SKZ Writing prompts

The Hunt (pt.3) - OT8 and Enha

Chan gulped in mouthfuls of air but he knew the internal crushing of his heart had nothing to do with the lack of oxygen.

"Where...Felix and...Changbin?"

Minho's head shot up from examining Han's fingers, "Wait. Felix ran...and Changbin chased him but they didn't..." Minho shot Chan a cautious look. He didn't dare finish. 

Chan inhaled shakily, "Come back. They're- They're lost."

"I'm sorry, Chan."

Chan fell to his knees just as Heeseung spoke up, "Is NI-KI and Sunoo lagging? Why didn't you wait for them and-"

"They-" Chan choked up, all that left his lips were incoherent, grievous sounds.

Heeseung's group all simultaneously paled, and Jake turned away. Minho caressed Han, pecked his cheek before going over to Chan and rubbing his back. "Shh...calm down first."

Chan balked and hid his face in his hands. One of Heeseung's group whispered out loud, "So...they're gone?"

Chan nodded, incapable of speaking, only hanging by a single thread which was Minho comforting him. First, he'd lost his partners and now he failed to protect defenceless strangers.

"I- the NI-KI...might be alive."

At that, the strangers were quick to jump him with questions.

Minho snapped, "Shut up! Can't you see he's pressured by so many issues right now? As the second oldest, I will take lead now and I demand that you leave him be for now. Your friend is gone for now and there's no need to break down my friend. Got it?"

The younger ones all shut their mouths, eyes wide from the tongue-lashing they'd just gotten. They turned to themselves and spoke in soft hushes. Minho turned his attention back to Chan, "There, there...calm down." Han joined his partner and the pair gathered around Chan, allowing him to soak in the comfortable silence.

~

Hyunjin and his maknaes approached the younger group quietly. Jeongin wanted to say hi, but he squeaked as his nerves got to him. Heeseung's group jolted slightly and turned to the trio. Seungmin cleared his throat, "Sorry for the intrusion, but we'd like to get to know your names."

Some of the group looked around and their eyes landed on Minho and Han comforting Chan before they let out breaths. "Alright." They let the three into their circle and they began introducing themselves.

Heeseung arranged them so that they sat according to age order. Then he spoke up first, "I'm Heeseung. I lead them, as I previously said."

The guy beside Heeseung said, "I'm Jay. I'm the second oldest and I'm like the mother."

Jeongin was looking around the circle and noticed some of them giggling at Jay's resigned tone as he mentioned he was basically their mother. He cheekily asked, "Do you have to nag them a lot?" He pointed at the rest of Heeseung's group.

Jay's eyebrow raise was answer enough.

And so the introducing went on. After Jay was Jake, who'd been jittery while trying to tend to Sunoo. After Jake was Sunghoon, and the trio could immediately deduce that he kept to himself quite a lot and loved to doze off. 

Then Sunghoon turned to his side and said cheerfully, "Sunoo, your tu-"

The last unnamed guy was staring at the space he'd left between himself and Sunghoon and his eyes turned glassy with emotion. He looked up at the trio and then back at the ground as Sunghoon cut himself off and went silent.

"I'm Jungwon..."

Hyunjin could almost sense the tangible tension. He cleared his throat, "Nice to meet you all! Uh, don't mind Minho. He can get snappy at times."

Heeseung checked his friends' expressions before replying for them, "It's all good. We were wrong to pressure your leader. And we're sorry for your loss as well..."

Hyunjin stiffened, "I'm sure they can take care of themselves. I'll introduce you to Chan, Han, Felix, and Changbin now..."

~

Chan got up hugging Han and Minho tightly, "Thank you, guys...we'd better get going. I'm pretty sure there are going to be more aggressive elves who would give chase without hesitation."

Jinxed it.

Seungmin and Jeongin were on their feet, arms spread in front of Hyunjin as he nocked his bow. Everyone's attention was caught on the trees above. There crouched many elves, a hunger in their eyes.