Do you know the story of the Deer of Dawn?

Luhan runs

He runs using his four legs.

"Get back here!"

He sprints.

-

Luhan clenched his fists tighter, whimpering as he feels pain in his ankle. He's back to his own body.

"Hey kid, are you okay?" his eyes snapped open, scrurrying away from the man

"Oh, you look like the same age as me. Don't be afraid, I don't bite or anything."

"W-Who are you?" Luhan pulls the blanket tighter around him

"I'm Tao, a hunter in the woods. I call myself a hunter even though I'm just beginner. My father kind of locked me into this house to let myself practice in peace"

"Please don't kill me" Luhan mentally punches himself, he's now going to be killed

"Why would I do that? Are you a bad creature? That's impossible because you have a cute and endearing face"

"I'm a... deer"

Tao fell into his back, "Are you joking with me? That's... impossible"

"Please don't kill me. Please, please, please. I still want to see my parents. Please" Luhan placed his hands on his eyes, crying

"Shhh, okay. I may be a hunter but I won't kill you, I promise that." Tao placed a hand on Luhan's knee "What's your name?"

"Luhan" Tao gapes at him, getting to his knees and holding Luhan's hands

"You. You're the deer of dawn. You're the one that can transform from a human to a deer. No wonder the doe eyes is really decieving"

"You know about me?"

"Everyone does. I thought you weren't real. Everyone also wants to... get you" Luhan shivers

"I don't want to get caught. I've seen my friends get killed because they were protecting me. Saying that the deer of dawn shall live an everlasting life" Tao comforts him while he cries. He never met a human this kind.

"What happened anyway? I found you bare at the middle of the forest. Did someone try to catch you?"

"Yeah, I got really tired and my body just gave away" he pats Tao's hand "Thank you for taking care of me"

"It's nothing. You should go shower so we could fall asleep. Your clothes will be on this bed"

Luhan, for once, fell asleep without any pictures coming to his mind.

-

"Good morning!" Tao greets him as soon as he enters the small kitchen "I have a visitor in the living room, he also knows about you"

"Would he harm me?" Luhan attaches himself on Tao's side

"Of course not, silly" Tao laughs and pats his head "He's not a hunter and he likes your story. I told him about you and he's excited to see you"

"What's your relationship with him?" He watches as the blood rushed up to Tao's cheeks

"I- He's my friend"

"I can sense that you like him"

"Like who?" a tall man went in the kitchen, holding a cup "Oh, you're the deer of dawn?"

"Yeah" Luhan nods "Please don't call me that, call me Luhan"

"Okay. Hi Luhan, I'm Kris, Zitao's friend"

Zitao? Luhan thought.

"That's my real name" Tao smiles before putting a bowl of soup in the table Tao and Kris are talking about him and he doesn't want to listen so he shuts his ears, just watching them. Luhan knows that Kris also likes Tao, maybe even loves him.

"We're going out, do you want to come?"

-

There's a small village near the bungalow, Tao says that they'll take days to go to the city so he goes here.

"There's a village downhill, I live there" Kris says, pointing to the path where it goes down

"He always visits me and it's a really long walk. I still don't understand why he won't move in with me"

"Because my mother said that I shouldn't move in with someone if I haven't decided to marry that person"

Tao rolls his eyes "You're just torturing yourself"

"Aw, you care about me" Kris hooks an arm around Tao's shoulders and pressed a kiss on his temple "I shall marry you"

Luhan goes between them and holds both of their shirts, he could feel the awkward silence coming so he did this. Someone launched themself in Kris' body, Luhan's grip on his shirt loosened and he hid behind Tao.

"Ow, you little brat" Kris flicked the man's forehead

"That's Chanyeol, he's kind of dating Kris" Luhan groans

"That's not good. You need to make a move Tao!"

