just needs to get back home, as soon as possible.
Next Chapter.
add | masterlist | tumblr
I hope you liked :)
@DW.