Damsels in Distress Part 2

-NO SMUT-
-TW: Violence, sexual and psychological abuse-
10.3k words

"He's ready," Yeji said coolly. "I can see it in his eyes."

Seulgi scrutinized her like a captain assessing her men — which she was.

"Are you sure?" She asked apprehensively.

"Yes, ma'am," Yeji replied, trying to keep her voice even.

We are all crouched on a cluster of trees. The huntresses were wearing black shirts, cargo pants, and boots while Sullyoon wore the same thing she wore so as not to raise suspicions. The cluster of trees was tall, tall enough to block the light from the moon and apparently, the whisper of the wind as well. It should have been cold, my hands should have been cold from anxiety and nervousness, but strangely, I felt warm — like I'm burning with anticipation.

Across the road from our position was a forested hill. Deep inside was the grove Sullyoon said they went to and where their torment began. Now the huntresses and I were discussing the final parts of the plan to rescue Shin Yuna from the Wild Hunt.

"You're not just saying this because you have... developing affections... with Seren," Seulgi said that like it was a bad thing, which maybe it is if they do.

The detective then took a glance behind Yeji where Ryujin and Chaeryoung crouched, "all of you."

I noticed Yeji avert her gaze from Seulgi while Chaeryoung dipped her head. Ryujin on the other hand glanced at Chaeryoung.

"Answer me," Seulgi commanded.

"This does not seem like the right time —" I started.

"Are you their superior, Seren?" Seulgi snapped at me sternly. "I won't have their feelings or... personal bias... be a liability in this operation." She then looked at Chaeryoung and Ryujin, "Especially the two of you."

The three junior huntresses wanted to protest but Seulgi raised a hand. "Ryujin, you're chaos. You act the way you feel, now I'm telling you to keep your emotions in check and not charge in because the fight is "getting exciting", am I understood?"

Ryujin bit her lower lip before nodding shallowly.

"And you, Lee Chaeryoung," Seulgi turned and Chaeryoung straightened. "I know you like the guy more than anyone else in your team," Seulgi started and raised her hand a second time when Yeji opened her mouth. "You feel the most out of the three of you, so far that hasn't interfered with any of your missions... yet." Seulgi let the thought hang, but all of us got the message.

"And you, Hwang Yeji," Seulgi focused on Yeji and the blonde huntress stiffened. "I trust you can keep your team in check. And also..." Seulgi glanced at me, "I'll trust your judgement with Seren." Seulgi turned her attention back at Yeji, "but if he becomes a liability and does anything to compromise this operation —"

"I know, Captain," Yeji said, her voice resigned but resolute.

"I won't compromise this operation," I spoke up, feeling that this pep talk won't do anything good for the huntresses' morale.

Seulgi sighed, "Forgive me if I can't be certain of that, Seren."

"I won't compromise my friends," I talked back defiantly.

I noticed Yeji shoot me a look of gratefulness. Ryujin on the other hand gave a wicked grin while Chaeryoung smiled softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Seulgi studied me for a few more moments then nodded. She then looked behind where Sullyoon crouched, her palm resting on a tree root like she's communing with it.

"Are you ready for this, Seol YoonAh?" Seulgi asked.

Sullyoon raised her head, her eyes flashed green for a second then reverted back to its usual color. "The trees say that they still have Yuna," she then nodded grimly. "I'm ready."

Seulgi nodded, "Good, because you and Seren are the linchpins in this plan."

Sullyoon nodded, she was so focused that it was hard to imagine that she's usually airheaded. "I take Seren inside, saying that I took him here in exchange for Yuna."

"Are you going to be fine?" Chaeryoung asked. "Dryads can't lie too, can they?"

"A dryad bound to a fae through the Binding of Roots also cannot lie," Sullyoon replied. "I'll find a way, that's what faekind are known for, right? Silver tongues, non answers, loopholes, play on words?"

Sullyoon seemed calm. She usually is, but now I sense a certain rage behind her voice — and to be frank, it terrified me. This wasn't the soft girl I just slept with, this is a Night Folk fighting for something personal, something foundational to her existence. My anxiety and nervousness kicked up a notch knowing I'll be walking in a grove full of Riders of the Hunt, fae enchantresses, and possibly Glade Lords alone with a single calm but raging dryad.

"Good. Keep them talking while Joohyun and the Death Dealers thin out their ranks," Seulgi responded.

The vampire princess and her elite guard were stalking the grove. Their objective — eliminate any outlying and isolated Riders, and prevent anyone from getting in or getting out.

"We charge in when these conditions are met: Seren is taken by the Hunt, which we assume he will be if Yuna is freed, or if Sullyoon is compromised. If the latter happens, our priorities are Seren, Sullyoon, then Yuna, in that order. Any objections?" Seulgi laid out, her gaze on Sullyoon as she said that last part.

"I understand," Sullyoon nodded. "I'm already thankful enough that you would help me. If this indeed becomes chaotic, I'll find a way to free Yuna and escape with her."

"And you," Seulgi snapped immediately at me after Sullyoon finished speaking. "Do not try to be a hero," she said sternly.

"I'm not one," I snapped back.

Seulgi huffed, "Not yet."

Just then, a cat slowly makes its presence known. It padded slowly and soundlessly towards our position. I knew this wasn't an ordinary cat, but a member of the werebeasts' Intelligence and Reconnaissance Corps — because the color of its fur was pink. Behind it, two more pairs of eyes glowed, the only indication that this cat wasn't alone.

"Any updates, Sakura?" Seulgi asked.

The cat meowed once and the huntresses nodded. The cat turned towards me then tilted her head as if studying me. She faced Seulgi again, another meow, and she turned back and disappeared alongside the two others behind her.

"What did she say?" I asked, eyes still searching the darkness for any more signs of the corps' members.

"The Pale Princess has cleared a path," Seulgi sighed. "It's time."

I nodded, took a deep breath, and stood to face Sullyoon. "You ready, YoonAh?"

Sullyoon nodded. I placed my hands forward and pushed my wrist together, "Do it." Sullyoon placed a hand underneath my wrists, and vines grew to wrap around it. I examined the binds, they looked tight, but it was not painful, not unless I try to break them — which I found out I can if I tried hard enough.

"Kinky," Ryujin muttered behind us, then — "Sorry." I stifled a chuckle as I assumed she was reprimanded by her comrades.

"I need to gag you as well," Sullyoon spoke softly, a hand reaching out to cover my mouth. "Is that okay?"

"Now this is really kinky," Ryujin snickered, and I heard a light snap and another snicker from Ryujin. Chaeryoung must have slapped her thigh to admonish her again.

