The drive was a microcosm of Stray Kids themselves: loud, chaotic, and filled with love. Chan's car was filled with singalongs and peaceful conversation, while Minho's car was filled with the sounds of laughter, bad jokes and the occasional bickering on the best playlist.
The closer they got to the mountains, however, the more the map seemed to defy logic. Squiggly lines turned into winding dirt roads, blobs resembled oddly shaped rocks, and landmarks were nowhere to be found.
"Are you sure this map is even real, Jisung?" Felix asked, peering over Minho's shoulder at the increasingly confusing directions.
Han, ever optimistic, pointed out the window. "Look! That weirdly shaped rock! It kind of looks like the blob on the map!"
Minho squinted. "That looks like every other rock in this mountain range, Jisung."
In Chan's van, the mood wasn't much better. They were hopelessly lost.
"I think we missed a turn back there," Hyunjin said, pointing to a nondescript dirt path they had passed a while ago.
"Are you sure, Jinnie? The map is so confusing, I can't tell," Chan answered.
"I definitely think so hyung, but no worries, we'll turn around and take it!" Hyunjin said.
After hours of driving, arguing, and backtracking, they finally reached a small, deserted village at the foot of the mountains. The locals were friendly but spoke little English, making communication a challenge.
"Does anyone here speak Korean?" Chan asked. Luckily, I.N had been diligently studying his Korean, and managed to translate, however, the locals had never heard of the fabled spring. Despair began to set in.
"Maybe this whole thing was a waste of time. I'm starting to agree with Minho-hyung," Changbin said.
"Hey, hey, don't lose hope yet! We've overcome bigger obstacles than a dodgy map and a language barrier," Felix said, his voice full of determination. "We're Stray Kids! We can do anything!"
Inspired by Felix's words, the group decided to try a different approach. Chan and Hyunjin decided to try speaking with the elder of the village, hoping they could get some more information. The others went off to explore the village. Minho, Han and I.N stuck close together, while Changbin, Seungmin and Felix went off to look at the local shops.
Spending the afternoon exploring the village, the three ships were able to learn more about the village through the locals. Unfortunately, despite the interesting people they met, they were unable to get any helpful information regarding the spring.
As dusk settled over the mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Stray Kids gathered back at the vans, deflated but not defeated.
"Well, this didn't go as planned," Chan sighed.
"At least we got to see some pretty scenery," Hyunjin said, trying to lighten the mood.
Suddenly, Han spoke up, his eyes shining with a new idea. "Wait! I remember something! The shop owner who sold me the map mentioned something about following the sound."
"The sound?" Felix asked, tilting his head. "What sound?"
"He said the spring was near a place where the mountain sings," Han explained, a spark of excitement returning to his voice.
Minho rolled his eyes. "The mountain sings? Seriously, Jisung? This is getting more ridiculous by the minute."
But I.N, ever the optimist, was already listening intently. "Wait… I think I hear something." He closed his eyes, focusing on the subtle sounds of the mountains.
A moment later, a look of wonder spread across his face. "It's… faint, but I hear it. It sounds like… music."
The others listened closely, straining their ears. At first, they heard nothing but the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves. But then, slowly, a delicate melody began to weave its way through the silence. It was a subtle, almost ethereal sound, like wind chimes or the tinkling of water over stones.
"I hear it!" Felix exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe.
Following the sound, Stray Kids ventured deeper into the mountains, the melody growing stronger with each step. The path was treacherous, winding through dense forests and over rocky terrain. But they pressed on, driven by the promise of adventure and the allure of the singing mountains.
Finally, they reached a clearing. In the center stood a towering rock formation, shaped like a natural amphitheater. And from within the rocks, the music flowed, a symphony of natural sounds that resonated deep within their souls.
As they stepped into the clearing, they understood. The 'singing' wasn't a literal song, but the combined sounds of the wind whistling through the rocks, the water trickling down the mountainside, and the echoes of the forest, all blending together to create a breathtakingly beautiful harmony.
And nestled at the foot of the rock formation, was a small, shimmering spring.
The Stray Kids had found their treasure. But what awaited them at the healing spring, they could only begin to imagine.