Underwater: Brave - Taekook

3 - Tea Party with a Fairy

Lee Hi ~ Breathe

*

Jungkook woke up to the sound of heavy rain. He used to like rainy days; staying inside his house, cuddled up on his couch with blankets and pillows, watching a movie while drinking either tea or hot chocolate. Those days he felt the most calm and the rain drops on the windowpane made the empty house feel less lonely.

He had hardly even thought about his parents after getting trapped in this world. They were never home, always on some business trip or whatever. It was more than likely that they hadn't even noticed he was gone yet. Teachers didn't bother reaching out to them either anymore so missing school wouldn't get their attention either.

This time the rain didn't offer him any comfort, quite the opposite in fact. His vision was unclear and the scents were a bit distorted as well. Due to his improved hearing, the sound of the raindrops hitting the rocks above his head was deafening.

He didn't like the thought of having to get up and run in the rain but what choice did he have? Time was running out, he had none left to waste. He had to find Taehyung, no matter the weather.

Jungkook proceeded to wake Bambam up and after eating some of the food he had packed, they faced the gloomy weather.

***

The weather kept getting worse. The beating rain turned into a roaring storm, strong wind even cut down a few trees around them as they kept running. Eventually Jungkook ended up losing sight of Bambam after one tall oak fell between them, startling the black wolf. 

He tried calling for the older but it appeared he couldn't hear him through the storm.

What now? Should he wait here until Bambam noticed he was gone and turned back? Wait for the storm to let out and see if he could follow his scent? Jungkook was standing in the middle of a forest with no cover under which he could wait until the storm ended. After hearing another tree snap in half somewhere, he decided to follow his most primitive urge, the bond.

Jungkook lost track of time while making his way towards west where Taehyung was. He wandered forward and saw the small changes in terrain, like he was arriving in another country. There were more flowers and all evergreens had changed into leafy trees. The rain was getting lighter and the wind feeble. The more he ventured into the new area, the less signs there were of the storm. Soon he saw first bursts of sunlight of the day. It was late evening but he appreciated all the light before the sun would kiss the forest goodnight and leave him in the dark again.

Wolves usually hunted during the night, but Jungkook hadn't had a chance to get used to the new rhythm. He was already tired, body not ready to continue the journey before a goodnight's sleep.

The rain was so much gentler in this part of the forest. Suddenly getting a scent of freshly baked bread, Jungkook got curious. He followed his nose to a small but quaint house. There were flowers and mushrooms all around the house, a well being the centre of the seemingly unmaintained garden.

Jungkook hadn't forgotten the fact that most of the beings of this world apparently wanted to eat humans if they ever got their fangs on one. But he was half-werewolf now, he wasn't in that great of a danger anymore. So he transformed and after preparing himself mentally approached the small house.

Knocking on the door, he thought of what to say. He hoped he could sleep in the house, he wanted to sleep in his human form for once and for that he had to have a proper shelter. Somewhere warm and dry. Preferably a soft bed.

He expected some centaur to open the door since that's the species Bambam had mentioned living in the area. Instead he saw a beautiful fairy with long transparent wings and pointed ears. He didn't remember anyone mentioning fairies but he guessed just about every fairy tale creature existed here.

"Hello there, it's been so long since I've gotten such peculiar visitors", the fairy greeted, opening the door wider to let Jungkook in.

"I hope I'm not intruding-"

"Not at all! Come in, I just baked something. Wait a little so I can get the tea ready."

The fairy seemed very lively and it put Jungkook in a better mood too. There's no way any human would have welcomed him like this in his world. He liked this.

"What's your name, young man?" the fairy asked.

Jungkook found it funny that someone who clearly looked younger than him called him a "young man". He supposed it was alright.

"Jungkook. What name should I address you by?"

"Dahyun is fine. It's nice to meet you Jungkook", Dahyun smiled. The smile seemed like it would never leave her face and it made him smile too.

"I know this is sudden, but I was wondering if I could stay here for the night? I will not bother you and leave early in the morning, I have somewhere to go."

"You're looking for someone, right?" Dahyun asked, eyes showing she already knew.

"Yes. I'm searching for my...mate?" somehow it got out as a question.

Taehyung is not my mate, what am I saying?

"I see. Would you mind telling me more about you? In return I'll let you sleep here", Dahyun proposed as she sat down at the table, facing Jungkook. She poured steaming tea in both of their cups.

"Like what?" Jungkook asked after taking a careful sip of the hot drink. It was good.

"Like how did a human end up in my doorstep, turned into a werewolf as well."

Jungkook almost choked on his tea. The beverage burnt his tongue.

"You can tell?" he asked, astonished.

"Of course. I can tell you were born as a human. You're not from this world, are you?"

He shook his head to confirm.

"The person you're looking for, did you come here with them?"

"I did. But we got separated when he left with a vampire."

"Hmm... You know that vampires and werewolves hate each other, right?"

"Yes, that's why there's going to be a new war."

Dahyun nodded. Jungkook had no idea where they were headed with this conversation and why the fairy knew so much.

"Do you know the reason? To why they hate each other so much."

"Wasn't there a war or something? So ever since that..."

"What starts wars in your world?"

Why is she asking me something like that? Jungkook thought for a moment before he replied, unsure:

"Hatred? Disagreements? Maybe greed?"

"That's not entirely wrong, but it's not what I was looking for."

"Then what do you mea-"

"Humans, Jungkook. Humans start wars."

***

A/N: Dahyun is my bias hehe ^_^ You'll get to see Taehyung soon, I promise!