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“Jungkook!” Seokjin calls warningly, looking up from where he’s washing their clothes in the river.
A neat rack of already clean, drip-drying clothes sits nearby, with Jin finalizing the last few items.
“What have I said about wandering off?”
The hatchling chirps apologetically, the tiny fae sliding clumsily over the river rocks and towards Seokjin. The man chuckles softly, the fae squirming his way underneath his arm with a happy purr, rubbing his scaly face against Jin’s shirt.
“You’re not in trouble, sweet one,” Jin says, amused, the hatchling seemingly breathing out in relief and slumping down.
Jin chuckles again, hands resuming scrubbing at Jimin’s shirt (the fledgling having absolutely stained it with blood and dirt, damn him), and it’s only when he moves to hang it up that he realises.
Jin cooes, smiling fondly as he realises the tiny fae hatchling has fallen asleep, head buried into the crook of Jin’s elbow, chest-puffing as he breathes out rhythmically.
Jin smoothes the little one’s head with a gentle finger, calling out in his mind for someone to collect the washing, so he can carry the hatchling back to the cave.
There’s a moment of peace, before a quiet fluttering of air, and Jimin is sitting next to him with a puff, the wyvern fledgling shaking his tail in greeting and knocking up against Jin’s arm.
The Quetzalcoatl dragon grunts at his fledgling, rubbing his nose fondly before Jimin takes off again, claws delicately fastening around the drying rack and smoothly carrying it up into the sky.
Jin watches him go, ensuring that the fledgling isn’t flying too high, albeit, he’s sure that there’s no one else in the forest at the moment - but he has to be cautious nonetheless.
When Jimin’s safely out of sight, Jin slips himself and his hatchling off of the rock, shifting back into his natural form with a flurry of feathers.
The fae stirs, but Jin just gently scoops the hatchling up in his jaws (normally, Jungkook would travel on his back, but with him being asleep, it’s awfully unsafe).
And then Jin’s snaking through the forest, fae settling in his grip with a sleepy snort.
They’re going home.
To the nest.
The nest is a beautiful, underground cave.
It’s difficult to get into, for any other creature, it being hidden behind mounds of rock and a rushing waterfall.
But for Jin, it’s like every normal day, sliding elegantly through the dark system.
The actual nest is stunning.
It’s a small network of tunnels, some lined with moss and jewels, with the main nesting and sleeping area being a giant structure - a ball of thick, wooden tree trunks.
Jin slides through the entrance, settling down on one of the trunks. The inside of the nest is lined with moss and soft undergrowth, the walls being decorated with soothing crystals and their most valuable treasure. The moss grows thicker towards the middle, with that being their sleeping place - a small cavern where they all gather, snuggled together, safe within the nest.
Jin slides forward, fae whining sleepily in his jaws.
The pile of scales shifts with a huff, a bright eye peeking out from underneath a heavy tail, sparking warmth in Jin’s chest.
He drops the hatchling to the ground, Jungkook blinking in confusion for a moment, before crawling underneath Namjoon’s heavy tail and cuddling up against Yoongi and Hoseok, their bodies intertwined with the older dragon.
Jin calls out for Jimin and Taehyung, rolling his eyes as the fledglings tumble into the nest, in midst of battle, the wyvern nipping at the lindwyrm’s exposed stomach, Taehyung squealing.
The pile of scales growls at them, the fledglings falling silent, and instead quickly clambering into the nest, sliding themselves underneath Namjoon’s giant body to cuddle with the dragons underneath.
Namjoon is by far the largest dragon of them all, being the classic four-footed, giant wings dragon. He’s normally on top of the pile, the other dragons curling up underneath and around him.
The Quetzalcoatl snorts fondly, slipping down into the nest and nuzzling up against Namjoon’s head - which is half-hidden underneath Hoseok’s tail.
The dragon responds fondly to his mate, speaking clearly into his mind.
All good, my dear?
Jungkook tried to stray again. Jin replies fondly, settling down on top of Yoongi, the wyrm grunting.
Jin puffs in amusement as the dragon proceeds to lightly scold the half-asleep hatchling, the fae whining in confusion, nuzzling deeper into Hoseok’s stomach.
