The sun started to rise slowly over the mountains that were decorated with trees, casting a warm orange light over the surviving sleepers.

A ray of warm light swept across Kai Ling's eyes and forced her awake. Groaning, she opened her heavy eyes only to shut them quickly again as she was immediately blinded by the intense light. She covered her eyes with her hand as she sat up, her face now in the shade.

She sighed and rubbed her face with her hands, only to stop and frown as she felt her face becoming damp with a thick and cool feeling paste. Moving her hands from her skin she looked at them.

"Oh for fuck sake..." Kai Ling grumbled as she saw her hands were caked in mud. She looked down at herself, only to see that the whole of her body was also caked in mud. "What..?" She questions out loud in confusion. It took her a while to actually take in her surroundings.

Everyone was sleeping around her in what looked like a mud puddle. There wasn't really anywhere on this tiny bank by the water that didn't have a layer of damp mud covering it. Her eyes spotted Han Sung who was sitting on a large rock, his head in his hands and his eyes closed. She mentally cursed at him for finding a spot outside the mud and envied his dry and relatively clean looking clothes.

She struggled to stand up as the mud had some sort of suction and made it harder than usual as it was trying to glue her to the ground. She cringed at the slurping sound the mud made as she detached from it. Grabbing her bag and pulling it away from the mud, she stepped over the other sleepers and headed for the mouth of the river where the waterfall was. There was a flat stone that looked like the perfect sitting spot on the edge of the bank, so she decided to sit there when she tried to sort herself out.

Opening her muddy bag she groaned again. All its contents were at least a little damp. She couldn't complain, as her second pair of clothes were dryer and thankfully not muddy at all. She pulled them out and placed them next to her on the rock, her other muddy contents inside were washed in the water and wringed out. She wiped the mud off her leather backpack with her wet hand, not bothering with the inside.

Peeping over the bit of land that covered her from view, she looked over to her sleeping companions and saw that they were still knocked out. Satisfied she wouldn't be spotted, she peeled her wet clothes off and dried herself with a dry garment of clothing she didn't plan on wearing and then changed into dryer ones.

Her muddy clothes being washed and wringed out also, before being placed in her now clean backpack. She almost forgot to wash her face before heading back over to the others.

As Kai Ling walked back over to her sleeping group, she saw Han Sung start to twitch. She ignored him as she was still annoyed that he was clean and dry.

"Hey." Kai Ling said, her shoe prodding Seungcheol's sleeping form. "Wake up." She repeated until the sleeping and muddy man finally opened his eyes. It took him a minute before he remembered where he was and why he was there.

Kai Ling went around kicking people until they woke up. Complaints were thrown her way by groggy and muddy people, but she just ignored them as they'll thank her later.

Choa stood and looked out to the view. She was mesmerised by the orange sunlight, tinting the mountains with an amber light. She could stare at it all day, but a muddy hand on her sodden shoulder dragged her back to their unpleasant reality.

"Better clean up before Mr Joy over there-" Ilseul said, nodding towards Han Sung. "makes us start moving" he suggested, before trudging to the water himself.

Ilseul carefully placed his satchel on a clean part of the bank before he then recklessly jumped into the water. Seungcheol who was sat next to his satchel, watched in confusion.

Ilseul resurfaced and swam over to a part where he could stand up. He heaved his heavy and sodden black cloak over his head and started to clean he mud off it. He then did the same with his thinner leather jacket that was underneath, so he was stood there in a damp white short sleeved shirt.

Seungcheol stared in wonder and confusion again as he saw Ilseul's arms that were black from his fingertips to just below his elbows where the black tinting faded away.

"It's rude to stare." Ilseul commented in a bored tone, not looking up from his leather garment he was cleaning. Seungcheol shook his head in embarrassment and carried on carefully cleaning his jacket, trying not to get it too wet as he didn't have spare clothes like the others. He didn't have anything but the clothes on his back - which weren't even his -, and the lighter in his pocket.

"Let's move." Han Sung ordered after the others were now relatively clean and dry.

"Where to, exactly?" Hyeri asked in a suspicious voice. Han Sung frowned as he started walking along the bank that lead down another river trail.

"Is it too much to ask, to just trust me?" He replied. Hyeri narrowed her eyes at him, but followed silently anyway.

The group of 8 followed the river and its bends, stopping every once in a while to drink from its stream. After an hour of walking, they reached a wide body of water that stretched for miles in every direction they could see.

