The Cry of My Heart (Taoris)

Chapter 3

Once the sun began to hide itself within the trees, Yifan turns to walk down to his home village, his mind set on one housing. He hesitates outside of the said tent, slowing his heartbeat to listen for any movements inside. When he hears no signs of such, Yifan peers inside, his eyes widening once he catches the sight of Zitao's exposed, toned body that dripped of water -the younger most likely having been at the river to clean up. Tan skin rippled and thick muscles stretched tight as Zitao shuffled around, the bones of his body prominent a sign of fitness.

Yifan blushes when Zitao bends over to dress himself. He jerks back and bolts into the woods with a red face and a racing heart. What the hell was he thinking?

Yifan doesn't return until he hears the faint howl of wolves singing to the full moon in the distance, if not too close. His eyes threaten to close at the beautiful sounds but he had heard the legends of many innocents falling for the magical tune and being lured into the dark, only to be devoured by the sharp jaws of the wild. Yifan knew better than that.

His steps made little sound as he pouted back home, dejectedly making his way back to his own housing and slumping under his fur blankets. He sighed at the warmth and tucked it close to his chest, absentmindedly wishing that the warmth was given from a certain someone's body heat rather than that of the outer layer of a dead animal's skin.

-X-

"Yifan. Yifan, wake up." A gentle hand shook his shoulder, and he had to use every fiber in his being to open his sleep-fogged eyes. "Good morning," she greeted when sharp eyes met her own.

"Morning..."

She frowns, "Uhm, Yifan?"

"What is it?" He yawns.

"There's been a sudden shortage of food," Minzy frowns.

Yifan shoots up in his bed. "What? Why didn't you just say so?"

He runs out to his father's housing, walking in without announcing his entrance. He quickly regrets his decision when he's met with the sight of his parents' heatedly sucking face. "Guys!" Yifan groans and slaps his hands over his eyes until he hears his father awkwardly clear his throat.

"What is it, Yifan?"

"Why did no one tell me about the food situation?"

Chanyeol cocks a brow, "You were sleeping like an angel so I didn't want to wake you for something that could be handled later."

"Handled later!?" Yifan's face reddens. "This is a serious matter! If we run out of food anytime soon, we're going to have to take more people on our hunting patrols, and I don't plan on exposing my people to the risk of harm."

Chanyeol sighs. Baekhyun lays a gentle hand on his arm, "Yifan, sweetheart, it's okay. We have enough time to take care of everything. We can just cut down on how much food we eat everyday. Berries have a lot of nutrition, you know."

Yifan directs his glare to the floor.

"How's the peach?" Chanyeol changes the subject.

Yifan curses under his breath: after walking in on the wrong time, he forgot to go back. "He's fine."

"Oh, okay. Has he eaten?"

"I don't know," Yifan snaps, upset that they think he knows the answer to everything. "I'm leaving." He storms out before they can say anything.

Chanyeol and Baekhyun share a look.

-X-

"Knock, knock," Yifan says before strolling into Zitao's housing.

Zitao looks up from where he had been mindlessly picking at his fur cover, his eyes widening once he spots Yifan. "Yifan?" He gasps. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you." Yifan cocks a brow. "By father's orders," he coldly adds so he doesn't let on that he's genuinely concerned.

Zitao forces a smile to cover his pain and nods. "Well, tell him I'm fine."

Yifan sighs and runs a hand through his tussled hair. He walks over and sits on the edge of Zitao's makeshift bed. "Zitao-"

"I'm fine," he cuts him off, training his eyes on his lap.

Yifan sighs again and takes Zitao off guard by tucking a stray hair behind his ear. The other blinks dumbfounded.

"Tell me what happened back there, Zitao."

"It was-"

"Don't tell me it was nothing."

Zitao catches his bottom lip between his teeth. "What am I supposed to say, Yifan? Am I supposed to tell you everything like it used to be- when you spoke to me longer than three seconds?"

Yifan flinches. "Zitao, I--"

"I can't pretend that it doesn't hurt, Yifan. Years- it's been years since we'e talked, just us. Yifan and Zitao." Zitao could feel the back of his eyelids burning. He harshly digs the heel of his hands against his eyes. "Can you just leave? Please?"

Yifan furrows his brows and looks away in shame. He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. He clears his throat and stands up, hesitating at the exit and throwing a glance over his shoulder; Zitao had pulled his knees to his chest and buried his face into his knees. Yifan closes his eyes in regret before walking away.