This is Jin’s favourite place to be.
With all his nestmates, curled up together. Safe.
Together Namjoon assures him, obviously slipping into the Quetzalcoatl's thoughts, Jin nipping his stomach softly in a playful scolding.
He wishes it could be like this forever.
Jungkook’s eyes flicker open, mind thick with sleep.
He can hear something, the soft fluttering of wings outside of the nest, and his heart jumps in his chest, eyes lighting up with excitement.
A butterfly!
Jungkook isn’t allowed to leave the nest without permission, or someone with him, but it’s a damn butterfly, and he can’t contain his excitement-
He breathes in deeply, listening to the sound of his nestmates breathing. They’re all asleep, deep in slumber, Taehyung’s legs twitching against Jimin’s chest as he dreams.
Surely, what can go wrong? He’ll just pop out, chase the butterfly around for a few minutes, and sneak right back in.
No one will know that he’s gone.
With that in mind, Jungkook struggles to get out from underneath Yoongi, the wyrm having rolled on him during his slumber. But when he does, he beats his tiny, flower-like wings and hovers into the air, cautiously viewing his packmates.
Considering that he’s so light, being a hatchling, no one even notices that his weight or warmth is gone. Because, in comparison to them, he’s tiny.
Jungkook almost chirps in success but manages to catch his tongue, hovering towards the exit.
He can’t fly for very long, ending up face planting and getting a mouthful of splinters - and then has to somehow get up the massive logs to get the entrance.
He gives up, sliding through a tiny gap, small feet beating against the ground as he slowly jumps from rock to rock.
It does take Jungkook a while, almost drowning in the waterfall, and falling over quite a few times, before he can see the starry sky of the world.
He chirps in excitement, still hearing the butterfly fluttering nearby-
Jungkook bursts out into the world, cold night air chilling his scales - but he’s too excited, catching sight of the bright blue butterfly chittering around a tree.
And he’s off like a bullet, exhaustion from the climb forgotten, chasing the butterfly with childish joy. The thing keeps fluttering just out of his grip, Jungkook snapping his jaws around thin air and pouting, but still gives on with the chase, chirping happily and bouncing off of trees.
He finally gets it, leaping up and chomping the butterfly in his mouth, feeling it beat around in his mouth.
Jungkook releases it a moment later, watching it fly away, dazed.
That is when he realises how tired he is. His tiny wings sag in exhaustion, Jungkook’s jaws stretching open in a large yawn.
He wants to get back to the nest.
So he turns around, ready to slide back in-
….
Where is he?
Jungkook blinks, slowly processing the situation. He has no clue where he is. He didn’t stray that far away, did he?
Jungkook chirps cautiously, starting to slowly waddle through the forest. Fear sets in his bones.
Where’s the nest?
Where’s his Hyungs?
He chirps a bit louder, tiny wings beating, trying to lift himself, fear spiking as he realises he’s alone and scared, and where is the nest, where is the nest, nest, nest, nest-
Something is wrong.
Namjoon can feel it underneath every single scale, electricity jolting through him. He raises his head, sniffing the air cautiously, unsure of what has awoken him.
He tries to brush it off, go back to sleep, but something is wrong, wrong, wrong, and there’s pressure building in his chest, and his bright eyes start to scan the nest, counting his nestmates-
Then he hears it.
Namjoon isn’t sure at first, but he freezes all the same, large head whipping from left to right.
A squeal pierces through the air, distant yet desperate.
Jungkook.
That’s when Namjoon realises - he only counted five. Five, five, five!
Namjoon is moving, desperation churning in his stomach, uncaring of how his nestmates growl angrily at him as he tramples them. He’s out of the nest in a second, wood splintering as he ignores the entrance, massive wings stiff from sleep.
He hears the Quetzalcoatl call out after him, blurry with sleep and confusion, but Namjoon doesn’t have time.
He’s stumbling up the rocks, wings gushing as he speeds underneath the waterfall, calling out loudly for his hatchling, his little one, oh god where is his baby-
He hears Jungkook squeal again, in pain this time, the hatchling screaming out for his hyungs.
