Chapter Text
Hongjoong was, unlike most, delighted when he felt the first drop of cold rain splash against the back of his neck. Within the enchanted forest he called home, there were countless magical herbs and fungi that only opened to their full potential within the rain, just as there were others that thrived in direct sunlight.
There hadn’t been a shower of rain in quite a while, and he was running low on his stores of said plants. His worn boots trodded gently down on the well beaten path that he always traveled along when foraging, the brush of the forest separating just enough for him to walk comfortably. He ducked his head softly in thanks, for within a magic forest such as this one, it would be foolish to assume that magic wasn’t interwoven into every living being, sentient or not.
The trees were incredibly thick and tall, their broad leaves blocking a majority of the sunlight with only the occasional ray of light passing through. The air was dense with moisture, and Hongjoong reveled in it as he walked, for the entire forest was teeming with life.
There were many names for someone like Hongjoong - a magician, a sorcerer, a warlock, among many others. He preferred to avoid a specific title, as all they held was historical connotations and mixed definitions. Every magic wielder possessed magic differently, and in such an enchanted world where everyone had at least a small piece, it was impossible to place them in categories outside of the broad, self explanatory ones.
Hongjoong was a human, just one who possessed a wealth of magic, though he specialized in potion making and natural spells, hence his connection to the forest. There were no true humans left anymore, and there hadn’t been for thousands of years, but Hongjoong still possessed the outward look of a human more so than many other magical beings.
There were countless other divisions, creatures like fairies and vampires and sirens, but every single one was different from the others. It was part of the beauty of such an interconnected world, and Hongjoong himself was often entranced by the intricacies of his own magic, let alone that of other kind.
He was fortunate enough to have forged bonds with all kinds of creatures, as he was a central presence within the forest, his small cottage often drawing in those in need. Perhaps his reputation would have been undesirable to most, but he was always willing to extend his magic in the aid of others. There was quite the compendium of creatures that frequented his area, a few of which had become like family.
Family was an interesting concept, as magic had altered things like genetics and birth itself, resulting in blood connections that were much less binding than they had been for true humans. Most just opted to live alone, only interacting when necessary, or within structured groups like covens, but Hongjoong was not like most. He enjoyed the fairies that flocked around within his yard, the two vampires that had taken up permanent residence in his cottage. It was unconventional, but so was the world they lived in.
The pleasant twittering of birds weaved through the breeze that surrounded him, and Hongjoong felt the rain soak into the deep emerald of his cloak, not quite penetrating the fabric fully. Once he reached the small clearing that he’d been headed for he paused, crouching down next to a particularly large oak tree to pluck a few petals off of the flowers that grew at its base, careful to take just enough so the plants could regrow easily.
Magic was woven into every aspect of the forest, but some parts of the nature were more alive than others. For instance, the tree he was positioned in front of currently was home to a particular forest-dwelling fairy that Hongjoong knew well, hence why he often came here to replenish his supplies.
He had been living in this forest for nearly four hundred years, as Hongjoong was approaching the ripe age of six hundred with ease. That was still young for one of his kind, but he’d settled down in this forest so long ago that his magic was tied to it. He felt the ebb and flow of the wind in his veins, the changes in the weather within his joints.
Because of this, Hongjoong knew which areas were best, where nature would grant him the largest bounty. His fairy friend was bound to this very tree, his life force one with its rough bark and strong branches. The inherent trust between the two of them extended to the life around the tree that wasn’t conscious, that didn’t have a connection to a fairy or other being.
Hongjoong was able to pluck the flower petals easily because of this trust, and a patch of fungi near his left boot seemed to grow slightly in size to catch his attention, to indicate that they were in good condition. His lips twitched up into a small smile as he carefully removed the parts of the fungi that rose above the ground, leaving the base intact so they could regrow.
The forest wasn’t only a resource for his magical needs, but it fueled Hongjoong’s entire lifestyle as well. All of his food and water came from the surrounding area, for nature was a capable force, one that acknowledged Hongjoong’s pure intentions and provided him with what he needed in return for the benefit his magic brought upon the forest.
A small sack hung at his side, one that he’d weaved himself a long time ago, and he placed his findings inside gently, careful not to damage them. Hongjoong only had a few potions that he made regularly, and he was constantly returning to the clearing to replenish his stocks for those ones in particular.
Others were simply potions of circumstance, salves to heal injury or brews to rejuvenate and restore. He kept their components on hand at all times, because he never knew when he’d wake up feeling particularly drained, or when someone would come knocking on his door with an ailment.
Currently, he was just looking to gather up his usual ingredients, a few common herbs and plant parts that were always waiting there for him when he needed them. As formerly mentioned, he lived with two vampires, and he brewed a double batch of the same potion each day for them, to suppress their bloodthirsty nature. Of course, many vampires would scoff at such a way of life, but Hongjoong was merely doing what they had asked of him.
