three (1/1)

Minho dragged his feet home, just as the sun had begun to set, he was used to long days, but today seemed extra long.  Between going in early and all the work that had been done he was exhausted.  Jigoon had not left him alone for ten minutes the whole day, every time Minho made even the smallest mistake Jigoon was right there to reprimand him.  As the man got older the scolding and constant badgering was getting worse.  Minho didn’t know why he continued to work himself to the bone there. No matter how hard he worked it never mattered to Jigoon. Even knowing that Minho could help but pour his heart into every piece he made there, from book bindings to sheaths, Minho put the same amount of effort in to everything he did, and it always seemed to go unrecognized. He pushed the door of his small home open and was met with the warm light of the sun set filling the whole cottage, casting a beautiful orange glow in the room.  He took a moment to take in the scene before kicking off his boots and fully coming in inside.  He dropped his bag on the table, and sat down.  He looked at his hands, beat up from work.  He had several new cuts and a blister on his right palm that was beginning to sting.  He pouted his lip and hoped they would feel better by tomorrow, he had more to do and his hands were his best tool. He sighed, he knew tomorrow would be difficult.  He grabbed a piece of bread from the counter and was about to get a cup for water when something caught his eye.  On the sill where he had left the tiny flowers in the bowl of water was a spectacular little bush.  Small translucent green leaves and swirling tendrils of colorful vines that spiraled out of the center, the flowers were still there but now attached to the newly formed foliage.  Minho stepped closer to see that each little flower was actually moving with the amount of sun light that hit it, the little strings of colors swayed delicately as if basking in the glow of twilight. He reached one finger up to touch the center of a little pink flower.  As the tip of his finger came closer, the little strings reached out towards it and wrapped lightly around.  One of the small vines covered the cut next to his nail and Minho felt warmth spread through his finger.  A small glow emitted where the plant touched him, and Minho watched as it absorbed in to his skin.  It was fascinating.  When Minho pulled his hand back to inspect his finger, the cut was gone, no scar or any indication that there was ever an injury.  He was dumbstruck with what had just happened.  He raised his palm with the blister on it up to the plant and watched as the same thing happened.  The plant reached out to him and healed the area afflicted with pain.  Minho did this until his hands were almost as good as new, he laughed in amusement each time.     He wondered if others knew about this plant.  He remembered he had broken his arm once when he was little when he fell out a tree playing with the other boys and all they had done was splint his arm.  If doctors knew about these plants, they surely would have used it to heal him then. No, this plant wasn’t something humans knew about.  Minho sat and stared at the little plant few a while.  If he introduced this little miracle to doctors it could really change how things are done, but it could lead to humans invading the forest to find more. And who knew what that could lead to.  This plant had remained secret for this long Minho did not feel it was his place to reveal it.  He knew what he had to do. He couldn’t kill it; he would feel awful about, so he had to return it. Minho made up his mind.  On his next day off he would return to the forest and put the little plant back where it belonged.  Hopefully it wouldn’t over take his whole kitchen before then, seeing as it had grown so fast in just one day.  As he went to sleep that night he couldn’t help but wonder if he would have another encounter with whatever had given him his little gift.  It was several days before Minho was offered a day off, and he took the offer with gusto.  He finished his work in half the time that day and ran home to pack his bag in excitement for his trip in to the woods.  His little plant and grown more in those few days, clinging to the sides of sill and working little tendrils up the window.  Minho had fashion a little bowl wrapped in cloth to transport the plant without removing its water source and secured it next to his bag. He would leave at first light.   ~*~*~  Taemin awoke that morning with his heart racing.  He threw his thin silk sheet off and changed quickly into clothes appropriate for climbing trees and rolling in the grass.  Today was the end of his confinement sentence and he planned on wasting no time.  He had spent the last few days in his room.  He made an endless amount of crowns and woven accessories, trying to duplicate the pattern of the leather one. He had three new bead strands tied into his hair and his wrists had almost disappeared in the amount of bracelets. He had plenty of beads, all glass and ceramic but no rocks to work into his projects, he knew exactly where to go to collect them; the waterfall.  He pressed his tiny feet into his boots and almost flew out the front door, startling a few fairies who were sitting near by.  The forest greeted him with warm air and clear sky.  The air felt so healthy with life. He breathed in deep and exhaled loudly before taking off at full speed into the forest.  He made quick work of getting to the waterfall. He only detoured to pick up a few vines and sticks that he had run out of during his confinement.  Once at the foot of the waterfall Taemin slipped off his shoes and took his first step on to the water.  He knew the path across the river and into the human world by heart, but the first step was always intimidating.  