When I run, I feel like I am weightless and fearless. The wind that slaps my face is so intense and relaxing, I find myself forgetting my problems, my parents, my nightmares, and myself. Behind me is Jeongguk in his werewolf form, but I forget about him, and pick up speed, forcing my hind legs to kick faster. The air is so cold and so fast it hurts my face and dries my throat, but I like it, it makes me feel free.

Taehyung! Slow down. Jeongguk mind-links to me, and that's when I realise I have just left Jeongguk behind, in the woods, where there is no fixed path to follow.

But my wolf and I don't listen, and instead of slowing down, we pick up speed, if that's even possible. A shout of exhilaration rises within me, stopped by the fact that I have my clothes in my mouth.

I hear a low growl behind me, but it doesn't startle me because I know—it's Jeongguk.

My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I feel like it'll explode out anytime, but I don't stop. I want to scream but I can't, and I cant breathe, but I can feel everything, and I'm aware of how dangerous it is. My body buzzes in pure adrenaline, making me feel as if I am charged with a never ending supply of electricity.

Finally, Jeongguk manages to catch up with him, and now, he's beside me.

Where do we stop? He asks in our minds. I use my snout to point at a cliff up ahead. Right up there. I link back to him. We kick our hind legs harder, sending us flying off the ground, and we land a few metres off where we took off.

Just a little bit more. I use my snout to nudge Jeongguk—who lies still on the grass.

But I'm tired. He whines. And I roll my eyes at his childishness. Fine, then you can stay here yourself.

And as soon as I say that in our heads, Jeongguk is back on his paws, looking as energetic as he always is. I want to let out a giggle, but I can't in my wolf form, so I growl at Jeongguk to hurry.

By the time we reach the cliff, Jeongguk is already starting pant heavily. Where are we suppose to change? He asks as he eyes the woods wearily. I lead the both of us into a small clearing hidden by trees, and we both change.

Can you turn around please? I request, and Jeongguk obeys. Thank you. I thank him.

We sit on the cliff after changing, and silence envelopes us. I turn and look at Jeongguk. The moonlight shining on his skin illuminates shadows under his cheekbones, making them seem higher than they actually are.

"So . . ." I break the silence, and Jeongguk's head jerks to the right, and his eyes pierces into mine. I continue, "How was the run?"

Jeongguk lets out a whoop.

"It was great. Running with you just wow," He exaggerates, and I laugh. "You're exaggerating."

"No I'm not," He declines. "It was like I was having a run with a bird—you were so free and fast, as though nothing could hold you back. You were like the wind, you go as easy as you came." His face holds a longing expression, but I pretend to ignore that, even though I have it imprint in the back of my mind.

"Well, should we go back now? It's getting late," I asks, and stand up to dust off my pants. "Here." I offer a hand to Jeongguk, and he takes it, and I pull him up.

"How long have you been in the woods? It's as though you know the paths." His face holds the look of wonder, and something inside of me stirs. "Long enough to not get lost here."

"What's your favourite colour?" He asks.

"Are we up for the small talk?" I joke. Jeongguk eyes me weirdly before letting out a whole-hearted laugh.

"Well why not right? We'll be partnering up for a few months anyway," He tells me, and sends me a wide smile that shows his two bunny teeth.

"My favourite colour is grey."

"Grey?" Jeongguk splutters back.

"Well not exactly grey, but right before the sun rises, there's a moment when the whole sky goes to this pale nothing colour—not really grey, but sort of, or sort of white. I've always liked it because it remind me of waiting for something good to happen," I explain. Memories of my parents waking me up early in the morning just to see how beautiful the pale sky is, comes flooding back.

"That's nice," Jeongguk says, and I expect to hear sarcasm, but I don't. "Thanks. So, what's your favourite colour?"

Jeongguk purses his lips and furrows his eyebrows in concentration as he tries to form words.

"I really like pink, well not really pink, a mixture of muted orange and purplish-pink. The kind of colour you get when the sun rises every morning. I like it because it means a new day, and a new start." He looks into distance as he explains.

"Wow, I never really saw you as the type to like soft colours." And that's true, I always thought Jeongguk would like dark colours—dark blue, black, a darker shade of red, and maybe even dark green.

We continue to walk back to the hut in comfortable and thick silence.

"What's your favourite hobby?" I ask. If Jeongguk wants to be my friend, and I want to be his, the least I could do is to show him I'm putting in effort.

"I have a lot," He pauses, "I like to paint and draw, sometimes even fighting. I used to like baking a lot, but I don't have a good history with it," He speaks with venom, but when he looks at me, signs of hatred disappears. "What about you?" He asks, and tilts his head to the right cutely.

"Hmm." I think for a moment. "I like hunting and running, it makes me feel at ease."

He gives a nod of agreement.

We continue to walk back quietly. We're standing so close to each other, I can feel our shoulders touching, and I can't help but wish to get more contact, because he seems to radiate warmth.

"Jeongguk?"

"Yeah?" His lips tug up to form a smile, and I realise—Jeongguk's habit is to smile whenever he looks at someone speak.

"I really look forward to being your partner."

√a.n.

Tbh, this chapter was kinda an uninteresting filler. My comments are so dRY WOW!!1!!1!!