Days passed without much of anything happening. However, I couldn't help but notice more and more of the tendrils had started appearing as small sprouts, some bigger than others. No matter where we searched, not even the tiniest clue on fixing things presented itself to us. At this point I was ready to give up. And judging morale and communication wise, the others seemed to be thinking the same thing. I wandered around and couldn't help but remember how happy and carefree Carla was until the incident. Carla strangely resembled us in a way.

We traveled to different places in Seoul and ended up making the last stop Insadong before we moved on. Though it was obvious the others were considering going back home, wherever that was. I stopped in front of a sprout then squatted. I gave it a piece of food then looked on in surprise as it wiggled then turned grayish-brown. What did that mean? I poked inside the hole it was in and watched as it shot out.

I moved back, anticipating an attack then blinked as it picked me up instead. The air became slightly thinner, but the aerial view was amazing. I couldn't see the others, but they could probably see me. Strangely, I didn't feel as if my life was in danger. I was soon traveling back down towards the ground and being safely placed back on my feet. Both the tendril and hole had completely disappeared. Was the Earth hungry? If that was the case, why did it go through such lengths to swallow humans? Was it going to eat them? A gruesome image filled my mind as I continued to think about it.

"Seoho! Are you okay!?" I heard someone shout.

I turned around and saw Dongju running towards me at top speed. He leaped towards me and out of reflex I sidestepped. He hit the ground and I profusely apologized for letting him fall. Usually someone would avoid something that's flying towards them.

"I'm fine, but you clearly aren't..." I said as I helped him up.

"You were up in the air being held by a root. Are you sure you're okay?" he asked as he checked his face.

"It's fun actually." I said with a smile.

He looked at me like a deer in headlights.

"Fun? How could you say that after how it hurt both you and Carla?" asked Dongju seriously.

"Come. Stand right there." I said as I directed him to a sprout before discreetly giving it food.

Soon Dongju was being lifted into the air. He flailed around then eventually stopped and looked around. I patiently waited as his sounds of terror had long since become sounds of excitement. The tendril started to come down with Dongju. He gently landed on his feet then shook me by the shoulders.

"What the actual god damn fuck?" he said, emphasizing the word fuck.

"I don't know, I just learned of it too." I replied as I felt the spot where the hole used to be. "Maybe the Earth needs food is what I'm guessing."

"Food? What kind of food?" Dongju pressed as he looked on with me.

"Not sure, but it seems to like this." I said as I held up the snack. "But even then, is it only human food... if so that's going to be problematic."

"Let's go tell the others." said Dongju.

"Go ahead. I'll stay and study them a bit more." I said as I looked for another sprout.

"Then I'll stick with you." he replied then patted my back.

I poured a bit of juice on the sprout, but nothing happened. I tried water and watched as it turned grayish-brown. Then it clicked.

"Nourishment is what it needs." I said the same way someone would say eureka.

"Really..." said Dongju as he poked another sprout. "Will there be enough water and food though?"

I sighed as I sat on my bum. Dongju had a point. Where were we supposed to bring it anyway? I looked at Dongju who sat down next to me. We didn't say anything to each other as a light dry wind blew around us. The sun was beating down on us and I was certain I had started to sweat a bit.

"Do you think we'll be able to do it?" Dongju asked, breaking the awful silence that the Earth had let us in.

"Don't know until we try." I replied, downing the rest of the juice.

We soon heard voices behind us, so we turned around and saw the other four walking towards us. We waved them down then rose from our spots on the street.

"So, learn anything? Any clues?" Keonhee asked as he leaned against Geonhak.

"We know what the Earth needs." Dongju said with his hands on his hips. They quietly waited for him to speak. "Nourishment."

They looked at us in confusion. I figured they would, so I saved the rest of the snack to demonstrate. I tossed a piece over to the sprout then heard them gasp in awe.

"What the fuck?" Geonhak said as he watched me being lifted up into the air.

I was placed back down and I showed them that I was perfectly fine.

"So, are we to feed all of these sprouts and tendrils with... corn snack?" Youngjo asked in unease.

"I don't think so. There's probably a core somewhere. Maybe deep beneath the Earth." I said as I started to speculate. "Or maybe it's out in the ocean."

So many places came to mind where a core could be that I started to feel unsure about it all as well. I then felt someone squeeze my arm.

"Hwan..." I said in almost a whisper.

"There's 6 of us in total. We can figure it out together. Don't stress too much." he said with a smile.

I started to feel less anxious and more relaxed after hearing his words. Hwanwoong had to have some magic power because of how quickly I felt better. He gave me another smile before rounding everyone together again.

"So, let's put our heads together and try to determine a location." I said as we started to walk, trying to decide on a place to crash and cool off.

"What if, and it's just a what if, there's more than one core?" asked Keonhee.

"Let's not jinx it. It took weeks to finally learn what we needed to do." Youngjo complained.

We all lightly laughed and it was then I noticed the brief yet warming unity. None of us were at each other's throat, trying to prove their opinions were superior. Maybe it had finally sank in that we were all each other had. I hugged Hwanwoong from behind with a stupid grin on my face.

"Hey, it's too hot for this." Hwanwoong complained while doing very little to pry me off.

"I'm just really happy. Not about our situation, but haven't you noticed as well?" I said in hushed voice. "We're all getting along, especially those two."

He stared for a while then nodded. I couldn't remember when Keonhee and Dongju last argued. We quietly watched as Dongju asked Keonhee about his ankle. I felt Youngjo pull Hwanwoong away from me, leaving me all alone. I sighed then put my hands in my pockets. Good things never last long.

ㅠㅛㅠㅛ

I stood off alone while the others sat and chatted about possible locations. If a core did happen to be in another country, how would we get there? I doubted any of us learned how to fly a plane or operate a ship. We were basically grounded.

"Hey." I heard Hwanwoong say from behind me. "What's on your mind?"

"It's great we're thinking of locations, but considering the others outside of South Korea..." I trailed off as I looked at the sky. "I doubt any of us know other means of transportation."

Hwanwoong leaned against me in silence. I peered down at his face in hopes of learning what was on his mind.

"I may have operated a plane before." he said before taking a bite out of his ice cream.

"Was it only once?" I asked cautiously.

"About a week's worth. I know enough to take off, land and one or two emergency measures." he replied then looked at me. "I wouldn't bet on it though."

I held him by his shoulders and briefly searched his face.

"You're all we got, Hwan. Even if it's a 0.01% chance of success." I said with a serious tone.

He quietly nodded then looked back towards the group. Three of them had fallen asleep while Youngjo positioned them in more comfortable positions.

"Can't believe they're already tired." I said with a shake of my head.

"You don't sleep enough." said Hwanwoong quietly.

I looked at him hoping he would repeat what he said. He simply gave me a sheepish smile before putting the rest of his ice cream in my mouth. I would've gotten mad, but I liked the flavor he chose.

"Maybe we should sleep too." he said while making himself comfortable on the floor.

I shook my head while finishing the rest of the ice cream. Youngjo had closed his eyes as well, so someone had to stay watch. Hwanwoong pulled me down to the floor then pulled his smaller frame atop my own body.

"This is probably the only way I can get you to lay down and sleep." he said while looking at me with his round eyes.

I remained silent as I averted my gaze from his. He tightened his hold on me and I felt him get more comfortable. I shifted my sight back to him and found it slightly adorable. I let my body move on its own as it held Hwanwoong in it's arms before rolling onto it's side.