Chapter Text
As betas, they were considered a pack necessity.
Their birth pack had long relied on the patience and peacekeeping abilities of betas to keep a sense of balance. Alphas and omegas were far too instinct driven to handle such a task, after all. They couldn't be bothered to learn the practices of leading group discussions and diplomacy. Such a thing was a beta's duty to their pack, mated or not. They were obligated and expected to fulfill their duties to the pack whether they liked it or not.
Which was why it was such an issue when the six of them mated one another and declared their 'beta services' exclusive to their mates. It felt petty of them to do but in reality, the move had been born from their irritation from having to play peacekeeper so much for people they didn't really care about.
A pack that relied on the levelheadedness of one subgender was destined to fail. They had all known that. They had seen their once great pack become a broken shell of itself as they made it into adulthood.
Betas were not meant to be replacements for the behavioral issues of Alphas and Omegas. The lack of interpersonal relationships was not their job to fix.
The first time they had been forced into acting as Betas on the collective pack’s behalf, they had held a meeting and realized they all wanted to leave.
Their own bond would not flourish in that kind of environment. They would never be granted peace to exist as mates amongst people that relied on their neutral scents. Their love would never bloom to its full potential if they had to stifle so much of themselves for the sake of a pack that didn’t validate their mating bond.
As their makeshift leader, Yoongi had been the one to convince them all to begin actual preparation for the day they would leave.
They worked hard during the summer to make themselves new clothing and a whole bundle of blanket furs for both their future den and for warmth. They dried meat and bundled up packets of seeds. They made themselves packs to carry what belongings they could, including the courting gifts they had given to one another. Each of them made sure to get their hands on a set of flint and steel to make fire.
Then of course, they all had individual projects that they handled as well.
Yoongi had taken it upon himself to study maps of the area and scout out potential routes they could take. He wanted to find a place that they would be able to settle and make a homestead, without the threat of their birth pack, or anyone else, coming to find them. He wanted to make sure his pack would be safe.
Hoseok had been hard at work on a set of tools they would need to craft their new den, as well as survive on their own. His skills with both wood and metal working meant that the work was easy if time consuming. He prepared a few hatchets, a saw, a hammer, a fishing pole, a few spears, and a knife for each of them. If nothing else, they'd have all the tools needed to survive.
Namjoon, not confident in his abilities to craft any kind of physical good for their eventual journey, had elected to play the role of the dutiful beta tending to their birth pack's needs. It exhausted him to the point of tears most days. Though his choice to do so meant that the rest of them could dedicate more time to their preparations.
Jimin had dedicated his efforts into preparing a thorough medical kit. He collected and dried herbs, made strips of linen for bandages, and mixed up a few different salves that would aid in healing. He prepared needles and thread in case any of them needed stitching up. He ground up poppy seeds and made them into an edible paste that would abate pain. He was determined to be ready for all sorts of potential medical needs.
Taehyung focused his attentions on repairing travel packs, knitting scarves and hats for the impending winter, and adding layers to their winter furs. He was good at handing a needle and thread. It was one of the reasons his five mates had taken to entrusting clothing and fabric repairs to him. They knew that he would ensure a thorough job had been done and that the stitching would hold.
Jungkook had gone an entirely different route with his preparation. As he saw their belongings pile up, and their packs get heavier and heavier, he had decided that they'd need a travel wagon. It wasn't anything substantial, just enough to hold a bundle of wood, a few packs and their travel tents. But he figured it would aid their journey in more ways than one. He also ensured that the wheels could be removed and sleds put in their place if they encountered snow before they could settle.
With the six of them working in tandem, doing their best to have a few months of supplies worth before they even left, the pack found themselves ready to leave by the time the first snowfall coated the land. They watched with careful gazes as the ground disappeared beneath several layers of powder. Their plan was to leave in the night during a substantial snowfall. If they managed to do that, then the chances that their tracks could be followed decreased quite a bit. Plus the onslaught of winter weather would deter any immediate reaction.
"I think we can leave by the next snow," Yoongi said to them one night. "We have done as much preparation as we can, and we're starting to stagnate here. Joonie especially deserves to be free from this place."
Namjoon ducked his head and tucked his face into Hoseok's neck. "It's not so bad," he muttered. "It was worth it to give you guys time to hammer out details."
Hobi kissed his face in different spots in a show of silent gratitude.
"Have you decided where we're gonna go, Yoonie?" Jimin asked. Jungkook and Taehyung were curled up on either of his sides and leaning against him with droopy eyes.
Yoongi grabbed a map and unrolled it to show them the path he had marked. "It took me awhile to decide, and it wasn't a choice easily made but.. I think our best bet would be to settle within the embrace of the mountain."
They took the news rather well, all things considered.
The mountain in question was known by the name Clouded Reach. The mountain was so colossal that most of the time, the upper heights of it were concealed by the clouds. Clouded Reach was a fearsome entity that loomed high above most other peaks in the area. Even in the height of summer when the clouds had cleared away, a blanket of snow was seen over the top half of the mountain. Their birth pack had legends about those that had attempted to scale its peaks. All of whom had met a mysterious fate, or had been lost to the frightful cold. Though there were also rumors that the mountain housed a much more sinister power in its clutches.
Not many animals could thrive in an environment that heralded winter year-round. Which was why the stories had arisen that only a winter dragon could flourish within Clouded Reach's embrace. Their snow white scales would surely disappear amongst the clouds and constant snow cover. Their body would be well suited to the blizzards and ice storms that ruled over the peaks.
This thought was only further fueled by the claims from those that had returned from the mountain. They'd share tales of a hidden creature with gigantic wings and eyes that seemed to shift colors. They never remembered much, but their stories always bore similarities in the creature's characteristics.
For Yoongi to choose to face Clouded Reach head on was a definite risk. There was a lot at stake and no guarantee that they'd be able to settle in such a tumultuous climate. Yet doing so also decreased the possibility that they'd be followed or found if they didn't wish to be.
"It'll be a tough journey," Hoseok said, "but I think one worthwhile to find peace for ourselves."
"As long as we're together, we can do anything," Taehyung grumbled from his spot.
Yoongi's face crinkled up with a fond little smile. "Yeah. Together."
It was decided.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
As their chance to leave their birth pack behind crept closer and closer, the six of them took the time to spend more time together. They took full advantage of the pack's established nature and indulged in the facilities and meals that came with.
They didn't tend to the rest of the pack as betas were meant to. They didn't give anyone but their mates any of their attention. It was the most bliss they had known since the week they had taken away from their surroundings to focus on mating one another. It was glimpse into the future they were going to seek out.
The six of them bided their time. Another heavy snowfall would come and it would spell the beginning of their freedom.
In their excitement, they had failed to consider the rising anger of their birth pack. More and more disputes cropped up with less betas to deal with the situation. Relationships were crumbling at their rickety foundations. Any good will from neighboring packs was sinking due to poor negotiations. The pack was splintering apart.
This led to bitterness which led to fury.
One morning they awakened to angry pounding on their front door. The raging voices of their birth pack could be heard from the other side.
Yoongi woke his mates and urged them to get dressed and grab their packs. Such direct action was a threat if he had ever seen one. "Up, up," he said in a hurried whisper. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Little known to their birth pack, the six of them had built themselves a secondary entrance to their cabin as an emergency escape. It blended in seamlessly with the exterior of their home and was latched from the inside. So if anyone was to go looking for it they were sure to overlook it. Which was the designed intent.
