Sniff-Hah, Sniff-Hah!

Sniff-hah, sniff-hah!

Nostrils flared and fluttered. Hee—heeheeheehee~~ Mouths stretched wide in grins, each one gripping a treat or two. Whirr-whirr-whirr. Long tails spun like propellers kicked into overdrive. More than ninety Brave Ones were pouring uncontainable joy from every inch of their bodies, here in the precious haven of Uriteul Shelter.

Lee Jun's mouth fell open all by itself.

"These guys! They really love this, don't they."

"Of course they do—how could they not? All their friends are here, and the treats are piled up like a mountain."

Jang Sora clasped her hands together as if in prayer as she answered him, a blossom of a smile blooming wide across her face.

"And they've come to a place as wonderful as this."

Jung Seung-jin, watching the Brave Ones with much the same look as Jang Sora, added his own impression.

"Yeah, they would."

Lee Jun was nodding along with both of them when Kwak Suho, still filming with his action cam, cut in.

"Take a look at Gi-jin. This guy's face is identical to those Brave Ones. Am I right? Eyes all watery, mouth hanging wide open from how happy he is—perfect match. Sync rate of a hundred percent. A hundred percent."

"Hngh, look at 'em holdin' them treats in their mouths and smilin', would ya? That—that one's just too pitiful, ain't he? Look over there! That little fella's just clutchin' it tight. Over a tiny little treat like that… ain't that so? Ain't it?"

Big, burly Go Gi-jin said it with the rims of his eyes gone red, the corners of his mouth curled up, looking for all the world like the tears might spill any second—just as Kwak Suho had said.

"They really do. It's like they're holding the most precious thing in the world. Kids, you're allowed to eat that! We gave it to you to eat!"

Jang Sora called out loudly toward the Brave Ones, and Go Gi-jin sniffed hard once more before speaking to them himself.

"Kids, play to yer hearts' content today, yeah? Eat lots of tasty stuff too."

"That's right, kids. Do as this teacher said and play as much as you want. Walk all the way to the far end. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Climb up there if you want. Kick that ball around. Do everything you've been wanting to do."

Uriteul's haven was by no means a small space. Unless the Brave Ones committed to tearing around in a mad game of fetch, there was more than enough room to run a little and wander a little. A considerably wide stretch of ground. And yet the Brave Ones were huddled together in a cozy cluster around the pile of treats, each with a snack held in its mouth, just as Go Gi-jin had said.

They nibbled at those treats in the tiniest of bites. Watching them ration every mouthful, Go Gi-jin lamented,

"Aigoo, kids, is it 'cause this place feels strange? Why're y'all eatin' like that?"

"Maybe they're saving it because it feels too precious? Dogs at home do that too, you know. They hide a chew in a corner and pull it out later. Though sometimes they forget it's even there."

Jung Seung-jin, who lived with two dogs of his own, said it while watching the Brave Ones.

"Maybe they're worried that if they eat too much, their friends will get less?"

At Lee Jun's words, groans of dismay spilled from everyone. Listening to them, Lee Jun walked toward the Brave Ones.

At the sound of his approach, their tails whipped into a rapid spin, faces radiating pure delight. Dangdang-i wriggled his hips as he trotted up and rubbed his face back and forth against Lee Jun's leg. Lee Jun stroked along his back, and with every pass of his hand the silver all-in-one puffer—sparkling where it caught the sunlight—made a soft, pleasant rustle.

"Dangdang-i, you're not cold, are you?"

Nod, nod.

Dangdang-i nodded with the dried meat treat still clamped firmly in his jaws. Lee Jun couldn't help a small laugh looking at him—because drool was dripping steadily from Dangdang-i's mouth.

"Dangdang-i. You can eat this and then eat more after. So don't hold back. Eat."

Dangdang-i's head turned back toward the others. Then he turned around again, and the treat dropped from his mouth with a little tok. He pinned it in place with both front paws and opened his mouth.

"My friends have to eat. My friends have to eat more than me."

What reached Lee Jun's ears was this: My friends are bigger than I am. So they need to eat more. They were hungry every single day. So this is enough for me.

Ah, you…

You're such a big-hearted kid.

Lee Jun said as much, and found Dangdang-i—treat once more held in his mouth—both admirable and, in another way, heartbreaking. To that Dangdang-i, Lee Jun said,

"Dangdang-i, everything here is yours. These guys gave it to you as a gift, so eat as much as you want. Right, kids?"

Lee Jun looked around at the five of them. All five broke into wide grins.

"That's right-ong. Friends-ong. It's a gift-ong."

Gkamnyangi took one look at the bewildered Brave Ones and heaved a great sigh.

"Hoesaegi, that's why they're making those faces when you put it like that."

