✧ crystal caverns

@Lee Jongsuk "As am I. Hiding from the council was not something either of us expected we would have to do" she sighed in relief as she managed to crawl ashore. Drying off gave her legs and she groaned a little as she examined the wounds on her right ankle and left thigh "They'll be fine" she said half to herself as she finished examining them. The one on her ankle might slow her down a tad but it was not bleeding so she would be alright. The one on her thigh would possibly cause the least problems out of the two.

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "There will, no worries," Jongsuk reassured her as he kept swimming, hoping they would soon make it to the shore. He just wanted Hyuna to be safe and sound. "Me neither but I am glad I kept it secret from the council."

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna gave him a soft smile "Male clothing is fine so long as there is enough to cover us both just so we can blend in" she gave a quiet chuckle "Didnt think I'd be seeing your land home this soon"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) Even when they were out of sight, Jongsuk was still extremely tense. He just wanted them to be safe and sound and it was hard like this. "I have something stored outside," the male said gently and looked at her. "Do not worry. I might only have male clothes but it is not too far to my home and then I can grab you proper clothing," he said softly and smiled at her.

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna held onto Jongsuk as they swam past without being noticed. Movement was heard but they were already out of sight thanks to a large rock feature in the reef.
Keeping up with Jongsuk was a little tough but she managed. "How will we get clothing? I know the shore is safe but I didnt think of clothes"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "Yes," Jongsuk nodded and looked around. "I think it should easily be managable. Hold onto me, okay?" he said and took her hand, gently squeezing it. Once they met it to the shore they would be safe. He had a few clothes stored there so they would not have to run around and he could take her to his house first and later to the ship. Quietly he swam next to her, trying his best not to make a sound while he managed to swim through the open water as fast as he could.

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna nodded and moved along the edge of the reef before saying softly "Lets move as quick as we can across the open water. Once we make the other side I think it will be pretty easy to reach the port and get dried off."
She looked to the hut seeing no sign if the sea witch and made a go for it, swimming as quickly and quietly as she could.

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "Youth," Jongsuk said and stayed close to her. "Or power. You never know." People were full of intregues and Jongsuk rather stayed careful - better safe than sorry. "Okay. I will try my best. But you too," he said and gently took her hand in his. He was on edge and he could not tell why but he also just wanted them to be safe and sound so maybe that was it. Slowly he nodded while staying close to her. "I am glad to hear that. If it gets too hard to handle, hit me up. I will try to help."

@Lee Jongsuk "I cant imagine what they could offer a dying old sea witch but we better move carefully either way" she hid behind a large rock and peeked around it pointing over "The hut is just around the corner here, its mostly on land but a section juts out into the ocean, dont swim anywhere near the hut she has fishing nets down to catch herself some food and we dont want her catching us" she looked at her fin and nodded "I'm ok. It twinges a bit but its not too bad"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "Okay," Jongsuk nodded and swan with her, carefully but fast enough to keep up with her. "Sea witches, huh?" He sighed and brushed through his hair so it was not hindering his view. "But it is good you have someone keep an eye on her. I hope this is not the one the council made a deal with." He grimaces and kept his eyes open, checking if Hyuna was in a lot of pain. "You okay with your fin?"

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna nodded "roughly" she looked around and got her bearings before turning to the left "Its been a while since I headed to shore but I'm fairly sure its this way." She was careful as she swam, her tail still hurting a bit, "We may need to get past a sea witches hut but that shouldnt be much trouble. She's old and rarely moves out of her bed" she looked back at him and smiled "I had someone keep an eye on her from land and report back."

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "I'll keep some fish there so they can tell me if they get there," Jongsuk nodded, understanding that Hyuna could not really tell if the council would come over or not. He hoped they would not, after all they had just been there but they would see it sooner or later. "I hope so," Jongsuk said softly and looked around, staying close to Hyuna. "Do you know the way to the shore?"

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@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna shrugged "they come by my place so randomly its hard to know. But nobody has ever found this tunnel. I dug it out myself when the council first started getting clingy" she was slower swimming than usual but still managed the vertical swim through the tunnel until they came out in the coral reef that covers the very back of the caverns. "They wont be out here so we should be safe"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "Yes," Jongsuk nodded and followed her inside the tunnel, closing it up again and sealing it. He just hoped none would notice it. He then swam right after her, making sure she was alright. "You think they will notice soon?" He frowned, too worried about the entire situation. He just hoped Hyuna was safe with him, after all she meant the world to him.

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna began to protest but sighed knowing better "Fine. Just make sure it seals properly behind you" she swam up into the tunnel and stopped about halfway to check on Jongsuk. It was too narrow for her to turn fully the only place she had left any room to fully turn was at the trapdoor and that was only so she could close it up again.