Jungkook hooked up the harness that Taehyung had made for him and attached it to the packed sled. He then shifted into wolf form and shimmed it over his head and stamped his paws in place. Anxious.
Namjoon helped his mates slide their packs on atop their winter jackets and then hefted his own on, coming to stand behind Yoongi. “Is it the whole pack y’think?”
Yoongi allowed his mate to help him with his travel bag, just holding in a growl when the door was slammed again. “It has to be. They’ve been pissed at us shirking our bullsh*t duties for awhile now.”
“Their loss,” Hoseok muttered. “Because now instead of intimidating us, they’re losing our presence altogether.”
One of their glass windows broke and the sounds of the gathered mob increased.
“I think that may be their new intent,” Yoongi said.
Taehyung looked three seconds from freaking out. He had Jimin’s hand clutched in his own as his other scratched at Jungkook’s furred head.
“Will we be able to get away from them do you think?” Jimin asked. His voice was pitched high with fear but his gaze held determination. He seemed ready to fight if the need arose.
Yoongi offered his mates a sharp smile. “This is what we’ve been preparing for, dearhearts. I have no doubt we’ll be able to outrun these mongrels.”
Jungkook barked, paws tapping on the floor.
Just like that, their spirits were refreshed. The uncertainty ebbed away and left determination in its wake.
“Let’s do this.”
Jimin undid the latch to the back door and pulled it open slow, peering out to see if anyone was there. “It’s clear.”
They helped Jungkook clear the door and made sure the sled feet caught on top of the snow that had fallen. Once their pup was out, the rest of them followed.
Yoongi tossed a lingering glance to their home and bowed his head as he closed the door. It was his way of thanking the property for having cared for them and offered a safe place to live and grow their love. No matter what came next, they would never forget this house as the starting point to their love story.
They moved as a unit, trying to get as much distance from the village as they could before their disappearance was noticed.
Despite the deep snow, their feet trudged through it with ease. They were running for freedom.
“THEY’VE LEFT! INTO THE WOODS AFTER THEM!”
Yoongi heard those words and knew they had to jump into action. “Pick it up!” He ordered. “We have to get out of range!”
Jungkook barked a few times and threw his weight into hauling the sled behind him. It was a lot for only one of them to handle and they all knew it.
Jimin shrugged his pack off and handed it to Taehyung. In seconds, he transformed into his wolf form and wiggled himself into the harness alongside Jungkook. The two of them made eye contact and pulled with their combined might.
They had anticipated Jungkook needing help and had given Jimin the lightest pack for that reason. If their pup needed the help, Jimin would be the one to shed his load and aid him.
Taehyung hooked the straps over his arms, now loaded with a pack on front and back. It balanced out his haul in a roundabout way and made it easier to run.
Pulling up the rear of the group, Namjoon and Yoongi kept an ear out on the pursuing mob. Despite their speed, it was clear that they were being gained on.
“We might have to fight them, jagi,” Namjoon huffed.
Yoongi didn’t want to even consider it but he knew he would do anything to protect his mates. Even if it meant striking out against his birth packmates. “If it comes to that, Joon, I need you to keep pushing the group in my stead. You know the route I planned out as well as I do.”
“Yoon-” Namjoon met his gaze with pure fear written on his face. “Jagi, you can’t!”
“Only as a necessity,” Yoongi replied.
His attitude changed when an arrow flew past his face and wedged into a nearby tree.
“Arrows! Watch yourselves!”
Hoseok snarled, the sound more wolf than human. He wrestled his bow from his shoulder and grabbed up a few arrows from his quiver. He paused for only a moment to fire one back in the direction the arrow had come from.
The sound of a yelp echoed in the air and told of a direct hit.
“Well done, love, now go! Go!”
More arrows flew in their direction, each aimed for haphazardly than the last.
Namjoon stumbled in the snow at one point, but Yoongi quickly yanked him back up and forward. They were at the cusp of escape now. If they stopped pushing themselves now, they’d lose the lead they had made.
It was a difficult balance. The higher they got into the hills, the deeper the snow became. The further in they went, the further back their chasers fell.
By the time they crested the first true climb that freed them from the territory of their birth pack, they were all winded.
The immediate danger seemed to have passed but they still felt uncertain and kept pushing onward.
As they crossed out of the official boundary, their escape was interrupted by a loud intrusion.
“You are never welcomed back among us!” The screamed words echoed in the forest around them. “If you ever return! We will kill you on sight!”
They allowed themselves to slow to a halt. It felt like they had done it. They had gotten past the hard part.
“Did… Did we do it?” Taehyung asked through heaving breaths.
“I think we did…” Hobi replied.
Jungkook and Jimin sniffed the air and offered small yaps, a confirmation that there was no one in their vicinity.
Namjoon collapsed into the snow with a low groan. “I need help.” He struggled to hold himself up, arms shaking as he did his best to keep from faceplanting.
Yoongi’s head whipped to face his mate, eyes drawn the dark stain of red on his left leg. “What the f*ck?! Did you get hit, Namjoon?”
The younger beta hung his head. “I wasn’t sure, it just hurt a lot. I thought I pulled a muscle or something..”
A closer examination revealed a broken arrow shaft lodged in his mate’s leg. Yoongi felt like crying. How had this escaped his notice? How had he not seen the hit?
Taehyung rushed over, already having opened Jimin’s pack that held the medical kit. “Good thing we came prepared for this kind of thing.”
Jimin and Jungkook got themselves out of the sled harnesses and bellied over to distract Namjoon.
Hoseok and Taehyung worked to extract the shaft and bandage the wound in a tight band of linen.
Yoongi kept watch, anxiety not letting him do anything else. Not while his mates were distracted and vulnerable. He would almost prefer to be in wolf form but didn’t want to saddle any of his mates with his pack.
“Sorry, Yoonie,” Namjoon murmured. “I should’ve been more aware.”
Yoongi shook his head. “It’s not your fault, darling. It was a difficult situation and we were running on adrenaline. I feel bad that I didn’t notice sooner.”
Or maybe he had. Had it happened when Namjoon stumbled? That must have been the moment. f*ck.
Now there was a new thing to consider. Namjoon shouldn’t walk on that leg, not with an injury like that. They would need to clear room for him on the sled. Which meant a couple of added packs for the rest of them. They could trade out along the way but it was an unexpected hit to their plan.
By the height of the sun in the sky, it was a bit before midday. It had been early morning when they were run out of their home.
“Did we manage to grab all of our packs before we left? I doubt they’ll give us a chance to sneak back in and salvage it.” Yoongi was nervous that they may have left something in their rush to leave. Though it felt like they had been pretty thorough at the time.
Taehyung seemed to take a visual count. “I think the only thing we left were the older furs that we were debating on taking or not. Everything else important is here with us.”
Hoseok let out a breathless laugh as he reached out to pat their shifted mates on the head. “Yeah, including all of us. Even if our Joonie got a little hurt in the process.”
Namjoon echoed his laughter as he sat up from his hunched position. “Guess that means I’ll get to be doted on when we find a place to settle.”
Taehyung kissed him full on the mouth. “Yes. Yes indeed. We’ll take very good care of you, baby.”
They all chuckled when Namjoon’s cheeks went red at the attention.
“We’ll need to put you on the sled, Namjoonie,” Yoongi said with a commiserating pat to his shoulder. “I don’t want to risk that injury becoming worse.”
