✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The early morning sunlight pierced through the thick canopy, bathing the forest floor in shifting patches of gold. Y/N perched at the edge of the treehouse platform, her senses sharp, her body tense. The air carried a faint disturbance—a rustle, a whisper of movement too deliberate to be the wind.

She knew they were back.

“They’re here,” she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.

Namjoon stirred behind her, his voice low and groggy. “Who’s here?”

“Bandits,” she whispered, scanning the trees. “Seven of them, spreading out.”

He stiffened. “The same ones as last time?”

“They came prepared.” Her hand drifted to the dagger strapped to her thigh. “Stay quiet and don’t move. I’ll handle it.”

“Y/N—”

But she was already gone, dropping soundlessly from the platform into the shadows below.

The forest floor was alive with faint sounds: boots crunching against leaves, the creak of branches as the bandits spread out. Y/N moved like a shadow, her steps silent, her breathing steady.

The first man was closest—a wiry figure armed with a club, his back turned to her as he scanned the area. Y/N crept up behind him, her movements precise. In one swift motion, she clamped her arm around his neck, cutting off his air. His body tensed, his hands clawing at her arm, but she held firm, lowering him quietly to the ground as his strength faded.

She didn’t stop to catch her breath. The second bandit was already moving closer, drawn by the faint rustle of his companion’s fall. He carried a knife, his eyes darting nervously through the trees. Y/N crouched low, using the underbrush as cover.

As he passed, she sprang. Her hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and twisting sharply. The knife fell from his grasp with a clatter, and before he could cry out, she slammed her elbow into his jaw. His head snapped back, and he crumpled to the ground in a daze.

Y/N melted back into the shadows, her heartbeat steady.

In the treehouse, Namjoon leaned forward, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the platform. “What’s going on? Why is it so quiet?”

Jungkook stirred beside him, his voice thick with sleep. “What are you talking about?”

“Bandits,” Namjoon whispered, his eyes scanning the forest below. “Y/N’s taking care of it.”

“By herself?”

“Stay down,” Namjoon warned. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Back on the ground, Y/N spotted the third bandit—a larger man pacing near a fallen log. He held a bow, an arrow already nocked as his eyes scanned the trees. Y/N moved carefully, circling him, waiting for her moment.

When he turned his back, she struck. She darted forward, grabbing the bow and wrenching it from his hands. He spun, swinging wildly, but she ducked under his arm and drove her knee into his stomach. He doubled over with a gasp, and she finished him with a sharp blow to the side of his head.

The fourth and fifth bandits were further out, moving together in a loose formation. Y/N frowned, adjusting her grip on her dagger. Taking them both at once would be tricky, but she didn’t have a choice.

She crept closer, staying low. The two men were speaking in hushed tones, their voices carrying faintly through the trees.

“You think she’s still here?” one of them asked, his grip tightening on his axe.

“She has to be,” the other replied. “We didn’t see anyone leave.”

Y/N waited until they were slightly apart before making her move. She darted out, grabbing the closer man by the arm and spinning him around. He barely had time to react before she slammed her palm into his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

The second man turned, his eyes widening in shock. “Hey—”

Y/N didn’t let him finish. She lunged at him, knocking his axe aside and shoving him into a tree. He struggled, but she pinned him with her body weight, driving her elbow into his temple. He slumped against the trunk, unconscious.

“She’s terrifying,” Jimin muttered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief.

“She’s efficient,” Suga corrected, though his voice betrayed a hint of tension.

The final two bandits were near the edge of the clearing, their leader among them. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his cheek, his presence commanding.

“She’s picking us off,” he growled, gripping his knife. “Spread out. Find her.”

But before they could move, Y/N stepped into view, her dagger glinting in the sunlight.

The leader’s lips curled into a smirk. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”

Y/N said nothing, her expression cold and unreadable.

“Think you can take us both?” he taunted, gesturing to the man beside him.

Y/N tilted her head. “I’ve already taken down five of you.”

His smirk vanished. “You’ll regret that.”