Han Sung stopped and looked out, the others looked to him as they didn't know what he had planned. Dawon was about to ask but got distracted by a weird shape cutting across the shimmering water slowly. She turned her attention to it and squinted in its direction to try and get a better look. Everyone now looking and trying to identify the object.

As it got closer it became clearer that it was in fact, a ship. They were confused about if it was a F.E.A.R ship as they couldn't see if there was a red and gold painted base and sail poles.

Minah got prepared to shoot at the people on it if they were hostile, as Han Sung didn't show any signs of moving. Deciding the wind would be too strong for a normal arrow, she used one of the thick, heavy, silver infused arrows she used to save Seungcheol.

The boat got closer and they couldn't see any signs of red or gold on it at all. They stepped back as it got close to the bank and turned so it's side was facing them.

Minah reacted and shot at someone when their head peeped over the side. The person dodged the arrow narrowly before disappearing again.

"Minah, don't." Han Sung stated, but Minah didn't lower her bow. A minute went past before a sharp object flew from the ship and headed towards the group. They stepped back as they saw that it would miss them. Their eyes followed it as it fell and pierced the soft earth with a heavy thud in front of them. Everyone stared at it before Ilseul let out an 'Ah' and walked up to it.

He grabbed the identified javelin and pulled it from the ground, holding it in front of him and inspected the detail engraved into the body of the wooden weapon.

"It's been a while since I've seen Minho." He commented in an amused voice.

"Are you gonna try and shoot me again, or can I let you on my ship now?" They heard a loud and light sounding voice call from the ship. They looked up and saw a muscular, white haired man grinning down at them.

______

As the 8 got onto the ship, Minho was waiting for them with a welcoming smile on his face. Han Sung lead them on and nodded at Minho as he walked past him, which he then returned.

"You guys haven't been on my ship before have you?" Minho asked as he walked to the main deck.

"I've never even seen a ship like this before." Dawon exclaimed excitedly, her eyes looking around at the new sights before her.

"Well, if you don't mind me joining your little group, then I would be happy to take you all as far North as I can safely." He said stopping and turning around, looking at them expectedly with his mesmerising light blue eyes.

The others didn't know what to say, they were still shocked at the fact they were still on a ship for the first time.

"Of course." Han Sung answered. Minho turned around and saw Han Sung leaning against the main sail pole.

"Thank you." Minho smiled. "I'll take you all north, but I can't take you too far as it's not safe. The ports even near Taean are heavily watched over and secured by F.E.A.R, and I wouldn't even think of going near there in my work ship, never mind my own." He explained as he headed towards a built up building looking part of the ship, opening the door. "I'll show you where you can all rest and relax while I try and get us going." He said, holding open the door. The 7 members followed him, Han Sung stayed where he was.

"We get our own rooms?!" Dawon asked as they walked down stairs that lead to corridors lined with doors. Minho chuckled and smiled at her sweetly.

"Of course." He said. "There is one room taken already as there's another who would like to join us." He added as Dawon started to head for a room. "He's sleeping in that one." He pointed to the door at the end of the corridor. "I wouldn't disturb him. He's more annoying when he's been woken up than when he's woken up by himself, and that's saying something." He muttered, rolling his eyes. "Make yourselves feel comfortable. If you want food just come find me up deck." He smiled before walking past them and headed upstairs.

Dawon didn't hesitate and ran into a room, squealing as she saw a small single bed. She jumped on and sighed contently as she dropped her bag on the floor and breathed in the scent of the clean smelling sheets.

"I'm in heaven." Was the last thing she said before she fell asleep.

Everyone picked rooms and either fell asleep or tried sorting out their messy belongings.

Seungcheol decided to look around the ship, he's never been on one before. He walked through the corridors and peered into rooms he knew weren't occupied.

He pushed open one of the wooden doors. It creaked open and Seungcheol couldn't contain his curiosity and stepped in.

"Whoa..." he whispered to himself as he took in the room. The large room was light due to the large window raining in sunlight. Work equipment and javelins littered the room, making it look messy. A wooden desk caught his attention.

Without thinking he walked over and looked down at a map of South Korea that was splayed on its surface. He tried to pin point where they we're on it, but geography was never his thing. All he remembers is that their camp was where Gwangju use to be. Where they were now, he had no idea.