“Okay, jagi.” He seemed reluctant but knew better than to try and argue with a protectively charged Yoongi.
There was a long journey ahead of them, but at least they were free. Now their future could begin.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
When he had crafted the route that would take them to the foot of Clouded Reach, Yoongi had estimated that it’d take them at least a day and a half to reach its mighty base.
So it came as quite the surprise when they managed to reach the foot of the mountain by the end of the first day.
Clouded Reach was just as intimidating and beautiful up close. It disappeared into the low hanging clouds, only a faint silhouette visible from where they stood. There were hundreds of of trees within their vicinity that bore snow on their boughs. Between that and the heavy clouds overhead, Yoongi knew they were in for a winter storm in the near future.
As he peered up along the path they would take, Yoongi found himself falling in love with the quiet of the area. Their birth pack had always been so loud and busy all the time. There was hardly time nor opportunity for them to embrace that sort of thing unless they had left the village. Which had been hard to do when there were so many eyes watching for people to sneak out, especially if they happened to be betas.
The icy stillness was refreshing. Yoongi really hoped they would be able to make a home for themselves within the mountain's embrace.
"Wow," Hoseok breathed. "I've never seen it so close before. I'm kind of intimidated."
Namjoon hummed in agreement, gaze full of awe. "Yeah, it's beautiful but kind of terrifying too."
Taehyung helped Jimin and Jungkook shimmy out of their harnesses before they shifted.
Jungkook stretched his arms behind his head. "That was a good run. I don't think we're gonna be able to do that pace up this thing though."
"Definitely not," Yoongi agreed. "We'll go for a much more leisurely pace now that we're not being pursued."
Jimin took the opportunity to check on their mate's injury. He seemed pleased with things for now. He pressed a kiss to Namjoon's lips and ruffled his hair. "Good job taking it easy, love. I'm not seeing any early signs of infection so I think it was just a regular hunting arrow. It'll take some time to heal but as long as we keep you rested up, it should heal without issue."
Namjoon huffed in response. "It's just a nuisance until then. Bad timing."
”Life rarely offers good timing even when you plan for it,” Hobi pointed out. “Try not to linger on it.”
“Hmph.”
Taehyung grinned, always endeared when one of them got huffy. “It’ll be okay, Joonie. Lots of coddling for you once we settle in our camp for the night.”
Even though that had been preparing to leave and had planned it all out, there was an element of discord to their current circ*mstances. They were ready and had made sure of such before anything could come to pass, yet being faced with the reality of no longer having a sturdy roof over their heads was rather sobering.
They had a lot of work ahead of them. There was a lot to be done, a significant hike ahead of them, and a new home to be built.
Their days of freedom had begun. But it had brought a whole slew of logistics with it that they’d need to hammer out.
The thoughts of everything that they’d need to do and work on whirred in Yoongi’s mind but he did his best to push it to the side. For now, they should focus on settling a camp for the night. The rest could come after a good sleep.
”We should see how far we can get up the mountain tomorrow, and then we’ll settle somewhere once day fades into afternoon. If all goes well, we’ll be able to reach the halfway point by then.”
Namjoon slumped a bit on the sled. “Sorry for causing more work for the rest of you.”
Taehyung leaned down to scent him. “Hush, baby. It’s our privilege to take care of you.”
“So are we setting up here? Or do we want to find somewhere a bit more protected for the night?" Jimin asked as he stretched his limbs.
They all took a moment to check their surroundings, surveying. It was kind of out in the open but protected by the large evergreens overhead. It wasn’t perfect, but they were going to be living out a tent until they had the opportunity to build themselves a new cabin. So it would do.
“Do we want to take watches as a precaution?” Jungkook asked.
Yoongi hummed in consideration. “I would say yes but I think we’ll be in for a storm tonight. I don’t want to risk any of us to the elements, even in wolf form. I think we’ll all be on high alert tonight anyways. Let’s all try and get as much sleep as possible tonight.”
Plan of action decided, they could start to set up their camp.
Jungkook and Yoongi focused on clearing away the snow to make a base for their fire pit, and collecting wood from downed trees in the area.
Jimin and Hoseok focused on setting up the large tent they had made for themselves and all the bedding they’d need for the night.
Taehyung and Namjoon (who had been ordered by Jimin to stay seated) were preparing some food for them all. Their first meal as free betas.
Within an hour, their respective tasks were finished. A warm fire roared before them, food filled their bellies, and their tent was ready to receive them for a good sleep. They were a team. A team driven by their unified love for one another and the desire to bask in the freedom of their new lives.
They had escaped the oppressive atmosphere of their birth pack. They had survived and persevered their way straight to freedom. The long wait to get to that point had been worth every moment.
“I am so in love with every single one of you,” Taehyung breathed after they had finished their meal. “And I am so excited for where our lives will go from here.”
His statement was met with fond sounds and smiles as the others offered similar sentiments in return.
They settled in for rest not long after, with the warmth of the fire surrounding them within the confines of the tent. They grouped up around a snoring Namjoon and bid each other goodnight.
Tomorrow, they’d begin their journey up the mountain.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
When the first breath of morning came, the quiet of the forest had transformed into a howling winter storm.
The walls of their tent rippled and flapped furiously, the heat of the fire had long since been snuffed out. It was a tough reminder of their circ*mstances. They were only as protected from the bitter cold as their clothing and blankets could offer.
Even with their conjoined warmth, there was a frightful chill in the air. The moderate coldness of the day previous had spiraled down into frigidity.
“This is gonna be a rough hike, isn’t it?” Hobi asked, voice rough with sleep.
Yoongi didn’t want to dignify that with a response, though his thoughts were much the same. It was sure to be difficult with the added stress and complications of such a strong storm.
“Mmmngh, don’t think about it yet,” Taehyung grumbled, rolling to flop his leg over Hoseok’s hip. “More sleep first.”
Yoongi couldn’t help a fond smile as he watched his love buckle under the younger’s insistent pout.
“Okay, jagi. Let’s sleep a little more.”
There was no rush. They had all the time in the world to scale the mountain. Clouded Reach wouldn’t be going anywhere.
If the storm refused to relent from its current state? They could take an extra day to rest before setting out.
Yoongi settled back in to the warmth of his mates and let loose a long sigh. Contentment soothed him inside and out. More sleep was in order. Everything else could wait.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
It was nearly midday by the time they had gotten themselves together and the camp packed up.
They had taken the time to indulge in a slow morning, trading lazy kisses and cuddles with one another without worry of being interrupted by someone in their birth pack in need of a beta. It was a moment of pure bliss that they’d hold near and dear to them for a long time to come.
They bundled Joonie up in a few blankets on the sled since he wasn’t allowed to shift just yet. (Jimin had told him that he would be able to in a couple of weeks once they started getting him to walk again.)
The rest of them elected to shift into their wolf forms in an effort to keep as much body heat as possible.
While the storm had gotten better come full daylight, it was still bitter cold from the whipping winds. Yoongi took comfort in the heavy snowfall though, knowing it would cover any tracks that they left behind.
Clouded Reach was offering its first trial to them. It was up to them to answer with their own tenacity.
When they were ready, Yoongi headed off the pack and led his mates up into the covered trails of the mountain.
Their spirits were high despite the fearsome weather billowing about. It was one of the first times in a long time that they had gotten the chance to enjoy the unique beauty of winter.
The towering trees held onto the snow falling from the sky, cradling it on their branches like a powdery blanket. The needles of every evergreen pine danced on the winds in a way that mimicked the flakes falling from the sky.