His feet felt the cool wet of the water beneath them but failed to push into the liquid, instead he slowly gained his balance on the unseen path.  He put his arms out and hopped from place to place until he reached the far bank. He dropped to his knees and began searching the dirt bank for stones.  He happily sifted through dirt to find shiny worn pebbles when he felt the first pull at the forests edge.  He lifted his head and twitched the ends of his long pointed ears.  He could feel clumsy footsteps coming into the forest.  He closed his eyes and let his sense drift farther away.  It was a human for sure; entering the forest from the direction of the town, everything about him was foreign to the forest except for one thing.  Taemin could feel it at first, a part of the forest, was attached to the human, he couldn’t figure out what it was.  Taemin sniffed the air, and it hit him, the familiar scent of the sleeping boy.  His eyes shot open and he stood, heart pounding in his chest.  Quickly, he cleaned his hands and gathered his things, then started running. His human had returned to the forest on the day he was freed, there was no way it was just coincidence.   ~*~*~        Minho didn’t even try to hide the smile on his face; he was so excited to be returning to the forest with the hopes of meeting the mysterious being that gave him the flowers.  He knew it was silly to think that but he had his hopes up none the less.  His main goal was to return the flowers to a place they could live naturally, and of he made a new friend on the way it would just be an added bonus. He started out with a fast pace full of energy and excitement, but slowed soon as the terrain of the forest became more tricky.  Roots grew tangled together on the floor and vines seemed to wrap around his feet no matter how careful he was.   He slowed knowing he was only about a quarter of the way to the river and began to take in the sights of the forest.  The way everything grew and lived to close and intertwined with everything else was beautiful to Minho.  He loved looking through the tops of the high trees and seeing the sun poke through the thick covering. He loved the natural song of the birds and other life that played constantly. But most of all he loved the feeling of life that thrived around him in every way.  It was so different from the city were everyone moved independently and no harmony was felt. The forest was calm and beautiful.  He became so lost in his own thoughts he never felt eyes watching him, he never saw the movement among the trees, and he didn’t even hear the little twig break and the small curse that followed.  He made it all the way to the river blissfully unaware of his audience.  Minho reached the river bank in record time, he didn’t know if he was that full of energy or if he was just getting in better shape after walking this hike so many times.  Either way he laid his bag on near by rock and fell on to the bank. He laid down with his hands behind his head and let the early afternoon sun kiss his skin.  He was tired but still much too excited for a nap.  He stayed still for just a moment before rolling over in the soft dirt and digging into his bag.  He found the little bowl with his flowers, wrapped up and kept safe while he walked.  He held them gently, they seemed so tiny and fragile, Minho felt protective over them, they had made it this far together, and he would keep then safe until they were back where they belonged.  He was about to head towards the water when he heard branches breaking and a terrible scream.   ~*~*~  It didn’t take Taemin long to run through the forest and find the human who had entered.  There was no doubt it was the boy from before, his same beautiful curly dark hair, and soft features.  He looked exactly how Taemin had remembered; only this time, he was awake.  His eyes were large.  Taemin had never seen anyone with such round eyes. He paused in his tree to just look at the man. Taemin watched as he clumsily and very slowly made his way through the forest.  He stopped every so often to look around with a big smile on his face. It would have been annoying, but Taemin was so fascinated by him that even though it took several hours he was disappointed how quickly they had reached the river bank.  The trees thinned near the bank so Taemin had to keep his distance. He risked going a little too close and snapped a twig under one of his tiny feet.  They twig broke and delicately fell to the ground. Taemin cursed under his breath as his head shot up in the direction of the man.  He was still beautifully oblivious.  Taemin silently thanked the gods he hadn’t set the man on edge.  He enjoyed watching the happy and care free spirit the man held with him.  Taemin quickly crawled to the lowest branches of the tree making sure he was still well hidden, but positioned himself so he could quickly scurry up the tree if he needed.  The man had laid his bag on the rocks near the dirt of the bank, and laid down.  Taemin craned his neck to see the boy stretch his body on the ground.  He moved so differently than anyone Taemin had met in the forest.  Every movement made this creature more and more interesting to Taemin.  He only stayed like that for a moment, much to Taemin’s dismay, before rolling over on his stomach and reaching for his bag.  When he sat up he pulled something out and cradled it in his arms.  From where he was he couldn’t see what was his is hands.  Taemin leaned just a little farther holding tightly to the nearest branch, and then it happened, he felt the wood underneath his foot leave and his fingers slid away from the branch. He fell fast and hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his right leg and a scream ripping from his throat.       (A/N: I'm posting this early since I'll have to work all day tomorrow T-T  Enjoy and Comment please! Tumblr )