Many creatures were stereotyped into characteristics that the majority didn’t actually possess, ideas such as vampires being ruthless and cold, and fairies being deceitful. Sure, there were plenty that did fit into their preconceived mold, but there were countless others that did not. Such was the case of his two vampire friends, thus his willingness to brew the potion for them daily.
Hongjoong enjoyed company, and he could hardly recall what his life had been like when he’d first crafted his cottage in a patch of open field buried deep within the forest. He’d been alone then, a stranger to the wonders of something as simple as friendship. Now, however, he smiled to himself at the thought of returning home to be greeted by whatever combination of his friends awaited him that day.
Before he could do so, however, he needed to finish his task out in the woods, so he began to do exactly that. Hongjoong was not a stranger to getting his hands dirty, and he delved his fingers into the earth nearby the mushrooms, extracting some of the root he needed and placing it within his bag.
This was his routine every few days, gathering up the parts he needed. He could’ve gathered more in each trip to extend the time between outings, but Hongjoong found that the potions worked best with fresh ingredients. He also just enjoyed being out in the forest, and he would often go for strolls through the forest without any particular aim, just to feel the untamed magic surround him.
One would not be able to understand the presence of the forest without having actually been immersed in it. To feel such magic in the air, connecting everything in such a way that was almost tangible. Hongjoong sometimes felt like if he was to reach out his hand, he would brush upon strings of magic, weaving everything together.
When magic had first come to dominate the world, it had greatly altered the geographical distribution of things as well. Hongjoong’s forest was part of the lush temperate belt, full of enchanted forests and babbling streams and natural rock formations, the temperature at a constant midpoint all year round, never allowing for drought or frost.
Up north, there was the winter territory, though a thick boundary separated the two lands, one that could only be penetrated by a specific type of magic that only one type of creature held. Hongjoong knew what he could of the winter from his wealth of leather bound books, but he’d never truly seen it himself.
Down south, however, was the tropical lands, which he was quite familiar with. Home to some of the most exotic and unique species of plants and animals in existence, he made a trip down there every few years to restock on dried, non-perishable supplies that he couldn’t get anywhere else. As much as Hongjoong enjoyed the diversity and unmatchable sights of the tropics, he was partial to the lush forests of his own region above all others.
The temperate region was home to a broad range of creatures itself, however. Mainly dominant were the fairies, dryads, nymphs, and other variations of their kind, for their life forces were always tied to a component of nature, and they thrived in the deeply enriched forest ecosystem. The trees and streams and gardens that held the life force of a fairy were always spaced out from one another, and the fairy held an influence over the magic of their surrounding area, just like the area around the oak tree where Hongjoong was currently foraging.
Most people would be lucky to come across one fairy in their life, but Hongjoong was consistently visited by three of them, one of which was tied directly to the wildflower garden he’d planted outside of his cottage. They’d simply found him over the years, when they’d been in need of aid and he’d come to their assistance, forging a trust that ran as deep as their magic.
Hongjoong was sure that there were other fairies in the nearby forest, but he just coexisted with them peacefully, knowing that if they were ever in danger they knew where to find him. As someone with hundreds of years worth of knowledge, Hongjoong was still in love with the idea of magic, still awed by the beauty of everything it touched.
There was a dull glow extending from behind the oak tree, and Hongjoong shifted his weight a bit forward, catching sight of a particular flower that only bloomed in the rain. There was a silvery luminescence that lifted from its petals, and Hongjoong carefully removed a few of them, staring at the way they glimmered within the pale skin of his palm.
He carefully stashed them away, wiping the water droplets off of his hands and onto the hem of his cloak. Though it was never particularly hot or cold outside, temperatures always lingering somewhere in between, Hongjoong was accustomed to wearing his thick cloak whenever he went out into the forest. It helped to identify him as a wielder of good magic, had helped the forest to accept his presence many centuries ago.
All he needed now was a few shavings of bark from a nearby moss-covered tree, so he straightened up gently, boots sinking into the thick grass as he went a few yards deeper into the forest. Sure enough, a tree with a thin, winding trunk came into view, thick green moss wrapping around its surface.
There were a few vines hanging down from its branches, and Hongjoong brushed them aside gently, running his fingers over the soft blanket of moss. It seemed to press back into his touch, and he chuckled, softly petting it for a moment more before peeling off a slab of bark from an open area on the tree’s trunk.
The bark stripped away easily from the softer wood beneath, falling into Hongjoong’s hand, a sizeable piece that would last him for quite a few days. With that final thing he was finished, and he stood there within the depths of the forest, turning his head to the sky and allowing the hood of his cloak to fall back, cold raindrops splashing onto his cheeks and chin. Hongjoong loved the rain, and he stood there for a moment just soaking it in before using his sleeve to wipe his face, pulling his hood back up to cover his head once more.