It was a beautiful display. Winter called to all wolves in the way that spring called to the bees. The cold came as a warm welcome. Almost like the embrace of an old friend.
As their hike continued, Jungkook took a chance to embrace the storm in the way only a wolf could. He tilted his head back and let out a sweet howl.
Namjoon laughed from the sled.
Jimin and Taehyung were quick to join in, one pitched low and one pitched high.
Hoseok and Yoongi shared an amused glance before they too joined in.
Their five voices intertwined in beautiful harmony, swept away in the winds and carried around the mountain.
When their song came to a close, they noticed that Namjoon was in tears.
Hobi whined and padded over to lick at his cheeks.
“Mm’okay,” he said through a chuckle. “I just love how pretty that sounded. It’s been a long time since we got to howl like that.”
Yoongi realized then just how true that sentiment was.
Their birth pack had been stifling in more ways than one. Their entire existence had felt heavy with the expectations of the others. Each day was a bit stilted as they tried to navigate their lives without being pulled into a building conflict between an alpha and omega. Their every move was tracked. Their every meal was interrupted. Their every moment of bonding was regarded with disdain. Their very existence as a mated beta pack was seen as a slight against the others.
They had gotten used to it, had been forced to accept it as normal. Even though they had known, in their hearts, how backwards it all was.
Never again, Yoongi decided then and there. Never again would his mates be forced to give up their comfort in order to cohabitate with others. Never again would they allow their lives to be intruded upon in that way.
This new beginning would be their chance to renew the strength of their bond. It would be a chance for them to embrace the the joys of being mates without the derisive glances from their kin.
Clouded Reach was hopefully going to be a source of salvation for them.
All that was left, was to make the climb.
As they got higher up the storm reawakened with a newfound fury. Where it had been bordering on calm, it turned on head and presented them with all of its might. Their field of vision narrowed to a sparse few feet in front of them. The trees creaked and groaned as the snow fell in a torrent. Ice began to build in their fur and atop the furred blankets that bundled their mate on the sled.
Yoongi barked every few minutes to ensure his mates were still behind him. The tension in his bones was only soothed when he heard them call back. He could only hope that the storm would break and offer them another reprieve from its might.
For now, they would push on. Clouded Reach would not break them so easily.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
Something had changed. The mountain felt different all of a sudden.
He opened his eyes and lifted his head.
Somehow, an entity or entities had made it past the worst of his wintry storm. Someone was on the mountain and moving deeper into his domain.
He raised himself from his nest and crept forward through his cave.
It was time to find out the intentions of the newest intruders.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
For how fearsome the winter storm had been up until that point, they had anticipated a upward battle ahead of them. It would only make sense that the weather would worsen as they climbed higher up.
Yet as they crested up into what they believed to the middle portion of Clouded Reach's height, the storm died away and left only an overcast sky in its wake. The whipping winds fell away and left the area feeling a bit warmer than it had been the entire climb up thus far.
Yoongi looked to his mates in confusion. Their body language gave away the fact that they felt the same.
Jungkook sniffed the air and barked.
“Yeah, that’s a really weird change up,” Namjoon commented. “I feel like we just stepped over a threshold or something.”
It made Yoongi feel nervous, unsettled. There was no discernable reason for the storm to have faded so abruptly. Unless it was a warning of what was to come. His ears picked up no threatening sounds of compounding snow drifts, which might suggest an avalanche. His nose couldn’t pick up on any lingering creature in their immediate vicinity. His eyes couldn’t see any obvious cause for the storm’s pause.
It was almost exactly as Joonie has suggested. It was almost… magical in nature.
Wolves weren’t removed from the concept of magic, but they also couldn’t wield it in an active form. Their was a natural magic that blended into their blood and allowed them the ability to shift.
Betas were said to have the most direct engagement with their inner magic as their dynamic was the epitome of balanced and controlled. There were no ‘distractions’ from their root. Or so their birth pack had claimed, though it was perhaps another method of guilt and peer pressure to have access to their help.
Yoongi liked to think that their fables and beliefs had stemmed from something much more ancient than their modern ideals, one uninhibited by the concepts that had become commonplace within their society.
There was so much more to life than their simple ability to keep the peace. That much he was sure of.
Still, the prospect of magic being involved? It would make sense, given the reputation that Clouded Reach carried. He just dreaded it.
If there was something upon the mountain that could bear and control magic? They might be in for quite the rude encounter.
Yoongi shifted back into his human form and strode over to Namjoon, brushing away the snow on top of his blankets. “I have to say that I agree. Something felt different as soon as we got to this plateau.”
Namjoon bit at his lip. “What does that mean for us, jagi?”
He could sense his mates shifting as well. It seemed the change up had left them all as uneasy as he.
Hoseok came up and grabbed his hand. “I guess we just keep pushing forward and see what happens?”
Taehyung nodded. “We might as well. It could’ve been a bit of grace from nature. Maybe it decided to cut us some slack.”
Jimin laughed and tousled Tae’s hair with a fond grin on his face. “I like that thought, Tete. We’ll hope that’s the case.”
Jungkook had elected to remain shifted but he strode over and brushed against their legs, large eyes staring up at them in silent question.
“Okay,” Yoongi agreed. “We’ll keep moving forward. Let’s hope it was a weird fluke of some kind.”
And maybe that was the case. They were still new to Clouded Reach. There was no telling what the normal was for weather patterns and the like.
Yoongi just knew what his gut was feeling. He'd keep the optimism in mind, but he was realistic. Something was up. He could only hope it would reveal itself in time.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
It had been quite some time since the last travelers had dared attempt to scale the mountain. As it had been his home for the last few hundred years, he always kept an eye on travelers to ensure that their passage was a peaceful one. If they encroached too close to his home, or harmed the environment, he would make his presence known.
There were simple rules that he wanted visitors to adhere to. Seokjin just never expected them to do so. Common courtesy was a dying art, or so it seemed.
He surfaced from the opening of his home and surveyed his immediate surroundings. There was nothing out of the ordinary to be found. No sounds carried over the winds or disturbed the quiet of the mountain.
Seokjin stretched his wings and took a moment to soak in the crisp air and the slightly warmth from the sun overhead.
Living at one of the highest points of the mountain came with a degree of solitude and silence that he had gotten used to over the years. Trees were fewer but monstrous, animals were scarce but calm, trespassers were rare and usually turned back around before they could become a problem for him.
It was the kind of life he had hoped to find after living in the dragonic capital of Dagenyeon during his youth. The roaring bustle of the city was nonstop and was hard for a dragon. Seokjin had always had more sensitive ears than many of his kin, so life there had been borderline torture for his senses.
But here? Above the clouds, above the standard living level for humans of all sorts, there was peace.
Seokjin’s eyes flickered open at the sound of wing beats.
A few crows flew overhead, scouting out the ridges for any pickings. They were unlikely to find something easy to feast on.
He stretched his wings once more and made his way out along the path. The journey to a nearby peak was familiar and well worn despite the thick covering of snow that concealed the actual pathway from view.
His presence upon the mountain worked in symbiosis with the natural ecosystem. His magic fueled the snowstorms and allowed him to control them from time to time. His magic also worked to protect the cycle of frosting and defrosting along the mountain’s peaks. The summer sun would melt some of the snow and ice but not enough to eradicate it completely.
