⤠ training grounds.

@❛ hyojin ahn "No." her gaze ascends when the other female changes positions, back leaning against another nearby dummy as her arms lift to cross over her chest. "Being around a man for over half a century shows you someone's true colors very quickly. You see the good and bad and realize what you really don't want in that way. I always figured him and Amelia had a thing going, so I never bothered." honey orbs flutter closed as she tries not to give it too much thought. "I'm just thankful for the chance I was given and nothing more."

a small hand cards through her own platinum tresses as she observes the other shewolf. "Go for it. He never is." a forlorn sigh leaves her parted lips. "Jaehyun's always been a bit of a worrywart, as much as he doesn't like to admit it." her feet kick at the dirt below, head falling back so her neck is cradled by the dummy's makeshift shoulder. "you know and I know that she can handle herself just fine." the mention of the death dealer sends a shiver down her spine. "gods forbid. I'd kill him myself."

her expression softens at the female's adorable giggle, body visibly relaxing despite the tension within. "Phew. Thank goodness. This whole situation has me anxious enough." she muses, tilting her head side to side to pop her neck. "so how's life going for you, anyway?"

@❛ yeji hwang “No?” disbelief clear in her voice, Hyojin’s hands glide along the thick, wooden arm of one of the training dummies before hoisting herself atop it, balancing her bum on what would be the shoulder as if it were an aerial hoop, hooking one leg over the other. “I mean, how could you not? Especially after spending so much time with him.” though, she could see it. for she harbored no ual feelings, nor romantic desire for Jaehyun, regardless of how easy on the eyes he was. it was a familial connection the two shared, though unrelated by blood. perhaps that was what Yeji had with Sam, perhaps that was why she was dodging the shewolf’s questions.

“Mm,” the blonde takes her time in processing the answers, sensing there might be something left out, but there was no way she could prove it. /I’m sure she’ll be back around soon./ “Well, I suppose I’ll just ask her when she returns. Although I’m a little nervous, you know that Jaehyun isn’t too happy about the wolves staying away from the Full Moon District for days at a time. It gets dangerous out there, especially if she’s by herself?” okay, so perhaps Hyojin was placing words into her alpha’s mouth, but what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. clicking her tongue against the roof of , her bare legs swing in the air. “I mean, I’d hate to see that filthy death dealer take another one of us.”

her attitude changes completely with Yeji’s question, and a giggle bubbles from within . “Relax! This isn’t an interrogation, honey!”

@❛ hyojin ahn "as would I." she finds herself sputtering at the other girl's compliment. "excuse me? I mean, I suppose but I've never really thought of him like that." once upon a time, she did. she was unsure of him upon their first meeting but over the years, she grew to adore him. it was the introduction of amelia that changed the dynamic. they were notorious for going on adventures together or sneaking off to converse about different things. she never quite knew what they were to each other, but she knew better than to think of him as anything other than the boy who gave her a second chance. "it's possible. they never really talked about it." she mutters. she didn't ask, so they didn't tell.

she begins to rock back and forth on the heels of her boots, thinking carefully about her responses. one slip up and they would be ed. sam more than herself, but being an accomplice was almost as bad as being guilty. "maybe. I haven't seen her either. they're both very stubborn so they could've. amelia's always preferred to reflect on her thoughts by herself, which could explain her absence. I'm sure she'll be back around soon." just agree and move on. don't linger on the fact she's dead. don't linger on the subject or you will cry. almond nails dig in and out of her palms in time with her breathing. she just wants information and maybe then she'll leave the issue alone. hopefully. "any other questions, Hyo?"

@❛ yeji hwang “Well, that’s good to know. I’d hate to have something happen to him. He’s cute, right?” the compliment seemingly comes out of left field, but Hyojin was nothing if she wasn’t unfiltered. “I mean, we have so many young pups hanging around. So him and Amelia, do you think they’re, what, are they like a thing or something?”

extending her dainty hand, she examines manicured claws: matte red stiletto shaped nails that were oh, so expensive to keep up, especially when she would pop them off every other day to change. “I thought they were in love or something, but I haven’t seen her around anywhere. You think they had a fight?” Hyojin was many things, dumb not among them, though occasionally she did play clueless in order to seek information. call it cunning, sneaky, or serpentine if you must, but her priority was the pack and it’s safety. typically, wolves like Sam didn’t pose a threat to her alpha, but ever since the meeting, the quiet male had made her uneasy.

@❛ hyojin ahn "Mhmm." she gives a nod, tilting her head in inquiry. "I'd say we're pretty close after a few decades together. Not as close as him and Amelia, but close enough. Why?"

umber eyes fill with concern as she's reminded of his swift departure in search of his brother. the meeting hadn't ended well and their dearest friend had been lost in the crossfire. her stomach violently churns in response, grief still wracking her form from time to time. she visibly swallows before she replies. "I did. He said something about a stomachache and how he wanted to get some rest." her shoulders lift in a shrug. "He seems fine now." all she had to do was be convincing and maybe they'd be okay.

