Silver Rain and Shadow's Triumphant Return
Hoesaegi was knocked flat by the brutal assault of those merciless thugs.
Strong pain immediately slammed into him. [Bang!]
A natural groan tore from his throat, but it was cut short.
Hoesaegi clenched his teeth and poured every ounce of strength into his legs. If he fell, he had to rise.
Push with his front legs, push with his back legs, and stand. But his strength refused to come.
'Ah, no way. Kkamnyangi is still over there, ong.'
They were attacking Kkamnyangi.
No, it wasn't an attack. They were simply trampling and beating the fallen cat to torment him.
'Kkamnyangi is being attacked, ong.'
Hoesaegi burned with fierce determination. It was because of him that Kkamnyangi was suffering like this.
If he hadn't been caught by those bastards, or if he hadn't screamed in the first place, Kkamnyangi would have been rolling around in a warm house with his good hyungnims and cute little siblings.
Kkamnyangi shouldn't be getting beaten like that.
Clench!
Hoesaegi forced strength into his useless legs and let out a battle cry.
No matter what happened, the legendary Silver Rain's battle cry that protected subordinates and family.
[Hey, you bastards, ong!]
Hoesaegi rose with his strong will and leaped into the air. Literally!
Whoosh!
'I'll only hit that one.' Only the leader. No matter what, I won't let that leader go.
Hoesaegi, filled with venom, attacked Neopdede without mercy.
[Yap yap yap yap!]
He swatted with his front paws.
[Yap yap yap yap!]
He kicked with his back paws. Kkamnyangi, who had been hit hard, revived.
[Did you dare to hit Shadow?]
Kkamnyangi lashed out with his tail whip, his pride.
Fast and precise, like he was flying. He also struck with his tail.
The long tail whipped like a lash.
Crack crack sounds as he battered the cats.
Hoesaegi's tail didn't stay idle either.
[Taste my tail, ong!]
With his long, tempting tail, he pelted the broad-faced cat mercilessly.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
The tail danced wildly in the air, and the broad-faced cat who received countless slaps eventually.
Thud!
Fell.
Then, [Kki, neng neng neng neng!]
The broad-faced cat started crying while covering his face, sobbing.
[Hiiing, ah, it hurts.]
When the leader fell, it was over!
The fight was over.
Hoesaegi wins!
And Kkamnyangi wins!
But Hoesaegi and Kkamnyangi were not lightly injured.
Their faces were swollen, one ear torn, lips cut and bleeding.
Yet both burst into satisfied laughter.
[Kha ha ha ha, I am Silver Rain, ong!]
[Um ha ha ha ha, I am Shadow!]
It was the moment their fame spread in an unfamiliar place.
Hoesaegi and Kkamnyangi received the surrender declaration from the Neopdede.
[Sorry, sorry.]
[Sorry for not knowing.]
[Be careful from now on, ong.]
[Be careful, you bastards!]
[Yes, yes. Then we'll be careful not to be noticed.]
[Sorry. Then.]
Just as the cats were trying to walk away, Hoesaegi said.
[Don't fight us from now on, ong. Take care, ong.]
[Take care, you guys. Don't fight!]
[Eh? Where are you going?]
[We're going home, ong.]
[We have to go home.]
[W, why did you take over this place?]
[No, we're going home, ong.]
[Where is the home?]
[It's far, ong. We still have a long way to go, ong.]
[......?]
The Neopdede group looked confused.
Then, as if suddenly realizing, they bowed and greeted.
[Thank you.]
[Th, thank you.]
[Si, Silver Rain-nim, Shadow-nim! I, really thank you. I will never forget this favor.]
What favor would they not forget?
Hoesaegi and Kkamnyangi bowed their heads and wagged their tails at the ones greeting them, and left the vacant lot.
With small wounds all over their bodies.
They couldn't run. They were tired from the fight and their stomachs hurt.
Teetering.
They walked side by side.
Hoesaegi's fluffy tail wrapped around Kkamnyangi's back.
Naturally, they walked in a tight three-person formation.
But.
Kkamnyangi was limping a little. Probably because he hurt his leg from the fight earlier.