There were only a couple months out of the year that showed the earthen ground beneath all of the snow. It was one of the few times that he could allow his plants and crops to see the actual sun. Most of the animals that managed to live atop the mountain alongside him also took those months to embrace the warmth of a much lower altitude.
This was the way of the mountain. As it had been for all the years Seokjin had lived upon it.
The issue arose with the continuous meddling from humans and humanoids. Though wolf shifters seemed to be the most pressing presence.
Seokjin didn’t mind visitors. That was to be expected. Humanoids and animals alike would seek out the mountain in a bout of curiosity if nothing else. Most of which had the wherewithal to respect their surroundings when they appeared.
The wolves, however, seemed intent on claiming the mountain rather than visiting it.
He had done so a few centuries before. He understood the desire. The mountain was a beautiful piece of natural beauty that towered above even the clouds. His heart had longed to make it home as soon as he had laid eyes upon its glistening peaks.
The difference was that his presence upon the mountain was not a hindrance to the natural cycling of the seasons, nor the existing ecosystem. He grew his own food or flew down to the nearby forest to hunt for meat if he was in need. The most he had ever done was fell a few trees that were mostly dead already for his cavernous home. Even then, he had gathered seeds from the nearby trees and planted them in the height of summer.
Seokjin loved the mountain, and it loved him in return in its own way. The symbiosis was a sacred thing for him, and something he refused to see broken for the greed of creatures with much shorter life spans.
He reached his take off area and swept a careful gaze over the visible landscape. No movement caught his eye, except for the calculated hops from a few mountain goats as they navigated a gulley.
Still, he could feel the presence of life forms that were unfamiliar to him. He needed to investigate their intentions. It was his self imposed duty on behalf of the mountain and its creatures.
With a quick stretch of his limbs, Seokjin leapt into the sky and pulled himself into the air with his mighty wings. The icy air felt pleasant over his scales. He rumbled in appreciation, allowing himself to coast over the winds for a bit.
To be a dragon was to take the utmost pleasure and pride in one's flight. It was this united sense of freedom that came from dancing with the winds and clouds that gave dragons joy that only other winged creatures could understand.
After getting his fill, he drew his wings into his sides and dove down to the level of the mountain closer to the disturbance.
It was time to confront those that had managed to bypass his storm.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
Yoongi heard the mighty wingbeats before he ever saw the source of the sound. He froze in place, whipping around to face his mates with a look of terror.
There was no bird alive that could make a sound so thunderous just by flying. There was no way those were the sounds of an avian.
"Group up!" He hissed.
The six of them huddled in closer to one another in a protective formation over Namjoon. As the injured one, he was thus the weakest at the moment. Their instincts didn't much like the idea of leaving his wellbeing up to chance.
The flapping sound grew closer and closer as the trees around them began to dance from the massive waves of air.
Four massive clawed feet dug into the snow as the dragon landed before them.
None of them could quite believe the sight that lay before them. There had always been tales and rumors, sure, but no proof of the mountain's dragon had ever been brought forth. It was as though no one ever got close enough to steal away anything of the sort.
As they stared down the colossal beast, they realized why that was. It was the much saner thing to turn tail and run.
The dragon stared them down with eyes that seemed to be a myriad of colors. The skin around their eyes and mouth seemed to sparkle silver and gold, like the dragon's skin underneath was made of precious metal. Their scales were a mix of shining white and pale blue and allowed them to blend in well to the snow surrounding them. The creature's head was made up of a bunch of spikes and pointed scales, though it did not make them appear as fearsome as they might have otherwise imagined.
It was the size of the dragon that made it a frightful visage. Far taller than four men standing atop one another's shoulders, it seemed to match the large mountain trees.
The dragon seemed to survey them as it stood before them. Its gaze flickered over all of them but gave nothing away.
"What do we do?" Taehyung whispered. "We are so f*cked if it decides to attack."
Jungkook, crouched in front of them in wolf form, growled.
The dragon's attention shifted to their youngest mate, its large jaw parting to offer a bone chilling hiss in reply.
Namjoon grabbed a handful of Jungkook's fur and tugged him back half a step in warning. The last thing they needed to do was piss off a dragon of all things.
"We mean no harm, Dragon of Clouded Reach," Yoongi called out with fear in his tone. "We have fled our birth pack and only seek to find shelter within this hallowed peak. We will not cause you trouble, I swear it."
It was a desperate thing to try. There was no guarantee the dragon would ever understand their words. Nor was there any assurance that his plea would be heard. Yet it was all he could offer in that moment. Yoongi just wanted to find peace for he and his mates, he didn't want to battle a dragon.
The dragon huffed, it sounded a bit like a sound of disbelief. Its tailed whipped through the snow in a show of agitation.
Hoseok sucked in a breath and tightened his hold on Taehyung's arm. "Please, please, please," he said in an under breath mantra.
”I can’t speak for others that have scaled the mountain, Dragon,” Yoongi tried. “I don’t know if they’ve wronged you, or if they’ve harmed Clouded Reach in some way, but we are not the same.”
Again the dragon expressed skepticism. Another puff of snow erupted from behind it with another sweep of its tail.
Jungkook didn’t try and growl again but his hackles were raised and his posture tensed up. He was ready to fight if the need arose.
”What are the odds it can actually speak our language?” Jimin asked in a low murmur.
None of them wanted to consider that question for too long. It was too frightening.
The dragon watched them got a moment more before it straightened up and closed its eyes. A bright flash of light enveloped the creature, so vibrant that it was blinding.
The six of them shielded their eyes on instinct.
When the light faded, a tall human stood in the dragon’s place.
They were dressed in a blue gray cloak that was lined with a fluffy blue fur material around the top. Their eyes were the same mix of colors, pupils still slit. Their hair was white as snow, but spiky in a way that was reminiscent of icicles or the spikes of their dragon form. A long strand of hair fell on either side of their face and framed their smooth jawline. Objectively, they were beautiful. The kind of beauty that royals would chase after.
Yoongi was baffled, and could smell similar reactions in the scents of his mates.
It was common knowledge for there to be wolf shifters. They were both numerous and ordinary in their ability to shift forms. Such could almost be considered their legacy in the world.
Other creatures also bore this ability but they were more secretive about it. For some, it was even a danger to their species if the secret was unveiled.
They could only imagine that was the case for dragons. For they had just bore witness of the ability with their own eyes.
“Your kin always scale this mountain with selfish endeavors in mind,” the dragon said. Their voice was lighter than any of them had anticipated. “They mean no harm and yet trudge through this quiet refuge with the audible cacophony of a herd of elk. They hunt the creatures and tear down the trees without offering anything in return for their grievances.”
Yoongi had no doubt it was true. It had become a thing worthy of bragging rights if one was to brave the fearsome cold and jagged heights of Clouded Reach. With that intent in mind, he was sure that none of them had cared about the environment as they climbed.
”Your praises of the mountain mean nothing in the wake of so much angst caused from your wolven kin.”
”Then let us prove to you that we are different,” Hoseok pleaded. “We will be kind to our surroundings and replant the seeds that fall from any trees we fell! We just ask for a chance to show you that we are not our kin.”
The dragon narrowed its eyes at Hoseok, head tilting slightly as though considering.
”Please, Dragon,” Jimin tried.
”My name is not ‘dragon’, I am Seokjin. I am the caretaker of this mountain and I do not welcome blatant intrusions into my home.”
”We won’t intrude at all if we can help it,” Taehyung murmured. “We’ll steer clear of your dwelling if that is what you want of us.”
