𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙡 / 𝙗𝙩𝙨

𝙭𝙭𝙞𝙞

The cabin was quiet in the aftermath of the fight, the air thick with grief. Y/N's heart ached as they glanced at Taehyung's still form. The loss was raw, the pain cutting deeper than any wound. But Namjoon was right—they had to survive. There would be time to mourn later.

The remaining members of the group—Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi, Jungkook, Y/N, and an injured Hoseok—gathered around the small fire they had built in the center of the room. The faint flicker of flames illuminated their faces, casting long shadows across the walls.

Seokjin knelt beside Taehyung's body, his face pale as he gently closed his friend's eyes. His hands shook slightly, but his expression remained stoic. "We'll bury him as soon as it's safe," Seokjin whispered, his voice strained with sorrow. "He deserves that much."

Hoseok sat propped up against the wall, his face contorted in pain but still managing a small nod of agreement. "He saved us... in a way," Hoseok said weakly, his voice barely a whisper. "He would want us to keep going."

Jungkook, usually so full of energy and determination, sat quietly by the fire, staring into the flames. His hands were clenched into fists, and his jaw was tight with emotion. He hadn't said much since the fight ended, but Y/N could see the turmoil in his eyes.

Yoongi, ever the calm presence, leaned against the wall, his face shadowed with exhaustion and grief. His sharp eyes scanned the room, making sure no scavengers had slipped past their defenses. He caught Y/N's gaze and gave a small nod, silently telling them to stay strong.

Namjoon was the first to break the heavy silence. "We can't stay here much longer," he said, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "The scavengers might come back with reinforcements, and we're vulnerable. We need to move."

"But where can we go?" Seokjin asked quietly, his eyes flicking to the darkened forest outside. "It's not safe out there."

"We don't have a choice," Yoongi replied. "Staying here is a death sentence. If we keep moving, we might find somewhere better to hide—somewhere safer."

Namjoon nodded. "We'll gather what supplies we can and leave at first light. We can't afford to wait."

Y/N's eyes drifted to Hoseok, whose injury was clearly taking a toll. He was pale, his face slick with sweat, and every breath seemed to be a struggle. "Can Hoseok move? He's in no condition to walk through the forest."

"I'll manage," Hoseok muttered, though his voice was weak. "Just help me when it's time. We can't stay here."

Y/N frowned, but they knew there wasn't much of a choice. They wouldn't leave Hoseok behind, but the group couldn't linger in one place for long. The scavengers had found them once, and they'd come again if they didn't keep moving.

As the hours dragged on, the group fell into an uneasy silence. Y/N sat beside Jungkook, who hadn't said a word since Taehyung's death. They hesitated for a moment before placing a hand on his arm. "You okay?"

Jungkook flinched slightly at the touch but didn't pull away. His eyes remained locked on the fire. "No," he said quietly. "I don't know how to be. We just keep losing people."

Y/N's heart ached at the rawness in Jungkook's voice. They had all lost so much—Jimin, now Taehyung. The weight of it all threatened to crush them, but they had to keep going. "We'll get through this," Y/N said softly. "For them."

Jungkook didn't respond, but he gave a slight nod, his jaw still clenched in grief.

The night passed slowly, the weight of Taehyung's loss hanging heavy over the group. When dawn finally broke, it came with a cold, gray light that did nothing to ease the tension in the air. Namjoon quietly woke the others, and they began packing what little they had left.

Seokjin and Yoongi helped Hoseok to his feet, supporting him as he winced in pain. Y/N and Jungkook took turns carrying the supplies, their movements sluggish from exhaustion and sorrow. Namjoon led the way, his eyes scanning the forest ahead, searching for any sign of danger.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the silence felt oppressive. The memories of their fallen friends—Jimin and Taehyung—lingered with every step, a constant reminder of how fragile their survival was.

Hours passed, and the group pushed forward despite the exhaustion weighing them down. Just when it seemed like they might find a moment of peace, the sound of footsteps behind them shattered the stillness.

Namjoon's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "We're being followed."

Yoongi's hand instinctively went to his weapon, his expression turning sharp. "Scavengers?"

Jungkook glanced over his shoulder, his body tensing. "Could be. We need to keep moving."

But before they could react, a shot rang out, echoing through the trees. Y/N's heart stopped as they saw Seokjin stumble, his hand flying to his side as blood began to bloom across his shirt.

"Seokjin!" Y/N screamed, rushing toward him just as Namjoon caught him before he could collapse.

Seokjin's face twisted in pain, his eyes wide with shock. "I'm... I'm fine..." he gasped, though the blood soaking through his clothes told a different story.

Yoongi was already scanning the forest, his eyes narrowed as he spotted movement between the trees. "We have to move! Now!"

Jungkook grabbed Seokjin's other arm, helping Namjoon support him as they began running through the forest. Y/N felt panic rising in their chest as they sprinted alongside the group, their heart pounding in their ears.

The scavengers were close, too close. Y/N could hear them shouting, their footsteps growing louder with each passing second.

"We're not going to make it!" Hoseok gasped, his voice strained as he limped beside Y/N.

But Namjoon's voice cut through the panic, sharp and steady. "We will! We just need to get to higher ground!"

They pushed on, Seokjin's labored breaths filling the air as they moved. But the blood was pouring from his wound, and Y/N knew they were running out of time.

"We need to stop the bleeding!" Y/N shouted, desperation creeping into their voice.

"We can't stop now!" Yoongi replied, his eyes locked on the terrain ahead. "We stop, we die!"

And then, as if to punctuate his words, another shot rang out, and this time it was closer. Too close.