I smiled before nodding at Sullyoon. Her hand hardened, like tree bark, forming a mask that covered my mouth and the lower half of my cheeks. I felt rootlike tendrils that seemed to attach themselves on my skin, making the mask "stick" on my face. She slowly pulled her hand away, the bark mask creaking softly as her hand separated from it.

"You're not uncomfortable, are you?" She asked, her eyes full of concern despite the grim determination tucked deep inside.

I tried to answer verbally but was unable to as the mask effectively gagged me.

"You can whisper, Seren. I'll be able to hear it through that mask," Sullyoon said softly.

"It's fine, no discomfort at all," I whispered, and Sullyoon nodded with a faint smile.

The dryad turned towards Seulgi, "We're ready."

"Alright, be careful out there. We'll be right behind you," Seulgi replied.

Sullyoon looked back at me, and with one final nod, we stepped out into the moonlight.

We kept to the side of the road, sticking close to the cover of the trees. My steps didn't feel heavy... yet. Sullyoon's presence probably helped, so was her hand holding mine despite being bound.

"Are you sure you're ready?" I whispered through the mask.

"I can't lie, Seren," Sullyoon reiterated. "This is for Yuna. And I won't be second guessing myself now that I'm here."

"If they order you to kill me right there for Yuna, would you?"

"Let's hope it does not come to that," Sullyoon replied.

A non-answer, I thought. Yet I got the message, her priority is Yuna, always Yuna. And she'll sacrifice me if it's the last thing she needs to do to get her back.

"Yeah," I responded, my voice dark but without hostility. "Let's hope it won't come to that."

We crossed the road and across my periphery, I saw a group of four cats cross at a distance — one of them was pink — Sakura, Seulgi called her, which I thought was appropriate considering her color. It stopped in the middle of the road, its front left paw suspended in the air midstep. It turned its head, tilted it as it looked at me, then turned again to rejoin her team, disappearing in the forest ahead.

"Any advice?" I whispered through the mask as we walked between two tall trees with singular branches pointing deeper towards the forest as if welcoming us towards our demise.

"Let me do the talking," Sullyoon replied then turned to look at me. "No more questions from this point forward, Seren. The trees have ears," she said before squeezing my hands then letting go.

I nodded. Sullyoon gave me one final smile, sweet, grateful, hopeful. Then she turned, making her way across the two tall trees with me shuffling behind her.

We walked in darkness unopposed. The shrubbery seemed to make way for Sullyoon yet the trees seemed to watch us quietly and intently. No Riders met us though, must be the work of Joohyun and her Death Dealers.

"How much further?" I whispered.

"I said no questions," Sullyoon snapped, but her voice was filled with exhaustion rather than hostility. "But, we're close," she whispered back.

As we got deeper, my steps finally became heavier. Not immediately, but gradually, like the grass and moss beneath my feet were trying to pull me down to the ground. The forest sudddnly became oppressive, like a blanket settling in. The trees seemed to grow eyes rather than just ears, their branches seemed to make way, pointing and warning at the same time.

Sullyoon pressed forward, she seemed confident at a glance, sure of her step and head held high. The tension in her shoulders said otherwise though, and by the way her breathing was heavy not from exhaustion.

She stopped between two trees, not as tall as the ones we encountered when we entered, but spaced apart that it was obvious it was an entrance to somewhere. She then sighed, "The trees whisper you're out here, show yourselves, Riders of the Hunt," she spoke, trying to keep her voice from breaking.

Then laughter seemed to permeate from all around us, mocking and degrading. "So the bound dryad returns for the disgraced lady," a voice speaks, his words echoed, bouncing around the trees.

Then a figure emerged from behind the trees and stood in front of Sullyoon. He was twice my height, with a lean but muscular build. He wore armor made of bark and a cape lined with leaves, forming an intricate pattern. I looked up and studied his face, grim, grizzled, his green painted face seemed to be stuck at a permanent scowl. His hair was spiky and unkempt and I noted that he carried no visible weapons — that doesn't make him not dangerous. Sullyoon also didn't carry weapons, but she's dangerous in her own way.

"And what have you brought with you, dryad?" The Rider spat out Sullyoon's race, voice filled with contempt.

"Seren Vale," Sullyoon answered as flat as she can.

"And why have you brought..." the Rider spares a glance at me, then turns back at Sullyoon, "this mortal with you?"

"He is... an object of Lord Orion's interest. I brought him to free Lady Yuna."

The Rider scoffed, like the whole thing was not even worth a laugh. "And you think Lord Orion would accept your... offering?"

"What have I got to lose?" Sullyoon defied.

This time the Rider did laugh. "You've grown up, young dryad. Fine, get in."

"Are they still...?" Sullyoon started then caught herself.

"What?" The Rider asked, amused. "Still revelling Lady Yuna?" The Rider chuckled, "I do not know. I stopped caring once I finished my turn," he said with an evil grin.

I was about to react when the vines binding my wrists suddenly tightened, constricting the flow of blood to my hands as they turned white. I looked down and saw Sullyoon's hands were balled into a fist, her knuckles white. 

"Sullyoon," I whispered. I wanted to add that the Rider was just provoking her, that making any drastic moves would compromise the operation, but frankly, if I was in her shoes, I would rip this Rider apart with my bare hands.

The Rider kept grinning when Sullyoon took a deep breath. She slowly released her fists, loosening my binds enough yet I feel my wrists are sore and possibly scarred. Sullyoon trudged forward and I followed past the Rider. 

The Rider laughed, low and mocking — then he stopped, a small thud and a rustle of leaves made me look back. The Rider was down on his face, on his back was a hooded figure, holding two red crescent daggers that are lodged at each of the Rider's shoulder blades — a Death Dealer. She pulled her blades out then raised her head, her eyes briefly flashed red as we made eye contact. Then she retreated, blending in to the shadows of the trees.

The light of the moon filtered out when we came upon a row of stones, its light unable to penetrate the forest canopy. These stones, however, had glowing green runes on them, providing the only illumination in the area. 

"What are these runes?" I whispered through the mask.

"Illumination, mostly," Sullyoon replied, her voice level and steady as we walked closer. "But sometimes they're a declaration, and these ones declare allegiance to Lord Orion, praising him and his dark plans."

"So we're walking towards a cult, not just a rebel?"

"He's a rebel, I think. It was his followers who turned it into a cult. Seeing as it only serves him more, Lord Orion never bothered correcting his followers, he even relishes in their worship," Sullyoon replied. "Now hush, Seren. We're here."

I heard the "revelry" before I saw it. Low moans, higher chants of hymns that served to oppress, like they were trying to bend the forest to their will, not communing with it. I can faintly hear a drum beating to an offbeat melody. And I felt wrong — like whatever is happening inside was an affront to nature.