But it sounds so distant, Namjoon exploding out of the cave entrance with a roar, pupils blown wide in fear.
Namjoon is flying out through the starry sky, panic in his lungs, calling out loudly, eyes scanning the dark forest below-
He hears another squeal, weaker this time, ladled with pain and pleading, Jungkook somewhere crying out for his Hyungs.
Namjoon crashes into a clearing, stumbling messily, roaring out for the hatchling, craning for a response.
But there isn't one.
Horror engulfs Namjoon, bleeding into every sense, the massive dragon screeching out for his baby with desperation, the lack of response each time sparking even more alarm through him.
He’s lumbering through the forest, looking so desperately for his hatchling.
His nestmates must understand the situation, because the Quetzalcoatl is suddenly zooming past him, wide awake in fear, screeching loudly for his little one.
But Jungkook doesn’t respond.
There’s nothing.
Namjoon roars out again, one smothered in anger and concern, pleading for the hatchling to answer. Jin is calling again, voice thick with grief, fear, screaming out for his nestling.
Nothing.
He’s gone.
The Quetzalcoatl hasn’t left the nest in days, the remnants of the shell of Jungkook’s egg curled up against his stomach, heavy with grief and guilt.
Jin had exhausted himself, refusing to stop searching for his sweet koo for over a month, eventually collapsing into a full breakdown.
They haven’t given up.
They never will.
Yoongi and Taehyung have been burying deep underground, trying to expand their search by worm tunnels, as they aren’t supposed to fly during the day, risking attention (although Namjoon has already broken that rule multiple times in the last month, searching desperately).
But they haven’t found anything.
They have to find him.
Hatchlings are worth money in the human world, normally kept as pets or-
No.
They’ll find him.
Namjoon nuzzles against Jin’s throat worriedly, assuring the Quetzalcoatl, before sliding out of the nest once again and journeying up to the world to find his koo.
He passes the wyvern, weak from exhaustion - Namjoon ordering him to return to the nest and take a nap - then bursts out into the real world.
He can smell Hoseok, the Amphithere having been out searching for hours, and Namjoon doesn’t hesitate to throw himself into the search, calling out for his hatchling.
He doesn’t expect a response, yet his heart gets heavy when he doesn’t get one.
They’re going to find Jungkook.
They’ll find him.
They’ll…..
Yoongi, the Amphithere speaks softly, pressing up close to the Wyrm, we’re not allowed to. Jin-Hyung would-
We’ve searched everywhere else! Yoongi hisses back, frill bristling, We have no other places to search!
Namjoon went there and searched a fortnight ago, Hoseok reminds him, Jungkook wasn’t there-
I have a feeling, Yoongi tells the Amphithere firmly, I know it. Please, Hoseok. I don’t want to go alone. I can’t fly.
Hoseok sighs heavy, flapping his wings a little, about to reply-
What are we talking about? Jimin asks, suddenly popping into their conversation.
Both Wyrm and Amphithere shrug quickly, muttering about going back to the nest to cuddle with Seokjin, maybe trying to coax their Hyung to eat something.
The wyvern stares after them suspiciously but doesn’t mention it.
They need to find Jungkookie.
No matter what it takes.
Yoongi squeezes Hoseok’s hand tightly.
They haven’t walked around in their human form for so long, not to mention the fact that they’re absolutely surrounded by new, strange scents, surrounded by humans, with Hoseok barely knowing the language.
They’ve been searching around the human market for a few hours, hearts sinking at every dragon scale and tooth that they’ve seen.
Yoongi zones out, eyes growing hot as he remembers vividly the final squeal they had heard from Jungkook, seconds before Jin had shot out of the nest at high speed, his nestmates following suit in an absolute panic for their hatchling.
He only realises that Hoseok is commuting lightly with a market stall owner after the Amphithere squeezes his hand, eyes lighting up.
Yoongi waits until they finish talking in the unfamiliar language, Hoseok dragging him away at high speed.
What?