“What I want,” Seokjin hissed, “is for you to leave. I do not trust the words of wolves who have so often tread back on the words they conveyed to me in a desperate vie for sympathy.”
Yoongi felt a bit miffed by those sentiments. He straightened up and decided to attempt a different approach. “Well then, who are we to trust the word of a dragon? We don’t know much of your kind, but don’t we also have reason to be wary?”
Maybe it was foolish to try and offer a challenge. Maybe it was foolish to continue trying anything when the dragon was so adamant to keep them away. But he had to try. Clouded Reach was the safest option for them.
The dragon matched his energy and rumbled a warning growl. “The difference here, wolf, is that this is my home that you’re intruding upon. I have not done the same to you nor do I intend to."
Yoongi would be a liar to say the growl hadn’t done the trick. A shiver of terror rolled down his spine. Even though the dragon was in human form, there was the distinctive feeling of smallness that came with facing down a much stronger predator.
He was realistic about their position in this matter. He was hyperaware of it, in fact. If Seokjin decided to attack, there was a scary high chance that they’d be killed without even getting a fighting chance.
So was it bold to verbally fight back against a dragon? Yes. Did it increase the potential of a physical altercation? Also yes. Were his instincts offended over the skepticism directed towards his mates? Also, also yes.
Sometimes you did stupid things in the name of love. Yoongi traded a glance with his mates and knew that they were with him.
“My name isn’t ‘wolf’,” he snapped, “I am Yoongi, leader of this pack, and I do not welcome hostility towards my mates.”
Seokjin visibly paused at that. Their head tilted. “Mates?”
Yoongi was baffled by the switch up.
The dragon’s gaze swept over all of them again. Some of the tension fell away from their shoulders. “You are mated, all of you to one another?”
“Yes,” Hoseok said, tone full of confusion. “…Is that a problem?”
It wouldn’t be the first time they had been faced with criticism over their statuses in conjunction with their mating bond. So many of their fellow wolves thought it was selfish of them, or wrong in some way.
It happened so often that they had begun to accept it as a part of their life. Which sucked the joy out of their days when they thought about it for too long.
They were happy as a pack. They were secure in their bonds with one another. They loved each other. They didn’t need external validation. But sometimes, it would be nice to have someone actually on their side. To have someone that didn’t need an explanation from them. They had yet to find someone like that.
None of them would have ever expected a dragon of all things to question them too.
Seokjin made a peculiar grumbling sound in their throat. “It matters not to me, though it does change the circ*mstances of our meeting.”
“It does?” Jimin asked under his breath, heard only by his mates.
“Mates are protected under dragonic laws, especially if one of them is injured upon initial contact.” Seokjin huffed, a small burst of smoke escaping their lips. It was plain to see the disgruntlement they felt over that revelation.
None of them dared to speak, scared that any minor slip of the tongue would work against them.
The dragon scowled at them. “If you are to stay upon the mountain, you must prove your claims to me. I will not allow dishonesty to fuel destruction within my home.”
It was a tentative thing, but they allowed themselves to relax somewhat at that declaration.
“So you’ll permit us to make camp, and potentially settle upon Clouded Reach?” Yoongi asked, still uncertain. He was reluctant to trust the dragon so easily after such a tense interaction.
“For now,” the dragon said. “Though I will be watching and ensuring the safety of this mountain by whatever means I see fit.”
Jungkook allowed the tension to bleed from his stiff shoulders. He turned back towards them and licked Namjoon’s cheek.
“That sounds agreeable, Seokjin. We will do our best to earn your trust.”
Seokjin watched them for a moment more before shifting back into their winged form and leaping into the sky with a mighty beat of their wings.
Yoongi dropped into a squat as soon as the dragon was out of the area and a fair distance from their location. He raked his hands through his hair as the stress of that moment settled in fully. He breathed in and out a few times, feeling shaky. “Holy f*ck.”
Jungkook bellied up to him and licked at his hands, grumbling and whining as he did.
Namjoon rubbed an arm over his back in comfort.
“You handled that a lot better than we might have,” Hobi laughed, a bit breathless.
Jimin said nothing but kissed his head.
Taehyung surveyed their surroundings. “So uhh, would it be okay with everyone if we just settled here for the night? I think I’m a little too wired to think about heading up any further.”
They all managed to share a laugh at that and came to a mutual agreement over the matter.
What a day it had been. Who’d have thought that the legends of a dragon making its home on Clouded Reach were true.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
The trespassers were… strange. Seokjin kept watch from a ridge that crept out just enough from the mountainside for him to view the clearing they had chosen to settle in. It was a hasty structure that consisted of a fire pit for cooking, their large tent that all six seemed to retire into for the night, and a small work station on an uncovered rock for food preparation.
He found himself studying their interactions as he kept vigil. There were a few things that perplexed him about the group of mates.
Perhaps most of all, he was bewildered by how they managed to balance out a six sided relationship.
Dragons only ever existed in pairs, for the number of two was a sacred number to them - two eyes, two ears, two lips, two hearts, two forms, two souls. To have a pairing was to abide by their sacred number and thus was regarded as the proper arrangement.
Seokjin had never really given it much consideration because he never had interest in taking a mate. Though he had always known that if he were to do so, there would only ever be one that would house his heart within their protective grasp.
It had been his understanding, up until the initial confrontation with the trespassers, that other creatures abided by the same regulation in regards to mating practices. He was aware that wolven packs were a long standing tradition, but he hadn’t known that more than two would mate one another.
And then he had seen the six identical mating marks on the necks of the wolves. It had been a bit of a shock.
Dragons would never dare to stray from the way of two. But then, dragonic rules didn’t apply to wolves.
So he watched. He learned. He studied.
From what he could see and gather, it was just as straightforward as it sounded. The six of them were very much in love with one another and were unafraid to show it. It was rather fascinating the way that adoring bond went six different ways at an even measure. There was not one among them that seemed to be less cherished than the others. There was not any that shied away from the affectionate touches and shared kisses. They were just… six. Six wolves with a bunch of love to share.
Seokjin was intrigued.
They interacted in the typical way that mates would, but it was just multiplied.
His tail flipped through the snow behind him a few times as he contemplated the new information.
How strange these wolves were turning out to be. Asking for a chance to prove themselves as trustworthy, asking for a place to call a new home. How strange they were for having a six way bond between them that seemed to have little to no contention within its existence.
Even as heavy storms rolled through and covered the land in a fresh blanket of snow, they showed joy. Even when their tent caved in on them one afternoon from a surplus of powder built up on the roof, they shared laughter and helped set it back up. They shared intimate conversations at dusk, surrounding the warm fire with handmade ceramic plates in hand.
Every moment of their every day was spent in the company of one another. Sometimes in sets, sometimes in pairs, sometimes as a whole collective. There was no tension to be seen between any set of mates, just peace and a well formed romance with a foundation set in stone.
Seokjin had never seen anything like it firsthand. A deep buried part of him found it endearing. They were like frolicking puppies with hearts as large as their bodies, spreading love like flowers between one another. He could only imagine the six of them would laugh in the face of the dragonic ideology of the sacred two.
He kept returning to that ridge, day after day. He caught glimpses of the pack's love in action and found himself enraptured by all of it. They made their bond look so natural. As he watched them, he could only think of how perfectly they fit together. How each mate made up for the faults or lack of skill of the others in their own way.