He bid the forest farewell as he carefully stepped back onto the skinny path he’d formed over the years of taking this same route, making sure not to step on any plants that grew beneath his feet. The telltale rumble of his stomach told him that it was nearing dinner time, and the slowly setting sun that glinted through the foliage only confirmed the thought.
As much as Hongjoong loved the forest, he also knew to be back at his cottage well before nightfall, and he stuck to that rule now as he walked back down the trail. The rain was beginning to slow down now, and Hongjoong was able to fully put his hood down once it was no more than an airy drizzle.
The spot by the oak tree was no more than five minutes away from his clearing, and it wasn’t long until the trees were thinning out, the general outline of his cottage visible through the gaps. Hongjoong could already hear laughter carrying on the wind, and he smiled to himself as he weaved his way through the trees and back out into his yard.
Hongjoong’s cottage was a small little structure, built from wood that was binded together with magic to keep out the elements. There were strings of ivy that covered the roof and hung down over the edges, and moss grew up the sides in some places. Hongjoong could have removed it if he wanted to, but he rather liked the overgrown, homey feeling that it provided.
Surrounding the entire perimeter of the home was a thick garden, full of colorful flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables. Butterflies and bees were always fluttering around the garden, drawn to the magical nature of the flowers, for they were always in full bloom and unnaturally vibrant due to their near constant proximity to Hongjoong’s magic.
Even the small buzzing insects were laced with magic, their wings colorful and their flight graceful as they perched on the flower buds. There was one particular little garden that was positioned just under the front window of Hongjoong’s cottage, full of specific wildflowers that he’d chosen to plant for their magical properties.
The garden had bloomed to its fully grown state in a matter of days after he’d first planted it, and his surprise was near palpable when he’d come outside one morning to water the plants and a garden fairy had emerged from the flowers. Hongjoong had never truly seen a fairy until then, for this had been many, many years ago, and he still remembered the shock he’d felt when the boy had appeared to melt from the garden.
Now, however, he hardly batted an eye whenever he saw the familiar form materialize from the plants, skin dewy and a light green tint to the apples of his cheeks. San was his first fairy friend, for they’d been essentially bound together, as San was tied to the garden that Hongjoong had nurtured and infused with his own magic.
As he emerged from the woods and reached the small area he called home, San was right out on the grass, giggling and flitting his wings to stay out of reach of the small white fox that was chasing him around on the lawn. “Sannie!” Hongjoong called, raising up his hand to wave as both the fairy and the fox turned their heads to find the source of the sound.
San grinned, tucking away his wings and waving back, his dimples visible even from across the yard. Fluffy brown hair fell into his eyes, a small white streak that had lost its pigment due to the influence of Hongjoong’s magic, as the streak had always been there ever since San’s initial creation.
Fairies were confusing creatures, and Hongjoong had given up on trying to fully understand how they worked long ago, for magic was not always easy to understand. There were laws and limits, of course, but try as he might, he could never fully understand how San materialized in the same clothing each time he emerged, how he was able to just disappear into the depths of the garden whenever he pleased.
Green fabric was woven around him, creating a similar illusion to that of the overlapping plants within the garden, with little bursts of color that exactly matched the placements of the flowers he was connected to. When he blushed, his cheeks were tinged green rather than pink, and his eyes were the color of fresh sage.
Most fairies had thin, nearly transparent wings that folded away easily unless they were needed, hence why San’s wings were no longer visible as he walked to meet Hongjoong in the center of the yard, fox trailing behind at his heels. “Did you get what you needed?” San asked, peering into the depths of Hongjoong’s bag despite not being able to see beyond a few inches inside.
Hongjoong nodded, gesturing his hand toward the cottage. “I’ll show you when we get inside, it’ll be dark soon,” he answered, and San followed him easily, his bare feet softly stepping along the wild grass a pace behind Hongjoong. “Is Yeosang around? He wasn’t at his tree,” Hongjoong asked, turning his head slightly to look at San for a response.
“Yeah, he’s inside,” San said, and Hongjoong shook his head slightly, a fond smile stretching across his lips. They were always inviting themselves in - not that he minded, but it was a stark difference to how timid Yeosang had been when they’d first met.
Hongjoong looked down at the little fox then, stooping slightly to pick the animal up before continuing up the wooden steps and onto his small porch. “And how are you?” Hongjoong had only been gone for an hour at most, but he knew they liked to tell him about things when he came back.
The fox burrowed its head into the space where his shoulder met his arm, making a contented sound against the soft fabric of his cloak. “Don’t let him fool you by acting all cute, he’s been trying to bite my wings all day,” San scoffed, though his voice was full of mirth.