There was a hatchling sold a few weeks ago, Hoseok begins excitedly, body trembling, sold to a high-ranking official. They’re back in town, Yoongi. The official apparently carries the hatchling around with him, showing off and boasting. Jungkook, Hyung!
Yoongi almost screeches in joy, hugging Hoseok tightly, arms looped around his neck, the Amphithere locking their foreheads together and breathing out slowly.
We just need to find where he’s staying, Hyung, and then Jungkookie-
Yoongi is already pulling him down the street, desperate to get the hatchling back into his arms, cuddle the defenseless fae close and soothe him.
The little one is probably terrified.
It’s been 3 months too long.
Because Jungkook should never have been snatched from the nest.
Yoongi slides through the window silently, bare feet hitting the carpet. Hoseok nods to him through the open window, smoothly shifting and slivering away over the lawn, remaining unseen.
Yoongi has to get in. Find Jungkook, get out.
Get the hatchling back to the nest.
He pads through the house quietly, pressing his ear to every door and sniffing at the air. But in his human form, his sense of smell is pretty much useless.
Yoongi pauses at the last door of the corridor, craning his ears. He swears he hears a quiet shuffling, so, with light fingers, he eases open the door, holding his breath.
The sleeping figure of a man immediately locks into his vision, Yoongi stiffening, fingers slowly pulling the door-
A rustle.
His eyes dart to the corner of the room, breath catching as he realises there’s a large object, hidden underneath a cloth.
Yoongi eyes the sleeping man, but silently creeps through the doorway, edging around the bed.
His heart is in his throat, fingers reaching out to tug the fabric up-
Oh. Oh.
Sweet boy.
Yoongi can feel his eyes tearing up as Jungkook blinks awake in confusion, tiny body shivering with the cold, as well as well-preserved fear and loneliness.
He’s too young to be alone.
Jungkook’s head lifts up weakly, eyes widening as he sees Yoongi staring at him, tears silently coating his cheeks.
Jungkook is still for a moment. But then, his dark eyes are growing glassy, and the tiny dragon is drawing in tiny gasps of breath, limbs trembling and chest fluttering as his head folds underneath his wings.
Come here, little one. Hyung has you now.
Yoongi carefully swings the cage open, thanking the official silently for not using a complicated lock (these humans always underestimate them).
The hatchling zooms out of the cage, burying underneath Yoongi’s top, claws sharp in the man’s chest.
Yoongi doesn’t flinch, hands instead cupping the shivering bulge in his top, silently and quickly heading back to the doorway.
And then he’s racing down the corridor, chest heaving as he cries, feeling the hatchling sobbing against his chest.
Hoseok is desperate to see the hatchling, but Yoongi points out that it probably isn't wise to flash the hatchling out in the slowly glowing dawn. So, Hoseok settles to caress the lump in Yoongi’s shirt, starting to cry when Jungkook nips at his fingers, claws tightening in Yoongi’s chest.
Thank god.
Thank god.
The sun is just starting to settle on the tips of the tallest trees of the forest as Yoongi and Hoseok move through the undergrowth.
Yoongi is still in his human form, arms tight around his chest as he feels the fluttering of Jungkook’s little heart, the hitching of the fae’s chest as he sniffles.
The Amphithere is firm and warm underneath him, slithering through the undergrowth at a decent pace - one that portrays his instinctive urge to get them all back to the nest as quickly as possible, but that takes into the equation the delicacy of Yoongi’s state and the strength of his thighs which are holding him onto the Amphithere’s back.
Hoseok’s belly hits the rocks that slant upwards towards the rushing waterfall, and his wings brush the air as he gives a small hop, teetering upward.
Yoongi closes his eyes, and feels the waterfall gushing through his hair, sliding down his shirt. The fledgling against his chest squeaks, trying to shake the droplets away. Yoongi wants to laugh, but his eyes are filled with tears, again.
Hoseok slides through the mouth of the cave, pressing low to the ground to avoid Yoongi’s head smacking into the array of rocks. The Wyrm breathes in deeply through his mouth - the scent of moss, dampness, the pack, Namjoon, Namjoon-
A sudden gust of wind almost throws him off of Hoseok’s back, and he yelps, hands scrabbling at feathers and scales as Namjoon crashes into them with purpose.