Then two Riders emerged and blocked our path. They wore the same armor and cape as the one who met us earlier — although these ones each carry a spear. Their faces were covered by a wooden mask where only small eyeslits were visible.

"Halt, dryad. How did you get here?" One of them asked, though I can't identify who because of their masks. "Labiron is supposed to be guarding the middle entrance of the shrine."

"He told me to get in," Sullyoon answered without missing a beat.

"Did he now?" The other guard spoke. "And you've brought an offering..." he said, lowering his spear towards me. I flinched as I felt the guard press the tip to my chest.

Snarky comments threatened to spill out of my mouth, and I bit my tongue in order not to say them. Let Sullyoon do the talking, I thought. I trust her — do I fully trust her? I trust her with Yuna's life, but mine?

I snapped out of my trance as Sullyoon began to speak, "He's..." Sullyoon hesitated, "he Seren Vale."

The guards tilted their head, "Is that supposed to mean something to us?" One guard asked as the one who had his spear tip on my chest pushed me roughly with it.

"He's..." Sullyoon hesitated again. "He's our mission. Lady Yuna's and mine."

"Oh so you're the dryad bound to the Lady being revelled," one guard spoke. I bit my lip now, their idea of revelry was so twisted that I wanted to bash their faces together, break their masks, and bash their faces in again.

"And she's planning to exchange him for her," the other guard hissed.

"Tell me, dryad," one guard got to his knees, even while kneeling he's still at about a head taller than Sullyoon. "We still haven't had a turn from Lady Yuna yet and from what I heard, she's quite a good fuck."

"Tell us," his partner spoke, "tell us why we would let you trade her with a useless mortal male when we still haven't had our fun?"

My blood boiled, and apparently so does Sullyoon's. My binds were slowly getting tighter though I can feel the effort she puts in trying to restrain herself.

Then, in a voice so dark and low and full of pent up rage, a voice I barely recognized, Sullyoon spoke, "The person whose soul I'm bound to is inside. Being ravaged by you... dogs of Lord Orion..." she spat, "I will do anything and everything to get her back, even if it means getting past both of you... whatever it takes." Her stance was tense, rigid, unyielding, and the Riders flinched at her declaration.

She's lost it, I thought. We're gonna die.

Sullyoon remained stiff and rigid. If eyes could kill, I knew she already killed these two Riders in every way possible.

The standing Rider then raised his spear, "You pathetic dryad—"

"Hold, Thesos," the kneeling Rider raised a hand, making his partner freeze with his spear raised high in the air and ready to strike Sullyoon down.

"Why are you stopping me, Damethos?" Thesos growled.

Damethos rose and faced Thesos, "It might be fun, seeing this little dryad try to bargain for —"

Then in a move that was either so fast or was just so unexpected — or both. Sullyoon thrust an arm behind Damethos's back, her hand morphed into what I would describe as a wooden spearhead. It pierced through Damethos and continued onwards — towards Thesos in front of him, impaling both Riders in one single thrust.

"You, little..." Thesos muttered, dropping his spear from his hand. Damethos on the other hand stood limply — dead.

Sullyoon withdrew her arm, leaving the "spear" still lodged between the two Riders. Sullyoon flexed her hand, making the bones crack with a sick pop. "Whatever it takes," she said, low, threatening, so unlike the Sullyoon I know — and Thesos finally dropped to the ground with Damethos.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. Sullyoon stood in front of me, shivering and shaking in a buttoned blouse and a skirt. She just killed two Riders of the Hunt — and I looked at her in a mix of awe, fear, and respect.

"First blood?" I whispered through the mask.

She nodded without looking at me. "Probably won't be the last tonight," she said flatly.

"Are we compromised?"

"They're not rushing out yet, so... no," her voice was cold, colder than the non existent wind in this dark part of the forest.

She turned back and looked at me, and I didn't see Seol YoonAh. Her eyes were green and filled with rage, her jaw was set, and while her breathing remained heavy, there was some kind of calm in her — resignation, resignation that she might not come out of this alive. When I looked at her, I didn't see Seol YoonAh — I saw a dead girl walking.

Sullyoon began walking, and I followed. We turned a corner — and finally saw the "revelry", if one can call it that — more like an orgy of debauchery.

The shrine was circular, as far as I can tell. Trees loomed dark all around us as rune-lit stones lined the outer perimeter where inside it, Riders of the Hunt were engaged in all forms of depravity with fae enchantresses. They drink, they feast, they fuck — all the while chanting hymns I do not want to know the translation to nor do I want to hear them again in my life.

Another circle of stones, this time smaller, marked the inner sanctum of the shrine. The inner sanctum seemed calmer by comparison, but no less twisted. Enchantresses knelt in a loose formation and swayed to a beat only they can hear while chanting and singing hymns in discordant harmony. 

The shrine itself was elevated. Standing in a loose ring around it were about a dozen Riders, all decked in the same armor and armed with spears as the previous ones we encountered. In the middle sat three figures — Glade Lords by the looks of them. Their capes were more intricate, seemingly made of vines not just leaves — and upon their heads were crowns of antlers. They watched the "revelry" with quiet detachment, as if everything that happens was below them.

Then I saw her — and the only thing that stopped me from breaking my binds was Sullyoon. In her rage, she tightened them again around my wrists because just a few feet behind the Glade Lords — at what appears to be the central altar of this twisted shrine — was Shin Yuna. 

My stomach lurched. She was naked, a Rider of the Hunt carried her by the waist from behind while another one knelt in front of her. Her legs were draped over the shoulders of the kneeling Rider as he pressed his face deeper between her thighs. 

I felt my face went pale, then I looked at her face — resignation. She was limp, her face drooping, her arms lifeless at her side, and her eyes were bloodshot clearly from crying. She endured this for a week — a fucking week. Killing these Riders swiftly is too quick a reckoning for what they did to a loyal servant of their lord. Nobody deserves this — even I wouldn't want to wish this torment to even my greatest nemesis.

Sullyoon froze in her tracks, her eyes wide with barely contained rage. "They're still going," she growled.

"Sull—" I whispered before I was interrupted by a booming voice.

"And the dryad returns!" A Glade Lord announces, rising from his seat in the central dais, gesturing towards Sullyoon and I. The revelry pauses, the chanting of hymns stopped, and every fae turns their mix of glowing green and yellow eyes towards our direction.

The Glade Lord smiles, twisted and wicked, "and she has brought an offering."

"Lord Indarin," Sullyoon acknowledged flatly.