“Wooyoung, what did I tell you about biting San’s wings?” The fox buried his head in deeper at that, choosing to ignore the question entirely. Wooyoung was an interesting case, for he was more than just the fluffy fox he often chose to live as.
He was a shapeshifter, the only one Hongjoong had ever even heard of in this area, for they were very rare creatures. Wooyoung had spent most of his life living in the forest disguised as different animals to avoid being discovered, unable to trust and risk being exploited.
Hongjoong had come across him by accident, as anytime he found injured animals in the woods he always did his best to heal them, so when he’d found an unconscious fox lying amongst the brush he’d taken the creature back to his cottage immediately. After brewing a potion he’d merely waited for the fox to awake, nearly having a heart attack when the little animal had shifted into a fully grown boy, a very panicked one at that.
Still, he’d saved Wooyoung’s life that day and had thus earned his uncontested trust, and the shapeshifter had taken up residence within his home ever since. He was so used to seeing various wild animals curled up on his couch or perched on his kitchen counter that it was normal to him now, for Wooyoung still spent a decent amount of time in different animal forms.
His mind had suffered from so many years deprived of living as a human that he often needed to go back to the more subdued headspace of an animal, the white fox being his favorite. That didn’t mean he was any less capable in his human form, however - Wooyoung was perhaps the most troublesome, mischievous one out of all of them.
He gave Hongjoong a near endless headache most of the time, but he’d been through a lot in his life, and Hongjoong was just glad that he was comfortable enough to not walk on eggshells around them. Wooyoung was an affectionate, loving person beneath all of the pain he’d endured, and even now Hongjoong held him steadily as he swished his tail in satisfaction at being held.
Wooyoung and San had hit it off easily from the beginning, both of them so similar it was a bit scary for Hongjoong, who was often on the receiving end of their nonsense. Yeosang, the fairy who was tied to the oak tree he’d foraged at earlier, had known Wooyoung before the rest of them, for he’d known the white fox he always saw wasn’t a normal animal.
He’d always kept an eye on Wooyoung, the two of them forging a special bond that was different from the rest of them. Once Wooyoung had become comfortable around Hongjoong he’d disappeared deep into the forest one day, returning with the woodland fairy’s hand in his grasp, introducing him to Hongjoong and the rest was history from there.
Their little family was quite unconventional, but Hongjoong was incredibly grateful for all of them. They kept his life interesting at least, he pondered as he twisted the wooden knob of his front door and let it creak open, stepping over the threshold and setting Wooyoung down on the couch. The fox promptly turned into a human, a boy with black hair and a similar height to Hongjoong himself.
“I’m back,” Hongjoong announced into the seemingly empty house, knowing that his other friends were within it somewhere. The interior was small, just a cozy living room with two couches and a fireplace, a kitchen that held his potions supplies as well as vegetables and fruit
Sure enough, he heard the dull thud of footsteps before a door down the hall opened, a figure moving down the hall while rubbing their eyes lazily. “I just woke up,” he grumbled, stepping out of the shadows of the hallway and into the warm lighting of the living room.
It was Mingi, one of the two vampires that lived with Hongjoong, though he assumed that Jongho was still fast asleep, as the sun was only just setting. Living with two nocturnal creatures was a bit strange at first, but Hongjoong was so used to it now that it no longer seemed weird. He was often up well into the early morning himself, so they were awake at the same time for quite a while most nights before Hongjoong finally opted to go to sleep.
He slid the woven bag from his shoulder and clutched the strap in his fist, raising it up for Mingi to see. “I’ll start brewing your potion right after I make dinner,” he informed, and Mingi nodded gratefully, plodding over to the couch and sinking into the worn cushions, resting his head against Wooyoung’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Hongjoong,” he said, voice still sounding half asleep. Hongjoong smiled and moved into the kitchen, carefully setting out the supplies he’d gathered and placing them in their correct places. He was very organized, simply because he had to be - you never knew when there would be a sudden need for a potion, and he always made sure he knew where each and every ingredient was kept.
San was lingering just behind him, watching as he put the glowing petals away. “I can start on dinner,” he offered, and Hongjoong turned his head away from his task for a moment to look at him.
“If you want to, that would be great. I was thinking stew - we have a bunch of fresh vegetables,” he proposed, and the others seemed to find the idea appealing enough. San moved over to the large insulated bin that contained all of the fresh produce from the garden, charmed by Hongjoong to keep everything cold and fresh until use.
Hongjoong turned back around to place the last of the petals safely where they belonged, trusting San to pick a good variety of vegetables considering his spirit was connected to the garden that had produced them all. One of the many benefits of magic was the ability to grow whatever they wanted, for Hongjoong had enchanted the gardens enough so that they grew basic fruits and vegetables easily.