He lunged at her, his knife slashing through the air. Y/N dodged, her movements quick and fluid. She struck back, aiming for his wrist, but he was faster than she expected, deflecting her blow and countering with a vicious swing.

The fight was brutal, their movements a blur of strikes and counters. The leader was strong, his attacks heavy and deliberate, but Y/N was quicker. She weaved around his strikes, her dagger flashing as she aimed for his vulnerable points.

From above, the group in the treehouse watched in alarm.

“Shouldn’t we do something?” Taehyung asked, his knuckles white as he gripped the platform.

“Stay put,” Namjoon ordered, though his eyes were glued to the fight below.

The leader growled in frustration as Y/N dodged another strike, her movements too fast for him to follow.

But Y/N didn’t falter. She gritted her teeth, as she ducked under his next swing and drove her elbow into his ribs. He staggered, his balance faltering, and she took the opportunity to strike.

With a sharp blow to the side of his head, she sent him crashing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Y/N stepped back, her dagger still raised. The leader didn’t move.

“All clear,” she called, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The group let out a collective sigh of relief, their tension finally easing.

“She’s insane,” Hobi muttered, shaking his head.

Jin allowed himself a small smile. “She’s Y/N.”

The tension hung thick in the air as Y/N stood over the unconscious leader, her dagger still gripped tightly in her hand. The others clambered down from the treehouse, their expressions a mixture of awe, relief, and unease. Jungkook was the first to approach, his eyes scanning the scattered bodies of the defeated bandits.

"All seven of them," he muttered, shaking his head. "You really took them down."

Taehyung crouched by one of the unconscious bandits, prodding him lightly with a stick. "What do we do with them? Leave them here?"

Y/N glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "No."

Jimin frowned. "Then what? Kill them?"

The suggestion hung in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. Hoseok's face twisted in disapproval, and Jin shot Jimin a sharp look.

"We're not killing anyone," Y/N said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. She wiped her dagger clean on the leader’s shirt and sheathed it. "But we can’t just let them off easy either."

Suga stepped closer, his arms crossed. "So what do you suggest? They’ll come back if we don’t do something."

Y/N’s gaze swept over the unconscious figures. "We make sure they don’t."

Jungkook tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes. "How? Tie them up and leave them for the zombies?"

"No," Y/N replied, her tone cold but decisive. "We send them a message."

The group exchanged glances, uncertain of her meaning. Y/N crouched beside the leader, pulling a length of rope from nearby spot. She began tying his hands behind his back with deliberate precision.

“They’re survivors, just like us,” she said, her voice steady. “But that doesn’t give them the right to prey on others. If they think they can keep doing this, they’ll find out the hard way that there are consequences.”

She gestured for the others to help. “Bind their hands and feet. Leave them enough slack to walk, but not run.”

One by one, they followed her lead, tying up the remaining bandits. Jin hesitated for a moment, looking down at the man he was binding. “You’re sure about this?”

“They’re desperate, not stupid,” Y/N replied. “I’ll make sure they'll understand the message.”

As the group made their way back to the treehouse, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows through the forest. Hoseok broke the silence first, his voice lighter than before.

“Well, that was an eventful morning.”

“Still,” Jimin added, glancing at Y/N, “you could’ve let us help.”

Y/N smirked faintly, her steps never faltering. “You’re welcome to take the next shift.”

Jungkook chuckled. “I think I’ll pass.”

Namjoon sighed but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with anything like this again anytime soon.”

“Agreed,” Taehyung said, though his eyes lingered on Y/N, a mix of admiration and wariness in his gaze.

Back at the treehouse, the group settled in, their laughter and banter slowly returning as the tension faded. Y/N, however, remained quiet, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

“Something on your mind?” Namjoon asked, sitting down beside her.

“Just making sure,” she said softly. “They’re not the only ones out there.”

Namjoon nodded, his expression somber. “We’ll be ready.”

Y/N didn’t respond, but her grip tightened slightly on the hilt of her dagger. In this world, readiness was all they had.