"Heeey, who is this? Is he Tao's girlfriend?" Chanyeol peeks through Kris' shoulder, despite almost tall as him

"This is Luhan, Tao's friend. No Chanyeol, he's not a girl"

"Oh. I'm Chanyeol, they call me Yeol and at some times Puppy. Don't I look like one?" he barks

"I hate dogs" Luhan whispers to Tao

"You look like a fairy" a feminine looking man stood next to Kris "Thank you for taking care of my puppy, Kris"

Tao introduces him as Baekhyun, he doesn't like Kris because Baekhyun likes Chanyeol. After giving a peck on Kris' cheek, Chanyeol got dragged by Baekhyun using his ear.

"Where's Jongin?"

"Maybe at Kyungsoo's clinic" Baekhyun answers over his shoulder "He almost died while hunting deers"

Luhan trembles, the grip on Tao's shirt got tighter. Tao rubs a hand on his back in a comfortable way.

-

Tao bought a rose for the person called Jongin and Luhan feels the jealousy aura coming from Kris, it's really creepy.

"Hey D.O. hyung, how's Jongin?"

"He's fine. He told me that he got caught by twigs and almost rolled his way down to the village" Kyungsoo or D.O. has innocent eyes and Luhan likes it "Who's this?"

Luhan introduced himself which shocked Tao, "He has nice eyes" he explained

"Jongin, Tao and Kris' here with a friend named Luhan. I'm going to let them in"

Jongin's shirt is replaced with bandage, Tao throws the rose near his head

"Why were you hunting without me?"

"I just tried" Jongin looks away "I always rely on you, it's making me feel like I'm annoying"

"You're never annoying to me" Tao sighs, pulling a strand of Jongin's hair "Don't go out without me next time"

"Sorry" they shared a brief hug Luhan feels that they treat each other as brothers but Kris' still jealous.

"Do what Kyungsoo says or I'll shoot you" they finally bid goodbye

"Hi there cutie! Do you want this? It's for free, take it!" a small guy hands him candies "I'm Minseok, you look like a deer"

"I'm Luhan" he flushes when Minseok hugs him "Ummm"

"Sorry, he just hugs everyone" Tao laughs, patting Minseok's head "And that's Chen"

"Minnie!" a man with a basket of candies comes running "This is not our village and we're meant to let people buy this not give them for free!"

"Can I buy the bubble gum?" Kris asks and Chen nods

"I'm older than you, I can do anything" Minseok speaks on Luhan's shoulder

"Let Luhan go now, Prince"

"Ugh fine" Minseok reluctantly lets go and waves, running with Chen away from them

"We go here to see them, to buy groceries, and errands that Kris' mother asks him"

Luhan watches and follows as the two buy things that he doesn't know, he eats the candies while looking around. Hands still on their shirts.

He looks at the big sign, Sauville, it says.

"Hold this" a bow was placed on his forearms Luhan panics

"Tao, Tao, Tao!" Kris removes the bow and Tao hugs him 

"Shhh, it's fine. It's alright. Calm down Luhan"

"Oh Sehun I'm gonna shoot you if you do that again" Tao threatens the man

"What? Crap, sorry" Sehun pats Luhan's back "I'm sorry"

Luhan looks at him without wiping his eyes and Sehun looked frozen for a minute "It's fine"

"Um, are you sure?" he nods before they move on

-

"Sehun's a brat. He came from the farthest village and a few months back, he went here and made his own bungalow" Tao explains "I was a bit shocked when he said sorry because sometimes that kid doesn't have respect and shit"

"He's really nice but he doesn't want people to take advantage of him"

"Kai also said that Sehun's nice" he sighs "So, why did you let Xiumin hug you?"

"You mean Minseok? He has nice eyes just like D.O. They both looked like my deer friends"

"Kyungsoo could be an owl with those eyes. Aren't my eyes nice too?" Tao pointed at them

"Not much but you would be a good substitute panda"

"Everyone says that" he pouts and Luhan laughs

-

Luhan goes back at Sauville the next day, Tao was feeling ill so he and Kris are staying at the bungalow.

"Hey Luhan!" Chanyeol was waving happily and running to him Luhan shuts his eyes tightly, waiting for the impact but nothing came. He opens them and sees Baekhyun holding Chanyeol's ear.

"Sorry Luhan, the puppy almost got you" Baekhyun smiles "Where's the duo?"