[Kkamnyangi, is your leg hurting, ong?]
[Ah, no, it doesn't hurt. It's fine.]
[Let's rest here, ong.]
Walking when in pain makes it worse. He didn't say that, but Kkamnyangi understood Hoesaegi's intention.
[G, got it.]
They walked to the corner of the alley. They squatted there.
Still, Hoesaegi's tail was on Kkamnyangi's back.
Kkamnyangi, squatting, said.
[Hoesaegi, your tail is really warm.]
[I'm glad, ong.]
Hoesaegi said that and wiggled his body to stick close to Kkamnyangi. There was no gap between them.
With more flesh touching, it got warmer. Moreover, Hoesaegi's long fur covered Kkamnyangi's body, making it even warmer.
[Hehe.]
Kkamnyangi smiled brightly, and Hoesaegi laughed at the sound.
[Hehe.]
They leaned their tired bodies against each other.
Time passed like that, and the sun was setting.
Cororok.
A sound from the stomach, Hoesaegi opened his mouth.
[Kkamnyangi, sorry, ong. Because of me, you're suffering too, ong.]
[No. Don't say that. Hoesaegi saved me.]
[That's natural, ong. If you get hurt because of me, it can't be, but you got hurt, ong.]
Hoesaegi felt bad because he thought Kkamnyangi was limping because of him.
[This is nothing. It will heal soon. Hyungnim will make it better soon.]
[That's right, ong. I want to see hyungnim.]
[Me too.]
They fell silent for a moment. Each was missing Lee Jun.
Then Kkamnyangi spoke first.
[When I couldn't see...]
[......?]
You told me where the rice bowl was. You gave me a water bottle and a soft pillow... Did I say that?]
[What are you talking about, ong?]
[Thank you. Hoesaegi, thank you. Thanks to always being with me at Meongmeong Animal Hospital, I wasn't scared alone.]
Because Hoesaegi was always with him in the hospital room, he wasn't alone.
When he heard unfamiliar smells and sounds, Hoesaegi explained in detail what they were.
Kkamnyangi was really grateful to such Hoesaegi. He had thought it was natural so far, but now thinking back.
'Hoesaegi is really a kind guy. Gentle. And strong.'
A really amazing guy in many ways.
[Family doesn't say things like that, ong.]
Even the cool side of saying that.
Kkamnyangi stuck closer to Hoesaegi. There was no more place to stick.
On a cold winter day, it was very cold, but their hearts were warm.
But that didn't last long.
[Kkamnyangi, it's hard, but let's walk again, ong.]
If we stay like this, we might go to Cat Star.
[Got it.]
They raised their heavy bodies and walked again.
It was hard, but since they were going to hyungnim, they did.
They walked with strong will, again and again.
Tired, hurting, hungry, thirsty. Of course, judgment was hazy.
Kkamnyangi, sniffing the air, tilted his head slightly at the intersection.
'Was it this smell? Or that one? That one is definitely not.'
Kkamnyangi, whose leg hurt a little more than during the day, tilted his head between two paths.
Hoesaegi was the same.
'It was this path. But that path is also familiar, ong.'
Then, leave it to Kkamnyangi's judgment.
They recognized each other's abilities. So they respected each other's opinions.
And the heart of respecting each other gave courage to honestly tell the situation.
[Kkamnyangi, I think this way is right, ong. But that path is also a known path, ong. Where should we go, ong?]
[M, me too? I'm confused. I think this way is good, but that smell is also a familiar smell.]
Both said the same thing. Both were confused.
What to do to get home!
At times like this, resting for a while is good.
[Kkamnyangi, let's rest here for a while, ong. I'll think about it, ong.]
[Me too, I'll remember the smell.]
Finally, at a place with a few trees.
The cats hid behind the trees. Instinctively knew they had to not be seen.
Dal dal dal.
As it got dark, the weather got colder. Naturally, they stuck close and huddled.
And they were lost in thought. Honestly, whether they were lost in thought or too tired and cold to fall asleep, they didn't know.
Then, suddenly, a rustling sound was heard.
The two with their eyes closed blinked at the same time.
An familiar face appeared in front of them.
