Area One

13

"Junmyeon, could I talk to you for a second?"

Junmyeon turned away from his water barrier, letting the water flow back into the river. He had concentrated so hard that he hadn't even noticed how Chanyeol had approached him. To practise his power with the help of the small river in the forest meant that he was usually alone for a while, which helped him to sort out his thoughts.

"What's up?"

He tried to ignore how politely Chanyeol had spoken. It was obvious they all had to get used to him being their leader, himself included, but he hated this new respect some of them suddenly had for him. It was as if he had taken down the Red Force over night and someone had declared him king or something. Even the way Chanyeol was standing and the way he looked at him had changed. But at least that meant that Junmyeon wasn't the only one who was uncomfortable.

The tall guy was fidgeting and staring at the ground, taking his time to phrase his concern. "Do you remember how Yifan was so eager to go to the city?"

He remembered. Baekhyun had made himself quite clear that time and he had probably managed to wipe out the last bit of ambition to challenge the Red Force. Or at least Junmyeon had thought so. "He's not arguing with Baekhyun, is he?"

Somehow, the only positive thing he could see in being the leader was that most of them listened to him when he tried to stop arguments. Most of the time, they weren't serious, but especially Yifan and Baekhyun tended to lose their patience rather quickly. He nearly would've been blinded the last time he had interfered.

Chanyeol shook his head, but from the way he looked, his issue wasn't less uncomfortable.

"He's been talking to Jongin about how we could teleport inside the city without being caught for a long time now." He intertwined his fingers and fixed his gaze on them, not wanting to look at Junmyeon. "I know he hates the Red Force and I guess we need to be prepared for everything, but... he makes it seem as if the decision against going didn't exist. You know I'm the last person who likes it to stay here, but we decided against attacking them for a reason."

This made Junmyeon frown. "If that's true, I know what you're worrying about. He might be a bit hard-headed, but he wouldn't do something like this on his own."

Or would he? No. Attacking a Patrol in a moment of self- overestimation was one thing. Marching directly into the lion's den was something entirely different. Yifan wasn't stupid, he knew this was exactly what the Red Force wanted. Why search for people with powers if you could make them walk right through your doors?

"I know." Despite his words, Chanyeol was still frowning. "It's just-"

They both turned around when there was a sound in the woods. One like the breaking of branches on the ground.

"Has Luhan said anything about a thirteenth member?" whispered Chanyeol, standing next to Junmyeon.

He shook his head, while trying to spot something in between the trees. "Maybe it's just an animal."

Whatever it was, it was coming closer. Junmyeon was thinking about how to notify the others now that Luhan was training and most likely couldn't hear them, when-

A person stumbled out of the undergrowth, nearly falling to the ground where the path crossed the woods. When he noticed Chanyeol and Junmyeon standing there and watching him, he tried to steady himself. Which wasn't easy. He had scratches of thorns, and deeper ones all over his body. The bigger ones seemed to have been treated professionally, but seemingly in a rushed manner.

"Yixing," was the first word he said, raising his hands to show he was unarmed. "I need to see Yixing."

Chanyeol and Junmyeon exchanged a glance. This guy wasn't from the Red Force. But how did he get here?