The sound of a cauldron scraping along the counter was audible, and Hongjoong began to heat the large object without being prompted, turning around as the stone began to steam slightly. “Did Yunho-” Hongjoong began to ask, but Mingi cut him off before he could finish.
“Yeah, he came by while you were gone and filled the water,” he answered, and Hongjoong nodded thankfully. Yunho was the last of the three fairies that Hongjoong had found himself acquainted with, though he was bound to a small pond within the forest nearby Hongjoong’s cottage.
It was thanks to the water fairy that they were always able to easily replenish their water, and Hongjoong didn’t even have to use magic to purify it, for it was within Yunho’s ability to do so himself. Hongjoong could have filled the cauldron using his magic, but sometimes he preferred to do things the manual way, so he grabbed the thin metal handle of a large bucket that sat just beside the counter.
“I’ll be right back,” he said before moving from the kitchen and down the hall to the back door. He passed by the room on the left, peeking his head in quietly to see a boy laying in the bed. He was clearly awake from the way his eyes fell on Hongjoong, though his hair was sticking up all over the place and his eyelids were still drooping.
Hongjoong smiled at the sight, for Jongho was always cute when emerging from sleep. “I’m making dinner,” he murmured, just loud enough for the vampire to hear. Jongho merely nodded, seeming to hardly process the words as he flopped his head back against the pillow.
Vampires had a tendency for dramatics, Hongjoong had learned after living with two of them for long enough. They acted like every time they woke up it was the end of the world, just because they were forced to live according to an opposite sleep schedule. Hongjoong did his best with the potion that suppressed their need for blood, but he couldn’t do anything for the rest of their ailments.
Again, it was pointless to try to fully understand how magic worked, for the very concept defied any former laws of science and creation that had once existed. All Hongjoong knew was that the potion he brewed for them was able to compensate for the same compounds that existed in blood, therefore quenching their need for it.
He ducked out from behind the door, crossing the rest of the hallway and pushing open the screened back door. There was a large basin sitting just outside with a magic-sealed cover on top to keep out the elements, though he released it now and scooped up as much water as he could into the bucket.
The water was constantly chilled, a small amount splashing over the edge of the bucket and soaking into Hongjoong’s sleeve, sending a small chill down his arm. Night was falling now, the sun nearly hidden behind the trees, pastel sunset colors turning eerily dark as the entire sky dimmed.
Creatures of the night had a reputation for evil, and though there were exceptions such as the vampires that had just awoken within his cottage, there were many others that gave into their ruthless nature. That was why Hongjoong never stayed out in the forest after dark, for they all heard the howls and inhuman sounds that echoed from its depths in the dead of night.
When he’d first established his small field of land within the dense woods, he’d secured a magical border that he’d continued to reinforce over the years until it was nearly self-sustaining, concealing the area from those with ill intentions. He took a moment to linger outside in the night breeze now, just standing on the back porch as he looked at the way the formerly white clouds turned to a deep grey. They would disappear in a matter of minutes, swallowed by the deepening black expanse that stretched above.
There was a certain peace that held the world at dusk, where nearly everything was in a state of change but yet it felt like the earth itself was holding its breath. Hongjoong believed it was the most magical time of the day, when nocturnal creatures were awakening and diurnal ones turning in for the night. It was a brief stalemate, where the reign of both day and night were interwoven.
The thin handle of the bucket began to dig into his hands enough to hurt, so Hongjoong took that as his cue to turn around and go back inside, the thin screen door shuttering closed behind him. He shut the inner wooden door as well, for the air that seeped in through the screen carried with it a chill that made him shiver.
He moved back into the kitchen, pouring the cold water into the cauldron slowly, steam billowing out and dissipating into the air. “The vegetables are done,” San said from beside Hongjoong, gesturing at the precisely chopped variety before him.
Hongjoong’s mouth watered at the sight, and the two of them did their best to transfer them all into the water without splashing any of the liquid onto the counter. Once they were done, Hongjoong allowed his eyes to flit closed, willing the water to rise to a simmer. It wouldn’t take long for them to cook, and Hongjoong pulled San along with him to leave the kitchen.
They both sat down on the couch opposite Mingi and Wooyoung, and Hongjoong pulled up his legs to cross beneath him. The savory aroma of stewing vegetables was already beginning to flood the room, spices swirling around them in a way that made Hongjoong’s stomach grumble.
“Is Jongho awake?” Mingi asked, looking considerably more awake now that the sun had fully set. His skin was sickly in pallor, dark circles deep beneath his eyes no matter how much he slept. Just the look of a vampire, he supposed, for Jongho always looked to be on death’s door as well.
