tw: mentions of blood and violence.
Y/n's POV
Here I was again, in front of the mirror, focusing on the horn that's just being cut. I felt indifferent about it to be honest. The left one was probably 3cm shorter now...
I was more worried about Dani though. Her expression at that time didn't sit right with me at all. However, she had promised to come back by dinner time. She would keep her promise, right?
I remember her deep stare. It didn't feel like Dani did it. The others had been living with her longer, but they knew nothing about it. It must be as she said, it happened just recently, but why?
Realizing that thinking alone by myself wouldn't solve the problem, I went outside my room to join the others.
"Has Danielle come back yet?" I initiated the conversation.
"Well..." Hyein didn't have enough confidence to finish her answer.
Well, I knew the answer now. I looked out the window, the sun started to set. The sky was orange now, soon to be black.
"Should we search for her?" Haerin asked.
I nodded vigorously, agreeing with what Haerin said. "It will be dangerous for her to walk in the middle of the forest late at night. It's better for us to start moving now."
Minji took the lead, "Then, can Hanni and Hyein stay at home? I need 2 people to stand by here just in case Dani comes back. Haerin, Y/n, and I will search for her."
I could see Hanni and Hyein wanted to protest, but they kind of understood Minji's point of view. They should never leave Dani alone.
"Let's go"
-
Danielle's POV
Hours ago
Just what did I do... if Haerin hadn't pushed Y/n at the right time, maybe I would have cut her head instead. What if I hurt Haerin as well? I truly didn't want to imagine the possibility.
I need to get away from them for a while.
Also, what happened to me? It never occurred to me this long like this, so why now?
I kept walking to the road opposite home. As long as I came back before dinner, then it would be acceptable. However, how could I look at Y/n?
"I'm okay, Dani. Come back before dinner, please?"
She said that she was okay... Y/n wouldn't lie, right?
I couldn't believe there were so many things on my mind right now. I guessed I made the correct decision to go away. I needed to clear my mind first.
Now that I thought about it again, this was my first time going this deep in the forest alone without any of them. I stretched my hand out and waited. It wasn't long until a raven landed on my hand.
"Help me to return to my family later, okay?"
Then, I let the raven fly away.
"You guys too, look after me" I looked at my surroundings. The flower, the grass, and even the sparrows on the branches started staring at me.
I flicked my finger, and a clear sound came out, and in an instance, all of them turned back to normal. Some of the sparrows even flew over to other trees.
"Just kidding, don't look at me that way."
I continued walking away. How long has it been since the last time I communicated with them?
Of course, in reality, I couldn't show it to other people.
"Father time,
Mother nature,
Your lonely child is coming to play~" I sang out, only enough for me to hear as I kept walking.
-
I stopped upon I found a pond. The sky was already dark, that's why I could barely see the trees' shadows from the water's reflection. Still, it's not completely dark, I still could see my surroundings.
"It's peaceful here."
I walked along the edge of the pond. I thought I might as well circle this pond once before walking home. Suddenly, I heard a faint rustling sound and immediately stopped in my tracks. I decided not to go further toward the source of the sound. Instead, I stood still in my place.
The rustling sound now was getting louder, I was ready to cast a spell until something appeared.
I sighed in relief. It's just a deer.
"Should I play with her a little bit?" I chuckled. I was about to call her over when she suddenly jumped in front of me, covering my sight with her side.
It's too fast. Her fur I wanted to pat suddenly blemished by a hole and now blood couldn't stop flowing out of that hole. The deer collapsed instantly, wailing nonstop.
I wanted to help, truly, but then I realized why there was only a hole in the deer's body because the arrow stuck in my right shoulder. So, the arrow managed to go through the deer.
I fell onto my knees. I tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge. I quickly snapped the arrow in half, so it wouldn't hinder my movement. If I persisted in pulling it out, I would have to twist it before pulling it out as the only way, but then the wound would be unbearable.
I noticed 2 unfamiliar figures walking closer to me. Then my gaze fell on the deer's eyes. Her wailing did not stop, it's getting louder in my mind instead. Running out of time and choice, I finally gave in.
-
Y/n's POV
It's been around 10 minutes that we kept running toward the way Haerin told us to. Right, her sense of smell is stronger than Minji's and mine, so we trust her to lead the way.
"Are we still far?" Minji asked.
"The scent is getting stronger, so I think we're close, but..." Haerin didn't finish her sentence. I could tell she was having doubts, but my patience wasn't there.
"but what, Haerin?"
"I smell blood." Right after Haerin said that Minji winced at her statement. She must be worried about the younger girl. Of course, living for years with her, she wouldn't be okay knowing her friend might be in danger.
I wanted to ask whose blood it was, but if the answer mentioned Dani, I didn't know how we would be able to keep our sanity until we arrived at the exact place.
Haerin was still in doubt, that's why I still had this optimistic wish. No one talked after that, but I could feel that we ran faster than before.
'Please, be okay.'