"Seol Yoon Ah," the Glade Lord named Indarin enunciated every syllable of her name for emphasis. He was leaner than the other two Glade Lords, with longer limbs and a more flamboyant antler crown than the rest with beads and small bones dangling from the horns. "Have you come for the Lady Yuna?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Yes," Sullyoon replied immediately.

Indarin glanced behind him where the Rider was still now standing and trying to put himself inside of Yuna. "Hold," Indarin commanded, clear but mocking. The Rider stopped, clearly not amused from being blue balled but otherwise followed the command begrudgingly.

"So, the prize for tonight!" Indarin announces, and with a wave of his hand, a figure emerges behind Yuna — like an iron maiden but made of wood. The Riders placed her inside, making sure she was visible to Sullyoon and I. Vines then wrapped around her body, securing her inside the wooden maiden. Her expression was blank, as if her consciousness is not anymore in this world.

"I present to you," Indarin postures like a host of a poorly produced game show, "the disgraced enchantress, Shin Yuna."

"These theatrics bore me, Indarin," the Glade Lord sitting on the other side of the dais grumbled. His build seemed bigger than Indarin even while he's still sitting. Notably though, he does not wear any armor —muscles rip from his body and aside from the antler crown, he also wore a mask made of what seemed to be a stag's skull. "Kill them and be done with it," he said coldly.

"Oh don't be such a killjoy, Durzan," Indarin waltzed over to the other Glade Lord. "We're here for entertainment, why not indulge. You have always been so uptight. I'm sure Alderon will agree." Indarin gestured to the Glade Lord seated in the middle.

The Glade Lord in the middle, Alderon — looked significantly taller than Durzan, but leaner yet stockier than Indarin. Compared to the other Glade Lords, he seemed to wear the simplest attire — closer to the Riders except for the intricate antler crown which seemed to be gilded with gold.

"Do whatever you want, Indarin," Alderon said, completely dismissive, like the whole debacle bores him. "I'm only here because Orion told me to."

"Well then," Indarin continued as he strut towards the middle of the dais, "let us have some entertainment." His gaze then fell towards Sullyoon and I, his face breaking into a wicked smile. "And by entertainment, let us see if the young dryad can negotiate for the freedom of the Lady Yuna," then the shrine broke into laughter, jeers, snickers, and the mocking cheers of Orion's Wild Hunt as they surged forward to get a view of the upcoming "spectacle."

I wanted to scream, to rebuke, to insult, anything to deny and reject their ways — but the gag Sullyoon placed over my mouth reduced me to heavy breaths and a painful urge to charge head on and bash their antlered heads in. But for all my rage, I know it does not hold a candle to the volcano that is now Sullyoon. I'm even impressed that she had not erupted yet.

"Come closer, Seol YoonAh," Indarin beckoned. "You and your mortal offering."

Sullyoon glanced slightly behind her, she didn't look at me though. It was as if she was, testing, her resolve, mine, maybe both. Her shoulders, tensed, then relaxed. I know we were both hyper aware of the dozens of eyes trained upon us.

And they moved as we walked towards the inner sanctum. Their gazes tracked us, spanning from contempt, apathy, curiosity, amusement, but never hate — we were far too low for them to hate. And they murmur, insults and disrespect in a language I can't understand but can feel.

We stopped about ten meters away from Indarin who was grinning smugly, looking proud at himself for the "entertainment" he's providing. Behind him, the two other Glade Lords seemed to care less than the trees around the grove.

Indarin raised a hand and the crowd shushes. "Now, Seol YoonAh, present your case so that me and my..." he paused, as if trying to find the right terminology that won't violate the fact that fae can't lie. "Colleagues," he finally said, glancing behind him to nod curtly at the two seated Glade Lords, "may judge whether to free the disgraced lady of her... present suffering."

Word plays, loopholes, what the fae do best, I thought. If you know how to listen and if you know who you're dealing with, it's easy to see — but that does not make it less dangerous. I also realized that Indarin can afford to be obvious, he's standing with power over us — Sullyoon on the other hand, needs to be more cautious with her words.

I watched Sullyoon's shoulders rise and fall. Her breathing was heavy, but steady. She was steeling herself, I thought. She knows what's at stake, she knows she has more to lose than me. If she fails, I will only be captured and experimented on — or if I get lucky, they kill me right where we stand. She and Yuna on the other hand though, may be bound to more years of torment under Orion.

"How did she even get here?" Durzan asked, annoyed. "Are your guards this... inept, Indarin?"

"Now, now, Durzan. I'm sure there must have been a reason," Indarin replied dismissively.

"I asked a question, Indarin," Durzan fired back, his voice low and threathening.

Indarin only laughed, "And the dryad shall answer. There's no need to be this... jumpy."

"Jumpy?" Durzan echoed, his voice filled with angry exasperation. "If your Riders are inept, it reflects on you as their Lord. We Glade Lords are Lord Orion's elite, we have no room for... incompetent pricks."

Indarin smiled faintly, yet it carried a sharpness that said his "colleague" was almost crossing a line. He then turned towards us and sighed theatrically, "Looks like the Lord Durzan is concerned with our security, can you regale us with how you were able to reach this far into our grove despite being a wanted dryad?" Indarin asked Sullyoon though I can see in his eyes that he couldn't care less for this part.

Sullyoon exhaled heavily before answering, "The first Rider we encountered told us to get in." She said flatly.

"Indarin!" Durzan roared as he almost stood in his seat.

"Relax, Durzan." Indarin said with a chuckle, the slight breaking was subtle and was immediately covered up by his flair. "I admit this was a... lapse in security. I will have this Rider punished..."

Ha, good luck with that, I thought. That Rider's dead already, slain by one of Joohyun's Death Dealers.

"Punishing the Rider is not enough," Durzan kept going, "their Glade Lord must—"

"Enough," a voice cuts through, low, sonorous, bored — Alderon. "These two are not threats, Durzan." Oh how wrong you are, Mr Glade Lord, the dryad in front of me is — I thought. "There is no security breach, at least not yet."

Durzan growled and begrudgingly sat back. The exchange confirmed one thing to me though — Joohyun's Death Dealers remain undetected and they still have the element of surprise.

"And how about the inner ring?" Indarin asked Sullyoon.

My heart skipped a beat, Sullyoon killed those guards. My mind scrambled, trying to find a way so that Sullyoon won't have to lie and risk compromising us when —

"— I killed them." Sullyoon's voice rang out and my eyes widened.

Yep, we're really going to die now, I thought as the assembled Glade Lords and fae were silent for half a heartbeat.

Then — laughter — and applause — from Indarin. "You continue to impress me, young Dryad!" He exclaimed.