Hongjoong nodded, tipping his head back to rest against the couch. “Barely, but yeah,” he answered, the fatigue of the day finally leaching into his bones. All he’d done was harvest the plants from the garden in the morning and tinker around the house until he’d gone out into the woods, but he felt exhausted just the same. He dimly registered when Mingi stood up, footsteps moving further away as he went to Jongho’s room.
Most of their days were pretty similar, no real pressures to do anything aside from the general upkeep and magic practice. Hongjoong enjoyed it immensely, though it had sometimes gotten repetitive in the beginning when he had still lived on his own. Now, there was hardly ever a dull moment, and even this brief moment of reprieve on the couch was enough to have his eyelids sinking.
A warm weight hopped into his lap, and Hongjoong didn’t have to open his eyes to know it was Wooyoung back in his fox form, spinning a few times to get comfortable before settling into the safety of Hongjoong’s lap. He ran his fingers through the dense fur idly, humming softly for no real reason, just an instinct when he was feeling content.
“You seem tired,” San murmured softly, not wanting to disturb the peace. Hongjoong cracked open an eye to look at him, lifting his lips into a soft smile. San was always perceptive of things like that, checking in on Hongjoong now and then to make sure he wasn’t too bogged down.
Being in charge of a house of magical creatures was a bit overwhelming at times, but even in the most hectic of moments he would never trade the bond they shared. “Just enjoying the quiet for now,” he responded, to which San seemed to agree. He loved his friends with every piece of his heart, but they could be very chaotic, the scene of Wooyoung trying to bite San from earlier a perfect representation.
The room grew warmer from the steam coming off the cauldron, and Hongjoong rose back to his feet a few minutes later, for the fragrance indicated that the stew was nearly done. Wooyoung hopped down from his lap, feet hardly making a sound as he landed on the ground and followed Hongjoong to the kitchen.
The cauldron was frothing over slightly, and Hongjoong willed the heat to lessen slightly as he rummaged around for the large wooden soup ladle. Once he found it he decreased the heat so it was just enough to keep the food warm, laying out five bowls and filling them with the thick vegetable stew.
Tender pieces of carrot and mushroom were visible on the surface, and Hongjoong quickly moved the dishes to the well-loved wooden table at the corner of the kitchen where they ate most of their meals together. There were countless stains and scratches within the wood, but Hongjoong had no desire to clear them, for he liked the atmosphere of a well lived in home.
“The food is ready!” Hongjoong yelled down the hall, and Wooyoung promptly shifted back into his human form, collapsing onto his usual chair. The legs scraped forward across the wooden floor, the grating sound making Hongjoong wince slightly. San sat beside Wooyoung, the two of them talking about some nonsense that Hongjoong tuned out as he sat down in his own chair.
Mingi came back down the hall, looking considerably brighter than before as he pulled Jongho along with him, hair still mussed from sleep. They sat down at the table as well, Mingi talking excitedly about something while Jongho just looked half dazed, fiddling with his spoon.
He always had more trouble waking up than Mingi, and Hongjoong couldn’t help but brighten up at how cute he was. Though he would never say that aloud, for Jongho could be quite scary. “Good morning,” Hongjoong said cheekily, spooning at the stew and watching a thin tendril of steam emerge.
Jongho mumbled a reply, eating his own food as if on autopilot. “Jongho is grumpy because apparently I kept kicking him last night,” Mingi informed, the sincerity in his tone clearly false. Hongjoong heard Jongho’s chair shift just as Mingi yelled out in pain from a swift kick to the shin.
“Revenge,” Jongho explained flatly, and Hongjoong barked a laugh before he could stop himself. Mingi recovered quickly and began to eat, a comfortable silence falling upon the group of them at last.
Hongjoong practically inhaled the stew, not truly realizing how hungry he was until he started eating. He hardly took a breath until his spoon was scraping the base of the bowl, his stomach feeling warm and full.
The others were still eating at a normal pace so Hongjoong pushed back his chair to get another helping, slipping back into the kitchen to ladle more stew out of the cauldron. It was right as he reached the counter that a loud banging came from the front door, startling him so badly that he dropped the bowl onto the floor.
Hongjoong jerked his head towards the others, finding them already staring at him, expressions clearly spooked. “Hongjoong,” Wooyoung whispered, curling back slightly into San’s side. “What is that?” Hongjoong furrowed his brow, heart beating rapidly in his chest as he shook his head.
“Just stay here,” he urged, softly moving out of the kitchen and into the living room. The banging started up again, making Hongjoong jump as he slid closer to the door. There was a muted voice coming from outside, and Hongjoong could just make it out now that he was right in front of the door.
The tension flooded from his body when he realized it was a voice he recognized, one he had heard earlier that day. “It’s Yeosang,” he called back to the others, hoping it would ease their fear as he unlocked the bolt on the door and swung it open, cold night air sweeping into his lungs and biting at his face.