There was a larger wolf among them with charcoal hair that brushed against the base of his neck, he had a deep but squeaky laugh and prominent dimples that popped out of his cheeks. He seemed to be the one they looked after the most. They'd pat his head, ruffle his hair, scent him multiple times a day, and spend extra care to comfort him if he dropped something. He'd see them crooning to him while they squished his cheeks and tucking blankets over his shoulders as he sat by the fire. It was interesting how the other five seemed to have the same mentality about this wolf in particular. Plus they seemed to genuinely enjoy taking care of him in that extra careful manner.
The one that had identified himself as the leader of the pack, Yoongi, seemed to live up to his role well. He coordinated his mates, offered praises for jobs well done, and spent a lot of his time tucking their hands into his own. He was organized and firm, but also tender and soft in his actions. His mates seemed to do anything and everything in their power in an effort to coax a smile onto the leader's face.
Amongst the group was a duo that seemed to have a case of joint wing syndrome, as dragons called it; they stuck to one another's side as though their bodies were made of one entity. One seemed inclined towards healing and salves, while the other was always stitching or knitting on some project or other. Both of them took time out of their day to sit in front of one another and fall into a meditative state, with their hands joined halfway between.
Seokjin didn't know the reasoning for their closeness, but it was a prominent bond that seemed to shine just as brightly as the collective one.
There were two others that seemed more inclined to keep up with the physical needs of their mates. They were always hauling things this way and that, bringing in lumber for the fire, dragging in any kills they may have made, sharpening tools and guarding their makeshift settlement. They were both strong wolves, that much was plain. Though they also each had a soft side that was palpable when their mates would give them praise. The one with long dark haired seemed most receptive to the dimpled one's praises for whatever reason. The other favored Yoongi's kind words or he'd launch himself over the joint wing duo and soak in cuddles for a while.
They were so strange, and intriguing. So different from anything he had ever known before.
As he continued his daily check ins, Seokjin found them to be worthy of his trust. They salvaged wood from any fallen trees in the area before ever cutting one down, and even then they collected seeds and leaves in a visible effort to replant them when the chance arose. They hunted small prey but were respectful to the animals and used as much of the organic material as possible. Sometimes they would just sit and watch the native wildlife exist on the mountain with fond smiles on their faces.
So, so strange. But the good kind of strange.
Even Seokjin's magic had settled with their continuing presence. It no longer rose up in an attempt to summon a storm to drive them off the mountain. Instead it sought out their combined energy and beheld it in a protective manner. His magic had accepted them as part of the ecosystem now.
He didn't quite know what to do with that information as of yet.
Instead he continued to observe the pack as they went about their days, fascinated and admiring.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
Seokjin had decided to indulge in a long sleep the day the wolf pack vanished from their established camp.
Dragons sometimes needed to enter a state of deep sleep that was a close match to their annual hibernation period. This process allowed them to rebuild the stores of their inner fire and also created equilibrium for their magic. It was a vital part of their year, something that all dragons knew to partake in. Though it was also one of their most guarded secrets. If outsiders caught wind of the fact that all the dragons went into a despondent state to recuperate their magic, it would spell catastrophe for them. To take a deep sleep was to entrust themselves to their surroundings. As once they slipped into one, it was difficult to pull themselves out of it.
The older the dragon, the more times they needed to have a deep sleep to recuperate their strength. Younger dragons were more the type to skip their deep sleeps and instead take a longer hibernation sleep. Though even they could not escape their body's need for that regenerative rest altogether.
Seokjin had always been an oddity to his flock for the amount of deep sleeps he indulged in. It was not necessary per se but it left him feeling healthier in the long run. Once he had found his way to the mountain and integrated himself into its ecosystem, he had felt safe enough to luxuriate in one a few times a year outside of the hibernation period.
When he had awakened from this particular deep sleep, he had felt as though something were different.
He blinked himself into wakefulness and allowed his senses to widen in scope. The wolven pack was still upon the mountain but something had changed about their energy. It felt more prominent than before. Closer, perhaps?
Seokjin grumbled to himself and pushed his body to a stand. Under normal circ*mstances, he would have allowed himself to wake up a big slower. It was a gradual process to come out of a deep sleep. Sometimes his body took its sweet old time to catch up to his mind.
He felt sluggish. Heavy. He was not meant to be moving so soon after waking. Even the darkness of his cave felt too bright to his sensitive eyes.
Seokjin dragged himself over to a nearby pool of melting ice and pressed his face beneath its frigid surface. The shock of icy water was enough to startle him into full wakefulness. He blew a blast of pale blue fire out as he shook the water from his scales.Even with ice being his base element of magic, the glacial temperatures never got easier to handle.
Now that the blurred edge of his deep sleep had faded, however unpleasant the sensation was, he could focus on the more pressing matter at hand.
The pack had moved from the place he had become to distinguish as 'theirs'. The same clearing that had seen their first meeting had more or less become their new home placement. Until now, it seemed.
Seokjin galloped out of his cave and burst into the air with a quick snap of his wings.
There was nothing in the air that suggested anything born of malice had come to pass. There was no blimp of energy as they passed through his magical field of energy into the lower reaches of the mountain either. Whatever had changed, they had not left the mountain. They also had not met an ill fate upon its height.
He broke through the clouds that hung over his home and scoured the crags and lower peaks of the mountain. After only a few minutes of searching, he found them.
Seokjin dove down and landed atop a tree that was far enough to leave him undiscovered but close enough that he could see what the pack of wolves was doing.
It seemed as though that they had elected to settle themselves higher on the mountain. Their tent was already pitched, a fire pit set before it, and a rope line hung to hold any drying game hides.
He tilted his head as he studied them bustle about their new camp with surprising ease. They must've made the move at some point during his deep sleep. He wanted to be miffed that they had decided to move closer to his home without consulting him first, but there was not a defensive note to be found within him.
Seokjin knew that they were doing similar to himself. They were trying to make a home on the mountain, escaping whatever home they had left behind. Could he fault them for intruding when they hadn't even seemed sure that he existed?
He knew he couldn't. It was unfair to judge them so harshly when he did not know their characters.
Jin watched them for a while more before flying back to his cave.
It had only been a few weeks since they had appeared in his life, but he already found himself looking out for them. As though they were just more creatures for him to protect. More creatures of the mountain, of his home.
How strange indeed.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
"Okay so I'm just gonna come out and say it. The dragon has been watching us like a confused pup for weeks now and I am endeared by them."
Silence filled their camp.
Taehyung shrugged his shoulders when his mates looked at him in befuddlement. "I can't help it. I love cute things and the dragon is being cute."
Today marked their sixth week on Clouded Reach. They had toughed the storms and the terrain. They had braved the cold nights and thinned mountain air. They had even made it through their first round of a pack-wide cold that had left them all miserable for a few days. It was a small triumph but one that felt noteworthy.
"Tae, they're watching us to make sure we don't f*ck up their home," Yoongi pointed out. "They gave clear warning upon on our initial meeting. Remember?"
He made a hasty few stitches on the pair of pants in his grasp. They were Jimin's favorite pair. They had split at the leg during a hunting excursion and had been turned over to him with a saddened pout. Jimin had been giving him a pleading gaze the entire morning until he had finally taken the hint and begun work on repairing the torn fabric. He had even gotten his colored threads out to embroider some flowers along the tear.
"I know," Taehyung sighed. "I just think there's more to them than the obvious fact of them being a big scary dragon."
