[fic] Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi - SJM - The Path Untraveled - Chapter 3/9
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: 4224 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: As promised, chapter three.
At first, Kyuhyun is determined to keep the whole mishap to himself, never mention it again and hope that no one will find out. He should’ve known he isn’t that lucky though, since almost the second he walks into the camp he runs into Ryeowook. He curses under his breath, annoyed at himself and how he had been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed the other male.
Ryeowook only gives him a quizzical look, arching an eyebrow. “Kyuhyun! Where have you been? You should tell someone if you go out on a long run.” He is probably the only person, or one of the very few, who gets away with motherly scolding like that, the tone of his voice more suitable for addressing a disobedient pup. But Ryeowook and Kyuhyun have been friends ever since they really had been puppies, and Kyuhyun knows the words are spoken with affection so he swallows down the annoyance bubbling slightly inside of him.
It doesn’t mean he wants to talk about the matter, though. “I got a bit carried away. Sorry.” Kyuhyun inclines his head a little bit, offering what he hopes is close enough to a reassuring smile. He isn’t that certain it succeeds, especially with how well they know each other.
As predicted, Ryeowook looks suspicious and purses his lips into a small frown. “Carried away enough to bruise yourself like that?” He gives a small nod, pointing towards the general direction of Kyuhyun’s arms and the bruises on his chest. He ran home as a wolf and didn’t bother to put on clothes, and now the downside comes very clear. Anyone can see the condition he’s in.
“Well,” Kyuhyun falls silent, knowing that if he says the bruises are hours old the other man will know how badly he was hurt to begin with. And he doesn’t want that. Maybe he can still chalk it up to being careless. Falling from a tree, maybe?
He doesn’t get a chance to even try his horribly lame excuses.
Ryeowook steps closer and reaches out, not quite grabbing Kyuhyun’s hand but touching his wrist as he lowers his voice considerably. “Was it the other pack?” He asks worriedly, clear concern flashing in his eyes, along with anger Kyuhyun knows isn’t directed at him. “Did they hurt you?”
“No!” The strong reaction surprises Kyuhyun himself, too. “No,” he repeats more calmly, “they didn’t. One of them actually found me and helped me up. Got me food.” And looked right into my soul, he adds inwardly, knowing he would never ever say things like that out loud. Not even if those dark eyes are lingering in the back of his mind even now. That is just stupid and he snarls at himself for it.
“They did?” Now the look Ryeowook gives him is just plain surprised, his eyes wide. He seems to consider something, one can practically see his mind work, before he looks up again. “Did you find out anything about them?”
Kyuhyun shrugs lightly. “Not really.” He thinks about it again, about the campfire and the discussion, about the way he had been treated and the things that had been said. Finally he sighs barely audibly, giving another shrug. “Except that their alpha is hurt. That’s why they’re not moving.”
Slowly Ryeowook nods, obviously still lost deep in thought. “You should go tell Siwon.” He points out after a moment, voicing out what they both know.
Kyuhyun cringes. He doesn’t exactly wish to go to their alpha and tell him what an idiot he had been and what he had gotten himself into. It doesn’t really matter what he wants, though.
“I will.”
No matter how many times Kyuhyun tells himself he shouldn’t go back near the small camp, his feet don’t seem to listen to him. More often than not he goes out just to run, to get rid of the tenseness or the gnawing restlessness in his gut, only to find himself hovering near the grove the other pack is occupying. At first he tries to tell himself that it’s only natural, wanting to watch intruders on their territory, but he knows straight from the beginning that the explanation doesn’t quite cover it.
Whatever it is, he refuses to think of it. Instead he constantly ends up close to the camp, tries to subtly spy on them and always stay above the wind not to be noticed. He thinks he’s good at that, he has always been, but the nagging feeling of possibly being found out is still always somewhere in the back of his skull. Maybe he is in it for the thrill? He shakes the whole idea out of his head as soon as it appears.
This time is no different. He simply goes out for a run and finds himself at the small creek that runs past the camp. On an impulse he shifts back to his human form and begins following the trail of water for a while. It’s a peaceful place and he doesn’t think much of it when he drops down on his knees on the soft grass to get a sip of cool water from the stream. He inhales the clear air deeply, bringing his face close to the water to splash water on his face, to drink in long, greedy gulps.
Suddenly something catches his attention. A sound.
Careful not to make any noise, Kyuhyun gets up on his feet again, focusing on his surroundings with all his senses. Then he hears it again, the strange sound. It’s almost like humming. Briefly he considers turning back into wolf form but then again, he can’t really imagine that any dangerous predator would be out there humming a happy melody to themselves. He is plenty lethal in human form, he can take on whatever is hiding there.
Still he’s careful when he moves closer, shifting so he knows he’s under the wind and can’t be spotted easily. It means he needs to go around a bit, but he knows where the stranger is and he isn’t intending on being found out. Finally he peeks into the small clearing from between the thick trees and plants, biting his lower lip softly in concentration.
