Soul of a Dragon

22

After the Pachycrocuta attack was done and over, the consequences of it were still far reaching, as it soon became evident. The five companions were back at the inn after gathering together to assess damages, too restless to sleep just yet. Each one's mind was on something different, but none were willing to share, which might have said a lot, or not considering the closed mouth-ness of most of them.

Taehyung's chest had been bandaged by Jungkook himself after the happiness faded slightly so he could think. The claw marks were deep, but not altogether too damaging. Muscles had not been severed, and nerves were still functioning. He would merely have a set of scars; four wide lines running from left collarbone to lower on his right side.

No one else had been injured, luckily, except for Jimin's close brush earlier. The mage was still recuperating, but it was not nearly as devastating a blow to him as the first time. All he needed now was bed rest.

Speaking of such, at the moment Jimin was beginning to doze leaning against Hoseok's irresolute shoulder. The elf gently shook him, and motioned for him to go upstairs.

With a tired nod, the mage excused himself, and began the climb up the stairwell, followed silently by Hoseok.

Even as they reached the top and vanished from sight, a lone figure stepped from the room at the foot of the stairs, shutting the door behind him.

Jungkook was the first up and moving towards the man, followed closely by Taehyung and Yoongi.

"Namjoon..."

The young man raised his eyes to meet those of the boy before him, a sad smile upon his face. "She's gone."

"We are truly sorry for the loss of your sister. May she be at peace." Jungkook said softly, voice sincere and laced with sorrow as he bowed in respect, Taehyung and Yoongi doing the same.

"May she be at peace." They said in unison.

"Thank you Jungkook. All of you."

Later that night, as Jimin and Jungkook slept, Taehyung, Yoongi and Hoseok had a quick meeting in the hall to discuss the soldiers' thoughts of the reason behind the attack.

"If what I believe to be the case is true, we don't want to linger any longer than we must." Taehyung paused for a moment before going on. "I believe Jungkook is the reason we were attacked, the reason this village was attacked. Zexus is sending these beasts after us, because he wants Jungkook back."

The news did indeed come as a bit of a shock to the swords master and elf.

"But if that's true, then there's a chance that more are coming. Or he could very well be sending something much worse than a couple of Pachycrocuta." Yoongi said quietly.

"I know. As soon as daylight breaks, we're going to move out, buy the supplies we need, and be gone from here before something else happens." Taehyung answered.

With a nod of understanding, Yoongi and Hoseok glanced at Taehyung and Jungkook's door.

"Does he know?" Hoseok asked quietly.

"...No..." The dark eyed soldier replied just as quietly, with an odd sort of emptiness to his voice.

"Are you going to tell him?" Yoongi asked again.

"I'm hoping it won't come to that."

...

It was a short time later that Taehyung opened the door to his room, an unusual air of exhaustion about the soldier. His darkened gaze peered about, shortly finding what he searched for in the figure of Jungkook asleep on one of the large beds.