Sure enough, the familiar forest fairy was standing at the door, hand still poised as if ready to knock again. “Hongjoong,” he burst out, voice winded and strained. “Please, come with me. There’s someone - he needs your help.”
Hongjoong merely gaped at Yeosang for a moment, not quite comprehending what he was saying. “Hongjoong!” Yeosang never raised his voice, and it snapped Hongjoong right out of his stupor, the panic on Yeosang’s face finally registering.
“What - who?” He asked, bracing his hand against the door frame, knuckles white from the force. Yeosang was visibly unharmed, but it was practically unheard of for him to be visiting at this hour, for he normally opted to stay the night in the cottage or head back to his tree before nightfall.
Yeosang shook his head, stealing a glance back into the woods before answering. “I don’t know, I just - I can’t explain it now. You have to come see, Hongjoong. All I can tell is that he’s hurt.” Yeosang was being alarmingly cryptic, and Hongjoong worried his bottom lip between his teeth. Going outside of the magical protections he’d cast was a risk, but he couldn’t just leave someone who was hurt, especially when it had Yeosang this distressed.
Hongjoong turned to face the dinner table, his four friends still frozen in their seats, stew turning cold within their bowls. “I’ll be back,” he started, though he was cut off by protests.
“Hongjoong, it's totally dark outside! You know that’s too risky,” Jongho blurted, all former exhaustion now gone as he fixed Hongjoong with a steady stare. Hongjoong winced, for the one thing he always preached to his friends was the dangers of the forest at night, and now he was breaking his own rule.
“Jongho, I have to. I did the same for all of you - if there is an innocent creature out there hurt, I need to help. Otherwise they won’t survive until morning in this forest.” It was perhaps a low blow to reference the risks he’d taken for each of the boys staring back at him now, but it was all he had.
They knew it was true, too, for Jongho slowly sunk back into his seat, eyes softening but never straying. “Just - be safe. Use your magic when you need it, do not hesitate to harm someone who intends to harm you,” he conceded, jaw tight with tension. Hongjoong bowed his head slightly to signal his understanding.
Wooyoung and San were both watching him with such unadulterated worry in their eyes that it sent a spike of pain through his chest, and he needed to to turn back to Yeosang for he couldn’t bear the feeling of their eyes on him. He breathed deep before exhaling, steeling himself under the cold shine of the moon. “Okay,” he agreed, voice steady.
Yeosang nodded, expression statuesque as he stepped back from the doorway, moving quickly in the darkness as he headed down along the yard. Hongjoong followed immediately, making sure to shut the door fully behind him as he caught up with Yeosang.
Typically not very emotive, it wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary for Yeosang to be stoic, but this was entirely different. There was tension held in every joint and muscle of his form, his movements less graceful and more jerky than normal. As someone with never breaking composure, those little tells were enough for Hongjoong’s dread to grow. Only a particularly bad situation would garner such a reaction from Yeosang.
The two of them didn’t exchange any words as they broke through the treeline of the forest, and Hongjoong could feel the protection of the cottage fade instantly. It rendered him much more exposed, the comforting presence of the magic of his home that always sat in his chest snuffed out, leaving only the ominous threads of the forest at night behind.
Hongjoong assumed that Yeosang must have been leading him to a spot somewhere near his tree, for he never strayed from the oak once the sun set below the horizon. The thought was confirmed when they started to weave through the same path Hongjoong had taken that afternoon, brushing branches and leaves aside.
Yeosang was striding forward at a hurried pace, one that had both of them huffing in breaths as they moved, though neither slowed down due to the urgency of the situation. Hongjoong could practically feel it in the air, an eerie silence that was only broken by the occasional rustle within the brush. The sounds sent chills down his spine, for he had been living in this forest long enough to know it wasn’t just the wind.
He pressed his lips together tightly, magic swirling uneasily in the pit of his stomach at the tense atmosphere. His magic often acted as a sixth sense of sorts, and he leaned into it fully now to guide himself and Yeosang, to detect any danger before it could take them by surprise.
The surrounding forest was pitch black, and all Hongjoong could make out was the barest outline of Yeosang’s form in front of him, not a single source of light visible. It was suffocating, and he couldn’t help the sigh of relief that fell from his lips when he felt the ground change beneath his boots, turning mossy and indicative of the area around Yeosang’s oak tree.
“Almost there,” Yeosang whispered, the sound barely audible. Hongjoong swallowed and kept just a pace behind him as they passed by the oak, shoving their way through vines and thicker branches as they moved off of Hongjoong’s worn path. It was a risky thing, for the denser the forest became the more danger was likely to be present, but his concern for what had made Yeosang so distressed overcame his fear.
