Arranged | Jinkook ✓

Chapter 25.0

The sun was rising.

Darkness gave way to brilliant pinks and purples edged with yellow as the sky slowly began to change. Light seemed to descend downwards, until everything around them was illuminated.

They were running out of time.

...

There was nothing.

There hadn't been anything for hours. Nothing but the cover of barren trees, their leaves having seemingly decided to finally fall over night.

There was nothing to shield them from the incoming light. From the burning effect of the suns rays. And silently, he began to panic. Constantly kept his eyes on the prince instead of the path ahead. Watched as his skin slowly began to turn pink, already suffering the negative effects.

They had to find shelter. Something. Anything.

But there was nothing.

His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. Tried to think back to everything his father had ever taught him during those times they would have to travel, bringing horses from their village to another. Briefly considered trying to find enough large sticks and simply making a hut out leaves and mud.

But that would take too long, wouldn't it?

It was getting worse.

The light dusting of pink transformed into red and he knew it had to be getting painful. Felt something inside of him tighten and clench, because he knew what the ultimate ending would be. Forced himself to try and think of anything else. Made his eyes dart around constantly, searching their surroundings without even being sure what he was looking for.

It rose up out of no where. An out of place formation that stuck out like a sore thumb. A poorly constructed wooden structure that he was certain was meant to be used by hunters during the spring and summer. Surely it would be abandoned.

He didn't speak. Just quietly whispered directions to his own horse. Knew that Jungkook's would follow his lead. Came within a hundred feet of the small hut and came to a halt. Slipped down from the mount and sigh as his legs instantly ached from being kept in the same position for so long.

Hurriedly, he tied both to a large tree, knowing that they would be secure. There were little patched of weeds near by, and they had enough slack that they could graze.

"Jungkook?" His prince looked weak, frail and burnt, and as his attention turned towards the sound of his name, a flake of skin from his nose slowly fell away.

"No." He moved forward, far faster than he thought possible, feet suddenly capable of speeds he wasn't aware of. Wrapped his own arms around the princes middle and tugged, intent on guiding them inside. It wasn't perfect, he could tell that from simply glancing at it. There were crack in the wood, but it was better than remaining out in the open. "No no no. Come on, we have to get you inside."

The door was unlocked - a small blessing that he sent a quick, silent thank you upwards for. Felt the thin wood give way easily as he tugged. It was dark inside, and his eyes took a long moment to adjust. Glanced around and realized that it was a single, overly cluttered room, filled with left over supplies and tools that remained there all year round.

Light filtered in from a small window, and he had barely managed to deposit Jungkook on the near by mattress before he was rushing around, seeking out whatever he could. A towel to hang over the window - before deciding it still wasn't enough and putting another over it. Stuffing scraps of fabric into the larger cracks. It was far from perfect, beams of light seemingly coming from everywhere. But it was the best he could do.