Following the carriage trail had led them nowhere, the path stretching endlessly ahead with no sign of their destination. Then, without warning, the sky darkened, and a heavy downpour crashed down around them. The rain was relentless, thick sheets of water hammering the earth, drenching everything in its path.
It shouldn't have been raining. Not yet. The wet season was still far off, the days meant to be dry and sweltering. And yet, here it was, falling in torrents as if the heavens had ignored the laws of nature.
Cheon Sa and Min Ho crouched beneath a massive tree, its broad branches offering little relief. Water dripped through the sparse leaves, soaking their clothes and chilling their skin. They sat in silence, chewing on wild berries, small, bitter things that did little to distract from their growing discomfort.
The rain only made things worse. The trail they had been following would soon be washed away, the faint tracks Cheon Sa had marked as Dong Ha's possible path disappearing beneath the mud. He knew Min Ho was aware of his search, aware that he was clinging to the hope that Dong Ha was still out there. Min Ho never commented, never questioned, but Cheon Sa could tell. Deep down, he knew Min Ho didn't believe Dong Ha was truly gone. Not yet.
The ground was soaked, the air sharp with cold as the wind howled through the trees, making the wet leaves tremble. Darkness was falling fast, and they needed shelter, somewhere dry, somewhere safe. Sleeping on the wet earth wasn't an option, and with the storm-drenched sticks useless for firewood, warmth was slipping further from their grasp. The rain still dripped steadily through the canopy above, each drop a chilling reminder that if they didn't find a place soon, the cold might seep too deep into their bones.
Min Ho let out a sigh, tilting his head back slightly. "The signs of rain came so suddenly that we had no time to find shelter," he muttered. He caught a droplet from above, using it to wash a berry before tossing it into his mouth. "At least the heavens provided us with food. If not, we would have starved."
Cheon Sa said nothing. He couldn't tell Min Ho that it was his fault they had been caught in the storm. He had sensed the rain coming long before the clouds darkened, felt it in the shifting air, smelled it in the wind. That knowledge had only made him more desperate. They had pushed forward, following the trail with urgency because if the rain fell and washed away the tracks, they would have nothing left to guide them to Dong Ha.
Yet, in the end, the rain had caught them anyway. And now, they were stranded, unsure of how much farther the next town might be.
The drizzle had slowed to a mere whisper, the droplets clinging stubbornly to their clothes and hair. A deep exhaustion settled in their bones, the kind that made every step feel heavier than the last. They had been walking for what felt like hours, their surroundings dimly illuminated by the dull glow of the overcast sky.
After a long trek, they finally decided to stop for the night. The path they had been following was barely visible now, softened by the rain and muddied by their footsteps. They were far from where they had started, far from the last place they had seen Dong Ha.
The question of whether he was still alive or lost forever lingered unspoken between them. Neither wanted to voice their worst fears.
Min Ho rose to his feet. "Let's check the map and see where we are." He swung his bag around to his front and unbuckled the strap. The rain had softened into a steady drizzle, making it safe enough to bring out the map without worrying about it getting ruined.
He pulled out the parchment carefully. The map was old but sturdy, its edges slightly frayed from wear. Inked in deep black strokes, almost faded, it depicted the land in intricate detail. Mountains curled like dragon spines, rivers snaked through valleys, and villages were marked with bold characters. Min Ho traced his fingers over the symbols, searching for their location.
Cheon Sa stepped closer, shaking the water from his sleeves before leaning in. They studied the map together, their only hope of finding a cave before the night swallowed them whole.
"Ehmmm…" Min Ho mumbled, pointing toward what appeared to be a mountain. His finger traced the jagged lines, but it was clear he wasn't sure what he was looking at.
Cheon Sa narrowed his eyes, recalling old lessons. His father had once taught him how to read maps, detailed ones, the kind filled with intricate markings and hidden messages. He tried to summon those memories now, picking out familiar symbols. However, the more he studied it, the more he realized the truth.
"This map is useless to us," he muttered under his breath.
Min Ho looked up. "What do you mean?" His voice lacked conviction, almost as if he already knew the answer.
Cheon Sa glanced at him, recognizing his reluctance to admit the truth. But there was no point in pretending. The terrain they had traveled no longer matched the markings on the map. It had been drawn for a much smaller region, one they had likely passed long ago.
They were lost.
Without answering, Cheon Sa gestured for Min Ho to fold it up. With a sigh, Min Ho shoved it back into his bag, his silence a reluctant admission of defeat.
The air had grown colder, dampness clinging to their skin. Cheon Sa could feel it creeping into his bones, warning him that if they didn't find warmth soon, they would spend the night shivering.
"We need a fire," he said, his voice firm. "Before we get sick."
Min Ho nodded, adjusting his pack before looking up at the sky. Darkness was settling quickly, swallowing the faint traces of daylight. The sky was an empty void, no stars, no moon, just an endless stretch of gray. Yet somehow, there was still a slight brightness to it, just enough to make out their surroundings.
"We should light a torch," Min Ho suggested, stopping to rummage through his bag. His voice was casual, but his next words carried a weight that made Cheon Sa's jaw tighten. "You know… Dong Ha didn't take anything with him."
Cheon Sa stiffened. The unspoken words hung heavily between them. Min Ho had been the one to suggest that Dong Ha was gone, lost to the wilderness and dead, that continuing to search was a waste of time. And yet, now he spoke as if Dong Ha were still out there somewhere, waiting to be found.
Cheon Sa said nothing. He refused to be drawn into that conversation again.
Just as Min Ho reached into his bag, Cheon Sa's ears caught something, a sound, faint but distinct. He moved without thinking, grabbing Min Ho's wrist and stopping him from rustling through his belongings.
"Don't move," he whispered.
Min Ho blinked at him in confusion, but Cheon Sa wasn't looking at him. He was listening.
The forest was unnervingly quiet. No frogs croaking. No birds chirping. No insects humming. Even the fireflies, which should have been flickering in the darkness, were absent.
It was the kind of silence that didn't feel natural.
Then, there it was again. A sound. Distant, barely more than a whisper against the wind, but undeniable.
Cheon Sa's heartbeat quickened. Finally, a sign.
But he didn't say a word. Instead, he simply started walking, his grip still firm on Min Ho's wrist, tugging him along.
Min Ho hesitated. "Cheon Sa, what..."
"Just follow me."
They moved swiftly, their footsteps nearly silent on the damp ground. The path ahead was shrouded in darkness, but Cheon Sa didn't need to see, he was following the sound now, letting it guide him.
After several long moments, they reached a junction.
And there, just off to the left, stood a large inn.
Relief crashed over Cheon Sa like a wave. His shoulders slumped slightly, the tension melting away. They had found shelter. Even if they were given nothing but the stables to sleep in, it would be enough. They don't even need to eat even though Cheo Sa was hungry and he knew Min Ho would be hungry too but having a roof on there head wa a priority.
Min Ho exhaled, glancing toward Cheon Sa. "Looks like we're in luck."
For the first time that night, Cheon Sa allowed himself a small, tired smile.
"Yeah. For once."