"Taehyungie-hyung..." Jungkook calls after Taehyung, looking like he's about to cry.

Meanwhile, Jimin... is already crying. "Taehyungie..." he sobs.

"I'm sorry," Namjoon sighs, "I feel like this is all my fault."

"I was the one who suggested going to the farm..." Yoongi says, shaking his head.

"As his psychologist," Hobi says, voice tight, "I should have taken precautions---"

"It doesn't matter!" you shout, exasperated, "What does it matter??? Taehyung is goodness-knows-where and we're all standing here playing the self-blame game!"

Everyone looks shocked at your outburst, not least of all yourself.

"I... I'm sorry..." you say, feeling ashamed that you lost control like that.

"You shouldn't be," Seokjin says, "You're right. We're wasting time." He walks towards you and places a gentle hand on your shoulder. "We need to start looking while it's still light out."

"I can try tracking him," Yoongi says, looking composed once more, "although, full disclosure, I'm not banking on that. At the end of the day, Taehyung is still a predator Hybrid, and I'm just a cat." He clenches his jaw. "But I'll do my best."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You all agree to meet up in front of Yoongi's place at midnight.

As Yoongi goes off on his search, the rest of you head into town and spread out, going house to house. You ask the locals if they've seen a Hybrid of Taehyung's description. You know that if they did see Taehyung, they would definitely have remembered. His is an unforgettable face, after all.

But none of the people you asked saw him.

So you search.

And search.

And search.

Night falls... and still, nothing.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Your feet hurt... and so does your heart. You feel exhausted and empty.

'Maybe Yoongi is right... This is futile. Taehyung is a panther Hybrid, what makes me think I have any chance of finding him?'

But you're not ready to give up just yet. Taehyung deserves better than you giving up on him.

As a last ditch effort, and purely on gut-feel, you decide to check out the wooded area at the edge of town.

The darkness and silence of the woods give you time alone with your thoughts, the only sound being the rustle of your feet as you tread on grass and dirt.

It's nighttime and you're alone in the woods, in a town you've never even heard of before today, searching for a panther Hybrid you adopted on impulse a mere two weeks ago.

'Have I truly gone crazy?' You shake your head in disbelief. 'Maybe this is all a fever dream.'

Then, something you see makes you stop short. In the darkness, twin gold orbs float amongst the trees.

"T-Taehyung?" you call out tentatively. After you get no response, you try, "Taetae? V?"

Taehyung finally moves, though still silent, simply walking--- no, stalking towards you.

As moonlight washes over his features, you realize something that makes your blood run cold.

The Hybrid standing before you isn't your sweet Taetae. Nor is it V.

In fact, it doesn't even seem like Taehyung at all.

'Those eyes... there's nothing behind them. Nothing.'

In a flash, you find yourself pinned against a tree trunk. You're too shocked to even struggle. Your freeze response has taken over.

Then, Taehyung--- no, this Hybrid, starts sniffing you. Your hair. Your cheek. Your neck.

"Mine," he growls, baring teeth, sharp canines that glint in moonlight. He bends, and soon you feel the pinprick of said canines against the tender skin at the side of your neck.

Pressing. Pressing.

Soon, you know it will draw blood.

Your entire body quakes in fear. A sob escapes your lips.

"Taehyung, please... Come back to me. Come home."

The Hybrid draws back, brows furrowed in mingled pain and confusion. He staggers back as if drunk, releasing you from his hold.

You see that his lips are moving, as if he's mouthing words.

"[Y/N]ie, please... run..."

Your breath hitches. Could it be...

"Tae...?" you ask, taking a step closer.

Taehyung's head whips up, and you see a degree of clarity break through the fog in his eyes.

"RUN!!!" he shouts, then doubles over again, his entire body language screaming agony.

You snap out of your stupor, instincts for flight finally kicking in.

And you run.

You run faster than you ever thought yourself capable of.

You run and you run and you run, not once daring to look back.

Almost blind with tears, you collide into something hard. You stumble, but strong arms catch you before you hit the ground.

"[Y/N]?"

It's Seokjin's voice, and a rush of relief floods your veins.

"You're shaking!" he cries. Your knees buckle as the adrenaline wears off, and Seokjin supports your weight to keep you upright. "What happened???" he asks worriedly.

You babble incoherently, tears streaming down your cheeks. Seokjin looks down into your face and tries vainly to wipe away your tears, which seem endless.

"Calm down," Seokjin whispers, "Breathe."

You take a deep, shaky breath, and try again.

"I f-found him... in the w-woods. Bu-but he's... he's n-not... it's not..."

You can't even verbalize it. Almost like you're afraid that putting it into words would make it real.

"It's okay, love," Seokjin says gently, "Come on, let's get you to the others."

Seokjin wraps an arm around your shoulder, and you lean against him for support. Slowly, you make your way back to Yoongi's place.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

With the exception of Yoongi, you all decide to call it a night and check into the only guest house in town.

"I have night vision so I can keep searching," Yoongi declares, "All of you, however, need to rest."

You look around at the tired faces surrounding you and feel a pang of misplaced guilt. You know nothing that happened was your doing, and yet you can't help the remorse that plagues you.

"At the state you're in," Yoongi continues, "you have absolutely no chance of finding a panther Hybrid who doesn't want to be found, and in the cover of night at that."

Yoongi is right. Not a single one of you is in any shape to be doing anything helpful tonight. With resignation, you all retire to your respective rooms.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As you lay in bed, your gaze falls to the journal you unearthed at the farmhouse. Yoongi had given it to you for safekeeping, minus the lock of hair, of course. You pick the journal up, running a hand over the rough leather cover.

'Maybe it contains something that would help us track Taehyung down?'

You open to the first page and start reading.

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A/N: What secrets will the journal uncover?

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