Just the cat who helped find Sapsari from the mountain where Sapsari was found.
[Cheese-nyang, ong!]
[Cheese-nyang.]
It was Cheese-nyang.
[Silver Rain hyungnim, Shadow hyungnim? What are you doing here? Ah, you came to see us!]
Looking at Cheese-nyang with eyes full of emotion, Hoesaegi rolled his eyes.
But that was for a moment, Hoesaegi honestly told.
[We got lost, ong.]
[Can't find the house.]
[Eh?]
So, the two great ones got lost?
That's not possible.
But if I say this and disturb the hearts of the terrifying hyungnims, no. 'Um, that could happen, I also fell from a tree, these hyungnims could get lost too.' Cheese-nyang concluded simply. And when thinking what to do, Cheese-nyang's eyes saw Kkamnyangi trembling.
[Hyungnim, are you hurt anywhere?]
[Ah, it doesn't hurt.]
Not, but it looks painful?
Even though he's in pain, he tries to look fine. 'As expected, hyungnim.'
Then, this younger brother pretends not to know and helps.
The cats from Bukhansan Ecological Park who had received various help from Lee Jun before.
Naturally, thanks to these hyungnims.
[Let's repay the favor while at it.]
Cheese-nyang thought that and opened his mouth.
[Hyungnims, I'll escort you home.]
[Is there a house nearby, ong?]
[Of course. Our house made by Meongmeong Teacher is here.]
That's why this path was familiar.
They followed Cheese-nyang, chattering.
And soon, both mind and body felt refreshed.
[Delicious, ong.]
[Well eaten.]
When they greeted, the cats including yellow Cheese-nyang shook their heads.
[No. Compared to what the hyungnims did for us, it's nothing. By the way, would you like to rest a bit? It's dark outside.]
[Yes, it's too cold.]
Honestly, the two who had been shivering outside all day and fought, wanted to sleep well.
[Hyungnim will worry, ong.]
[Hyungnim might not have slept well looking for us.]
So, they had to hurry. To the house.
The cats shook their heads in the same way.
[We have to go home, ong,]
Our hyungnim is worried.]
[Ah, that makes sense. We can't have Meongmeong Teacher worrying. Then, while we make a plan, please rest for a moment.]
[What plan, ong?]
[It's a plan for the hyungnims to safely go home.]
Cheese-nyang said that and went out.
Only the two left. Hoesaegi looked around and said.
[The hiding cubby is warm, ong.]
[Yeah, it's nice.]
His subordinates would be sleeping in such a warm house.
Lee Jun who made this house was really grateful. As grateful as he was, he missed Lee Jun too much.
They lay close in the wide, warm hiding cubby.
[I want to see hyungnim, ong.]
[Yeah, I want to see my little brother Sapsari too.]
[I want to see the strong hyungnim too, ong.]
[Yeah. I want to see Meongmeong noona too.]
[I want to see One-eye too, ong.]
[Jjaek too. Is Ttangkhongi hyungnim doing well?]
[Jamong will be fine too, ong.]
They talked about the people they missed during that time, deepening the longing.
Why so many people they wanted to see, even after 30 minutes after Cheese-nyang went out, they were still saying the names of the people they missed from their mouths.
[Hyungnims, let's go now.]
[I understand, ong. But what is the plan, ong?]
[Our subordinates will bring the hyungnims. If we go through the paths we know, other subordinate guys will come out there.]
[Is that so, ong?]
[Yes. It seems they are recruiting people to bring Silver Rain, Shadow-nim, so everyone will do it.]
Oong?
Hoesaegi's ears, which had been sinking with longing, stood up straight. The corners of his mouth slightly up.
Then, the escort procession followed.
[Please escort us this way.]
[Thank you, ong.]
[Thank you.]
The waiting cats raised the corners of their mouths at Hoesaegi and Kkamnyangi's greeting.
Since it was a greeting directly from the legendary boss, it was natural.
The cats quickly and nimbly escorted Hoesaegi and Kkamnyangi to the destination.
Then, the cats waiting at the destination guided them.
The relay continued, and before sunrise, the cats arrived at the house, in front of Golmokjib.