I looked around and wondered if we were close to our destination. I had already started deciphering the notes I had in hopes of learning the other location of the last two ingredients. It would be great if they were nearby, but nothing ever came easy in life.

"I think we're here. What does the fruit look like?" asked Harin.

"The description she wrote says they grow like grapes but are big like lemons. I've never seen them before, but I guess we'll find out." I replied while continuing forward.

"Go on ahead Rin, I'll stay with him." said Seoho.

He nodded then immediately took off. She didn't give a color, so finding them based off of what we had would be challenging especially if another fruit just like it existed. We headed off in the direction of the town and grew anxious by the lack of sound as we neared it. Were they wiped out as well? Sure enough, my thoughts were proven true by the sight of dried blood and the horrific stench of decaying bodies.

"Yu would be able to clear the area..." I muttered unintentionally.

"What about Yugyeom?" asked Seoho.

"Nothing. I just miss him." I lied as we started to check around for any food.

There wasn't much as most of it had started to decay or mold. I picked up a fruit and immediately thought of Yugyeom. He loved this kind of fruit. There was only one left, so I took it in hopes of being able to call him over and leave it for him.

"I'll go see if there's a not too damaged place we can stay and do research in. Stay here." said Seoho as he took his stack of books.

I quietly sat in the room as I handled the fruit. Was he following us? Or did he go off to terrorize more people?

"Psst. Shi." a voice called out.

I looked around then noticed a purple and white bird beside me. It transformed and revealed who I had been thinking about the entire time.

"You followed us..." I said in a bit of surprise.

"Is that for me?" he asked while pointing to the fruit.

"Oh, uh, yeah..." I replied then handed it over.

I quietly watched him as he happily dug into it. No matter how normal he seemed right now, the darkness still lurked, waiting for its chance to jump out. I couldn't forget that fact.

"Bad juzuse are following you all. Be careful moving alone." said Yugyeom as he laid across my lap.

"Rin is in trouble." I said then felt Yugyeom keep me seated. "Let me go."

"So you can get in the way? Absolutely not. Rin can take care of himself anyway. He's not helpless like you." said Yugyeom with a wave of his hand.

"Then teach me how to fight since you know so much." I retorted in anger.

"Would love to, but what would Rin and Seo think about your sudden disappearances? Plus, you have a country to save, you don't have time to devote any to training. Pick up what you can from those two." Yugyeom said with a serious tone. "Seo's coming back, open your bag."

I watched as he transformed into a bird and hopped into my bag just as Seoho came back.

"Where's the fruit you had?" he asked.

"Ate it. Sorry." I apologized as I rose to my feet.

"Follow me." replied Seoho.

시현

I read over Ms. Wond's notes as I kept the flap to my bag out of Seoho's sight. Yugyeom quietly sat beside me and would give me a little peck if he noticed something worth noting.

"Hey, is everything okay on your end?" asked Seoho suddenly while rising from his seat.

"Yes. I think I'm close to figuring out the last two ingredients. Where exactly I still don't know." I replied as I helped Yugyeom back into the bag.

"I can't help but feel we're being watched by something sinister." said Seoho with a sigh. "Maybe it's nerves."

He sat back down and Yugyeom had come back out. I looked at him but he shook his head, meaning he was still normal for now. Was someone else watching us? Yugyeom tapped me and showed me his scraggly writing. He planned to go check for us and not to worry if he didn't come back.

I wrote back a be safe before cupping him in my hands and letting him escape by the open window. Just then I saw Harin looking around carrying a bunch of fruit. I called him over then marveled at the size of the fruit.

"They fit the description." Seoho commented.

"They were the only ones growing in that spot. We lucked out." replied Harin.

"Well, I learned of the city we need to go to to collect the plants, but not exactly where... I don't know what they look like either. There's no description, no name. I guess she only got as far as identifying two before..." I muttered.

"That sinister feeling is gone. Now I can relax." said Seoho with a relieved sigh.

That meant there was a juzuse watching us from afar and Yugyeom had dealt with them. A smile formed on my face at the thought of him protecting us.

"What's got you all smiley?" Harin asked.

"Oh, we're close to figuring this out and I got excited." I lied.

They'd never let me hear the end of it if they knew the truth.

시현

We set off for the city northwest of Spurt. In the end, Yugyeom never came back. It should've been expected seeing as how he'd have to use some of his power that kept him sane to use in battle. I offered him a small thank you into the wind and hoped by some weird miracle it'd reach him.

"Shi, your mind has been wandering as of late. Is everything okay?" Seoho asked quietly.

"Yeah. Just think of how big a burden this all is. Everyone's lives depending on me. Having to avoid certain places because of the war. It's a lot really." I said, avoiding any mention of Yugyeom.

"Well, that much is true... Try not to space out too much, okay? Danger is everywhere." Seoho said with a reassuring smile.

I nodded in understanding then wondered how the cure should be mixed. Would it be the juices? A mix of juice and the entire plant? There was a lot to consider and we only had so many ingredients. Sure we could go back and get more, but the problem was how long it'd take. I felt my face collide with a tree, causing me to drop everything.

"And I just warned you..." Seoho sighed.

I looked down then panicked when a creature started to run off with our first ingredient. I quickly chased after it and was relieved to have retrieved it. I walked back over and picked up my things before taking flight again.

"We'll be passing dangerous territory, so please stay focused, Shi." Harin said worried.

"I'm sorry..." I muttered as I held the books tighter.