---

After a few minutes of resting, Y/N stood up, brushing her hands off as she headed toward the supplies. She started pulling out a few utensils, clearly intending to make dinner. But before she could take another step, Hoseok swooped in, snatching the pot out of her hands.

"Uh-uh, not happening," he said with a playful grin, holding the pot above his head like it was a trophy.

"Hobi, give it back," Y/N said, narrowing her eyes, though there was a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"Not a chance," Hoseok replied, sidestepping her attempt to grab it. "You’ve done enough for one day. It’s our turn to shine."

Before Y/N could argue further, Jin appeared seemingly out of nowhere and gently but firmly placed his hands on her shoulders, steering her away from the supplies. "Nope. Out of the kitchen area. This is our domain now."

"Jin—"

"Don’t 'Jin' me!" he cut her off with a mock-serious expression, wagging a finger at her like a scolding parent. "You’ve been running around all day playing hero. Now it’s time for you to sit down, or better yet, lie down."

Y/N huffed, but before she could wriggle free, Jungkook and Taehyung flanked her like mischievous shadows.

"You heard the man," Taehyung said, his voice full of mock authority.

"Time for bed," Jungkook added, grabbing her arm gently but firmly.

"Guys, I’m fine—" Y/N started, twisting slightly in their grip, but the maknae line was having none of it.

"You’re not fine; you’re tired," Taehyung interrupted, dragging her toward the makeshift bedding area they’d set up.

Jimin joined in, taking her other arm with a solemn nod. "We can’t let you overwork yourself, Captain."

"Captain?" Y/N raised an eyebrow, struggling to suppress a laugh at the title.

"Don’t question it," Jungkook said, smirking as he tightened his grip. "Now sit."

Before she knew it, the three of them had practically deposited her onto one of the sleeping mats.

"I can’t believe this," Y/N muttered, glancing between Jungkook and Taehyung, who were grinning like victorious conspirators.

"Believe it," Jimin said, crossing his arms and tilting his head dramatically. "You’re officially banned from dinner prep."

Before she could respond, Yoongi’s voice floated over from his spot by the supplies, calm and cool but carrying a playful edge. "If you stand up again, I’m tying you to that tree."

Y/N blinked, momentarily stunned by his statement. "You wouldn't."

Yoongi looked up, meeting her gaze with a deadpan expression. "Try me."

The group erupted into laughter, and even Y/N couldn't help but chuckle at their antics. She raised her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll stay put."

"Good," Namjoon said with a smile, carrying over a canteen of water and setting it next to her. "You've earned a break. Let us take care of dinner for once."

Y/N leaned back slightly, a small, reluctant smile on her lips. "You guys are ridiculous."

"And you love it," Hoseok said with a wink as he turned back to the supplies.

The group worked together to prepare dinner, their laughter and teasing filling the air. Y/N let herself relax, watching them with a sense of quiet gratitude. Even if she'd never admit it out loud, she was glad to have them by her side.

---

Days passed, and with Y/N's determination, the group now had five more horses safely stabled at their base near the treehouse. The BTS members sat together, relaxed but waiting for Y/N, who had set out alone again that day. The sun was beginning to set, and the evening sky painted a peaceful backdrop as they wondered about the day's progress.

The quiet anticipation didn't last long, as Y/N's familiar figure appeared at the base of the treehouse, her silhouette growing clearer as she climbed up the ladder.

The group's eyes brightened as she reached the top, where they'd all been sitting. She offered a wide smile, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "So, I've got good news," she began, her tone light but proud.

"First off, the town's now clear of any threats," she said, drawing the group's attention. "It's secure. No more immediate danger. The town hall has been reinforced, and it's now a solid base of operations. We've got a good amount of supplies there too-enough to keep us going for a while."

The others exchanged relieved looks, and RM spoke up first, his voice full of approval. "That's great to hear. It sounds like everything is falling into place."

Y/N nodded, her smile never wavering. "It's all thanks to your help, though. You all contributed to this. The horses, the supplies, everything. You're just as much a part of this as I am."

The group chuckled, but Jin raised an eyebrow. "I think you've earned yourself one more territory, Y/N. You've really done a lot."