Zhou Mi. It’s the person who saved him and dragged him back to their camp out of sheer friendliness - or stupidity, he hasn’t quite decided yet - and tried to take care of him. Something shifts inside Kyuhyun but he pushes it back, focusing on keeping his breathing as silent as possible as he watches.
There, Zhou Mi is sitting next to the creek, his feet in the water as he makes little splashes, smiling to himself. It’s almost heart-warming, the sight, and against his will Kyuhyun catches himself smiling as well. The tune the other man is humming is something cheery and almost recognizable, even if it keeps on slipping Kyuhyun’s grasp whenever he tries to identify it. It’s relaxing, though, something he could listen to for ages.
“You don’t need to hide. I know you’re there.” The words shake Kyuhyun out of his reverie quite effectively. He wouldn’t be surprised if his jaw had dropped low enough to hit the ground. He’s certain he hasn’t made a sound, he knows he isn’t visible from where the other male is sitting, and he also knows he can’t smell him when the wind is blowing the opposite direction, bringing Zhou Mi’s scent right to Kyuhyun with intoxicating force.
He’d been found out but he has no idea how. Maybe he had indeed made a mistake and stepped on something to make noise? Even if he is still quite certain he hadn’t, he knows better than that and he is perfectly capable of hiding if he wants to. “Uhm,” Kyuhyun steps out of his hideout, but he still doesn’t know what to say. He simply stands there a few feet away from the other male, awkward and thinking of ways to react.
“Are you feeling better by now?” Zhou Mi asks with honest curiosity laced in his voice, meeting Kyuhyun’s eyes before he gives the other man a long once-over from head to toe. “You don’t have the bruises anymore.” He remarks happily, his lips stretching to a genuine smile as he’s obviously very glad about the lack of cuts and bruises this time.
Somehow that makes Kyuhyun feel self-conscious, although it isn’t like this is the first time Zhou Mi sees him naked. He tells himself to get a grip and stop reacting so strangely to normal things. “Yeah they’re gone.” Kyuhyun coughs a bit embarrassedly and steps closer to crouch down next to the other man.
Zhou Mi offers him another honest smile, shifting a little to face him better. He still keeps his feet in the water though, the loose legs of his pants wrapped up around his knees so that they won’t get wet. “I hope your pack didn’t think we harmed you.” He prompts softly, tilting his head in an inquiry.
“No. I told them it wasn’t true,” Kyuhyun answers promptly, shifting his gaze down so he wouldn’t keep on staring at the uncovered skin and those endlessly long legs. How ironic is this; he sits here without anything to cover his naked form and simultaneously is drawn to some visible skin on another male’s legs? He shakes his head a little to clear it. Something he seems to be doing a hell lot these days. Especially to ignore his inner wolf laughing at him.
It doesn’t seem that Zhou Mi notices any of his internal struggle, still smiling like it’s the only thing he knows to do. “Good. We’re not here to fight.” He points out what he had already said before, underlining it as the most important thing. Which it is, obviously. They don’t seem to have any desire for another fight or bloody wars over territory.
“I talked to my alpha.” Kyuhyun speaks suddenly after a short silence. Zhou Mi doesn’t say anything but only arches an eyebrow questioningly, and Kyuhyun takes it as a sign to go on with an explanation. “You can stay until your alpha is able to run properly.” He looks up just in time to see a bright sparkle light in those deep chocolate eyes, and no matter how hard he tries he can’t stop the flip in his stomach or the strange curl of interest from his wolf.
Zhou Mi smiles like the sun. There is no other way to describe it. “Thank you!” He bursts out, even clapping his hands together as if to express his joy. It isn’t Kyuhyun’s fault if he finds it completely and utterly endearing.
“Don’t thank me. I’m just the messenger,” Kyuhyun mumbles, disturbed by his own train of thought. He isn’t here to act like a stupid, silly pup. Actually, he has no idea what he is doing here in the first place. None of this makes any sense. “And you’re supposed to be out of here as soon as you can.” He adds hurriedly, not wanting to appear like his pack is weak and incapable of defending its territory.
“Don’t worry. We will.” Zhou Mi’s expression doesn’t fade in the slightest, contrarily he seems even happier than before as he turns a little to look over the river. The silence stretches on just long enough for Kyuhyun to begin feeling slightly uncomfortable, before Zhou Mi breaks it again. “You’ll miss us though! We brought something new and fresh to your routines.” He speaks it as a fact, not as a question.
Kyuhyun grumbles. His wolf might’ve growled a little disapprovingly inside of him at the thought of the small pack leaving, but no one else needs to know any of that. “What if we like routines?” He asks stubbornly, just for the sake of denying everything.
“You do. But you also think this is exciting,” Zhou Mi points out confidently. “Unless,” he smirks, “you’re excited to see me.” There’s something nearly devious in the sparkle in his eyes, as if he knows he managed to catch the other male red-handed.
Kyuhyun freezes. Completely. Before the denial bursts out of him. “Of course I’m not! Why would I be!”
“Yes, why would you be,” Zhou Mi nods. When he turns his head away, Kyuhyun doesn’t miss the smile lingering on his lips. That bastard.
