SEMI-HIATUS|BTS x Reader Wonderland AU: The World of Wonderland

10. Out of the Woods

Just to let you guys know, the reason I'm updating so many new chapters right now is because I want to churn them out before school starts.  When that monstrosity happens, the best updates you'll get is one per week, and the worst will probably be one per month, if not two.  Had to get that out of the way.  Also I added a music video just because I was like, "Oh Taylor Swift has a song title that is the same as this chapter title!" Enjoy the chapter!

Your POV

Light flooded in through the fabric shielding you from the wet morning.  Stretching and yawning, you realized that you were in J-Hope's tent, with him holding you in his arms!  Anxious to loosen his grip on you so no one would question you two if they found you together, your frantic movements cause him to stir.  He opened his eyes to the sight of your face, and smiled.

"Hoseok," you hissed, trying to remove his arms from your waist.  He looked down at his arms encircling your waist, and let you go, although he seemed almost reluctant to.

You listened for a sign of anyone else in the group already out of their tents, but you could hear nothing.  Quietly opening the flap, you almost fell back on your bottom when you were met with the sight of Jungkook gaping at you stepping out of Hoseok's tent.

Running over to him, you put a finger to your lips, trying to convey the message to him that nothing had happened overnight through your pleading eyes.

"I hope nothing bad occurred," Jungkook said, shooting daggers at you.

"No, it's not what you think," you exclaimed, the words coming out of your mouth in a rush.  "Last night there was a storm and I was scared, so I went to his tent since he was the only one awake.  He, um, comforted me and helped me go to sleep."

Jungkook squinted at you, head tilted; the signs of his namesake, The Dormouse, coming through. "Is that last sentence supposed to be a euphemism?"

"Of course not," you insisted, the irritation of his curiosity slowly getting to your head.  "Just let the matter drop, okay?  We did not do anything irresponsible last night that would have resulted in the making of a child." You stomped away to your own tent, fueled by the youngest one's nosiness.

Grumbling under your breath, you gathered the supplies strewn around the floor and put them in your bag, anticipating the breaking-down of camp soon.  The time passed, and soon breakfast had been eaten and tents had been taken down.

Through the woods your group kept going.  By afternoon you practically begged RM for a rest, but he only told you that Jin was nearby, and they couldn't delay.

At one point you noticed that the trees seemed to thin out, and soon became sparse.

"Here's the end of the woods," RM announced.  The first step you took out of the trees felt like a breath of fresh air.  After having been surrounded by those plants for almost two days, the open land was enough to make you want to kiss the ground in thanks for not bearing more of the trees.

In the distance a figure waved, and everyone waved back.  It slowly approached your group as you all walked towards it.  At a close enough distance, you realized the person was wearing a royal cape, his boots a silver color and a crown perched on his head.  Coming to the conclusion that this was the King of Hearts, Jin, you cringed at the thought of having to deal with his royal ways of things.

When you were finally face-to-face with him, he shook hands with RM and said a greeting to everyone.  Turning to you, a little smirk forming, he asked, "And who is this young lady I have been graced in the presence of?" You could tell the younger council members were rolling their eyes at his semantics.

Not one to be deterred by the formality of his inquisition about you, you lifted your chin up high, and replied, "I am Y/N L/N, from the overland.  And who might you be?" The last part was unnecessary, as both of you knew that you knew who he was, but he still seemed overjoyed to allow you to partake in the splendor of his introduction.

"I am King Kim Seok-jin, the King of Hearts, and I am in charge of the Heart Palace.  I am the eldest of these plebs you have been journeying with, and the wisest."

"More like the most conceited," you heard Jungkook mutter in the background.

"Yah, don't disrespect your elder!" he bellowed, before resuming to the normal volume he had been talking in before.

"I am the most handsome one here, of course, and everyone truly believes I'm a work of art.  I am the best king the palace and kingdom has seen in hundreds of years, and I make the final decision in the council when we're confirming what actions we will go through."

"And me too, seeing as I'm the leader," RM chimed in.

"Shut your mouth," Jin said, glaring at Namjoon with a vicious expression on his face.

"Anyways, that pretty much sums up everything great about me."

"And there's so much more that's bad about him," Jimin added, a mischievous smile on his face.  Jin thwacked him over the head for that, returning to his normal stance afterward.

"Shall we head for the Volcanic Plains now?" RM asked, everyone voicing their agreement.

Heading south towards the Whispering Woods but veering east, your traveling group soon made its way to a cliff side.  It wasn't very steep however, and with some difficulty, and a few curses said that had Jin yelling at how inappropriate it was, everyone made their way up the cliff.

The Volcanic Plains were rather curious, the ground containing glowing red cracks filled with lava that ran across the plains for miles.  Jungkook told you that you were actually walking across a plateau, which was what the entire Volcanic Plains were.  Apparently there were some minuscule tribes living there, but they wouldn't bother you unless you bothered them.

A change had come over the group ever since Jin joined it.  Although he may have been arrogant and infuriating, you could tell that the others loved him like a brother.  They were talking amongst themselves, something that had never happened in the Whispering Woods.

You trudged along in silence, the immense heat weighing down on you.  A sleepy sensation had come over your body, and it took all of your effort to keep moving.  It was like you were in a trance, being charmed by the snake charmer, which was, in this case, the heat and lava.  Jimin, Taehyung, and Jin were walking a little bit ahead of you, but their voices sounded as if they were underwater.  Your head swam, but you didn't think anything of it, having a stubborn spirit.

Before you knew it, the ground came up to meet you, stopping just in time.  Jimin had caught you with his cat-like reflexes, but you couldn't even thank him.  You heard RM commanding the other people to stand back, as he pulled out the water in your pack and put it to your lips.  Cold relief flowed down your throat, but all you could do was moan as you blacked out.

A cliffhanger!  I know, I'm evil like that.  I know that Jin's personality in this book is an exaggeration.  He is a very humble person.  But for this role, I have to utilize his confidence in himself and use it to his advantage, as he is our beautiful, handsome King of Hearts after all.  Leave a comment down below and give me feedback!