----.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.----
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
°･:*✧✧*:･ﾟ
:・ﾟ
･ﾟ✧
'

ㄥ|爪|ㄒㄥ乇丂丂

✧*:･ﾟ✧

ch¹⁴- his moon

---.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.---

It has been a few hours since the attack, and now we are preparing ourselves for the journey through the forest, and to my beloved family. We had waited for the sunrise before we left, as the sun was a great source of help, both for directions, as well as safety.

Jungkook had explained to me that the soldiers would wait a few hours before carrying out the search here, or anywhere, to be sure that there wasn't any trap set up for them, it was how they usually worked.

Having said this, it had already been quite some time since the attack, and now stand fair chances, for them to arrive here any time.

The wait for the sunrise had served us as an interlude to rest our bodies and minds.

It is about seven in the morning, yet there's an eery silence that blankets the whole area. It almost feels as if the birds are mourning silently upon the destruction that had taken place; upon the death of fellow animals that had followed suit due to the deadly noises that had birthed of the attack. The layer of smoke that had settled down due to the cool night has now started to shift and lift, opening the doors to clear vision, and now the ruins of my home stand limply in front of me, reminding me of my loss.

Jungkook sits in front of me, propped against the bark of a tree as I tend to his older injuries as well as the new ones. When the last one of the shells had been dropped over the Outhouse, he had shielded me from the shockwave that had followed. The jerk that his body had endured due to that had given birth to new bruises upon his skin, though they were nothing of serious concern.

Nevertheless, he had complained about a pain in his neck, so I offered to check on it for him, which brings us to my current position beside him. I am leaned a bit over him on my knees, examining his right side of the neck for any visible injury. He has tilted his neck to the left to put the opposite area into clear view.
Finding nothing serious, I ask him to tilt his head the other way.

As he lets the skin of the left side of his neck show, I can't help but get caught off guard with what is disclosed.

He has a moon inked in black under his ear. It must measure about two inches in size, not so small, yet not visible enough, hidden behind the dark, grown locks of his. I can't help but wonder how I didn't come across this while I'd been treating him everyday for the last few weeks.

The moon inscribed across the skin under his pierced ears is a pretty coal black, which beautifully contrasts his milky caramel skin. The mesmerizing recreation of the silver celestial body on his skin has been decorated with intricate designs, of gems and of stars, and sparkles packing the whole of the inked beauty. But isn't this, that has me utterly surprised; it is the fact that the design feels profoundly familiar.

As if he's felt my piercing gaze through his skin, he brings his hand up to it, the gently caress it. When he meets my eyes, I find his, dipped with an emotion, almost reminiscing. He drops his eyes down again, along with his hand that joins his other.

"We had matched inklings, my brother and I. It's-all I've left of him."

I can feel the overpowering sorrow in his voice, and therefore I choose not to pry, acknowledging him with a simple yet empathizing nod, and a gentle pat to his shoulder.

The area at the back of his neck is a soft pink, which lets me know that it is just a strain of the muscles he has been complaining about.

Digging through the sack, I find the container of medicals, fishing out a soothing salve. I massage it into his skin, and he lets out an exhale of relief.

"You need to keep it covered and warm for the salve to work effectively. Here," tearing a patch of cloth from my multilayered dress, I carefully and loosely wrap the piece around his neck.

"Thanks Haejin,"

I smile at his genuine tone.

"It is nothing comparable to you saving my life twice. I can't possibly thank you enough for that."

"I guess, it was just a humble reciprocation of what you've done for me for all these weeks. I never thanked you or appreciated it, -"

"There is no need for that, Jungkook. It is my duty as a human to do so." Looking up at the bright clouds, I smile, remembering the lessons of life that had been taught by the most important people of my life.

"Someone has taught me, 'care for other beings to-'"

"-To care for yourself." his lips curve up as he finishes my sentence, his eyes meeting my agaped ones.

"I had been taught the same."

-

We stand under a huge tree, a few metres away from the clearing where the disaster, which was once my home, stood. I rip a few patches of cloth from the lower hem of my dress up till my calf. The cloths would serve us in the future, if, God forbid, someone gets injured, while the shorten length of my clothes would allow me to walk freely, and run, if need be.

Pushing the rags inside the sack, I insist on carrying it, as Jungkook is injured already. Albeit a bit hesitant, he finally allows me to do so.

We have agreed upon visiting the apple orchards along the way, so as to gather enough food for the journey ahead. I can just pray that it is still unharmed.

Finally, we start our journey with a last longing glance at my home, and a few prayers to my parents for their forgiveness, as well as their blessings.

Although I do not know why he, a soldier from the enemy kingdom, would want to go to the Camp-the place where the people and families affected, or destroyed by the War can live in peace-I hope I can put my faith in him after all we've been through. The time I've spent with him has also made me realize that even though he is a soldier of the enemy kingdom, he does not seem to support, nor care for it. If he had, he would have been long gone, given all these chances he had had, for escape. No, maybe he has run away from his army, maybe he just seeks peace. It isn't really my place to ask him his purpose, but I hope he does it himself, as I find him warming and opening up to me, bit by bit.

I have started to care for him. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I had saved him and brought him to my home, treated him, or maybe because he had saved me, given me his own breath to give me life; and even if we have decided to travel together, and may separate in the future, I hope we can at least become friends.

The first half hour is silent, as if both me, and Jungkook do not know what to speak of, a few minutes past it has me doubtful of my surroundings. A series of tingles pass over the skin of my upper left arm, where an inkling of my own sits peacefully.

Bring a hand up to it, I caress it gently to ease the sensation, and glance at Jungkook to see if he has sensed something. He keeps walking calm and straight, his posture easy, which means he has probably not.

Running my gaze around us, I check the woods for anyone who is maybe spying on us, but I find no one. I even check the higher branches of the trees, so as to ensure that no enemy is hidden amongst them, but all I find is a familiar butterfly, a familiar brilliant golden butterfly, fluttering over one of the higher arms of a tree.

Does a frail butterfly fly that high?

✧*:･ﾟ✧

1.4k words.

----.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.----
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
°･:*✧✧*:･ﾟ
:・ﾟ
･ﾟ✧
'