✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Lightmaker • hyunchanlix *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Eight - Lily of the Valley *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

At Jisung's shout, Hyunjin jolted out of Chan's and Felix's arms, staring with wide eyes at the Starborne. As soon as he processed what Jisung said, he was off like a flash, running towards the infirmary.

Felix and Chan were startled for only a second before they followed the blazeborne. They found him standing outside the tent, wringing his hands together nervously.

Hyunjin had so many questions for her. How did she survive? Was she the only one left? Where did she go?

Hyunjin felt the presence of his best friends behind him and he took a deep breath, steeling himself. He walked into the tent and barely held back a gasp when he saw that the woman really was awake.

"Hello." Hyunjin greeted, slightly startling the woman. The woman looked over and saw the markings on Hyunjin's skin, her eyes widening. Hyunjin went over and sat down in the chair next to her cot. The woman bowed quickly to him, wincing when the bow hurt her wound.

"Please, you don't need to bow." Hyunjin said softly, a pained look on his face.

"But, my prince-" The woman started.

Hyunjin interrupted her, "I left that behind when I left the Netherworld. Besides, I wouldn't be your prince. We weren't even part of the same tribe."

Felix knew there was some trauma there. Hyunjin never talked about his experiences in the Netherworld, only other people's. Felix would never push him, though.

"You're Netherian." The woman said, a breathy tone to her voice.

Hyunjin nodded. "And you're Nethian."

The woman sighed softly. "I am."

Hyunjin asked, "Are you...?"

The woman frowned. "As far as I know, I'm the only one of my tribe left. I was the only one who managed to escape the attack."

Hyunjin frowned, his worst suspicions confirmed. Nethia was gone, completely.

"What's your name?" Felix asked from behind Hyunjin, startling the blazeborne. He'd forgotten they were there.

The woman smiled. "I'm Lark."

Lark observed Hyunjin curiously. "Can... can I ask...? Did...?"

Hyunjin knew what she was wondering about and answered, "Netheria survived the attack, but we lost a lot that night. All the dams and children evacuated before Nethal got to us, but a lot of our sires and protectors didn't survive. They were able to push Nethal back, and Nethal lost huge numbers that night. Nethal was disbanded and most were banished here or assimilated into Nethmia, except for a few leaders and orchestrators who were executed."

"Are you the only Netherworlder here?" Lark asked curiously.

Hyunjin shook his head. "No, I'm here with my siblings, and there's another group of siblings here from Nethmia. My family left the Netherworld shortly after the attack, wanting to separate us from the source of our trauma."

Lark nodded in understanding, looking back down at her hands. "So there's no one from Nethia here."

Hyunjin gazed at Lark with a sad look on his face. "No, there isn't. Up until you showed up, we thought there were none of you left."

It was quiet for a moment, but that quiet was interrupted by the front of the tent opening and Changbin dragging Hinata into it.

"Bird boy, little wolf here apparently hasn't slept in days," Changbin said, a monotone look on his face. However, underneath it, Felix could see the worry. Changbin cared for all the younger ones of the crew, even if he didn't show it.