"This is no laughing matter, Indarin!" Durzan bellowed again.

"They're just two Riders, Durzan," Indarin looked back. "And besides, if they were slain by a mere dryad then they have no right to call themselves as Riders of the Hunt."

Durzan hissed but otherwise relaxed back on his seat. I couldn't get a read on his expression as it was covered by the skull mask, but I can feel him simmering underneath. The Wild Hunt both impressed and disgust me though, with their blatant disregard for life, and most particularly, the lives of those who serve under them.

Indarin focused back on Sullyoon with that connivingly smug smile. "Now that the... preliminaries, are out of the way. Allow us to go to the business at hand."

Indarin dipped his head slightly, eyes boring in to Sullyoon, "Why did you, dryad Seol YoonAh, bring this mortal with you? An offering I know," Indarin waved a hand dismissively before Sullyoon can answer. "But what makes you think we... want him... when we have Yuna here to entertain us," Indarin's smug smile never left his lips. 

He's provoking Sullyoon, I thought. My eyes moved towards Yuna, limp and unconscious inside the open wooden maiden. Then I thought if Jimin was the one in her shoes, or even Minjeong, or Chaeryoung, or anyone I call a friend, then I realized I would do the same thing Sullyoon's doing, soul bound or not.

Sullyoon's uncharacteristically calm voice breaks me from my thoughts, "Lord Orion wants him," she said, short and blunt.

"Lord Orion does," Indarin nodded, his lips pursing slightly, "but we don't."

"Indarin," Alderon said low, a warning.

Indarin raised a hand, "a jest, Alderon. Forgive my colleagues, they lack a certain... sense of humor," Indarin chuckled. His gaze then traveled towards me, "So this is the mortal Lord Orion sent you to... liquidate."

"They are not to eliminate him, Indarin," Alderon corrected.

"We should," Durzan muttered under his breath, which the other Glade Lords chose to ignore.

"Poor choice of words from me, Alderon," Indarin placed a hand in his chest in a theatrical gesture of apology. "Back to you, dryad," he turned back towards Sullyoon. "Answer."

"Yes, Lord Indarin. Seren Vale —"

"Vale," Indarin stroked his chin as he paced at the front of the dais. "Like that sage," he muttered.

My head perked up — sage — my grandmother, Allindra Vale. The Riders of the Hunt knew her?

"I see," Indarin kept muttering to himself — or was he? "The child born of the unholy union of —"

"Indarin," Alderon called, this time with more force and weight. "You run your mouth too much.

No, run your mouth a lot more, I thought, momentarily forgetting that we are here to rescue Yuna. I wanted to tell Sullyoon to remove my mask so that I can speak to this Glade Lord, but I suddenly found that the mask has tightened in my mouth, preventing me even from whispering. I looked at Sullyoon who was looking at me over her shoulder. Her eyes said one thing — "this is not about you, not tonight." I nodded slightly, understanding. This night is to rescue Yuna, not to explore who or what I am — that can come later, the Wild Hunt won't disappear, and we still have our plan with the Siren Cove. Plus, I have no guarantees whether Indarin won't twist his words to his advantage, because that's what the fae are known for.

Another chuckle from Indarin, "Apologies, Alderon. You know I tend to get... carried away." Alderon only huffed in response.

"So, YoonAh, can I call you YoonAh?" He asked mockingly.

"Call me whatever you'd like Lord Indarin," Sullyoon replied flatly.

"Well then, how about 'Seol?'" Another teasing grin in Indarin's eyes, his smile testing, anticipating, enjoying the obvious taunt of using how Yuna usually calls Sullyoon. I saw her flinch slightly, and if I saw it, Indarin surely did as well.

"Seol," he said again, not even hiding the mockery in his voice and I felt the vines on my wrist tighten again slightly. "Now that he's here," Indarin dipped his head with a dark glint in his eye, "what do you think stops us from taking him by force and keeping Yuna as our entertainment while we bind you to watch?"

I can see Sullyoon's body shaking, she's barely keeping it together. "Then why—?" Sullyoon paused as if to center herself before continuing, "why even do what you're doing?"

"Entertainment," Indarin replied without missing a beat. "The Riders taking Yuna was fun for like, the first day, then it started getting old, and our Riders aren't even creative. They just rut and pound, nothing new at all. Even Yuna," he waltzed over towards the wooden maiden, "for all her... promiscuity... I think she got bored, seeing as she now looks so... withered and uninterested," he strokes a hand over Yuna's cheek.

"Don't touch her," Sullyoon uttered, a little loud for her liking evidenced by the gasp she released after.

Indarin's smile however, widened into a wicked grin as Sullyoon's facade finally showed some cracks. "You know what, I haven't had my turn yet," he said so casually that I subconsciously balled my fists. "And I'm getting curious what the fuss is all about..."

"Lord Indarin, please..." Sullyoon's voice was low, pleading, almost resigned if not for the tinge of rage I still heard.

"But it won't be fun if she's... not active..." Indarin kept going. Then with a snap of his fingers in front of Yuna's face — Yuna's eyes suddenly fluttered, the alertness returning to her face. She jerked her head, slowly taking stock of her surroundings.

"Lord Indarin —" she muttered before her eyes noticed Sullyoon, and behind her, me.

"Seol," Yuna whispered hoarsely. "Seren... why —?" I can see the gears turning on her head, piecing the puzzle as to why we are in the grove.

"Yuna," Sullyoon called, relief washing in her voice.

"She's here to offer the boy, Yuna," Indarin interrupted, cupping his fingers under her chin, making Yuna shiver at the contact, "in exchange for your freedom."

Yuna's eyes snapped to Sullyoon, "No, Seol, you... you shouldn't have. You should have just ran away and never returned!"

"You know I can't do that," Sullyoon retorted.

"How fascinating the Binding of Roots are," Indarin commented. "To have a dryad enslaved under ones fingertips."

"She's not enslaved!" Yuna spit back.

Indarin just scoffed. "I'm going to take you now, Shin Yuna," the Glade Lord moved in front of Yuna.

"No," Yuna muttered, eyes wide at the realization of what Indarin intends.

"Oh yes. I'm going to give you such a good time, the best time, better than all the Riders and mortals you've had."

"No, please," this time from Sullyoon.

Indarin's hands travelled on Yuna's body, tracing the lines, the hourglass curve of her waist. His eyes were predatory as his hands rested on her hips as opposed to Yuna's whose eyes were filled with terror. Her chest heaved heavily and erratically and her tears slowly welled in her blood shot eyes.

Sullyoon then turned to me, her eyes pleading for help. And my eyes relayed my feelings accurately — "I've had enough of this."