Somehow, whether by luck or misfortune, Kyuhyun never has to linger around the campsite for long before he gets company. Zhou Mi seems to have some kind of inner radar for spotting Kyuhyun, since he refuses to believe he makes so much noise or suddenly is so much worse at hiding. He could hide from his pack mates if he so wished, why not from some wolf he barely knows?
Usually he at least manages to keep a part of his dignity and pretend that he intended to get caught sneaking around the camp. Not always though. Not when he somehow ends up actually walking the whole distance from his home to the grove occupied by the small pack. He practically walks right into Zhou Mi, only realizing his presence when he collides with something soft that smells particularly delicious. He jumps back, enough sense present in his mind to realize it isn’t considered polite to stand there sniffing someone.
“Oh you’re dressed this time!” Zhou Mi seems more than surprised, his eyes widening as he takes in Kyuhyun’s appearance. It might’ve sounded weird … okay it does sound weird, but he has a point since thus far Kyuhyun has always run over as a wolf.
For a second Kyuhyun hesitates, even somewhat embarrassed. How can it be he is more embarrassed being clothed than being only in his skin? None of this makes sense and nothing has made sense ever since these strangers have appeared. “Uhm. I walked.” He explains with a small awkward shrug and a wave of his hand. “I didn’t think I’d come this far.”
The words gain him a bright, stunning smile from Zhou Mi. “Oh I am just that irresistible! You want something to eat?” He switches topics easily and only now Kyuhyun notices that he is holding dried meat in his hand, presenting it almost like an offering. The wolf side of Kyuhyun rumbles contently due to the gesture but he shakes his head nevertheless. “No thanks.”
Zhou Mi doesn’t seem to mind, only explains something further about how Heechul doesn’t like having dried meat in the camp so they hide it in a tree some steps away and now he just came to raid the hideout since he’s hungry. When he’s done there is only a short pause before he speaks up again. “Geng is healing,” Zhou Mi informs even if Kyuhyun hasn’t asked anything about it. “He can already move much better than before.”
Kyuhyun nods slowly. The other male has informed him about the alpha’s condition every time they’ve met so it’s nothing new to hear about it. Yet, there is something that keeps on bugging Kyuhyun and something he can’t quite place. “He… is there something weird about him? I mean,” he shrugs, “we are supposed to heal a lot faster than this.” It’s something he has wanted to know for longer, and by this point he doesn’t care if he sounds impolite.
Zhou Mi’s nose scrunches up disapprovingly. For a moment it seems like he’ll dodge the topic and not say anything at all, but then the words begin to flow. He tells about the fight that forced their group to run up north, that killed off many of their pack and separated them from the rest. He tells about the desperation, how everyone fought until they were bleeding and hurt. How they rested only for as long as strictly necessary and ran, ran for their lives. No one had known how badly Han Geng had been wounded internally, not before the long run had aggravated his wounds and immobilized him.
It all makes Kyuhyun kind of speechless. Thankfully the silence between them is comfortable enough, and Zhou Mi seems focused on poking the ground with a twig he’s picked up. Kyuhyun kind of wishes he would have the courage to sit a bit closer to the other man, since now it feels kind of awkward to reach out to pat his knee. “I’m sorry.” He wants to say so much more, how he feels bad for the whole pack for being forced through so much, and especially bad for Zhou Mi for some unclear reasons. But not being an exactly eloquent speaker, he can’t find the words.
It’s clear that the few words he says come straight from his heart though, and that is exactly what Zhou Mi appreciates. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” He shrugs a little, reaching for more of the dried meat he has been chewing on every now and then. Again he reaches out his hand to offer Kyuhyun some, the friendly smile back on his lips. “Want some food now?”
Automatically Kyuhyun reaches out to take a few slices, nodding as a thank you. He tries to ignore the way those deep eyes lighten up in response. And certainly the way something twitches inside of him at that.
Time passes. Too much time. Siwon knows his pack is getting restless, no matter how much he tries to ignore that. He knows there are talks, and that some young wolves even go as far as to say he is wrong in his decision to let the pack stay instead of driving them away. They are only five, anyway, how hard can it be to crush them or force them to leave? Still, Siwon stays firm in his decision.
Until he walks right into a fight about the intruding pack. He can hear voices already from afar but that is no news, with hearing as sensitive as theirs the whole village can be full of noise at any given time of the day. What catches his attention though is how the words are spoken, the gush of aggression and anger clearly palpable. He knows when his wolves are close to losing their temper.
“You’re only saying that because you want something from them! That, or you’re a fucking coward.” Even if Siwon didn’t hear Soonkyu’s voice, he could identify the members of his pack already based on their scent and the bond that ties them all together into one functional unit. He doesn’t need to hear Kyuhyun’s voice to know he is the one being addressed and instantly he quickens his steps. Soonkyu will speak her mind when angry, but despite her stubbornness she will be no match for a furious Kyuhyun who can rip her to pieces. Literally.