One of the drawers in the desk was open slightly and a gleaming object inside made him become curious. He grabbed the handle and was about to open the drawer properly, when a creaking of a door made him realise what he was doing. He hurried out the room, ashamed that he let his curiosity take over and disregard Minho's privacy. He's let them on his boat for Christ sakes, he felt like he shouldn't even have a room to himself never mind rummaging through is personal belongings.

He closed Minho's office door behind him and frowned as he saw red mist floating around the corridor ceiling. He walked down towards his room and saw the mist coming from Ilseul's room.

He walked past trying not to look into the room as the door was open, as he's still mad at himself for looking in one of Minho's rooms.

"Seungcheol." Ilseul called as he saw him walk past. Seungcheol walked backwards and looked at Ilseul who was inspecting something in his black tinted hand. "Come here." He muttered.

Seungcheol walked in cautiously, he's still unsure about Ilseul.

"Here." He said and held his hand out, a red crystal attached to a leather necklace presented on his hand. Seungcheol stared down at the crystal in his open palm. "You don't have one. It would be helpful to see you when needed." He added.

"Thanks." Seungcheol said as he took the crystal and put the necklace on. He likes the vivid colour of the crystal. Red's his favourite. "What does it do? Glow?" He asked as he stared at it in awe.

"It glows, and if me or Han Sung need to talk to you, you'll hear it." He mumbled as he started to fiddle with another crystal, frowning as he concentrated.

"Oh cool." He said with a smile. He's happy that he feels like he's now part of the group.

"Your crystal heals too." Ilseul added.

"What?" Seungcheol asked in surprise.

"It should heal those lashes on your back. And others, but it takes a while if they wear it for their wounds to heal. It's not instant." He explained.

"Oh... that's so cool." Seungcheol laughed. "Thanks Ilseul."

"Now get out. I need to finish some things." He suddenly demanded, putting the crystal in his pocket and stood up. He ushered Seungcheol out the room. "In private." He said before he slammed the door behind him.

"Okay..." He muttered. Ilseul confused him sometimes. He stood there for a minute before he thought taking a nap around now would be a good idea.

"I wouldn't trust him." A voice said. Seungcheol looked up and saw Hyeri leaning against the door frame of her claimed room. He hummed in question at her statement. "The satanist and the stone man." She said, pointing to Ilseul's room and up at the deck above them, meaning Han Sung. "They're keeping things from us."

"I'm sure they mean well." He said attempting to walk past her, not trying to get dragged into it. He doesn't deal well with conflict.

"You know what Ilseul does right?" She asked as she grabbed his arm, stopping him. Seungcheol shook his head. "In your camp people know him as the grim reaper." She said and it clicked to Seungcheol who he was. He was told to stay away from him by his family. "He's in the group Creation. Makes these things directly for F.E.A.R."

"Isn't that everyone's job though?"

"This is different. Do you know what he can actually create? You wouldn't believe. We would be sorted if he made for us what he makes for F.E.A.R. But he doesn't." She deadpanned. "He only makes special things for Han Sung and himself. They're hiding things. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit." She grumbled, glaring at Ilseul's room door.

"Why are you following them then?" Seungcheol asked, sounding ruder than intended.

"Because, I've never been up south. Also I think that trying to overthrow F.E.A.R and failing, is better than not even trying. If we fail I'm sure it will be because of stone man and the satanist over there." She muttered, pointing to the room again. Seungcheol caught onto the branded symbol on the side of her middle finger.

"You're in Venom?" He asked.

"Oh." Hyeri said and balled her hand up into a fist, hiding her branded finger. "Yeah, I am. Problem with that?" She snapped.

"What? No." He replied, offended by her accusation.

"Good. Because if there is, remember I can make anything deadly. Killing silently is my job, and I'm one of the best." She said before stepping into her room. "Just think about what I've told you. You'll see what I mean soon." She warned before closing her door.

"Okay..." Seungcheol muttered to himself for the second time that day.

He sighed tiredly and shuffled to his room. He took his damp jacket off and hung it over the back of the chair in the room before flopping on the bed. "These people are crazy." He chuckled to himself before falling asleep quickly on the clean and fluffy bed.

_________

A/N

Hello! Sorry not much happened in this chapter, the next chapter will be filled with more entertaining things. I promise~!

Also if there are any spelling errors I'm sorry, long chapters are hard to proof read accurately (2800+ words in this chapter .-. ).

Thank you for reading as always, and you don't realise how much I appreciate your comments! They make my day!
And I'll try and reply to more, it's just with school I never have a chance. Half term now so I got a week off, and will reply to them for sure~!

- ducky
xxx