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) Relief was seen on Jongsuk's face and he nodded immediately. "Yes, do you need anything else?" But Hyuna was already done with packing and pushed the rock away, making the male look surprised but then again, it was Hyuna. She was full of surprises and secrets. "You first," he said and looked at her, gently. "I'm not leaving after you." He had to protect her, she was all the family he had left.

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@Lee Jongsuk "I meant with your captain. I'm.not telling the council anything we're just leaving" she finished packing and swam to the ceiling of her cave. She pushed one of the rock slabs up and slid it across revealing a tunnel through the coral rock bed "lets go this way. We can move slower and they wont see us" she waited for Jongsuk to go in first as she would need to seal it back up behind them.

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) Jongsuk nodded slowly. Yes, they wanted to use the valuable secrets to get what they wanted. Which was ridiculous, nothing was as valuable as their secrets and a life. "I dont know. But whatever they want, I will not let them hurt you." He nodded and looked at her. "I am sure I can make up excuses. But I am not sure if they will accept it." Especially if they needed those secrets desperately. "We should probably just leave a note and go."

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna's face drained of all colour "they want to trade our secrets" the realisation hit her like a tidal wave struck land "make me talk? You mean they're going to hurt me?" She got up and started packing anything she needed "Then its simple we leave" she looked at Jongsuk "think you could make up an excuse to have me on your ship?"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "They made a deal with pirates and a seawitch," Jongsuk said and he could feel how tense he was, just wanting to get out of here, taking Hyuna to a safer place. He did not want her around here were it was dangerous and she might get into trouble because of these s. "They also said they would think of a way to make you talk." He shook his head. "I am not definitely sure but I think one voice belonged to Raul."

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna heard the growl and blinked in surprise. She had never been good at hearing the fish, just wasnt one of her skills, but Jongsuk's reaction was enough to tell her it was bad. She squeezed his hand and asked "whats going on? Why am I not safe here?"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) A small growl left Jongsuk's lips as he heard the words the fish delivered to them and he could feel the anger fill his body. Make her talk. A deal with pirates and a seawitch? He wished he could just straight out go to them and tell them he knew.
"I do not think you are safe here anylonger," he said and looked at his friend, gently holding Hyuna's hand. He was not too sure if she had been able to hear what the fish had said, she was talented but he knew some had problems with listening in to his fish. But he did know that he was not leaving without her.

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna had started to respond with a bright smile but when Jongsuk tensed she froze. Nodding slowly she stayed silent so he could focus on what was going on.


Two council members were hunched by the chamber doors.
Zelena, head of the council and the elder of the two spoke briskly and low "What? How can she do this? We need to know the answers."
Raul was the other member, slightly younger but not by much, his tone was frustrated but he made sure to keep his voice quiet fearing being overheard "I dont know what else we can do. She wont tell us. She is following her training and keeping the secret from all of us. She wants to know why we need the information. She wont tell us unless we have a valid reason"
Zelena sighed "and making a deal with pirates or a seawitch will not count as valid"
Raul shook his head "of course not. She wont trust any outsiders to protect the clan. Hell Zelena sometimes I even wonder if its worth the risk"
Zelena did the unthinkable at that moment and slapped Raul across the face "Dont dare turn your back on me Raul. We all agreed to this. My judgement has never been wrong before. Do not doubt me now"
Raul nodded and muttered an apology before Zelena continued "I will find a way to make her talk. Give me some time to think" with that Zelena left and Raul skulked off in the opposite direction.

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) (do not worry, it is super fine!)

"Yeah, maybe," Jongsuk said and shrugged. "Well, I am very open with any kind of person so we will see. Or maybe I'll just adopt. There are many kids out there without parents already, so I might just try and raise one of those." He was not in a rush though he did not want to overdo it so there was that. He brushed through his head and smiled warmly before he tense. "The fish are listening in right now."

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna smiled warmly "Well maybe some day you'll find a place that you dont want to leave and then you will settle down there with a nice girl and have kids. Maybe they'll be merfolk maybe they wont, it depends on who wins your heart"

(Sorry its not great)

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) A gentle huff left Jongsuk's lips but he knew Hyuna was right. He liked travelling, feeling restless whenever he stayed in one place too long so he wasn't offended. "I'd like to settle one day," Jongsuk admitted then, wondering if he'd ever be able to. He wanted to settle so badly but he was not sure if he ever could.

@Lee Jongsuk Hyuna chuckled "yea if ya ever stop travelling so much" she stuck her tongue out playfully before adding "unless ya find a gal who'll travel with ya. Then ya can raise your kids on a ship and sail the seas for an eternity"

@Kim Hyuna (Hiatus) "I know," Jongsuk said and shook his head amused, gently but satisfied. He was happy that he could spend time with his friend. "You think so?" he said and tilted his head. He was not too sure about it but he did trust Hyuna. Maybe one day he would manage to finally settle down.