殴わ新

Jimin didn't know what he was doing here.

He groaned as he rolled his shoulders, trying to find a comfortable position to rest as he leaned against the rough bark of the tree he was resting in.  

The king was going crazy. There was no denying it. If he wasn't totally mad, then why in the name of the Star Queen would he send Jimin, the head of the guards, out to this forgotten outpost on the Mistev border? 

Jimin shook his hair out of his eyes and leaned over, sighing. There had been nothing here for over three days. A few Mistev peasants had crossed the 'official' border, but were only scavenging for food. They couldn't have possibly done any harm. 

All in all, it was incredibly boring out here. What made it worse was that there were a couple of wild Nikkis loose out here (curse the damn Mistevs and their obsession with breeding those creatures), so staying on the ground was a constant danger. Nikkis were furred beasts with acid fur and notoriously hard to find, although killing them required little work from afar. They usually used surprise attacks to hunt their prey, and didn't shy away from unsuspecting humans either. Jimin had lost two men to the accursed creatures, so now everyone was required to stay in the trees.

Stars almighty, Jimin groaned internally, WHY am I here?

If the king had sent him to the Oceier border, or even to the town in the far east where spies were popping up like daises, he may have understood. Even near the old Leoris towns that Esterie had captured, he may have understood. But the Mistevs had been quiet for over a year now, and there was absolutely no use for the head guard to be wasting his time here. 

But Jimin never crossed the king. 

Never crossed his uncle. 

"Jimin!" a whiny, childish voice hit Jimin's ears and he fought the urge to punch something. Of COURSE Taeyong would be complaining about something now. His ineptitude and irritating qualities were precisely the reason Jimin tried sending his cousin FAR away from anywhere of importance. 

And the Mistev border wasn't anywhere of importance. 

"Prince Taeyong," Jimin nodded through gritted teeth as he felt the branch he was sitting on dip with Taeyong's added weight. "What is it that you need?"

"I'm BORED, Jimin. Amuse me,"

Jimin fought the urge to slam his head into the branch. Oh, Taeyong was one of the most annoying people in the entire UNIVERSE. Two years younger than Jimin, he was going to rule Esterie one day.

Shaking his head, Jimin snorted. He couldn't think of anyone less suited for the job.

"Taeyong, take your boredom somewhere else. I don't have time for you right now,"

Taeyong raised a thin eyebrow. "Doing what?" He stared pointedly around at the thick forest around them. He had a point. There was nothing to do here. 

How Jimin wished Taehyung was here. Taehyung, the eldest son of the king. Taehyung, his cousin. Taehyung, Taeyong's brother. Taehyung, the rightful heir. Taehyung, his best friend. 

"I am leaving to go scout now," Jimin declared, willing to do anything to get away from Taeyong. 

When will this torture end? he groaned internally as he stood abruptly, balancing on the branch perfectly due to years of practice. When will something actually happen?

Grabbing his bow and ignoring Taeyong's protests, Jimin latched onto a branch and swung, always staying up in the trees. 

Who knew?

Maybe something WOULD happen now. 

He could only hope.