Siwon steps in right when Kyuhyun already raises his hand almost threateningly, clearly holding back from doing something stupid. One can see how tense he is, how every muscle in his body is close to snapping as he holds still. “Say that again and it’ll be the last thing you ever do,” Kyuhyun growls lowly, a displeased snarl accompanying the words. Soonkyu already opens her mouth to protest, and that is when Siwon speaks up.
“What is going on here!?” Siwon puts his authority into the question and he can see how the two flinch and withdraw further from each other that very second. They are clearly embarrassed being caught like that, and their anger is slowly draining away when faced with their alpha. Neither of them answers though, they rather look down at the ground and shift awkwardly. For a moment Siwon just waits, before clearing his throat to signal he demands an answer.
“We had a disagreement,” Kyuhyun answers instantly without looking up at the older man. There still is tenseness in his posture and it’s obvious he isn’t as calm as the girl is. Kyuhyun has always been harder to control than many others, ever since he was a puppy. He’s obedient and never intentionally challenges his alpha, but he’s also a stubborn personality and his wolf is strong in him.
Siwon inclines his head a little, shifting his gaze to Soonkyu instead. “About what?” He demands, determined to get to the bottom of this. He can’t have his wolves attacking each other randomly and if there is unresolved tension, it is his problem. He needs to get to the bottom of this. This time there is a shorter pause before he gets an answer to his question.
“About,” Soonkyu lifts her chin, obviously deciding that she can stand by her opinion. They’ve never been punished for their opinions or disagreeing with each other, as long as everything’s kept at least remotely civil. Violence in the village is not tolerated, not under Siwon’s command. “The pack. I think they need to go. They’ve hunted on our land for long enough and given nothing back,” she explains further, nearly spitting the words out as she glances at Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun doesn’t react to that at all though, and inwardly Siwon sighs. He feels like a father with troubled teenagers who don’t know how to solve their disagreements without an adult. Even if both Soonkyu and Kyuhyun are very much adult and should be able to control themselves. “And what about you?” Siwon turns to look at Kyuhyun, arching an expressive eyebrow questioningly.
“What did they ever do to bother us?” Kyuhyun doesn’t even miss a beat before answering and unlike Soonkyu, he looks up and straight into Siwon’s eyes. Only for a second though, before averting his gaze a little bit to show he isn’t going to challenge the other male. He simply isn’t afraid of him, either. “They only took what they needed, nothing more. They’ve never approached us. Why should we attack them? That would be just stupid.”
“Because it’s our territory and - ” Soonkyu can’t help but to cut in but she is silenced effectively with a raised hand from Siwon.
He frowns, his eyes still directed at Kyuhyun. “I think it is me who decides what is stupid and what not. Especially when it concerns our pack and our territory. Understood?” He puts stress on the last word and doesn’t turn away before he gets a stiff nod from Kyuhyun. Then he looks at Soonkyu instead and she hurries to nod as well.
“Now stop arguing about it. This is final.” Siwon’s voice doesn’t leave any room for arguments or speculation. This matter is finished.
The news travel fast. By the nightfall, everyone in the village knows about the argument and what happened. Especially since Siwon has taken matters into his own hands in the end. No one comes to ask Siwon anything though, and he doesn’t seek company either. Instead he retreats home, sits on the floor leaning against the wall and focuses on his thoughts. It doesn’t surprise him to hear soft footsteps after dinner though, and when Sungmin kneels down beside him and offers him a bowl of stew, he takes it with a grateful smile.
For a moment he eats, quite enjoying the silent companionship. Finally he tilts his head and looks straight at the other male, not bothered by the darkness in the slightest. “You heard?” He asks softly even if it’s useless, he knows very well what the answer will be. Thus he doesn’t gain one to the question spoken out loud, but to the question he left unvoiced.
“Kyuhyun is right. They didn’t do anything.” Sungmin calmly points out the obvious, resting his arms on his knees as he crouches down next to his alpha. He pauses only for a second, before he goes on again. “Soonkyu is also right. They’re on our territory.” Technically, that is enough reason to rip them apart and drive them away. Then again, Siwon has never been one of the most traditional leaders and tries to avoid bloodshed when it isn’t called for.
After another pause in discussion, Siwon sighs barely audibly. He sets the half-eaten food down on the floor next to himself, suddenly not all that hungry anymore. “Do you think I should attack?” He asks straight out. Everyone knows he values Sungmin’s opinion above anyone else’s, but even if he asks he doesn’t blindly obey the man.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do.” Sungmin gives a soft smile as he finally sits down on the floor. He appears to be completely calm, but Siwon can sense the restlessness, the way this topic is bothering him. “But something needs to be done. The wolves are restless.”
Siwon doesn’t like the decision he is making but he doesn’t like any of the alternatives, either. He knows that as long as he lets the other pack wander their territory and won’t do anything about it, his own underlings will keep on complaining and getting more and more agitated. The last thing he wants is some internal fights within his own. “Alright.” He decides with a nod. “Tomorrow morning.”
“We attack?” Sungmin asks even though he knows the answer. They still speak out loud even when they know exactly what is going through the other one’s mind and words aren’t even necessary. Old habits die hard.
Siwon only grumbles low in his chest, his wolf showing how displeased he is.
“Go tell the pack.”
