Choi Young respectfully listened while Dae Man was beating himself up.
He kept repeating, "It is my fault", clenching his head between his hands, his face contorted with despair. "I punished them and now they ran away. Jin Ah-ya is besides herself and I don't know where to look for them."
The General was not sure how to comfort his younger friend, who was looking to him for help at this difficult time. He already thought of how to organize the search party and only needed a few extra details to begin the mission. He was itching for action and sitting idly talking about feelings was not going to find the runaway children any faster.
Luckily, a much-needed help came just on time when he was starting to get frustrated. There was a knock on the door and Eun Soo entered holding a child's hand, while the girl was hiding behind her back.
"Imja, this is not a good time." He chastised her, while secretly grateful for the interruption.
"Yoo Seong here has something to say." Eun Soo pushed the girl forward.
The child looked at Dae Man and Choi Young with tearful eyes. "Uncle Dae Man, Appa, I think I know why the boys ran away," she said meekly.
Both men perked up.
"I came to see them at night, while all the adults were asleep. I saw something that made them upset. I would never tell anybody, but they thought I would."
Confused men looked to Eun Soo for answers. "Yoo Seong, let me speak with your Dad and uncle Dae Man alone."
"But you promised not to tell anybody!"
"I will never tell the boys or your brother, but the adults need to learn what happened so that they could find the brothers and make sure they are safe. Do you understand?"
Yoo Seong blushed profusely. But finding her friends was more important at the moment than her pride. "OK, Oma."
. . .
"I don't think it is your fault. I honestly don't, it's been over a week since it happened and what Yoo Seong said is actually more plausible to be a reason for a couple of kids to run away. Think about it. Kids can be so cruel at times. Your boys did not want to be an easy target." Choi Young was trying to reason with the despondent father who was too overwhelmed too think straight. He sympathized with the man, but moping around had to end instantly.
"I'm not so sure," insisted Dae Man.
"At this point, 'why' no longer matters. We need to find them fast before they get into trouble." Firmly said Choi Young, getting up from his seat. "Let's go."
Dae Man obediently stood up. Seeing Choi Young's calm and determined demeanor worked as an antidote to the guilty haze that took over his thoughts. After all he, too, was a man of action. Woodalchi. And finding people who did not want to be found was something he excelled at.
Choi Young enlisted his family dog to find the kids' trail. It was the easiest and most efficient way to track them. Quickly dispatched search party was out the gate, with Dae Man and Choi Young accompanying the group of soldiers, and Snow in the lead.
Eun Soo was hugging crying Go Jin Ah and whispering her comforting words of reassurance. Of course, the situation was urgent, but she was sure that her husband would be able to find the boys and bring them home in no time. Other women gathered around to offer any help they could. The small and tight Woodalchi community was there for each other. Someone already was getting the food ready and another woman was giving Go Jin Ah a drink to relax.
. . .
Sun Uk and Sun Hwon's journey was uneventful. After they rested in the town square and snacked some more, the boys realized they were running out of provisions. They talked it over and decided that tomorrow they would start looking for a job in exchange for food. They left the town and soon found themselves on the wide well traveled road, boarded by farmland from both sides. Farther ahead they noticed an abandoned shed. That's where they decided to stay the night.
Inside the darkened shack was warm. A huge pile of hay was in the corner. Broken tools, a couple of sickles, large empty sacks and a cracked pail occupied the rest of the small structure. They closed the door and made themselves comfortable on the soft dry grass, which smelled sweet. The boys hugged and quickly fell asleep.
They were woken up by a loud scream. Rubbing their eyes in confusion, the children saw a man's face hovering above them.
"What are you little rats doing here?" He grabbed Sun Hwon by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to the door.
"Leave my brother alone," yelled Sun Uk and jumped on the back of the man, who flailed his arms, screaming profanities.
. . .
Snow picked up the scent of the children and the search party followed the dog out onto the path and into the woods. Snow stopped at the cave and sniffed the ground next to the coals left in the fire pit. Running in circles, the dog whimpered and then howled lightly, sticking his nose to the floor of the cave again to sniff the spot where the kids slept.
Choi Young patted Snow and gave him a treat. The dog wiggled his tail and jumped on the General's chest licking his face. "Stop it," laughed the man. "We are not playing. Remember, you have to find the boys." He offered a piece of clothing that Go Jin Ah gave him and ordered, "Search!" The happy dog focused on the task again, running toward the bushes. He sniffed the air and then the path, and having found the scent he needed, darted ahead, prompting the soldiers charge in a file behind.
Choi Young and Dae Man followed the group. Returning to the wide and clear path, the dog turned toward the village that was seen in the distance. Choi Young whistled for his horse and saddled it. After his battle injury, it was difficult for the General to run long distances, so he chose to ride instead, while the search party followed the dog on foot.
Unfortunately, once they approached the town, the dog lost the scent trail. No matter how long he tried and how much Choi Young urged him with praise and treats, Snow just could not pick out children's scent from hundreds of people who had passed on the sandy ground of the town square. It was up to the humans now to ask all the vendors, passers by and everybody else they could think of whether they saw two young children. Luckily, a few people recognized the kids by the description and all pointed toward the fields lying just beyond the town boundaries. If they hurried, they would be able to catch up to the runaway troublemakers.