The giant dragon is rippling with rage, concern, and relief flowing off of him like a river. He’s furious.
Where have you been?! Namjoon roars through the mind bond, eyes ablaze with terror as his body curls around Hoseok’s smaller frame tightly.
You were gone, we couldn’t find you, why would you endanger yourselves?! Especially right now?!
Yoongi slouches with a whimper, Hoseok curling in guilt as Namjoon bows his head to roughly nuzzle at the Amphithere’s cheek with a sharp gasp.
Then, his teeth are settling at the nape of Yoongi’s shirt and he’s scooping him up, a claw curling around Hoseok as he takes flight and glides deeper into the system desperately.
The nest is getting closer, Yoongi can smell it as he dangles from Namjoon’s jaws. He can also smell the spike of his packmates, the fury rolling off of Seokjin in gushing waves.
And then they’re there.
Namjoon sets him down gently on the mossy wood, despite his clear anger, turning to nip Hoseok sharply in the neck, the Amphithere shuddering.
They’re herded forward, Yoongi’s eyes dripping closed as the smell of his only Hyung smacks him in a rush.
The Quetzalcoatl is crying, he realises, tail curling around Yoongi’s waist and dragging him into him. He’s smothered by his hyung’s wings, the Quetzalcoatl nuzzling roughly at his cheek, feathers chafing against human skin.
Where have you been? Seokjin cries, voice thick with strain and emotion as he scents Yoongi roughly, the human spluttering.
I wake up, and Namjoon tells me you're gone. Where have you been? Why would you stray from the nest?
Seokjin is bristling with rage, nipping sharply at Yoongi’s shoulder. The Wyrm flinches, the nip almost drawing blood, but he’s wrapped too tightly to shift.
Why the fuck would you stray from the nest, without telling Namjoon, without telling me, why would you do that to us knowing that we’ve alread- already lost-
His voice cracks and Yoongi’s hands curl into his feathers.
Hyung- he hears Hoseok call, his packmate being smothered by Jimin and Taehyung, the younger fledglings nipping at his wings sharply, fearfully.
Be quiet, Hoseok. Seokjin snarls, Namjoon herding the other three dragons closer, brushing up against his packmates-
Hyung! Yoongi yells, tugging sharply at Seokjin’s coat, and the Quetzalcoatl's eyes are on him, glazed and burning.
There’s a moment of silence, Yoongi slipping his hand deeper into the flurry of feathers and giving the lump on his chest a nice, firm back on the bum.
There’s a shift, a little squeak, and Jungkook’s head cautiously pops out from the mouth of his shirt.
Namjoon freezes, Seokjin stiff and trembling.
Then everything explodes.
Jungkook is darting out of his shirt at a speed that causes Yoongi to yelp, the fae smashing into Seokjin’s muzzle with a heartbreaking cry.
The grip on him loosens enough for Yoongi to shift, scales against feathers now. Seokjin doesn’t give him that freedom for long, curling even tighter around him as he cries, nuzzling up at the small fae that’s latched onto his face.
Jimin and Taehyung dive forward, trying to get as close to the tiny dragon as possible, letting out deep, chesty cries as they nuzzle up to both him and Seokjin’s face.
Yoongi can feel Hoseok curling up around him as he snuggles up against Yoongi’s cheek. It smells good, so, so good, relief and home thick in the air. Thicker than honey.
Namjoon is close to wailing, curling over the entire group of dragons, huge head lowering to almost crush the small reunion. His wings shelter them, curling and protecting them.
Yoongi watches from lidden eyes as Jungkook moves to latch himself onto the bridge of Namjoon’s muzzle, rubbing his small face on the dragon’s scales desperately.
There’s so much crying, but it’s so right, Yoongi purring as Jimin and Taehyung lunge at him, Seokjin moving to curl around all of them, Namjoon encasing them in heat.
They're all here.
All.
Together.
Together again, together in their nest.
There’s nothing more right than this.
The tight swirling in their guts, the heat of loss and grief, and the tiredness that coated their bones and muscles vanquishes.
And there’s only peace.