Next Chapter.
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@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: 4224 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: As promised, chapter three.
At first, Kyuhyun is determined to keep the whole mishap to himself, never mention it again and hope that no one will find out. He should’ve known he isn’t that lucky though, since almost the second he walks into the camp he runs into Ryeowook. He curses under his breath, annoyed at himself and how he had been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed the other male.
Ryeowook only gives him a quizzical look, arching an eyebrow. “Kyuhyun! Where have you been? You should tell someone if you go out on a long run.” He is probably the only person, or one of the very few, who gets away with motherly scolding like that, the tone of his voice more suitable for addressing a disobedient pup. But Ryeowook and Kyuhyun have been friends ever since they really had been puppies, and Kyuhyun knows the words are spoken with affection so he swallows down the annoyance bubbling slightly inside of him.
It doesn’t mean he wants to talk about the matter, though. “I got a bit carried away. Sorry.” Kyuhyun inclines his head a little bit, offering what he hopes is close enough to a reassuring smile. He isn’t that certain it succeeds, especially with how well they know each other.
As predicted, Ryeowook looks suspicious and purses his lips into a small frown. “Carried away enough to bruise yourself like that?” He gives a small nod, pointing towards the general direction of Kyuhyun’s arms and the bruises on his chest. He ran home as a wolf and didn’t bother to put on clothes, and now the downside comes very clear. Anyone can see the condition he’s in.
“Well,” Kyuhyun falls silent, knowing that if he says the bruises are hours old the other man will know how badly he was hurt to begin with. And he doesn’t want that. Maybe he can still chalk it up to being careless. Falling from a tree, maybe?
He doesn’t get a chance to even try his horribly lame excuses.
Ryeowook steps closer and reaches out, not quite grabbing Kyuhyun’s hand but touching his wrist as he lowers his voice considerably. “Was it the other pack?” He asks worriedly, clear concern flashing in his eyes, along with anger Kyuhyun knows isn’t directed at him. “Did they hurt you?”
“No!” The strong reaction surprises Kyuhyun himself, too. “No,” he repeats more calmly, “they didn’t. One of them actually found me and helped me up. Got me food.” And looked right into my soul, he adds inwardly, knowing he would never ever say things like that out loud. Not even if those dark eyes are lingering in the back of his mind even now. That is just stupid and he snarls at himself for it.
“They did?” Now the look Ryeowook gives him is just plain surprised, his eyes wide. He seems to consider something, one can practically see his mind work, before he looks up again. “Did you find out anything about them?”
Kyuhyun shrugs lightly. “Not really.” He thinks about it again, about the campfire and the discussion, about the way he had been treated and the things that had been said. Finally he sighs barely audibly, giving another shrug. “Except that their alpha is hurt. That’s why they’re not moving.”
Slowly Ryeowook nods, obviously still lost deep in thought. “You should go tell Siwon.” He points out after a moment, voicing out what they both know.
Kyuhyun cringes. He doesn’t exactly wish to go to their alpha and tell him what an idiot he had been and what he had gotten himself into. It doesn’t really matter what he wants, though.
“I will.”
No matter how many times Kyuhyun tells himself he shouldn’t go back near the small camp, his feet don’t seem to listen to him. More often than not he goes out just to run, to get rid of the tenseness or the gnawing restlessness in his gut, only to find himself hovering near the grove the other pack is occupying. At first he tries to tell himself that it’s only natural, wanting to watch intruders on their territory, but he knows straight from the beginning that the explanation doesn’t quite cover it.
Whatever it is, he refuses to think of it. Instead he constantly ends up close to the camp, tries to subtly spy on them and always stay above the wind not to be noticed. He thinks he’s good at that, he has always been, but the nagging feeling of possibly being found out is still always somewhere in the back of his skull. Maybe he is in it for the thrill? He shakes the whole idea out of his head as soon as it appears.
This time is no different. He simply goes out for a run and finds himself at the small creek that runs past the camp. On an impulse he shifts back to his human form and begins following the trail of water for a while. It’s a peaceful place and he doesn’t think much of it when he drops down on his knees on the soft grass to get a sip of cool water from the stream. He inhales the clear air deeply, bringing his face close to the water to splash water on his face, to drink in long, greedy gulps.
Suddenly something catches his attention. A sound.
Careful not to make any noise, Kyuhyun gets up on his feet again, focusing on his surroundings with all his senses. Then he hears it again, the strange sound. It’s almost like humming. Briefly he considers turning back into wolf form but then again, he can’t really imagine that any dangerous predator would be out there humming a happy melody to themselves. He is plenty lethal in human form, he can take on whatever is hiding there.
Still he’s careful when he moves closer, shifting so he knows he’s under the wind and can’t be spotted easily. It means he needs to go around a bit, but he knows where the stranger is and he isn’t intending on being found out. Finally he peeks into the small clearing from between the thick trees and plants, biting his lower lip softly in concentration.
Zhou Mi. It’s the person who saved him and dragged him back to their camp out of sheer friendliness - or stupidity, he hasn’t quite decided yet - and tried to take care of him. Something shifts inside Kyuhyun but he pushes it back, focusing on keeping his breathing as silent as possible as he watches.
