𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘆-𝗼𝗻𝗲

Wook lost his ninth match the next day. It was his short-sightedness, he admitted, because he was so immersed in his thoughts of vengeance that he had relentlessly used only his offensive techniques, few as they were. By the time he realised he neglected his defence, he had already lost.

Although his attacks had been sloppy, his peers had acknowledged his strength and agility. Mu Deok had rolled her eyes and scoffed in disappointment but both she and Yul had pulled him aside (separately) and given him pointers to improve. Danggu, however, was the only one who noticed.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked as Wook slipped his sword into its scabbard and began to leave the arena. "You're very angry today."

Wook continued down the path back home, briefly glancing at him as he tried to keep up. "What do you mean?"

He hummed, sticking out his lower lip. "Well, usually I can tell by the way you walk." At Wook's raised brow, he timidly said, "Gaeun's not the only one who knows you, you know? You're one of the few people I can remember since my...my brain began."

"How romantic," Wook teased, slapping Danggu's shoulder lightly. Then, he said with a straight face, "I'm not angry."

Danggu relaxed. "Right," he sighed happily, "At least you haven't fought with Gaeun. I'm glad. You sulk for a really long time when you do." Wook nearly burst into an argument but Danggu wasn't wrong. He wasn't wrong about the anger part either. "Did you hear?" He continued, "There's a new party from Yeol that's stirred up the wind."

Wook's mood darkened further. "Be careful if you come across them," he warned ominously, "They're not exactly friendly."

"I...uh, I will but can you please stop making that face?" Danggu frowned, biting the inside of his cheek, "It's giving me a stomachache—What the—" He cut himself off and darted to hide behind Wook. "Your wolf needs to stop growing," he squeaked.

Wook turned just in time to see Minha leap over a large rock and trot towards them, wagging her tail happily. Had she grown? Wook couldn't tell. But that was because she was around him every single day. She definitely hadn't come up to his waist a few weeks ago. Danggu whimpered as Minha got closer. If Wook managed to keep his affection for the wolf aside, he'd admit that she was definitely a great black mortifying beast.

Wook narrowed his eyes suddenly. "What's that in your mouth?" He demanded.

Minha's tail slowly stopped wagging. She looked up at him guiltily, pretending that whatever was moving inside her puffed-up mouth didn't exist. Arms crossed over his chest, Wook continued to glower until she craned her neck low in defeat and spat out a wet blob of feathers by his boots.

"Oh, for fuck's sake—"

The feathery blob unfurled its wings and took a deep, dramatic breath. Fangs lay on his back, his already wide eyes wider still, and hyperventilated. Against Danggu's protests, Wook nudged the owl with the tip of his shoe. Fang leapt to his feet, took a deep breath, and began squawking curses at Minha.

"Crippled, mangy mutt! Flea-infested mongrel! Stinky, one-eared bitc—" Minha stared vacantly at Fangs and let out a short, low growl. He immediately quietened.

Danggu whimpered in Wook's ear like a cat being strangled. He gripped his shoulders tightly and wheezed, "It talks."

Twisting his entire head around, Fangs glared up at the human. "I'm a 'he'," he hooted angrily.

"I—I apologise, sir."

Wook snorted. "Stop that," he shrugged Danggu off, "There's no need to give him so much respect."