Hoseok let out a fond sound and plopped down next to him. "Ahh that's our Tete. Giving everyone the benefit of the doubt."
Taehyung whined as he ducked his head into his mate's neck and nipped at his scent gland. "No patronizing."
Hobi giggled and ruffled his hair. "Not patronizing, dearheart. Just audibly adoring you. I love your big old heart. It's a very special part of you."
Jimin made a sound of agreement from nearby. "It's one of your best qualities, jagi. Never change."
Yoongi put down the parchment in his hand and walked over to the younger with a small smile. "Okay, Tae, I hear you. I'll try to give the dragon the benefit of the doubt too. I'm just not as... convinced as you are at the moment."
"You haven't been paying attention then," Taehyung teased him. He glanced off towards the trees with a wistful smile. "They have the same energy as Koo when he doesn't understand something. I've seen them tilting their head and everything."
Namjoon perked up. "Oh. So maybe they're more curious and cautious of us than actually fearful and defensive of our presence? That would be a nice thing to find out to be honest."
Jungkook flopped over onto Jimin's lap, wiggling when the older wolf groaned at the sudden impact. "I've been kinda worried about the dragon. I'll be relieved if it turns out their presence won't be a source of danger for us."
"To their credit," Jimin spoke up, "they have been observing but not doing much else. Maybe we've earned their trust by this point? We have been nice to our surroundings. Maybe they just thought that we didn't share their respect of nature."
Yoongi grimaced as he considered what may have become of their surroundings if any of their birth packmates had been present. It was an understandable grievance for the dragon to have. It was only through their ongoing positive reinforcement that they'd be able to convince them that they meant no harm. He would have gone about the situation in a similar manner had the roles been reversed.
Hoseok studied his mates with a careful eye. "So.. we can at least agree the dragon hasn't made any aggressive ventures towards us or our presence. It very well could have been just a defensively charged encounter. Especially if they've had bad experiences previously."
"It's not like we've had great experiences with wolves either," Taehyung grumbled.
Which was also a fair point to make. From the dragon's words, there had been more than a few unsavory visitors prior to their arrival. Which had then tainted their interaction from the start. Perhaps both parties had been influenced by past beliefs.
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when they heard a pair of mighty wings breaking through the air overhead. A heavy cloud cover had formed in the morning and left most of their surroundings hazy and difficult to see. Although they could hear the dragon's movement, it was difficult to place their location.
"Group up," Yoongi called.
It was their go-to defense. If there was potential danger afoot, they were stronger altogether.
The ground shook as a loud thud echoed from off to the side of their camp. Then a piercing light broke through the fog. The same white haired human crept from the haze with intent in their step.
Yoongi watched their movements like a hawk. No weapon was to be seen, nor an expression of contempt on their face. A social visit, then? Unlikely.
There was a long moment of tense silence before the dragon spoke.
"Tonight there will be a blizzard that forms, and I suspect it will last a good while." Their voice was just as light as before, unhindered by any kind of malicious inflection. "The mountain means to drop a large amount of snow in the coming nights. I do not believe your temporary dwelling will be enough to protect you."
"How do you know there will be a storm?" Jungkook asked, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
The dragon huffed. "The mountain and I work, exist, and function as one. I feed my magic into its peak through my home, and it offers me insight into its existence in return. That includes any storms that may form, whether of my will or the mountain's."
"That's kinda cool, I'm not gonna lie," Namjoon mumbled under his breath.
"Dragon-"
"Seokjin," they corrected. "I am not one to hide himself behind the mystery of a name, as you will recall from our first meeting."
Yoongi held up a hand in wordless placation. "Seokjin, then, what would you have us do about the storm? Was your coming here to serve as a warning? Or was it merely out of hope that we would leave?"
Seokjin met his eyes and watched him silently. There was contemplation on his features, apparent in the slight furrow of his brow. "I came with an offer for shelter, as your pack has not yet managed to build one that will provide you with the appropriate amount of protection."
That was a surprise for all of them.
This was the same dragon that had been rather resistant to their presence on the mountain at all. And yet now he was offering them shelter? It almost felt too good to be true.
"Why help us?" Hoseok asked.
The dragon appeared amused by his question. "Despite my protective nature of my home, I bear no wish to see any living creature injured. It is simply not in my nature to wish harm upon others. I protect what is mine and fight only if the moment necessitates my action."
"Where would this shelter be?" Taehyung asked. His eyes were wide with barely restrained excitement. It was almost rolling off of him.
Yoongi wondered if the dragon could see it on his mate.
"There is no safer place to hide from a storm on this mountain than my nest," Seokjin said. He offered a small smile as he said it, revealing pointed canines that stuck over his lip.
The air filled with a few anxious scents. This was a risky choice to make. Not much was known of dragons, but everyone knew that to follow one into its nest was to accept death. No one followed them there if they had any intent to live to see another day. It was seen by many to be the same as putting one's leg into a dragon's gaping maw and awaiting for the crunch of sharp teeth.
Yet, the weather had been growing worse throughout the course of the day and told of a building storm. Their tent had several repairs to it already, which meant that the fabric was weakened despite Taehyung's corrective efforts. Their food stores, while enough, would not last them long enough to see out a lengthy blizzard.
Yoongi bit at his lip until the familiar tang of blood danced over his taste buds. "If we are to follow you there, do we have your word that no harm will come to us? I may be of smaller stature but I assure you I will fight for my mates, dragon."
Seokjin gave a rumbling sound in reply. It seemed to echo up from his chest and into his throat. It was a definitive dragonic sound. He approached at a broadcasted pace and offered out his arm.
He glanced down at the offered appendage with a modicum of confusion. Yoongi wasn't quite sure what the dragon wanted of him.
"I am not well versed in the ways of other creatures," Seokjin murmured, "but to my kind, this is an offering of promise. My weapon hand bears no weapon, nor transformed talons. I mean you and your mates no harm."
Yoongi knew it should have been an obvious thing, such was a common practice after leadership duels to show no ill will towards one another. Still, Yoongi felt better with the dragon's explanation in hand. He reached his own hand out and clasped Seokjin's forearm. "I'll hold you to your word."
"I would expect nothing less of the pack's leader."
Acknowledgement of his position within their group also came as a comfort. It gave him reassurance that the dragon was taking his concern with all of the severity it deserved.
Seokjin clasped his forearm in a quick squeeze before withdrawing. "Pack what you need, and what you do not wish to lose. I will wait nearby and show you the path to my nest."
Despite their understanding, Yoongi couldn't believe they were doing this.
"Jagi, are you sure this is a good idea?" Hoseok whispered to him in a frantic tone.
Yoongi shrugged. "I have no idea. But if the clouds and falling temperature are any indication of the coming storm, I think we're better off giving trust a try."
"He won't hurt us," Taehyung declared. There was a small smile on his face. "I just have a good feeling about it all."
Jimin relaxed a bit at his mate's words. "I'll take a Tete feeling right now. That's the kind of hope I need."
Jungkook matched gazes with Yoongi for a moment, before nodding. The two of them would keep on guard the whole time. Trust could only be carried so far when they were walking into so many unknowns. They had to be ready for anything.
"I can't believe we're going to a dragon's nest," Namjoon whisper yelled. His cheeks were bunched up with the force of his grin. "This is bonkers but I can't wait!"
When they had packed up as much as they could, they approached the waiting dragon. Trepidation colored their every step as the uncertain future tensed their shoulders.
"Lead us, Seokjin."