There, Zhou Mi is sitting next to the creek, his feet in the water as he makes little splashes, smiling to himself. It’s almost heart-warming, the sight, and against his will Kyuhyun catches himself smiling as well. The tune the other man is humming is something cheery and almost recognizable, even if it keeps on slipping Kyuhyun’s grasp whenever he tries to identify it. It’s relaxing, though, something he could listen to for ages.
“You don’t need to hide. I know you’re there.” The words shake Kyuhyun out of his reverie quite effectively. He wouldn’t be surprised if his jaw had dropped low enough to hit the ground. He’s certain he hasn’t made a sound, he knows he isn’t visible from where the other male is sitting, and he also knows he can’t smell him when the wind is blowing the opposite direction, bringing Zhou Mi’s scent right to Kyuhyun with intoxicating force.
He’d been found out but he has no idea how. Maybe he had indeed made a mistake and stepped on something to make noise? Even if he is still quite certain he hadn’t, he knows better than that and he is perfectly capable of hiding if he wants to. “Uhm,” Kyuhyun steps out of his hideout, but he still doesn’t know what to say. He simply stands there a few feet away from the other male, awkward and thinking of ways to react.
“Are you feeling better by now?” Zhou Mi asks with honest curiosity laced in his voice, meeting Kyuhyun’s eyes before he gives the other man a long once-over from head to toe. “You don’t have the bruises anymore.” He remarks happily, his lips stretching to a genuine smile as he’s obviously very glad about the lack of cuts and bruises this time.
Somehow that makes Kyuhyun feel self-conscious, although it isn’t like this is the first time Zhou Mi sees him naked. He tells himself to get a grip and stop reacting so strangely to normal things. “Yeah they’re gone.” Kyuhyun coughs a bit embarrassedly and steps closer to crouch down next to the other man.
Zhou Mi offers him another honest smile, shifting a little to face him better. He still keeps his feet in the water though, the loose legs of his pants wrapped up around his knees so that they won’t get wet. “I hope your pack didn’t think we harmed you.” He prompts softly, tilting his head in an inquiry.
“No. I told them it wasn’t true,” Kyuhyun answers promptly, shifting his gaze down so he wouldn’t keep on staring at the uncovered skin and those endlessly long legs. How ironic is this; he sits here without anything to cover his naked form and simultaneously is drawn to some visible skin on another male’s legs? He shakes his head a little to clear it. Something he seems to be doing a hell lot these days. Especially to ignore his inner wolf laughing at him.
It doesn’t seem that Zhou Mi notices any of his internal struggle, still smiling like it’s the only thing he knows to do. “Good. We’re not here to fight.” He points out what he had already said before, underlining it as the most important thing. Which it is, obviously. They don’t seem to have any desire for another fight or bloody wars over territory.
“I talked to my alpha.” Kyuhyun speaks suddenly after a short silence. Zhou Mi doesn’t say anything but only arches an eyebrow questioningly, and Kyuhyun takes it as a sign to go on with an explanation. “You can stay until your alpha is able to run properly.” He looks up just in time to see a bright sparkle light in those deep chocolate eyes, and no matter how hard he tries he can’t stop the flip in his stomach or the strange curl of interest from his wolf.
Zhou Mi smiles like the sun. There is no other way to describe it. “Thank you!” He bursts out, even clapping his hands together as if to express his joy. It isn’t Kyuhyun’s fault if he finds it completely and utterly endearing.
“Don’t thank me. I’m just the messenger,” Kyuhyun mumbles, disturbed by his own train of thought. He isn’t here to act like a stupid, silly pup. Actually, he has no idea what he is doing here in the first place. None of this makes any sense. “And you’re supposed to be out of here as soon as you can.” He adds hurriedly, not wanting to appear like his pack is weak and incapable of defending its territory.
“Don’t worry. We will.” Zhou Mi’s expression doesn’t fade in the slightest, contrarily he seems even happier than before as he turns a little to look over the river. The silence stretches on just long enough for Kyuhyun to begin feeling slightly uncomfortable, before Zhou Mi breaks it again. “You’ll miss us though! We brought something new and fresh to your routines.” He speaks it as a fact, not as a question.
Kyuhyun grumbles. His wolf might’ve growled a little disapprovingly inside of him at the thought of the small pack leaving, but no one else needs to know any of that. “What if we like routines?” He asks stubbornly, just for the sake of denying everything.
“You do. But you also think this is exciting,” Zhou Mi points out confidently. “Unless,” he smirks, “you’re excited to see me.” There’s something nearly devious in the sparkle in his eyes, as if he knows he managed to catch the other male red-handed.
Kyuhyun freezes. Completely. Before the denial bursts out of him. “Of course I’m not! Why would I be!”
“Yes, why would you be,” Zhou Mi nods. When he turns his head away, Kyuhyun doesn’t miss the smile lingering on his lips. That bastard.