Sullyoon understood, her eyes flashed green as it shifted from fear to resolve. If we die, might as well die fighting.

Sullyoon's hands morphed into a wooden spear as she turned, and with the momentum, she threw it in the air, straight towards Indarin — who casually turns and catches the spear and splitting it in half.

"Seol," Yuna exhaled once in disbelief.

"Finally," Indarin on the other hand, smiled wickedly. "It was fun seeing how long you'd last."

Durzan then stood from his seat. He was towering, taller than Indarin by maybe two heads. He reached for something behind his seat — a great axe, taller than even him, adorned with vines and runes that glowed sinisterly as if asking for blood. 

"You attacked a Glade Lord, girl," he growled under his mask. "You know what that means."

Durzan marched towards us while Indarin walked towards his seat. Yuna was watching everything, shaking and trying to free herself from the wooden maiden.

Sullyoon retreated close to me, her eyes remaining defiant. The crowd of Riders and enchantresses bristled in anticipation as their Lords moved to action. Then — as Durzan raised his axe high on his head, I felt the binds on my wrist loosening. 

I remembered the time when I channeled Seulgi's strength, the bear werebeast huntress was the physically strongest being I know, and I have assimilated that into myself. I broke Sullyoon's binds and aimed my fist towards Durzan's unarmored torso. I connected with all my strength, sending the Glade Lord back a few meters.

The shrine went quiet, Indarin smiled connivingly while Alderon leaned forward on his seat. Then — laughter — Durzan's laughter. "You're strong for a human. If you had hit me where my heart was, I would have died," then he flashed me a wicked grin, "but you won't get another chance."

Indarin's mocking chuckle echoed from the top of the dais. "Did you really think you can come here alone and survive?"

Movement was then caught in my periphery, a figure just jumped in the air from the forest. Then my attention was pushed back to the advancing Durzan.

Sullyoon huddled close to me, her hand flew to my mouth, the mask being absorbed back in her hand then morphing into  a small wooden knife, not that it would do us any good against Durzan's great axe. The Glade Lord raised his weapon, his shadow looming over us as Sullyoon's free hand grips mine tightly.

Then he paused, his head turning and jerking to the side when something struck him, removing his antler crown and skull mask he wore as he staggered.

My eyes widened as a small figure stood in front of us. She wore what she always wore — a white dress, only now she held a glaive twice her height and with a silver crescent blade. Her porcelain skin reflected the green light of the Wild Hunt's runes. Indarin has his weapon out — a thin green rapier. Durzan stumbled, leaning his weight on his axe. Alderon stood in his seat, silently watching with a cold but grim expression on his face.

"Thing is," the Pale Princess, Bae Joohyun, spoke coldly, "they're not alone."

And the grove exploded as werebeasts emerged from the forest.

"Joohyun —" I began.

"Get to Yuna, both of you," Joohyun calmly commanded before charging to meet Durzan. They clashed as chaos reigned around us — her crescent glaive sending sparks as it met Durzan's great axe.

I watched around us, big cats, dogs, and wolves of all kinds and colors stormed the outer ring of the shrine. They were mauling, biting, and clawing Riders and enchantresses alike. Within the chaos, Death Dealers slipped in towards the inner sanctum, causing panic as they methodically eliminated the enchantresses who barely had time to cast their spells. Screams, snarls, and growls filled the air as the fight escalated.

I pulled Sullyoon close and wrapped an arm around her waist while the other held her arm. "What do we do? How do we reach her?" She asked frantically.

I scanned the dais and behind it, the wooden maiden where Yuna remained bound, her gaze fixed on Sullyoon despite the chaos. Around her, Death Dealers dueled with Riders of the Hunt, unable to reach her. 

I searched for Joohyun, she was now holding off both Durzan and Indarin in a deadly dance. Durzan had a cut across his chest, which didn't seem to bother him at all as green blood dripped to his stomach.

One thing's wrong though, like something's missing — no, someone was missing. Someone I should be wary of, yet my mind can't seem to figure out who it is amidst all the chaos.

Then, Sullyoon pushed me hard and rushed in front of me.

"Sullyoon!" I called. Then remembered who I forgot — Alderon. The Glade Lord now towered in front of Sullyoon, a massive sledgehammer in hand, the head made of a slab of what I think is granite — and he swung at Sullyoon.

Sullyoon reacted by placing her arms together, hastily making a wooden shield to absorb the impact — but not the power behind the blow. The shield shattered as the hammer made contact. Splinters filled the air as Sullyoon was lifted off the ground like she weighed nothing.

"Seol!" Yuna yelled, shrill, as if she felt Sullyoon's pain as her own.

Cursing, I jumped to catch her, and we landed outside the shrine's inner sanctum, rolling across the ground.

"You okay?" I groaned.

She nodded wordlessly yet I saw her arms were red. And with another scream, she pushed me hard. Alderon's hammer crashed heavily from where we just were.

I pulled Sullyoon to her feet as we faced the gigantic Glade Lord.

"We can't beat this guy nor get around him," I said, my voice frantic.

Sullyoon panted beside me, her arms dangling as she stared daggers at Alderon.

The Glade Lord lifted his hammer and slung it across his shoulder. "I was content to let you do whatever you want, young dryad. But since you seem to have instigated all this... chaos," he said, his calmness disarming as he made his way slowly towards us, "I have to kill you," his gaze drifted to me, "but the boy will be offered to Lord Orion."

He lifted his hammer again and Sullyoon and I prepared to dodge. But before he can strike downwards, his eyes snapped to his left. Alderon jerked sideways as Kang Seulgi jumped at him, landing a heavy kick to his neck which would have hit his head had he not moved. The blow made him stagger and drop his hammer arm. Growling, the Glade Lord swung low, Seulgi slid lower, sliding right behind him.

The huntress turned, and as she did, she morphed into the grizzly bear I saw the night she helped rescue me from those three vampires. She hit Alderon with a vicious backhand from her paw, sending him back a considerable distance.

Kang Seulgi roared, now the biggest and loudest creature in the grove. Alderon recovered and spat on the ground, adapted a wide stance and raised his hammer in front of him. With another loud roar, Seulgi charged.

Then three big cats surrounded us, one brown with a blonde patch on her head — Yeji. Another was pure black, and a little bit stockier — Ryujin. And the last one, yellow with dark brown stripes, more lithe and slender in build — Chaeryoung.

They padded around us, furs bristling and stances low.

I then turned towards Sullyoon, "I'll get to Yuna."

Sullyoon looked like she wanted to protest but I kept talking. "You're injured already," I said, gesturing to her limp and red arms. It also looked like bark was starting to crust her arms in the same way when she emerged in front of my door, weakened and famished from her escape.