"Tao's sick, Kris had to take care of him"

Baekhyun seems to brighten up a bit "Oh, tell him to take care of himself more" Chanyeol says and they both walked away

"Luhan! Here!" he hears Kyungsoo's voice

When he told Jongin and Kyungsoo about Tao being sick, Jongin gave him a knowing smile.

"Tao could've just went here if he wanted to but he didn't. I wish those two would realize" Kyungsoo nods

Luhan didn't see Jongdae and Minseok, he went to buy flowers for Tao when he sees Sehun.

"Hey, Luhan right?"

"Yeah, Sehun?"

"Tao told you?"

"Yes"

"Do you want to come to my house?" Luhan was taken aback and watches as Sehun blushed "I mean, if you want to"

"Uh sure, let me just give this to Tao"

Luhan hears the two talking when he came back so he left the flowers in front of Tao's room door.

Sehun was still there, waiting. He's not with his bow now, he looks completely bare and vunerable. The inside of the bungalow was bigger than Tao's "Tao told me that you built this yourself"

"Yeah, took me weeks to finish it" Sehun serves him a cup of tea and they talked about themselves.

Luhan likes getting to know a person without reading them like an open book.

"Hey, have you heard the story of The Deer of Dawn?"

"I know people are talking about it but I don't know the story" Luhan is really curious

"The deer was a precious gift that was given to two deers, the two deers were it's parents but one day, the parents died from saving their child. There was a group of hunters that killed a lot of deers, spreading blood over the trees and grasses.

"The deer of dawn survived, in an early age it discovers itself that it can be a human. His deer friends were shocked but didn't leave him, they oath to protect him from any harm.

"A lot of people told us that the deer was killed, some told us it was seen. They told us that it has decieving eyes. It's hard to believe things like that now. I became a hunter for that reason."

He exhales deeply "I want to see how beautiful the deer of dawn is"

Luhan feels troubled. He doesn't know what to do. His younger self used to show himself to people who wants to but now, his views had changed.

"What if I told you I'm the deer of dawn?"

"Are you?" Sehun looks closely Luhan shows his real deer eyes and just like everyone said, it was decieving. To Sehun, it's captivating.

"Please don't tell anybody" he's back to himself again, he curls into a ball "Only you, Tao and Kris knows. Please"

To Luhan, what Sehun did, shocked him.

Sehun hugged him.

"I never thought I would see you. I prayed to the gods and all. Now, here you are"

"Did we met before this?" Luhan melted into his embrace, it seemed familiar

"I was the kid you saved back then"

««

"Help! Please! Someone!" Luhan's ears perked up. He ran to the voice.

He sees a child holding onto a twig, he's in the river and it ends to a water fall. He runs and bites the shirt of the kid, pulling him out of the water. After many tries, he got him out.

"Thank you!" the boy hugs him Luhan never had someone hug him in his deer form, "You're the deer of dawn right?"

»»

"I'm glad that I was so stupid back then"

"You were just a clumsy kid"

Sehun told him about what happened after Luhan saved him, he keeps on insisting that he wants to go back to check on the deer but his parents never let him out again. He took Luhan home after the sun sets, walking away slowly while waving at him. Luhan opens the door to Tao's room and saw Kris on the bed too. Tao's head on his chest with an arm wrapped on his waist.

-

"I agreed on staying friends"

"So, Kris really likes Chanyeol" Luhan looks away from Tao's tired face

"Yeah. Kris' serious about him" Luhan tries not to give Tao a pitying look and aura but he can't because he's a special friend.

"I guess waiting wouldn't hurt" he shakes his head "Back to your story, you told Sehun about you?"

"He was a child back then and he's just really kind"

"Luhan, are you sure of this? What if he sells you to someone that's obssessed with deers and that's trying to catch you?"

"Sehun won't do that"

"If you say so" Tao sighs "Just be careful"

-

Tao still stayed at home, he said that his cold might come back if he goes out. Luhan knows that's just an excuse to not see Kris, well the man left him all alone.

"Hey Luhaaaan!" Luhan waves at Chanyeol

"Did you see Kris?"

"No, he didn't visit you?"