Somehow, whether by luck or misfortune, Kyuhyun never has to linger around the campsite for long before he gets company. Zhou Mi seems to have some kind of inner radar for spotting Kyuhyun, since he refuses to believe he makes so much noise or suddenly is so much worse at hiding. He could hide from his pack mates if he so wished, why not from some wolf he barely knows?
Usually he at least manages to keep a part of his dignity and pretend that he intended to get caught sneaking around the camp. Not always though. Not when he somehow ends up actually walking the whole distance from his home to the grove occupied by the small pack. He practically walks right into Zhou Mi, only realizing his presence when he collides with something soft that smells particularly delicious. He jumps back, enough sense present in his mind to realize it isn’t considered polite to stand there sniffing someone.
“Oh you’re dressed this time!” Zhou Mi seems more than surprised, his eyes widening as he takes in Kyuhyun’s appearance. It might’ve sounded weird … okay it does sound weird, but he has a point since thus far Kyuhyun has always run over as a wolf.
For a second Kyuhyun hesitates, even somewhat embarrassed. How can it be he is more embarrassed being clothed than being only in his skin? None of this makes sense and nothing has made sense ever since these strangers have appeared. “Uhm. I walked.” He explains with a small awkward shrug and a wave of his hand. “I didn’t think I’d come this far.”
The words gain him a bright, stunning smile from Zhou Mi. “Oh I am just that irresistible! You want something to eat?” He switches topics easily and only now Kyuhyun notices that he is holding dried meat in his hand, presenting it almost like an offering. The wolf side of Kyuhyun rumbles contently due to the gesture but he shakes his head nevertheless. “No thanks.”
Zhou Mi doesn’t seem to mind, only explains something further about how Heechul doesn’t like having dried meat in the camp so they hide it in a tree some steps away and now he just came to raid the hideout since he’s hungry. When he’s done there is only a short pause before he speaks up again. “Geng is healing,” Zhou Mi informs even if Kyuhyun hasn’t asked anything about it. “He can already move much better than before.”
Kyuhyun nods slowly. The other male has informed him about the alpha’s condition every time they’ve met so it’s nothing new to hear about it. Yet, there is something that keeps on bugging Kyuhyun and something he can’t quite place. “He… is there something weird about him? I mean,” he shrugs, “we are supposed to heal a lot faster than this.” It’s something he has wanted to know for longer, and by this point he doesn’t care if he sounds impolite.
Zhou Mi’s nose scrunches up disapprovingly. For a moment it seems like he’ll dodge the topic and not say anything at all, but then the words begin to flow. He tells about the fight that forced their group to run up north, that killed off many of their pack and separated them from the rest. He tells about the desperation, how everyone fought until they were bleeding and hurt. How they rested only for as long as strictly necessary and ran, ran for their lives. No one had known how badly Han Geng had been wounded internally, not before the long run had aggravated his wounds and immobilized him.
It all makes Kyuhyun kind of speechless. Thankfully the silence between them is comfortable enough, and Zhou Mi seems focused on poking the ground with a twig he’s picked up. Kyuhyun kind of wishes he would have the courage to sit a bit closer to the other man, since now it feels kind of awkward to reach out to pat his knee. “I’m sorry.” He wants to say so much more, how he feels bad for the whole pack for being forced through so much, and especially bad for Zhou Mi for some unclear reasons. But not being an exactly eloquent speaker, he can’t find the words.
It’s clear that the few words he says come straight from his heart though, and that is exactly what Zhou Mi appreciates. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” He shrugs a little, reaching for more of the dried meat he has been chewing on every now and then. Again he reaches out his hand to offer Kyuhyun some, the friendly smile back on his lips. “Want some food now?”
Automatically Kyuhyun reaches out to take a few slices, nodding as a thank you. He tries to ignore the way those deep eyes lighten up in response. And certainly the way something twitches inside of him at that.
Time passes. Too much time. Siwon knows his pack is getting restless, no matter how much he tries to ignore that. He knows there are talks, and that some young wolves even go as far as to say he is wrong in his decision to let the pack stay instead of driving them away. They are only five, anyway, how hard can it be to crush them or force them to leave? Still, Siwon stays firm in his decision.
Until he walks right into a fight about the intruding pack. He can hear voices already from afar but that is no news, with hearing as sensitive as theirs the whole village can be full of noise at any given time of the day. What catches his attention though is how the words are spoken, the gush of aggression and anger clearly palpable. He knows when his wolves are close to losing their temper.
“You’re only saying that because you want something from them! That, or you’re a fucking coward.” Even if Siwon didn’t hear Soonkyu’s voice, he could identify the members of his pack already based on their scent and the bond that ties them all together into one functional unit. He doesn’t need to hear Kyuhyun’s voice to know he is the one being addressed and instantly he quickens his steps. Soonkyu will speak her mind when angry, but despite her stubbornness she will be no match for a furious Kyuhyun who can rip her to pieces. Literally.
Siwon steps in right when Kyuhyun already raises his hand almost threateningly, clearly holding back from doing something stupid. One can see how tense he is, how every muscle in his body is close to snapping as he holds still. “Say that again and it’ll be the last thing you ever do,” Kyuhyun growls lowly, a displeased snarl accompanying the words. Soonkyu already opens her mouth to protest, and that is when Siwon speaks up.