A thick vine whipped Hongjoong’s cheek before he could stop it, and he recoiled slightly at the sting. He was sure that it would leave a red line behind on his skin, but he pushed the thought aside as Yeosang suddenly stopped, dropping into a crouch.
Hongjoong stopped as well, blinking rapidly to adjust his eyes to the darkness as best as he could. Yeosang had much better sight in the dark as a forest fairy, accustomed to the changes in nature as his tree was a part of it. Crouching down beside Yeosang, Hongjoong squinted through the dark, just barely making out a crumpled form in front of them.
His eyes scanned the form, clearly mostly human in appearance and slightly bigger than Hongjoong himself. He reached out his hand to prod at the shadow of an arm in front of him, jerking his finger back when it pressed against freezing cold skin. “What the - he’s freezing,” Hongjoong whispered, surprise unconcealed in his words.
Yeosang nodded jerkily, staring at Hongjoong as if waiting for him to realize something. It was all very strange, and Hongjoong had a weird twisting feeling in his gut, like there was something he was missing. Sure, the nights got chilly where they lived, but never as cold as the skin he had just touched, the unexpected sensation biting at his own finger.
Hongjoong held his breath and reached back out for the arm, wrapping his hand around the cold wrist, a shudder starting from the base of his neck and descending down to his feet. Was he dead? Hongjoong couldn’t fathom another cause of the frigid skin and his heart sank. They had gotten here too late, it seemed.
His lips tugged into a frown as he awkwardly shifted forward, moving his hand from the wrist up to the neck of the person before him, intending to check for a pulse. Midway through the movement, however, his hand brushed against something soft and compacted. It tickled his skin and he jerked his hand back, begging his eyes to adjust.
Just as he reached his hand out to touch the soft thing again, Yeosang spoke from behind him. “Please tell me that he is what I think he is,” he whispered, a small tremor in his voice.
Hongjoong lightly brushed his fingers down, feeling dozens of interwoven soft shapes beneath his touch. It only took a moment longer for his jaw to fall open, for him to realize what he was touching. “Wings,” he breathed, for the firm but downy texture could only be attributed to feathers.
His eyes finally adjusted to what he was seeing, widening in shock. Hundreds of overlapping feathers laid over the unconscious man, a huge expanse of a wing that shrouded his body, appearing to be protecting him from the dangers of the forest.
Hongjoong numbly bent down to peer at the man’s face, his deepest dread confirmed by the beauty he found there. Freezing cold skin and sweeping wings clicked in his mind, all signs pointing towards one answer. “He’s an angel.” Hongjoong couldn’t even believe his own words, for every preconceived notion he’d had when Yeosang had first summoned him was completely absent now.
Winter angels were an enigma - though they were well documented in their magic, they were only found within the winter boundary and thus Hongjoong had never seen one before. No one had, because the boundary was unbreachable by any being that wasn’t bound to the swathes of ice and snow. The angels were able to cross freely, but it was unheard of for them to do so, for it meant certain death.
Legend and rumor held both positive and negative connotations for every type of magic, regardless of its nature. The only exception to this that Hongjoong knew of was the winter angels - they were regarded as the world’s purest creatures, unbinded by greed and overflowing with grace. If an angel crossed the boundary, not only would they fade fast due to the distance from their life force, but they would undoubtedly be hunted.
Dark magic could only be acquired through the most unredeemable of actions, through maiming or slaughtering an innocent. Angels were the prime target, hence their extra protections. No angel would ever come through this forest willingly, unless they had a death wish. If Yeosang hadn’t brought Hongjoong here, a fate worse than death would have befallen the creature before them, of that much he could be sure.
Dangerous creatures lurked in these woods - they were perhaps watching now, waiting to pounce. The thought made the hair on Hongjoong’s arms stand up, and he jolted out of his shock instantly, shooting to his feet. “Yeosang, we have to get out of here. Now.” He tried to keep his voice calm, but it was no use, for the panic was nearly choking him. They would face dreadful things if they were caught out here with an angel.
Even more than that, Hongjoong felt his magic draw towards the limp form, as if yearning to save him. An angel had fallen into his world against all odds, and he would do whatever he needed to protect the creature. All magic was interconnected, and any form of good magic would be attracted to the man before him.
The energy that thrummed from his body even in unconsciousness was soothing, and Hongjoong felt his magic strengthen just from the presence of an angel. The forest seemed to feel the same, the trees bending to give them cover as Hongjoong and Yeosang struggled to pick the man up, the moss pushing against the body for extra leverage.
The man was already bigger than Hongjoong in stature, but the added weight of giant feathered wings made him near impossible to carry. Yeosang and Hongjoong each took one of his arms over their shoulders, dragging him forward in a way that felt inhumane but was their only option. The night continued to fall deeper as they shuffled their way back out of the forest, a fairy and a warlock supporting between them a creature that never should have been there at all.