Dream Writer [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 21

            Daniel glanced at Gyuri and Wonwoo that he can barely see since they were far behind. He smirked and halted. He waited for them.

"Should we take a break for a while?"

"Yay~" Wonwoo cheered weakly before he fell on his knees. Gyuri sat under a nearby tree. She rummaged through the bag of supply on her shoulder. She took out what she guessed a bottle. It was a bamboo container. "Dan" she called. "This is water, right?"

"Yup" Daniel glanced at her before rummaged into his bag too. He took a small sip of water.

Gyuri put aside the bamboo container.

"It's tiring right?" Daniel asked. "Walking like this"

"Of course" she chuckled. "But I'm not giving up"

Daniel showed her a thumb up as he was still panting.

"Guys"

Both Daniel and Gyuri lifted their heads to Wonwoo. He waved them over to the cliff he was standing at.

"What-" Gyuri gasped as he stood next to him. Daniel's smiles disappear as he witnessed the scenery before them. It was a village, completely damaged.

"Did BaeJin did this?" Gyuri asked. Daniel nodded. "This is the Southernmost village of this Kingdom. The one His Majesty mentioned"

"It completely destroyed" Wonwoo whispered. "He's cruel"

They were silent as they stared at the damaged place. A few moments later they walked through the village. They walked over the remains of house.

"The villagers must be sad" Wonwoo said. "Their homes were destroyed and so does their belongings"

Gyuri walked up to Daniel and Wonwoo. "I'm sorry that this have to happen"

"Hey" Daniel mustered a smile. "I respect your storyline"

Gyuri couldn't reply and looked away, still felt guilty. She stopped. Daniel and Wonwoo turned to her.

"I think it's time for me to tell you about your past that I didn't actually write in the book" she voiced. Daniel approached her and locked eyes with her. "But I'm not sure if you can accept the fact" she couldn't meet his eyes. Daniel bit his lips before voiced. "I'll be okay"

Gyuri looked down to the piles of woods that was once the wall of a house. "Your family, they..." "They are not around any longer?" "No"

Gyuri turned to her back to the other remains of the small town. She pictured the scene that happened few years ago.

-Flashback-

A troupe of survived soldier from the Land Kingdom walked through the collapsed town, result of a war that broke. The soldiers split up and searched for any survivor of the town. Smoke made it hard to both breathe and see clearly.

The late king halted the horse he was riding. His men followed. He stepped down from the horse.

"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?" one of his men questioned. "Do you hear that?" the late king lowered himself to the ground to hear better. His men started to follow his action.

The late king had his eyes glued to a wooden door that toppled. He bent down and lifted the door. A gasp left his lips. "Hey"

The little kitten kid stopped crying for a bit. He met eyes with the king... before he broke into cry again.

"Aigo" the King panicked and picked him up. The king's men rushed there.

"It's gonna be alright" the late king proceeded to bounce to calm him down. "Your Majesty, let me-" one of the men offered to take the baby instead. "No no. It's okay" the late king replied. "Can I get some water for this kid?"

The late king held the kid for almost an hour until he calmed down. A group of soldier came to the late king who was now sitting on a nearby rock, playing with the kid.

"Your Majesty" the men bowed. One of them held out a pendant to the late king. He took it, to examine it but the kid took it and played in his hand. The kid giggled. The late king turned to his men for explanation.

"We found a couple, half cat. It seems that they are the only half cat resident in this village. That belong to them" the man explained. "It must be his parents. Where are them?" the late king asked. The man shook his head and the king immediately understand. He turned to the kid again. His eyes sadden. "But you are still so small, you could barely walk"

The group continued their journey, with a new member.

-End of flashback-

Gyuri took out her hand from her pocket. She took Daniel's hand and put something into his palm before closing it. Daniel slowly opened his grip to see the solid object. "Is this the pendant?"

"Last night, on my way to my room, His Majesty called me" she started. "He said he wanted to give it to you himself but he can't make himself to do so"

"Tsk" Daniel snickered. "That friend of mine. Maybe because we're too close, he couldn't tell me everything he wanted"

He continued to stare at the pendant in his grip. He bit his quivering lips.

Gyuri walked up to him. She wrapped her arms around him, letting him buried his face into her head, sobbing silently. Gyuri held him tighter. *I'm so sorry, Daniel*

It was already night. Wonwoo sat in front of the campfire. His eyes fixed on the burning wood in front of him. He glanced at Gyuri who sat across him. He then glanced at Daniel who was already asleep not far from them.

"Go to sleep if you want" Gyuri took his attention. Her hand continued to pick on the fire with a stick. "Hey" Wonwoo called but her view still didn't shift from the fire. He sighed. "You should go to sleep too, Gyuri"

She shook her head. "I will, later"

"Look, I know you feel guilty" he started. "But..." he sighed. "I know you'll never feel better if ever say anything"

"I need some time" she looked at him. "To accept all the guilt and live with it"

Wonwoo sighed.

"No. You should stop blaming yourself!" he almost shouted. "Can't you see I'm trying?!" she suddenly lost her temper. "What..." he was speechless. Gyuri snorted and stood. "You know what, I don't expect anyone to understand me or make me feel better! Just-" she sighed, gave up. "I'm going to sleep. See you tomorrow, Wonwoo" she took her place a tad far from their camping site.

"Gyuri..." Wonwoo stood to follow her but she already turned to the other side, ignoring him. His shoulder fell. "Alright, sleep well"

* * *

It was morning again. Daniel turned to the other side. He slowly opened his eyes. He sat up and stretched his body. He looked around, yawning. His eyes landed on Wonwoo who was still asleep beside the ashes from fire the night before. *Where is Gyuri?*