The Fae King's Heart

Chapter: Seven

After Jungkook had run off, the three that were left behind all sat in silence around the dying fire. Two pairs of eyes were set on the Fairy King who still seemed shocked at Jungkook's words. Of course, the only ones who knew what Jungkook had said were Jimin and Taehyung himself. Cien was still confused and would remain that way unless someone decided to tell him what had happened. Taehyung's chocolate eyes were staring blankly into the flames, eyebrows drawn together in a frown. He couldn't believe it. Jungkook had spoken to him in his own tongue. He knew exactly what he had said, knew what Taehyung had admitted. He pulled himself from his thoughts as Cien stood to make his way beside him.

"My friend, don't let this trouble you." Cien said, hoping to comfort him, "We'll go and look for him and then we'll talk about what was said here." Cien said, turning in the direction Jungkook had run off.

The echoing caw of a raven's call alerted them to look off in the distance. Cien's eyes narrowed at the sight of a dark figure flying across the night sky, heading away from the temple they had left hours earlier.

******

Jungkook was now bruised and battered from having to avoid the snapping jaw of the giant snake that was still persistent. He was also bleeding, thanks to the teeth that had nearly caught him by his right arm. He was able to pull free before he lost it but there was now a deep gash. He was tiring and it seemed as if the snake itself would not anytime soon.

It was getting harder to move out of the way of danger. He was panting now to the point where his lungs ached. Sweat was pouring from his skin, as his shoulder throbbed endlessly. He stood keeping an eye on the snake that slowly danced in front of him. He was aware of this trick now, since he had almost lost his head because of it. The monster had a trance-inducing dance and it had caused Jungkook a bout of paralysis.

Luckily, he was able to snap out of it when he lost his balance and fell back onto his shoulder. Pain had shot through him and his body was able to spree from the oncoming mouth. Now he stood ready, making sure to focus his mind on actually escaping the next attempt the serpent made to swallow him whole.

It came quickly and he hadn't expected it. Though he was able to avoid being eaten, he wasn't able to move fast enough. As he escaped the snapping jaw, the snake turned its head to him and he was flung violently to the side. His back made a connection with a crumbling pillar and he cried out in agony as his shoulder gave a loud and sickening crack. If it had been only fractured before, it was now completely broken. He crumpled to the floor, panting in ragged breaths, an occasional whimper escaping his lips. He lifted himself painfully up from the floor as the snake's screech rang through his ear and he found himself staring down its throat.

What had happened next he hadn't expected. He was grabbed up from the floor, feeling himself being lifted and he looked down to find that what had been about to swallow him was only the head of the snake. Taehyung, now splattered in the deep red of the creature's blood, flew in mid air with his sword unsheathed. His eyes stared blankly at the place where the snake had once been, unaware of its still wriggling body that lay under him. Jungkook watched in awe for the moment before the sudden pain of his shoulder shot through his body again. He was thankful that he was being held as a bout of dizziness overtook him.

'Little one, are you alright?'

"My shoulder," was all he was permitted to say as Cien lowered them both to the ground.

He was then seated on a large piece of rubble so that a now worried Jimin could busy himself with healing his shoulder. Without hesitation, the elf ripped away the already tattered tunic to reveal Jungkook's left shoulder.