"We only see each other here, it's unusual to not see him" Chanyeol sighs "Oh well, thank you"

Chanyeol turns around, Luhan notices that Baekhyun's not with him, maybe he feels lonely.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I better just go home and call it a day" Chanyeol grins at him before walking away

Where did Kris go?

Luhan went to Sehun's again. They talked about a lot of things, sometimes just asking each other weird questions.

"What's in the city? Tao once told me it would take days to get there"

"Ah, I still don't know but I plan on going there. Do you want to go to the city with me?" Sehun asks, yawning

"Yeah!"

-

A few weeks had passed and Kris still didn't appear, Luhan sensed that he maybe still thinking about it. Thinking about Chanyeol and Tao. But now, he's with him in Kris' village.

"I don't know what to do" Kris has his arms around his legs "Baekhyun almost punched me yesterday, he told me to not make Chanyeol wait, to take care of Chanyeol. Luhan, Baekhyun gave up on him!"

Luhan gapes "What?"

"Baekhyun gave up. I don't know if I should be happy or sad."

"If you genuinely love someone, don't let yourself cheat on them absent-mindedly. Stop making Tao, Chanyeol and Baekhyun suffer"

Kris didn't say anything but "I'm sorry I look pathetic right now"

"You'll get through it" Luhan pats his head and shoulder before going out

He goes back on being a deer, he wanders around and almost forgot how to go to the places he used to go.

««

Luhan! he runs to the voice and almost trips on the small rabbit called Joonmyun or Suho for short

Why do you have to be so tall? Joonmyun pouts cutely

Luhan laughs at him, sitting down next to him. He's the only friend Luhan has, he's a little creature so a few only dare to kill his species.

If you lose me or yourself one day, i'll help you find your way back.

Joonmyun has said that to him but he doesn't understand what it means. Maybe it's one of his dramatic phrases again. Luhan shrugs it off.

»»

Is this the thing Joonmyun said?

Luhan lost Joonmyun before Tao had even found him. Joonmyun had hid himself in the bushes while Luhan ran away from the man that tried to kill him. A rustle came from his back and he immediately sprints.

"It's you!" That's the voice of the man that tried to catch him that day.

"You're not gonna get away now!" a bullet flew to his side, making him flinch and run faster

His heartbeat's uncontrollably beating and he thinks that he'll faint before he even reaches Tao's house. Luhan slows his run, he's going to die.

"Hey!" he looks up and sees Sehun "Jongin! That's mine!"

Luhan faints before Sehun even reached his side.

-

"-- deer disappeared out of nowhere!"

"Shhh, Jongin calm down."

Luhan sits up and cried in pain, a pair of hands pushed him back down to the bed. Sehun's.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel like the bones in my legs are dislocated" he says exaggerately, making Sehun smile slightly

"Jongin almost caught you. You almost died. What do you think you were doing?"

"I was looking for my friend" Sehun shook his head, his face spells disappointed.

Luhan closes his eyes, he hears Kyungsoo soothing Jongin from the farthest corner of the room.

"You didn't tell me that everytime you faint, you go back to human form"

"I just forgot, sorry"

"Where's Luhan!?" he hears the curtains being drawn back "Oh my god"

"Hey Tao" Luhan smiles but Tao flicks his forehead

"I was so worried! What were you doing outside? At dawn! You're gonna get a slap after you recover. Seriously!"

"Calm down" Luhan holds his hand while Sehun snickers

"Ugh" Tao glares at Sehun before whispering "Jongin almost caught you, don't let your guard down. I was so worried"

Jongin got kicked in his side by Tao, sending him crumpling to the ground. Tao also told him to stop going out without him and he'll be under his watch for a week.

"You'll be sleeping in Sehun's for a week okay?" Tao pressed a kiss in Luhan's temple before turning his head to Sehun's direction "You better not do anything to Lulu"

Kyungsoo watches helplessly as Tao drags Jongin by his hair, "Jongin's just reckless sometimes"

-

Living with Oh Sehun has it's benifits. You get to know more things that other people doesn't know, which is himself, Sehun.