“What is going on here!?” Siwon puts his authority into the question and he can see how the two flinch and withdraw further from each other that very second. They are clearly embarrassed being caught like that, and their anger is slowly draining away when faced with their alpha. Neither of them answers though, they rather look down at the ground and shift awkwardly. For a moment Siwon just waits, before clearing his throat to signal he demands an answer.
“We had a disagreement,” Kyuhyun answers instantly without looking up at the older man. There still is tenseness in his posture and it’s obvious he isn’t as calm as the girl is. Kyuhyun has always been harder to control than many others, ever since he was a puppy. He’s obedient and never intentionally challenges his alpha, but he’s also a stubborn personality and his wolf is strong in him.
Siwon inclines his head a little, shifting his gaze to Soonkyu instead. “About what?” He demands, determined to get to the bottom of this. He can’t have his wolves attacking each other randomly and if there is unresolved tension, it is his problem. He needs to get to the bottom of this. This time there is a shorter pause before he gets an answer to his question.
“About,” Soonkyu lifts her chin, obviously deciding that she can stand by her opinion. They’ve never been punished for their opinions or disagreeing with each other, as long as everything’s kept at least remotely civil. Violence in the village is not tolerated, not under Siwon’s command. “The pack. I think they need to go. They’ve hunted on our land for long enough and given nothing back,” she explains further, nearly spitting the words out as she glances at Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun doesn’t react to that at all though, and inwardly Siwon sighs. He feels like a father with troubled teenagers who don’t know how to solve their disagreements without an adult. Even if both Soonkyu and Kyuhyun are very much adult and should be able to control themselves. “And what about you?” Siwon turns to look at Kyuhyun, arching an expressive eyebrow questioningly.
“What did they ever do to bother us?” Kyuhyun doesn’t even miss a beat before answering and unlike Soonkyu, he looks up and straight into Siwon’s eyes. Only for a second though, before averting his gaze a little bit to show he isn’t going to challenge the other male. He simply isn’t afraid of him, either. “They only took what they needed, nothing more. They’ve never approached us. Why should we attack them? That would be just stupid.”
“Because it’s our territory and - ” Soonkyu can’t help but to cut in but she is silenced effectively with a raised hand from Siwon.
He frowns, his eyes still directed at Kyuhyun. “I think it is me who decides what is stupid and what not. Especially when it concerns our pack and our territory. Understood?” He puts stress on the last word and doesn’t turn away before he gets a stiff nod from Kyuhyun. Then he looks at Soonkyu instead and she hurries to nod as well.
“Now stop arguing about it. This is final.” Siwon’s voice doesn’t leave any room for arguments or speculation. This matter is finished.
The news travel fast. By the nightfall, everyone in the village knows about the argument and what happened. Especially since Siwon has taken matters into his own hands in the end. No one comes to ask Siwon anything though, and he doesn’t seek company either. Instead he retreats home, sits on the floor leaning against the wall and focuses on his thoughts. It doesn’t surprise him to hear soft footsteps after dinner though, and when Sungmin kneels down beside him and offers him a bowl of stew, he takes it with a grateful smile.
For a moment he eats, quite enjoying the silent companionship. Finally he tilts his head and looks straight at the other male, not bothered by the darkness in the slightest. “You heard?” He asks softly even if it’s useless, he knows very well what the answer will be. Thus he doesn’t gain one to the question spoken out loud, but to the question he left unvoiced.
“Kyuhyun is right. They didn’t do anything.” Sungmin calmly points out the obvious, resting his arms on his knees as he crouches down next to his alpha. He pauses only for a second, before he goes on again. “Soonkyu is also right. They’re on our territory.” Technically, that is enough reason to rip them apart and drive them away. Then again, Siwon has never been one of the most traditional leaders and tries to avoid bloodshed when it isn’t called for.
After another pause in discussion, Siwon sighs barely audibly. He sets the half-eaten food down on the floor next to himself, suddenly not all that hungry anymore. “Do you think I should attack?” He asks straight out. Everyone knows he values Sungmin’s opinion above anyone else’s, but even if he asks he doesn’t blindly obey the man.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do.” Sungmin gives a soft smile as he finally sits down on the floor. He appears to be completely calm, but Siwon can sense the restlessness, the way this topic is bothering him. “But something needs to be done. The wolves are restless.”
Siwon doesn’t like the decision he is making but he doesn’t like any of the alternatives, either. He knows that as long as he lets the other pack wander their territory and won’t do anything about it, his own underlings will keep on complaining and getting more and more agitated. The last thing he wants is some internal fights within his own. “Alright.” He decides with a nod. “Tomorrow morning.”
“We attack?” Sungmin asks even though he knows the answer. They still speak out loud even when they know exactly what is going through the other one’s mind and words aren’t even necessary. Old habits die hard.
Siwon only grumbles low in his chest, his wolf showing how displeased he is.
“Go tell the pack.”
Next Chapter.
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@DW.