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Chapter 63

Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside of the den, which immediately made him turn around, forcing himself to stand up as soon as he recognized the leader of Earth Tribe coming his way. "How is he?" Taehyung asked immediately, his voice laced with concern as his eyes met Jungkook's. But as he saw the glossy gaze that his former mate gsve him, the little hope rising in Taehyung's heart diminished.

This really was the messenger's end. . .

And when the glossiness within Jungkook's eyes materialized into small tears, Taehyung gently reached out to him. He wasn't sure whether or not the leader would appreciate being comforted by him, but when Jungkook pulled him closer, Taehyung could no longer hesitate to hold him as close as he had held Beomgyu.

"We're going to lose him." A light sob made Jungkook choke as he buried his face against his former mate's shoulder, his hands tightly gripping Taehyung's hanbok.

Taehyung couldn't do anything but to hug him. He didn't know anything else but to do so while whispering little things that he hoped Jungkook could find comfort in. And even if Jungkook could be distracted from his grief by those little words, the pain would spike again, much more painful than the last strike. "Taehyung, we're going to lose him." He sobbed. "We're going to lose him. . ."

Taehyung's heart couldn't sink even more. He swallowed hard, his own pain for the upcoming demise rose up from within him. The only thing he could do was to hold onto Jungkook as tightly as he did. He hesitated, but his own guilt began to consume him too. . . Maybe if he hadn't brought up the idea of letting their tribes come together. . . Maybe he would've been able to prevent this.

"I'm sorry." He suddenly let out, his arms holding Jungkook as tightly as ever, his own face hiding against the crevice of Jungkook's neck, his brows furrowing and his eyes squeezing shut. "I'm so sorry."

And he was truly sorry; sorry for bringing so much pain once again to those whom he loved, which was something he'd done best despite hating himself for it.

Yet, Jungkook didn't say anything; he only sobbed. For the first time in years, he didn't blame Taehyung for his misfortune, but himself instead. If he hadn't taken pity on Beomgyu and Yeonjun. . .

They both shared a similar thought. . .

Fire and Earth should've never come together.

~~~

A night passed after the whole ambush fiasco. Even if the fire had been out and even if the Elementals were okay and healing from their wounds, thunder still rumbled between the dark, angered clouds. The morning had passed by without the joyful singing of macaws, and the sun had refused to let his beams cover the jungle with light as puffs of gray covered his warmth.

Light droplets of rain fell from the sky, making it hard for Toto and his now ragged wings to fly as elegantly as he used to. His beak was scared, and claw marks decorated his body with small bloodied chunks of healing flesh torn here and there. Those scars were the trophies of his victorious fight against one of Eclipse's spies, but Toto couldn't feel any more miserable.

Toto flew above Earth Tribe's hollow and carefully landed on the slippery branch of a tree. His watchful eyes scanned the hollow, noticing with a broken heart how discolored the hollow had become.

The green parrot turned his head and gazed at the opening of a den, his eyes immediately catching the figure of Hwanjae's son cuddled around the other two Elementals under the watchful eyes of Taehyung and Jungkook. He let out a frown and gazed at the darkened clouds, knowing too well what will become of Yeonjun once this day passes by.