"I had a temporary amnesia once," Sehun laughs "I had completely fallen in love with Kyungsoo that time but after a week, I got my memories back. Thinking about it now makes me feel ridiculous"

"Crap" Luhan almost slid to the floor as he laughed "Unlucky you"

"Oh oh, I know something about Kyungsoo. He's not really all smiley and nice, he's a devil in the inside. He always hits Baekhyun and Chanyeol using his ruler!"

They both fell asleep while watching the owls outside.

-

Another benifit is cuddling him.

Luhan just knew about cuddling when Minseok bought them to Jongdae's candy shop. They were sitting on a bench when Luhan decided to hug Sehun for a long time, making himself comfortable as he feels his body go tired.

"Luhannie, why don't you cuddle me instead?" he looks at Minseok who's holding his arms out

"What's that?"

"It's what you're doing to Sehunnie right now but I know couples only do that. Are you two in a relationship?"

"No Umin, we're not" Sehun rolls his eyes but Luhan tries not to smile as he feels him get a lot warmer "Don't be ridiculous"

"Then you two might be really good friends" the older nods, scratching the side of his head "Jongdae won't even let me hug him, we've been friends for years!"

"Minnie, stop whining" Jongdae's voice came from the back of the shop

"It feels like we aren't even friends!" Minseok cries out, he hugs Luhan "Please let me hug you"

Luhan laughs at them, he's really fond of their friendship.

Jongdae comes out with a plastic of candies, "Come here and hug me so this whining of yours can stop"

"This is my only chance so I'll do it long. 1, 2, 3!" Minseok hugs him from the back and chuckles "I knew you'd eventually give in"

-

Luhan sees Kris hand in hand with Chanyeol outside the small tea shop near Jongdae's store.

"I hope Kris won't regret any of this" he whispers to himself "I hope Tao and Baekhyun are fine"

That night, he begged Sehun to let him sleep in the woods for it is his own home. Of course the younger one couldn't resist him.

Luhan leaned into Sehun's hand petting his head, "Are your antlers going to grow more?" he nods

While Luhan curls himself on the ground, Sehun on the tree. He climbed up and promised to look for hunters.

-

"Luhan, let's go now!" he hears Sehun whispering and shaking him "Come on!"

Luhan was focusing his vision when a loud voice came

"Hey kid! Why are you here? It's the middle of the night, your mother might be worried!"

"Is that... a deer!?"

"Run!"

It's happening again. Sehun's running after him, looking at his back to check on the hunters.

"Run faster!" Sehun shouts

"Kid! Get the deer!"

He shuts his ears and sprints, leaving Sehun. He knows this is bad. He needs to save Sehun.

Don't be afraid! Luhan stops as he hears a familiar voice. Joonmyun!? Joonmyun! Where are you?

Just run Luhan! He obeys, running as fast as he can

You two can make it if you run fast!

Luhan's eyes teared up, I missed you.

This is not the time to be missing me! Run like how you ran when you were younger!

-

He can't run anymore, he falls to the ground. Why am I not changing back?

"Luhan! What are you doing? Get up!" Sehun pats his face

I can't-- he watches in horror as a bullet was shot through Sehun's shoulder

"Sehun!" the boy falls at his arms, he changed into human form

"Who are you!? What kind of devil made you!?" Luhan cringed at the voice

The group of hunters looked at him like a disgusting creature. He's not like that.

"You're the deer of dawn?" one of them spoke up

"He is!" one of them laughs loudly "This is great!"

"We would make a lot of money using this creature!"

-

Sehun's still breathing, that's all Luhan wants. He silently prays for his friends' safety.

Please, Give Tao and Baekhyun their own happiness.

Jongin, his own first hunt.

Kyungsoo, to be known.

Kris and Chanyeol to continue being happy.

Jongdae and Minseok's own place.

Joonmyun's peace.

-

Luhan's skin crawled as he hears a howl from a wolf. It's a tough one.

"Shhh!" the leader hushed Then a loud growl was heard.

Everything was happening too fast, it scared Luhan, he hugs Sehun tighter. A hand was intertwined with his.

