Echoes In The Wood|| Taekook|✓

5. Revelations in Shadows

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"As the sun rises, the forest finally sheds the weight of its age-old sorrows, finding a long-awaited peace."

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Jeongguk woke up to the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The morning light filtered softly through the trees, casting a serene glow over the forest. Stretching his arms, he took in the calmness of the forest, the cool breeze brushing against his skin. For a moment, everything felt peaceful and perfect.

But as he looked around, searching for Taehyung, his heart skipped a beat. Taehyung was nowhere to be seen.

A wave of panic surged through Jeongguk. He scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. "Taehyung!" he called out, his voice echoing through the trees. He searched frantically, his heart pounding in his chest. The forest, once calming, now seemed vast and unforgiving. The gentle sounds of the morning were drowned out by the growing dread in his mind.

"Taehyung!" Jeongguk's voice grew hoarse as he continued to call, his desperation evident in every shout. He ran in every direction, hoping to catch a glimpse of Taehyung's familiar figure, but the forest remained silent and empty. The panic was tightening around his chest, each passing second feeling like an eternity.

Just as his anxiety reached its peak, he heard a soft rustling from behind him. His head whipped around, hope flaring up again. "Taehyung! I was searching-"

His words cut off as a figure emerged from the bushes, but it wasn't Taehyung. Instead, it was Jimin, tears streaming down his face. Without a word, Jimin rushed forward and enveloped Jeongguk in a tight hug, his sobs muffled against Jeongguk's chest.

"Jeongguk, I was so scared!" Jimin's voice trembled with fear and relief, his grip desperate.

Before Jeongguk could react, Hoseok and Yoongi also appeared, their faces etched with worry. They both quickly joined in, pulling Jeongguk into a group hug. The unexpected embrace was warm and comforting, but it did little to ease the storm of emotions brewing inside him.

Jeongguk's mind was a whirlwind. He was overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotions-relief at seeing his friends, but also an intense fear for Taehyung. He pulled away slightly, his eyes searching the forest again, even as he felt the comforting weight of his friends' presence.

"W-Where's Taehyung?" Jeongguk's voice was barely more than a whisper, the panic in his tone unmistakable.

"Who's Taehyung?" Jimin asked, his voice shaky but confused.

Jeongguk's heart sank. The urgency in his voice betrayed his panic. "Taehyung... he's someone I met two days ago. We both were lost in the forest" He paused, taking a shuddering breath. "We've been together since then. I thought we were safe, but now... now he's gone."

Jimin's eyes widened with concern, while Hoseok and Yoongi exchanged worried glances. "So, you've been together this whole time?" Hoseok asked, trying to piece together the situation.

"Yes!" Jeongguk's voice cracked with desperation. "We were together all night but when I wake up, he's just... gone. I've looked everywhere. I can't find him!"

His friends nodded sympathetically, but Jeongguk could see the confusion in their eyes. They didn't know Taehyung, didn't understand the depth of his worry. "I need to find him," Jeongguk continued, his voice rising with panic. "He can't just disappear. Not now."

"Calm down," Yoongi said gently. "We'll help you look for him. He can't be far."

Jungkook barely heard his friends as he spun around, searching for any sign of Taehyung.