He pulled his gaze off Hoesaegi, looked at the Brave Ones, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What a gift means is that we are giving all of this to you. So this is even more yours. Eat to your hearts' content!"

Awoooooooo!

The dogs howled. Really? We can eat it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all? That was the meaning in it.

Gkamnyangi, however, twisted their meaning to suit himself. Hmph. I really am good at explaining, aren't I. Unlike someone.

He lifted his chin with a haughty air. Nobody had the faintest idea what the pose was supposed to mean. They simply assumed he was looking up at the enormous Brave Ones. Entirely unaware that anyone thought any such thing, Gkamnyangi went on in that same arrogant voice.

"Friends, eat a lot. I'll give you more."

Sapsaree, standing beside him, piled on.

"There's lots-dayo! We'll give more-dayo!"

Jjaek and One-eye each threw in a word as well.

"Eat plenty while you've got it!"

"That's right! When you don't have any, you can think about it then—eat plenty while you do!"

When all five offered their own distinctly flavored answers, the Brave Ones' expressions turned peculiar.

Every last one of the Brave Ones was thinking the same thing. That was why they wore such odd faces. Being treated like this was too strange for the lives they had known.

And yet it was so, so good.

The Brave Ones passed the happiness to one another with their eyes.

And then…

Tok, tok, tok! Things began hitting the ground. The treats the Brave Ones had been holding in their mouths.

A moment ago, they would have snatched a dropped treat straight back up. No—they never would have dreamed of letting one fall in the first place. But the Brave Ones paid it no mind at all, and cried out with everything they had.

Thank you for saving us.

Thank you for taking care of us.

We are so, so happy.

A thank-you that held every one of those meanings rang out, rolling and resonant, through the open air of the haven.

Awoooo-hoho!

Hearing the Brave Ones' gratitude, all five pairs of eyes sparkled.

They love the gifts-ong. Let's do more click-clicks from now on-ong. Hoesaegi's golden eyes shone as he decided the Brave Ones adored the presents so much that he would give them even more from now on.

As expected, this popularity of mine! They just love what I have to say. Gkamnyangi's eyes flashed as he preened, certain the Brave Ones had been overwhelmed by his words.

They're friends-dayo! Heehee, we're gonna play-dayo! Sapsaree was simply delighted at the thought of playing with his big-bodied friends.

I told them clearly! Eat a ton while you've got it. Jjaek was in fine spirits, convinced the Brave Ones had taken to heart the most basic rule of survival he had learned living on the streets. One-eye was thinking the same as his boss.

The five of them giggled, pleased that the Brave Ones had understood them so well.

When the howling subsided, Hoesaegi sprang up onto a nearby wooden platform with a fwip! and cried out, aehohong—

"Friends-ong! Congratulations on your first walk-ong!"

"That's right! Gentlemen! What is a walk?"

"It's roaming as free as you please!"

Thirty-five Brave Ones answered in a thunderous chorus. Ten days of training under their all-star instructors had done its work.

The rest of the Brave Ones stared at them with bewildered faces. Paying that no mind whatsoever, Hoesaegi shouted again.

"The walk begins-ong!"

Woof!……

Wuh-woof!

At first it was the thirty-five, short and sharp and perfectly in unison. Then the answer burst from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠every Brave One's mouth.

"Dangdang-i-ong, step forward-ong!"

Chak!

At Hoesaegi's call, Dangdang-i came forward.

"Follow Gkamnyangi-ong!"

Gkamnyangi, already standing at the front, started walking. Dangdang-i followed. Gkamnyangi, then Dangdang-i beside him, then one behind, then another.

Not everyone had found their courage yet, though. Hoesaegi—who had somehow already climbed a tree—surveyed the scene and then bellowed, louder than before.

"Gentlemen-ong! Everyone, forward-ong!"

In that instant, the thirty who still hadn't dared, the ones from the Brave Ones' House, sprang to their feet. Then, thump, thump, thump, they walked after the friends already moving ahead.

"Well done-ong! Gentlemen-ong. All together now-ong. What is a walk-ong?"

"It's roaming as free as you please!"

"That's right-ong. Roam to your hearts' content-ong. Commence-ong!"

The students—no, the Brave Ones—from the Brave Ones' House, who over the past ten days had been force-fed an education like a tidal wave, surged to their feet. And then:

Chak, chak, chak, chakchakchak-thmp-thmp-chakchakchak.

Thirty-six of them, Gkamnyangi included, walked in step.

If a friend is playing, then me too. If a friend is going, then me too. If a friend is walking, then… me too?

Every last Brave One was walking.