Y/N shook her head with a playful smile. "Not just mine," she corrected. "It's ours. You all helped make this happen. You're just as involved in this as I am. It's our territory, all of us together."

Hobi grinned, raising his hand. "I like the sound of that. We're all in this together."

Jimin gave her a thumbs-up. "You're right, Y/N. We've got your back, no matter what."

Suga nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "We're a team. Always."

The weight of their shared efforts and success settled over them, and for the first time in days, the mood felt light and optimistic. It wasn't just Y/N's victory-it was theirs, too.

As evening fully settled in, they all sat back, content with their work, knowing that together, they'd achieved something important. The future felt a little brighter with each passing day, and with their growing bond, there was no doubt they'd continue to push forward, side by side.

---

As the group settled for dinner, the familiar buzz of conversation filled the treehouse. But tonight, there was an underlying tension in the air, a quiet anticipation that seemed to have everyone on edge.

Y/N, fresh from a long day's work, walked in and set her things down. She looked around at the group, her face serious but still bearing that ever-present hint of a smile.

"After some days from now, we're heading to Minho's base," she said, breaking the silence.

The room stilled as everyone paused mid-bite, eyes immediately turning to her.

"Minho?" Jimin asked, confused. "Who's that? We've heard of him, but we've never actually met."

Y/N nodded, looking briefly at Suga and Hobi before responding. "Minho's group is one I've known for years. You've heard of them, but none of you have met him in person."

Suga spoke up, his voice steady. "Yeah, I know Minho. It's been years since we last saw each other. Things weren't great between us when we parted ways, but I trust him. He's a good person."

Hobi, who had been quiet up until that point, added, "We haven't kept in touch in a while, but I know they'll appreciate the help."

Y/N's expression grew more serious, her tone quiet but filled with determination. "I haven't heard from them in a couple of weeks, and there's been word of a rival gang moving through the area. We need to check on them. I want you all to meet them, too. I haven't seen Minho in a while, and it's about time you guys get to know him."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "So we're going to check on them because of the rival gang?"

Y/N nodded. "Exactly. We'll stay for a few days, maybe longer, depending on the situation. I haven't heard from Minho's group recently, and with things getting tense, I need to make sure they're alright."

The group exchanged looks, the weight of the situation settling in. There was a mix of curiosity and concern-curiosity about the new group they were about to meet, and concern about what the rival gang could mean for them.

Jimin, still a bit uncertain, asked, "What if we get there and it's not what you expected? How do we know we can trust them?"

Y/N met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "I trust them. I wouldn't bring you into something dangerous, but we'll be cautious. We need to check their base, make sure they're safe. I wouldn't ask you to go if I wasn't sure."

Jin nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright. So, we'll head there in two days. What's the plan once we get there?"

"We'll assess the situation when we arrive," Y/N replied, her voice calm but firm. "If there's anything we need to do to help, we'll do it. Minho's group has been a bit isolated lately, and with all the rival gangs in the area, we need to make sure they're still standing strong."

Suga spoke again, his tone resolute. "If you trust them, then we'll back you up. We're in this together."

Y/N gave a small nod, grateful for their support. "Thanks, everyone. I'm glad to have you all with me on this."

She paused, a playful glint flashing in her eyes. "Oh, and you should also meet my friends there. Sehun, Jiwoo, and Haru are there too. And remember Kai and Suho? They're also part of the group now. It's been a while since I've seen them, so maybe you can spar with them after some training. You guys have become amazing over the past few weeks."

The mention of Kai, Suho, and the others made the group look at each other with curiosity and anticipation. They had heard about Minho's group, but meeting more of Y/N's friends was another thing entirely.

Jimin raised his chopsticks with a grin. "Sounds like a good opportunity to test our skills and meet new people."

Y/N smiled, grateful for their enthusiasm. "Exactly. You'll see why I trust them. But remember, we're all in this together. No matter what happens, we've got each other's backs."

As the group resumed their dinner, the mood was a bit heavier than usual, but there was a shared understanding. They didn't know exactly what they would face, but one thing was certain: they would face it as a team.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