Chapter Text
The sky, Mingi realized, holds a lot of wonders. His cousin had told him once, when he was much younger and didn't understand what stars were, that if he waited long enough he might see one shoot into the night.
"They're souls Mingi-ya.” His cousin had explained, “That's where we all go when our time comes, and you know how we can’t stay still.” He'd nudged Mingi playfully and the other couldn't help but giggle.
It was a cool summer night, the waters all around them were warm and calm. His pod was back down by the caves, having a late night meal or getting ready to sleep. Typically Mingi would've been down there with them, but his cousin had asked to spend time with him, and he was old enough that his parents trusted him to be safe. Mingi was close to all the members of his pod, but he liked his cousin the most. He was 8 years older than Mingi, but he never talked or treated him like a child. Instead he played all kinds of fun games and told him cool stories, much like the one he'd shared with him now.
Mingi's attention was still turned to the sky as he waited with bated breath, hoping to catch a glimpse of what his cousin described. Stars were always fascinating to Mingi, but the idea of shooting stars felt like miracles. He took his cousin's words into consideration, and frowned as he realized something, "Is that where hyung went? That's why he's not here anymore?"
Mingi's 'hyung' had been an older member of his pod. A few months prior he'd gotten injured while on a hunt and passed away as a result. The whole pod had mourned his death, but Mingi was too young to understand why he was gone. And no one had the heart to tell him either.
His cousin nodded, pointing to a star at the end of a constellation. "That's him right there. He’s watching over us."
Mingi tilted his head, ”Will he always be there?”
“Mn hm, and he’ll always keep an eye on you.”
His hyung had always been good at taking care of Mingi, he'd taken care of all the kids Mingi's age so this admission only made him feel safe. He giggled and waved at the star, calling out to it. "Hi Hyung! I hope you're ok now! I miss you!"
His cousin had chuckled and flicked water into his face. But he too followed Mingi's example and the two spent the rest of the night talking to the stars.
The sound of his cousin’s laughter haunts him now, as Mingi waits for his parents to come back. He doesn't know how much time has passed, all he knows is that the sun had been up when they'd left him and it'd long set over the horizon. It was one of those peaceful nights where the water was calm and there wasn't a cloud in sight. It was the kind of night where Mingi would sleep the best, but not until his pod came back.
Why are they taking so long?
The memories of the day were a blur. Just that morning he had woken up to his pod happy and smiling. He’d had breakfast with them, and later had gone on to play with his friends. They’d raced each other, dodging the coral, and taking turns watching over the younger kids. It had been in the blink of an eye that everything changed. A shadow had passed by overhead, and Mingi had looked up to see what it was. He could only make out a strange shape, long and round, sitting on the surface of the water. His mother, who was normally level headed, had come swimming to round up all the kids. She'd grabbed Mingi’s arm and lead him into their cave. His father had been waiting inside, and when he saw them enter he hugged them both.
"Are you alright?"
Mingi nodded and his mother motioned outside. "They're coming, I don't know how much time we have-"
From outside came a sudden scream. Mingi flinched when he heard it. His father's grip on his arm had tightened, and he took a deep breath through his nose. "Ok." He turned to his mother, "We need to grab as many kids as we can."
His mother had agreed, and Mingi got the sense there was something serious going on. "What's happening?"
His father hadn't answered. Instead he turned to Mingi and tucked him into a corner. “Don't. Move. Do you understand?”
“But-”
“I don't want to hear it! Just do what I tell you, and stay here.”
Mingi’s parents never yelled, even when he made mistakes. They’d always spoken to him in a calm, and gentle manner. But as his father made him promise, his eyes were narrowed, and his voice was sharp.
Mingi turned to his mother, hoping for some sort of comfort, but she too was looking at him with a stern expression. Mingi couldn’t see past his parents, who were blocking the entrance of the cave, but he could hear what was going on outside. The others were all yelling now, somewhere he could hear a kid crying, his friend was calling out to his sister. None of it really made any sense. Even at six he could tell something was wrong. It wasn’t one of those occasions where they played hide and seek, and Mingi would giggle, giving himself away. There was real danger, and all Mingi could do was stay put. He nodded to make it clear that he had understood, and his parent’s expressions finally softened. His mother reached forward to give him a hug.
“Everything’s going to be alright, this is. . .” she trailed off, unsure of how to explain the sudden danger they’d found themselves in. The noise outside was getting more and more frantic. She could hear her aunt begging her two granddaughters to swim faster.
“It’ll all blow over," His father finished instead. "and when it does we’ll be back for you ok? Just wait a little and we’ll come find you.”
Mingi’s mother had held him tight, almost as if scared it would be their last hug. His father too, but it was over all too soon.
The caves where his pod resided where large and wide. When night fell they would get very dark, but they were Mingi's home. He knew them like the back of his hand. He tucked himself deeper into his corner and waited. Every now and again he was tempted to leave, just to check on his parents and see what was going on. But every time he got close to the cave's entrance, he'd pull back. The commotion going on outside did nothing to soothe his nerves. But after a bit it had quieted down, and Mingi felt really and truly alone. The water around him was colder than usual, and the dark, which had never scared him before, was now daunting.
He hadn't wanted to leave the cave, but he'd go crazy having to wait in the long dark tunnels. I won’t go too far. He reasoned. That way they can still find me
Mingi wasn’t used to being alone, for as long as he could remember he’d always had a friend by his side. But now, he’d felt more lonely than ever before.
He slowly and carefully made his way to the surface, still nervous and on edge. He broke through the water and looked around, there was nothing but sea for miles. He sighed, wondering how much longer he’d have to wait.
They’ll have to apologize a hundred times before I forgive them, he decided. But in the meantime he’d busy himself with the stars.