@❛ yeji hwang “Yeah,” tucking the earbuds into her pocket, shoving her phone out of sight right along with it, her brow quirks. “Sam, that’s your sire, right? I see you and him together all the time. You guys close?”

delicate digits flee to pull silken, blonde tendrils into a ponytail at the crown of her head, the hair on the underside thick with sweat and sticking to the nape of her neck. the sudden absence of the warmth of her locks offers a cool breeze to ghost along the dampened skin of her neck, and she breathes in relief, though her features are curious instead as she continues. “Did you see him disappear right after the meeting about retaliating against the vampires? What was that about?”

@❛ hyojin ahn ʲᶦʸᵉᵒⁿ ʲᵉᵒⁿ the all too familiar sounds of Def Leppard greet her upon entry, a warm smile spreading across her plush lips. if one were to ask, they were one of her favorite bands. she couldn't remember how many of their concerts she sneaked off to once upon a time, forgoing the older wolf's warnings to stay hidden and instead smothering herself the beauty of rock and roll and the chaos that came with it. even now, rock and roll still had a major influence on her life, the evidence shown in her music preferences and fashion choices.

laced combat boots thud against the training area floor, her eyes filled with determination as she tries to determine her next move. more hand-to-hand combat? strength training? cardio? whatever it took to pummel who she wanted, she supposed. her fingers slide through her hair in time for a voice to invade her thoughts, her pleasant expression returning in the presence of the other female. "Hey Hyojin. You were looking for me? What's up?" She inquires, hands sliding into the back pockets of her jeans.

@❛ yeji hwang /still lookin’ for that blue jean baby queen, prettiest girl I ever seen.../

the cover of the classic blared in her earbuds as the lycan pummels the dummy with kick after kick, leg extending with enough power to send dust flying with each connection of the surface to her foot. Joe Elliot’s vocals always did get her in the mood for action; and this song was no exception. Hyojin had been turned mid seventies, so she’d lived through the era when Def Leppard reigned as kings of the rock world, and she always did have a thing for the raspy vocals, though her crush had admittedly been the bassist (who she’d later in life needed, but that was neither here nor there).

petite fists, though they posed no visual threat, could shatter through bone, split someone apart, even without her claws extended. her head lulls to the beat, beads of saline forming at her temple and on her chest.

it isn’t until she’d nearly torn the poor training dummy apart that the song ends, and thus, her session does, too. just in time, as well, for she sees just the shewolf she meant to speak with.

“Yeji!” she calls out, breathless as she jogs over. “I’ve been lookin’ for you.”

@❛ sehun oh ᵏⁿᶦᵍʰᵗ Home. A word tasting like battery acid in the back of Chanyeol's throat, at the tip of his tongue at the mere attempt to utter the word. Part of him knew that the Full Moon District was their home - their safe haven, their den - and yet it was a place to breed war and violence just the same.

And war was what Chanyeol would wage, if he wanted or not. This was not a home to him, there were no ties he wouldn't be able to cut if he needed and then the time came and this ended - one way or the other - Chanyeol was sure this would still be no home to him.

Not when all he could think of was the memory of a snide comment, an arrogant voice and the word "puppy" tossed his way. A degration in front of the entire pack. Their alpha, bless him, wouldn't have made Chanyeol fight. Not against his will. No, his decision was made to spite that woman, that vile example of a knight as Chanyeol had come to despise most of them. They were old, deadlocked in their ways of hatred and bloodshed and something about them had him on edge. Like walking on the whitened bones of a battlefield long forgotten, hearing them crack like eggshells beneath his feet. Oh yes he was aware that he had been provoked, his buttons pushed way too easily for him to keep a clear, cool head.

Chanyeol was no stranger to violence. He'd wash his hands in innocence, claim he'd never wanted this life of hatred and destruction, yet he knew he fit right in. He too, was a creature of bloodshed and revenge. No different than his uncle, in the end. And he loathed the thought. He had to be different, had to break free of those footsteps he had involuntarily followed for years now. It was the reason he found himself standing on their training grounds, skin damp and nose itching from the stench of damp earth and sweat. If there was one place in this cursed district to find a knight, it had to be here. And a knight was what he needed. If he were to be sent out into potential battle, dragging Seonghwa with him into this mess, he should be prepared. Sehun was here, just as Chanyeol had been told and perhaps it was a little too predictable to stop the snort that bubbled up in his throat, oddly loud in the silence of the deserted area.

"Morning" he greeted loudly, lifting a hand when he was sure he had Sehun’s attention, barely stopping himself from wincing at the volume of his words as they echoed around them. He shifted from one foot onto the other, his jaw locking as his chin raises, everything inside of him fighting the humiliation he was about to bring upon himself.
"Do you know who I am? I was told to look for you. You know... For help."