Mingi returned home with Wooyoung in tow. As they entered the house, Hongjoong looked up where he had been preparing a fresh bay for Seonghwa so they could clean the dirtied one he had rested in so far. Seonghwa had insisted on helping, so Hongjoong let him shovel the old hay into the bucket from his seated position. They heard the two men chatting away inside, and a moment later, Mingi peered his head into the stables. When he saw Seonghwa in his shining clean glory and working along with Hongjoong, a massive grin spread across his lips.
"Hey, you two," he greeted them. Hongjoong beamed back.
"Hey. You brought Wooyoung?"
The hunter in question slipped between Mingi and the door frame to come in. He hurried over to wrap his arms around Hongjoong's waist and smacked a kiss on his cheek. Affectionately, Hongjoong hugged him back with one arm while his other dropped the remaining hay to the ground.
"Missed me?"
"I always miss you," Wooyoung flirted, but that was what he told anyone. Hongjoong scoffed.
Wooyoung turned his head to Seonghwa and nodded in satisfaction at him.
"Good to see you regaining your health."
Seonghwa nodded politely, eyes lingering on the way they stood wrapped around each other.
"Hongjoong has been helping me a lot."
Pride glowed in Mingi's eyes as he regarded his little brother. Hongjoong humbly scratched his neck when Wooyoung smothered him with more hugs and coos.
"Say, hunter, what is your name? I didn't catch it last time but I want to remember my saviors," Seonghwa asked. He put the pitchfork aside to tilt his head while Mingi delivered fresh ointments and bandages to treat his leg.
"It's Wooyoung," the boy grinned. Upon Seonghwa's nod, he took Hongjoong's hand.
"Can I steal him for a while to talk? I will bring him back later."
Mingi gave them an incredulous gaze while Seonghwa helped him with the wound as well as he could with his limited reach.
"Sure. Have fun talking."
No playful glare in the world could keep Mingi from rolling his eyes at them. While the two scurried off, Mingi resumed their centaur care program.
Instead of just into the kitchen, Wooyoung dragged Hongjoong up the stairs and into his room. Only after he had pushed him to sit on the bed and taken a deep breath, the hunter was ready to spill.
"You seem eager," Hongjoong commented, fond of the shine in Wooyoung's eyes. It reminded him of dew tinkling on the grass in winter and offering Hongjoong to run his hands through it playfully to share the delight.
"I found something. Well, or someone. Out in the forest at the lake."
Hongjoong's brows drew together. Any person found in a lake deep in the woods sounded to be more dead than alive.
"The one in the swamps?" Hongjoong asked, nervosity blending into his voice. He had heard bad things about the treacherous terrain. Once in a trivial fight between intruders from the northern kingdom and the guards of Durnatel, the treacherous quagmire had swallowed all men involved. Only their swords stuck out from the blood-soaked area shrouded in mist. Hongjoong disapproved of the idea of Wooyoung wandering around there, even when he knew the hunter knew his way around.
"That one. The captain of the guard asked me to check it out, so I did. I hadn't expected more than bones." The intrigue brightening his face distracted Hongjoong from his dread. He leaned forward in interest as he watched Wooyoung pace left and right in his tiny chamber.
YOU ARE READING
Ashrain
أدب الهواةThe boy in this particular bush wasn't Wooyoung. And he was unlike any other boy in any other bush Hongjoong would have foreseen. He had lips red as the rose, blossoming in his face to stand out and gather all of Hongjoong's attention. Their shape w...
