Found | Nomin

Chapter 3: Suffocating

"You make sure my son doesn't get killed, you hear me?" The king told Dongmin and Mark as the two settled on their horses, armour rattling slightly as they did so. 

"I'm pretty sure he's going to be the one making sure we don't get killed, your highness." Mark chuckled.

The king smiled with a proud nod, "Bring me back that beast's head, Lieutenant."

"Will do, Sire." Mark assured, kicking the sides of his horse lightly. The clopping of horses' hooves against the stone paths sounded quietly as the group of soldiers, including the prince, left the safety of the castle. Dongmin stayed at the front of the group as he lead the men through the kingdom until they stopped at the forest entrance. No one but the prince and Dongmin have ever entered the forest let alone the wolf kingdom. Everyone was anxious, some hiding it better than others. Mark remained stoic on the outside but the young prince could see the grip on his sword tightening, not to mention the eeriness radiating in his scent. 

"Stay close." Dongmin ordered, his horse somewhat hesitating before warily entering the forest. The others followed after him, the prince and Mark being the last ones to enter. 

The soldiers' heads flicked back and forth at any sound, alert and prepared for anything that may attack. The prince on the other hand, had wide eyes full of wonder and curiosity. What others might find terrifying, the prince found beautiful. All that the soldiers saw was the moon's light casting monstrous shadows in the dark crevices between trees, and the winds movement creating the sounds of ghastly creatures. 

The prince saw none of the sort. Instead he saw the moon's beauty radiating off the wet surfaces of the leaves and rocks, he heard the soft orchestra of dripping rain droplets hitting the canopy of the underappreciated flora below. The forest had always drawn him, and now he knew why. He felt a connection with it like he was a part of it, an animal living and thriving in it's ecosystem. All the new scents welcoming his nostrils and alighting his senses with foreign flavours and feelings. He felt... welcomed, he felt like the forest has been waiting for him for a long time and now he was finally here. 

"Just up ahead is a river." Dongmin spoke quietly through the silence. "From there we'll be changing our course to the North."

The group of soldiers nodded, gulping unknown balls of accumulated saliva down their throats. The prince stayed close to Mark's side, silently telling the other that he was there. The older's tight grasp on his weapon didn't seem to lessen though as the sinuous hum of the river's waters entered their ears.  

"Alright." Dongmin stated as the ferocious river came into sight, "It's North from here, stick close."

The soldiers nodded firmly in reply, tapping their horses' sides as they quietly galloped along the river side. It wasn't long before they could see the light from the wolf kingdom illuminating  through the trees. Dongmin slowed his horse as they became close to the garden, jumping off in one swift movement and tying the reins to a low-hanging branch. The others proceeded to do the same as Dongmin observed the garden he hadn't seen in fifteen years. 

It looked nothing how it did back then. The bushes and flowers had overgrown and the stone path was all dishevelled. The grass was up to their shins and the once pristine castle wall is  now covered in vines. The gated archway that lead to the garden was closed together by a large rusty lock. The garden looked abandoned, like it hadn't had a single visitor for decades. It was a shame because Dongmin remembered it being quite magical.

As the group walked through the large garden, something about it seemed familiar to the young prince. He knows this is where he was found but he can't help but feel like he has warm memories here. Though it was overgrown he could see it's better days. Could see the now invading weeds were once impressive flowers of many different beauties, see that the path was clean and the trees were elegant. But nothing had seemed quite as familiar as the pond just off the path. The prince hadn't even realised he had a parted from his comrades to get a closer look at the small catchment. He knows it's strange but he's dreamt of this exact pond his entire life. This pond and a man. He always dreamt of the water giggling and splashing him, then a man would come and kiss his forehead saying that it was his bedtime. Every time he thought about the man an aching throbbed through his chest. Though his face was always a blur the prince for some reason missed him.