"I'm not leaving until I see her safe!" Sullyoon replied, her eyes desperate.

"You're not," I replied. "Yeji, Ryujin, and I will find a way towards her. Chaeryoung can stay here to guard you. Is that plan okay, Yeji?" I turned to Yeji who snarled then bowed her head as if to nod. Ryujin then engaged a Rider who was charging towards us.

"Okay —" then Sullyoon grabbed my hand and thrust the small dagger into my own. "I'll provide support if I can." We held each other's gazes, we could have kissed, but it felt inappropriate at the moment — instead, a simple nod was enough.

I turned towards Yeji, "Ready?" I asked.

Yeji turned towards Ryujin who was just returning with the Rider's severed hand in her jaws. She dropped the hand on the soft moss before taking her place to my left — Yeji growled low to my right.

"I take that as a yes," I said, and I started running with Yeji and Ryujin towards Yuna.

We started in a fast jog, breezing relatively unopposed within the outer ring. The werebeasts created too much chaos that Riders and enchantresses were preoccupied with fighting or escaping to even care about us. Those who dared intercept us were met with the fangs and claws of Yeji and Ryujin as they made swift work against these isolated Riders.

The inner sanctum was where we met immediate resistance.  Five Riders charged at us, two at the front with axes raised while three behind, their spears leveled. Yeji and Ryujin intercepted the two at the front, that left me — an untrained bum — out of place and out of his league — facing three Riders of the Hunt.

I skidded to a stop, and raised the dagger. Might as well be holding a needle though when faced against three spears. The Riders grinned, sure that they got me — then in a split second, three glaives struck them in the middle of their chest, dropping them unceremoniously on the ground.

I looked behind me as three Death Dealers, their hoods and cloak red as opposed to the usual black — Joohyun's personal elite, I thought — the same ones who were there when Sullyoon arrived at my apartment.

"Keep moving, Vale!" The one in the center said.

"The huntresses and us will cover you!" Followed the one on the left.

"Don't stop!" Finished the one on the right.

With a nod of thanks I ran with them — the speed I assimilated from Chaeryoung proving useful in keeping up with my Night Folk allies. The Death Dealers picked their weapons from the dead Riders as we passed them, with the one in the center taking the lead in front of me. Yeji and Ryujin ran at our flanks, intercepting Riders and enchantresses while those that slipped through them were handled swiftly by the trio of Death Dealers.

We passed by Joohyun, her battle having moved down from the dais to the inner sanctum. She was like the eye in the storm of her crescent glaive, yet for all her fury and elegance, Durzan and Indarin managed to keep up. Indarin however, wore a look of disgust as he danced with his rapier while Durzan looked exhilarated while he fought.

"You're not aiding her?" I asked the Death Dealers.

"If she required it, she would have asked," the Death Dealer to my left replied.

Fair enough.

We reached the dais — and were immediately met by more Riders, two enchantresses also floated on either side of their flanks, ready to support them. 

The Death Dealers lowered their glaives, ready to intercept as the Riders surged forward. Then — they stopped...no, they tripped. Vines and roots wrapped around their ankles as they stumbled. The enchantresses, stunned by the sudden pause, were unable to defend as Yeji and Ryujin pounced upon them, their screams drowned by the snarls of the huntresses.

The Riders on the other hand, immobile and stumbling, were quick work for the Death Dealers. I managed a quick glance behind me. Far to the back, at the outer ring, Sullyoon knelt, her hands firmly on the ground — she was the one who pinned the Riders down, well she did say she would support if she can — and I'll take any support I can get right now. Behind Sullyoon, Chaeryoung prowled, intercepting any enemy that dared come close.

"Seren!" A Death Dealer called, making me jerk my head.

"We told you not to stop!"

"Get to Yuna now! We'll cover you!"

I growled then nodded. I jumped over the altar towards the wooden maiden where Yuna was bound. 

"Seren!" Yuna exclaimed as I reached her, tears flowing down her eyes. "What are you doing here?!" She asked as I pulled on the vines binding her inside the maiden.

"Yeah, you're welcome!" I replied.

"I'm fucking serious! Did YoonAh plan this?!"

"No, Joohyun and Seulgi did. Sullyoon just," I grunted, pulling a handful of vines off her arms. "Sullyoon asked for our help."

"And you accepted? Despite what I —"

"Shin Yuna!" I raised my voice and looked her in the eye and she looked back at me, stunned. "Despite what you did, you only followed orders, and you certainly don't deserve this "punishment". You did not even fail yet, we planned to do a second interview, remember?" I said before kneeling and cutting the vines around her legs with my dagger.

"To Lord Orion it was —"

"Fuck Orion!" I interjected. "And never call him Lord anymore, after tonight, you and Sullyoon are out of his service." I jerked the dagger, cutting her legs and ankles free.

"Seren. How can we thank you?" She whimpered. I then recalled when Sullyoon said she'll pledge both of them to my service if I aid in rescuing her. That's a tempting prospect, but I won't subject them under me just because they owed me.

"Think about that later," I said, rising to cut the vines wrapping her waist. "For now, we find a way to escape."

Yuna nodded, tears dropping from her eyes down her chin. "Thank you. Thank you. Behind you, Seren!" She yelled and I jerked to the side as I turned, barely avoiding a wickedly curved blade from a Rider who managed to slip through the Death Dealers and the huntresses.

The Rider swung high at me and I blocked with the dagger. His blade sunk halfway down my wooden weapon and without thinking, I felt something manifest with a crunch in my free hand. Then it wrapped on something rough, like unpolished wood while memories of Sullyoon's heat upon me washed all over my body. 

I thrust with it towards the Rider's neck, a wooden dagger not too different from the one Sullyoon gave me sunk deep, splattering green blood. Thing was — Sullyoon only gave me one dagger — the one I used to block — meaning this one, was created by me. Shock flooded my entire being. Did I already assimilate Sullyoon's dryad powers after we slept together just this afternoon? I should have felt happy, arrogant even — but instead I felt terrified.

"Seren — how?" I heard Yuna's shocked inquiry then saw her shocked expression when I looked back at her.

I dropped the dagger given by Sullyoon, the dead Rider's blade still lodged in it. "I'll explain later," I replied. "For now — we focus on escape," I cut the vines wrapping her waist and she collapsed as she was freed from the wooden maiden.

"Careful," I grunted as I caught her naked body in my arms.

"Always such a gentleman," she remarked weakly, leaning into me with her hands on my chest and mine aroind her waist.

I gave her a weary smile then asked, "Can you walk?"

