The Wardens

Sea

I know, I know, my hardship right now

I know, I know, I'll overcome

I know, I know, open me up

It's the place I can rely on

Think positive, I'm swallowing my dry spit

Even if I'm nervous, even if I'm in a desert

I'm in the beautiful Namib Desert

Where there is hope, there is always hardship

                                         Where there is hope, there is always hardship

                                                                       Where there is hope, there is always hardship

                                                                                                         Where there is hope, there is always hardship

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Jungkook

Jungkook can barely contain himself as he stands on the balcony above Namjoon and Seokjin, listening to their whole conversation. Those goody two shoes are breaking the rules? He might feel a smidge of respect for Seokjin if he wasn't so amused by the whole situation. But if they can do it, why can't he?

    A classroom door opens and shuts behind Jungkook, and he turns to see a professor approaching. He coughs loudly in warning to the two boys below and then hurries off to join his friends in the gym.

    "What took you so long?" Jimin asks when he arrives.

"I forgot my gym clothes," Jungkook lies. "I had to run back up to the dorm." He normally tells Jimin and Taehyung everything, but for now, he decides to stay silent until he can decide what to do with this new information. So he just goes to the locker room and changes out of his school uniform into a grey tank-top, black shorts, and sneakers.

When he goes back out again, Taehyung has already transformed into a russet wolf with white paws, a grey face, and a grey streak going down his spine to his tail which is all grey. Jimin is undergoing his own transformation with a little difficulty, but when it's complete, he is a red fox with a white belly. They both race each other around the obstacle course to build up their strength, agility and speed by flying up and down ramps, diving through hoops, and leaping up steep stairs. Other students transformed as birds or primates swing or zip through an aerial course high above their heads. A large pool at the other side of the gym is reserved for the aquatic shapeshifters.

    Jungkook sighs heavily as he watches his friends. He can feel that today won't be his day either. The raccoon's spirit seems to be just as mischievous as Jungkook himself and delights in making him struggle. He hasn't been able to fully transform once.

    "Some shapeshifter," he grumbles, but he closes his eyes and concentrates. He desperately encourages his body to morph into the small animal, and he begins to feel an uncomfortable tingling sensation all over. When he opens his eyes again, he sees that his senses are heightened and his nails have sharpened into claws, but he is still in human form. He sits on the floor and places his head in his hands. "Why?" he growls at himself as tears burn his eyes. "Why can't I do it?"

    Taehyung runs over and effortlessly returns to his human form. "Don't stress over it, Jungkook," he says softly and pats his back. "Not everyone has the ability to fully shift, but it's nothing to be ashamed about."