"Y/n? San? Why the hell were you guys out there?" Is the first thing Seonghwa asks you both as he rushes over you to, checking your side but you reassure him that you're fine, avoiding the knowing looks from Yeosang. The others aren't quite awake yet as it's still late, Yunho now sprawled out. You don't know how he's able to sleep so comfortably on the ground but you guess he's used to it. Seonghwa sighs and ushers you to go sit back down. To your disappointment, Wooyoung still isn't in the cave with the others but you don't let it bother you this time, quickly going back to your sleeping spot and slumping down. You wonder how long you guys will stay put in the cave and you don't know how much food you guys will have until it's all gone. You don't even notice that Mingi had moved from his original spot and is now next to you but he doesn't say a word, only playing with his pocket knife. Honestly, he doesn't know why he decided to move next to you. Seonghwa had asked him to keep an eye on you along with Yeosang but since when had he actually listened to Seonghwa.

You sigh and close your eyes, tired as you want nothing more than to go back to sleep but you notice the presence beside you and you swear your eyes bulge so far out of your head you think they'll fall out. What...what was he doing next to me? The others are here so he can't exactly get away with my murder. Your mouth open and closes like a fish out of water and Mingi notices your stare, fixating his gaze away from his knife and on you.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He deadpans, eyes cold, his tone isnt murderous like before but he definitely gives off the 'I hate you' vibes, rolling off of him like a stench. You shake your head and look away, nervous and Mingi sighs, resting his head against the stone cold wall. He doesn't know why it's so hard to talk to you, he doesn't know why it's so hard to not act like a complete asshole to you.

"Why are you here?" You ask but you quickly widen your eyes, not meaning to sound the way you did,"I mean...I mean why are you here next to me..?" Mingi stays silent but he still stares at you, not having any words to say to you. You scan his face for any type of emotion but it's stone cold and you wonder who would win a competition; him or San. He wasn't an ugly person, in fact if he were to be back in your town he'd be a complete lady killer, including yourself. Actually, all of them would be, especially San. Why am I thinking of this?

"Seonghwa told me to keep an eye on you, so don't wander off like you did." Is the only thing Mingi says and then he slumps down and turns on his side away from you , no doubt going back to sleep. You know that's its almost the crack of dawn and you don't know when Hongjoong is going to decide to leave and you'd rather be fully rested than be half dead trying to ride on a horse. So with that, you also push yourself away from the wall just to lay down on your back, the hard floor not being too kind to your body but you ignore the uncomfortableness, closing your eyes.

_____
"Mommy, why is daddy always gone?" The small girl asks, her fingers nimbly playing with the thread in her lap. The older woman pauses her stirring, flickering her eyes over to daughter and she doesn't know what to say. The small girl looks up as she doesn't hear her mother answer her, only to see the woman staring at her, a lost look in her but with a call of her name she snaps out of it, a dry smile on her face.

"It's just his job, doll, he'll be back," Her mother says and turns back to the food, trying to fight back tears. The little girl scrunches her nose and stops messing with the thread.

"Daddy hasn't been back for a week now," She all but mutters, looking towards the window as if he'd be out there but all she sees is the stars. Her mother momentarily closes her eyes but sniffs and turns back.

"He'll be back."
_______
You startle awake with a gasp, unshed tears in your eyes, the sun beaming from the entrance of the cave onto you. You close your eyes for another second before opening them up again, scanning the area as much as you can and you see that none of the guys are asleep. In fact, there isn't anything there, even the fire has been put out and from the looks of it, it's been out for quite some time. Panic arises in you and you quickly push the quilt off of you, pushing yourself up not caring about the faint pain on your side. You look to the right and see that Mingi isn't there either. They left me. Your breathing hitches and your hands shake, clumsily stepping over the quilt and rushing over to the cave entrance, stepping out and looking to your left. Nothing, there's nothing there. No horses, no one. Before you know it the tears that threatened to fall are now sliding down your face and chin, falling onto the floor as you desperately look around. Why would they leave me? You whimper and walk around the cave, wiping your tears when you smack right into something.

"Y/n? Y/n why are you crying?" San's voice fills you ears as you feel his hand grip at your face.  You don't say anything and look up at him, his eyes sharp but full of worry. "Why are you crying?" You shake your head and put your hands up, pushing at his shoulders but he doesn't budge and only holds your face tighter, repeating his question.

"I...you guys..." You can't even finish your words but San quickly catches on to what you're trying to say, eyebrows furrowing as he mutters something angrily under his breath.

"We weren't going to leave you, Y/n, I promise," San whispers and something in your chests warms up and you nod, his eyes so dark that it's like staring into an abyss but it isn't emotionless. In fact, there are so many emotions that you have to look away. San mutters something to himself before letting go of you but he doesn't step away, only turning his head just a bit before opening his mouth.

"She's up!" You step away from the male and wipe your nose, embarrassed from crying in front of San. You've always hated crying in front of people, even in front of your own mother. But crying in front of San was so much different you had no idea why. Before you know it you see all of the guys emerge from the side of the cave on their horses. You widen your eyes as you look over all of them, your gaze stopping on Wooyoung. His face is blank and he looks nothing like he did the first day you met him and that worries you.

"Y/n! Hey!" Yunho is so loud that Hongjoong scolds him making the younger male wince but he smiles nonetheless. A sense of relief rushes through you as you look at all of their faces.

"We were scavenging around, looking for some food," Seonghwa announces, his voice soft-spoken as he stares down at you, a worried look in his eyes and you only nod in response.

"Come on, lets go," San says and grabs your hand much to surprise making you gasp but he ignores your expression and pulls you along but you notice that you only see eight horses.

"Hey-"

"You're going to be riding with me, it's not safe for you to ride on your own," San speaks and his tone of voice leaves no room for you to argue so you stay silent and bite your lip, watching San gather on his horse and he settles comfortably before reaching his hand out. You sigh and grip his hand tightly, stepping up and he pulls you onto the saddle, your arms wrapping around his waist. You press your face against his back and the first thing you notice is he's warm and it makes you press yourself closer to him if that's even possible. He smells of firewood and pine, a smell that you never thought you'd like.

"Where are we going?" You ask, hearing Hongjoong shout and you all are riding , your hair whipping around your head. San's shoulders tense but he speaks, his voice low.

"To your father."

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