Yuna tried standing, she wobbled unsteadily as I held her waist to steady her, her hands rested on my shoulders. Then her legs gave way and she fell kneeling on the soft grass at our feet. She stared up at me, her expression answering my question. 

I took my jacket off and draped it over Yuna's body. She pulled them closer to her, wrapping the clothing around her.

The Death Dealers then emerged around us, the dais cleared of Riders.

"Where's Yeji and Ryujin?" I asked.

One Death Dealer pointed across the grove and Yuna and I followed the direction she pointed. Sullyoon laid on Chaeryoung's back, her hands limp at the werebeast's side, presumably unconscious. Yeji and Ryujin reunited with her.

Yeji's head swiveled, searching until she found us. She gave a nod from her feline head then turned and bounded with her team outside the grove and into the forest.

"Sullyoon collapsed when you finally freed Yuna from the wooden maiden," one Death Dealer said. 

"Seol," Yuna exhaled, voice mixed with relief and gratitude.

"They'll bring her somewhere safe," another Death Dealer said. "Now our job is to help you and Yuna escape."

"That might be harder than it should be," another Death Dealer pointed towards a squad of about a dozen Riders approaching us from the inner sanctum.

"Chaeyoung and I will hold them off," said another Death Dealer, flourishing her glaive in one elegant arc. "You help Seren and Yuna escape, Soyeon."

"Are you sure, Saerom?" The Death Dealer I assumed to be Soyeon asked.

"When have you known me to be unsure?" Saerom replied with professional confidence.

"Besides," the other Death Dealer, Chaeyoung, butted in with a cheeky almost teasing tone in her voice, "you're the fastest and surefooted amongst the three of us."

"Okay. See you both back at the coven," Soyeon replied coolly as her teammates waltzed towards the approaching Riders.

She then turned towards us. "I'll carry Yuna —"

"No," I interrupted. Soyeon turned, her face hooded and masked like all Death Dealers yet her eyes were blood red. "I'll carry her. If I do then you are free to defend us if the need arises."

"Fair point," Soyeon replied after a few seconds of consideration.

I turned to Yuna and knelt with my back in front of her. "Get on, princess," I said gently, "time to get out of here."

Yuna scrambled to my back, her arms wrapped around my neck while her legs dangled by my sides. I gave one last scan of the battlefield, searching for Seulgi and Joohyun. Seulgi still fought Alderon, though she's not facing him alone anymore, a tiger and two wolves joined her. She had a noticeable limp on her right hind leg as she kept trying to get in front of Alderon while the wolves nip at his flanks and the tiger stalked his rear.

Joohyun on the other hand, still looked terrifyingly immaculate. Indarin now sported a visible bruise by his left cheek while Durzan's right shoulder now dripped with green blood from where an ugly gash was.

I then wrapped my arms around Yuna's legs as I carried her then turned towards Soyeon, "Lead the way." She nodded and we ran towards the opposite side of the grove towards the forest ahead.

"They're pursuing us!" Yuna cried in my ear. I glanced behind me, and sure enough, a team of about five Riders were indeed hot on our tails. We barely even covered a hundred meters and they're already in pursuit.

Then one of the Riders fell, a quarrel sticking from his forehead. I turned towards Soyeon, she had her glaive slung on her back, in her hand was now a small crossbow, small enough to be wielded with one hand. She reloaded with her free hand and shot another quarrel. The Rider ducked the arrow and Soyeon cursed under her breath.

"Keep running, Seren!" Soyeon called while she's reloading another quarrel.

I was heaving at this point. My lungs felt like they were filled with spores. I'm still keeping pace with Soyeon, so I'm sure that I'm still running at Night Folk speeds, but definitely not Night Folk stamina.

Soyeon loosed another quarrel and I heard a thud and assumed she hit her mark.

"They keep coming!" Yuna cried.

"Keep going! Don't stop!" Soyeon answered, felling another Rider.

"Dead end ahead!" I shouted.

Soyeon turned and sure enough, a row of trees blocked our path. Too narrow for us to push through.

"Get around!" Soyeon yelled as she loosed another quarrel. She missed, cursing loudly now.

"Which way?!" I asked.

Then — a meow — an urgent one. I turned to my right and spotted the pink cat of the werebeasts Intelligence and Reconnaissance Corps.

"Sakura!" I called, recalling her name.

The cat turned and ran between two trees.

"Follow the cat!" Seoyeon instructed. "I'll hold them off!" She placed the crossbow under her cloak and drew her red crescent daggers.

I nodded and made haste for Sakura's last position. The trees were just wide enough for me and Yuna to slip through. I paused after stepping between the trees, trying to find Sakura.

"There!" Yuna pointed to a small clearing where Sakura and other cats of the corps were huddled. I sprinted towards them and they turned to run.

"Follow them!" Yuna said.

"On it, princess," I huffed. I can feel my mouth drying from thirst, yet I pushed forward, following the cats through a winding path downhill.

We then passed another row of trees into a clearing — and only a few meters ahead, a road, concrete, with what looks to be a minivan parked at the side.

Sakura ran towards the van and entered through the back which I now saw to be slightly opened. I slowed to a quick jog as I made my way towards the vehicle. Then the side door slid open and a girl pushed herself outside. She wore a coat long enough to cover the entirety of her petite figure. And she beckoned at me urgently, "Get in, Vale! Quickly!"

"Sakura, I presume?" I said as I sped up towards the vehicle.

Sakura just nodded as she held the door for me. I jumped in and laid Yuna to a chair as Sakura slid the door closed.

"You okay?" I asked Yuna, zipping the jacket I draped over her close.

"I am now," she replied wearily.

Then the front passenger's door closed. "Drive, Haerin, now!" Sakura said as she took her seat.

My eyes flew to the driver's seat where another girl who looked very feline absently stared at Sakura. Her eyes blinked twice like she's trying to process what she just said.

"I said drive! Kang Haerin!" Sakura repeated. 

The girl seemed to be broken from her trance. "Yeah. Right. Drive." Kang Haerin stuttered, her hands flying as she started the minivan. Sakura settled on her seat, placing her hands on her forehead. "Gods, Haerin. Stop spacing out everytime."

"Yeah. Sorry," Haerin apologized as the vehicle started cruising through the road.

I took a seat beside Yuna. She laced her hand upon mine.

"You okay?" Yuna asked.

"Yeah. Just... tired..." I replied as all the adrenaline I had faded from my body. Now I just felt heavy, like my legs are made of lead and my lungs were pumped with coal.

"Then rest, Seren. You earned it," Yuna whispered softly.

Rest — that word suddenly seemed to turn a switch inside me. My eyes drooped down. My head lolled and the last thing I heard before I fell asleep was Yuna.

"Thank you."