"Don't worry, it's going to be over soon." it was Sehun "Kris' taking care of it but for now, close your eyes tightly and don't take a peek"

-

Luhan wakes up as he hears Tao screaming once again. "You never told me! How fucking dare you!?"

"Guys please. Do it outside" he hears Kyungsoo groaning

He jumps up in surprise as pain started creeping up from his feet.

"Try to keep still" A man, doctor, was sitting beside the bead. He has a nice color of hair. Brown, his favorite. 

"I can't believe that I'm looking at the Deer of Dawn right now" the man smiles "I'm Yixing, a doctor from the village Sehun came from"

"Is Sehun okay?"

"Yeah, we took the bullet out. It's nothing to worry about now"

-

It turns out to be that Kris has been raising three cubs since he was a little kid. Yixing told Luhan that the first full moon after his wolves became adults, Kris also became one.

"He says it happens every full moon and yesterday was fortunately a full moon"

Tao ends up crying after asking Kris why he didn't tell him.

"And his so called boyfriend Park Chanyeol? Is one of the wolves he took care of. They were the ones who turned. Chanyeol just likes to express his gratitude to Kris so it seemed like they're dating" Yixing sighs "Young ones. Ugh, so complicated these days!"

Kris told Chanyeol to go home by himself and went to Tao's house. Turn's out Sehun was the only one who knew because he saw Kris transform.

Jongin went to his knees and asked for forgiveness as soon as he knew that Luhan was the Deer of Dawn. The other's really didn't have any ideas so they questioned Luhan about it. He told them all he knows and his story.

Eventually, Kris and Tao made up. Chanyeol's back to annoying Baekhyun.

Sehun wakes up the next day, a high look in his face which made Luhan crack up "Did you take weeds or something?"

"No," Sehun reaches for his hand and holds onto him "Only Zhang Yix--"

"Hello Sehun" Yixing grins

"Oh god" he scratches his forehead "Making me take drugs while I'm unconcious isn't good"

"It was just a little, don't kill my joy"

Sehun whined the whole afternoon about Yixing making him take drugs because he's still young.

-

"Oy Kyungsoo! Want to come with me? I'm going to the city!" Luhan's ears perked up

"You want me there with you!?"

"Of course! You could be my assistant and we'd be successful!" Yixing laughs

"Xing! We're coming too!" Sehun raised his not injured arm "We should invite all of them"

"That's a good idea! I'll get them!" Kyungsoo excitedly runs out

Chanyeol refused, saying that he'll take care of the wolves and Kris' mother that has also become his. Baekhyun's with him too because he loves him.

All of them are ready to go to the city, only having clothes and money in their bags. Ready for a new beginning.

"I'm so sad. Chanyeol and Baekhyun will be an eyesore, now I'm the only one with no one in their life" Jongin groans as he watches them all climb the ride to the city

Luhan was going to tease him when Kyungsoo went down and ran to Jongin, giving him a kiss on the lips.

"What! This is awesome!" Minseok screams

They cat whistled while Kyungsoo ran back, Sehun laughed the loudest as he watches Jongin's face go red.

"Take care Jongin-ah! Don't miss your lover and brother too much!" Jongdae waves

Kris chuckles as he watches Tao's expression go fond, giving his hand a squeeze.

"I said that I'll wait in the city until he gets his first hunt" Kyungsoo rubbed the nape of his neck

They all talked about how Kyungsoo's feelings weren't much noticed by them when Sehun cuddles close to Luhan, dozing off.

"Whoa, the sun set looks pretty" Tao taps Luhan's shoulder

"Not as pretty as you" Kris mumbles

"Wow Kris, really corny" Kyungsoo teases him

Yixing whispers, just enough for the seven of them to hear "Can I see you in deer form sometime?"

"Sure--"

"No, Lu's all mine. Go get your own deer" Sehun growls with closed eyes

They were all talking about how big the city is when Sehun beckoned Luhan's face closer to his and pressed his lips to his softly.

"Thank you, deer of dawn"

"I didn't do anything"

"You saved me" Sehun says before he drifts off to a real sleep

I did.

fin.