Clever Gkamnyangi deliberately traced every corner of the haven without missing a spot, and the intention landed. Before long the Brave Ones had occupied the place. Tadak-tak-tak-tak. Some circled it at a quick clip as if running a track. Some went into the corners to sniff. Some climbed up onto the wooden platforms to see how it felt.

There were even Brave Ones who had wandered a good distance off and were happily rolling a soccer ball around.

"Roll it this way!"

"Like this?"

Watching them, Lee Jun smiled a deep, contented smile.

"These guys… they look like they've always played here."

"They sure do. And their legs are stretchin' out more and more, y'know. Another month of playin' and they'll straighten right out, won't they?"

Go Gi-jin said it while watching the Brave Ones walk with that shuffling, awkward gait.

"They'll get better."

The Brave Ones wandered the haven as comfortably as if they had never been afraid at all. That was when the great closed door opened.

Even as it opened, not a single Brave One hunched its neck, not a single one backed away, not a single one wore a face of terror. Not even with that strange drrrk of a sound the door made. Instead they thundered toward the opening in a rumbling rush of paws—kung-kang, kung-kang, kung-kang.

And of course they did. Because fragrant, delicious party food was coming in.

"Kids, you're hungry, right? Eat this, and then we'll play some more!"

On the trays that Jang Sora, Jung Seung-jin, and the Uriteul staff were pushing forward, steaming food sat looking thoroughly, mouthwateringly good.

A short while later, the Brave Ones had formed a great circle, and in front of each of them sat an enormous bowl. Bowls as big as the washbasins that used to sit in the floating cages.

What was inside, however, was an entirely different world.

At the very bottom lay a mousse of squash, carrot, and sweet potato. Over that, a gentle sprinkle of Holse Pet Food's finest large-breed kibble. And that was not the end. Holse wet food had been laid over it in a rich, appetizing layer. On top of that sat dumplings the size of ping-pong balls, kneaded from sweet potato and chicken. And at the very peak, arranged like decoration, were the treats that were wildly popular at Mongmong Animal Hospital—biscuits, dental chews, tuna sticks, and more.

And planted in the center was a single flag.

Ju Mi-seon had sliced a carrot paper-thin and, with a mousse of boiled, ground sweet potato and meat, had painted onto it, with painstaking care:

In the month and more since they had found their freedom, the Brave Ones had tasted treats. They had eaten delicious kibble. But a spread this fantastical was a first.

"Woooow~~!"

"Heheh!"

Brave Ones spilling sounds of wonder. Brave Ones licking the corners of their mouths. Slurp. Brave Ones with drool falling in fat drops. Drip, drip, drip.

Every one of them cried out in a single voice.

A greeting they had learned here, in the world of freedom.

Wuh-wuh-ruff-ruff-ruff!

Great barking, layered over the thick, relish-soaked sounds of eating, echoed through the lobby of Mongmong Animal Hospital at the very edge of hearing.

That was when Go Gi-jin came out of the exam room and spoke to Jang Sora, who was looking at her phone.

"Aigoo, those little ones sure are eatin' well. But say, is the video already up?"

"Yes. I got a notification and went in to look, and… it really was such a fantastical day."

"Hngh, it really was somethin' nice. But when does that hyung ever rest? It's only been two days."

Go Gi-jin worried that Kwak Suho might be pushing himself too hard.

"I am a little worried, but as a subscriber, I love it."

Jang Sora offered her honest impression. Then, as if something had occurred to her, she turned her eyes from the video to Go Gi-jin.

"That's true, but Teacher—don't you think our director has been overdoing it lately? His complexion looks a bit pale, too."

"That's what I'm sayin'. I'm worried he'll collapse like last time."

"I wonder if he shouldn't take a vacation. He works far too much."

"That's what I'm sayin'. We oughta tell him when the director comes out."

That was when footsteps sounded. Both of them turned toward the noise, and there was Lee Jun, walking over with weak, shuffling steps.

"You two, what are you talking about so seriously? Is there some kind of problem?"

"No, it's not that… Director, when are you going on vacation?"

"That's right. It's the end of the year, so take a rest while you're at it!"

At their words, Lee Jun gave a small laugh and answered.

"I take off on January first, don't I. I can rest then. Ah, we were going to visit the Somang-is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then, right? To give them New Year's presents…"

Lee Jun did not finish the sentence.

Two people's screams filled the space instead.

"D-Director!"

"Hy-hyungniiim!"

They were crying out at the sight of Lee Jun, who had collapsed. And collapsed Lee Jun, hearing their screams, thought,

Huh…? What's wrong with my body? There's still so much I have to do today… so why can't I get up? The kids will worry…

Speech, and then even consciousness, grew steadily fainter.

"C-call 119, call 119!"

"Y-yes, yes—"

Which is why he never even heard the two of them calling for an ambulance.