Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Rudy's Good Medicine and Totto's Emergency
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Lee Jun spoke to the little dog nestled in its owner's arms.
“Don't spit out this medicine just because it's bitter. You have to finish it all, got it?”
[Yes.]
“Rudy's been taking his meds so well lately. He's such a good boy. Isn't that right, Rudy?”
Hee hee. Rudy grinned widely as he looked up at his owner, who squeezed him tight, clearly smitten by the adorable sight.
“Thanks to you, Director, our Rudy doesn't fuss over his medicine anymore and eats his food like a champ. Thank you so much.”
“It's because you love on Rudy so much. These guys know exactly how precious they are to their owners.”
“Hohoho, is that so? Well, Director, I'll go make sure he finishes his meds.”
“Take care.”
As Lee Jun saw the owner off and turned to head back to the exam room, his eyes caught the empty cat tower.
Normally, Gray and Shadow would be peering out the window from there or sprawled out rolling around, but now it stood deserted.
Lee Jun chuckled at the sight.
“Feels kinda empty with the kids gone all the time.”
“I'm tellin' ya. How long's it been since they left, and you're already missin' 'em? Ain't nothin' gonna happen.”
“Yeah. What could go wrong?”
“Still though. They're so famous now. Shoulda put cameras on their collars before sendin' 'em out.”
“Cameras?”
“Seen it on MeTube. Cats and dogs with cameras 'round their necks filmin' everythin'.”
“Really? But wouldn't that hurt their necks? Cameras are heavy, right?”
“They got ones made for cats and dogs.”
“Huh.”
Truth be told, Lee Jun wasn't completely worry-free.
He knew better than anyone that these guys had been living rough in the park not long ago, but that didn't stop the concern.
'Should I ask Su-ho about it?'
He'd just pulled out his phone to text Kwak Su-ho about the cameras Go Gi-jin mentioned when—
“Huh? Ain't that Gray over there?”
At Go Gi-jin's words, Lee Jun and Jang So-ra both whipped their heads toward the window.
“Sure is.”
“But why's he comin' at us like a bat outta hell?”
Sure enough, Gray and Shadow were barreling toward them like arrows, yowling desperately.
[Hyung-nim! Big trouble!]
[Th-the park! There's a sick one!]
Lee Jun shouted over their frantic cries.
“Manager Jang! Grab the house call bag!”
“Right here.”
Jang So-ra swiftly handed him the house call bag.
Lee Jun always kept it ready under the reception desk for quick trips, and she'd snatched it up in a flash.
He bolted out the door with the bag in hand.
“Hyung-nim! Lemme carry that bag.”
Go Gi-jin grabbed the bag from Lee Jun's hand and ran alongside him.
“Dr. Go! Take a kennel too!”
Go Gi-jin, dashing after Lee Jun, skidded to a halt at Jang So-ra's call from behind.
She was huffing and puffing toward them with a portable kennel.
It could be a spinal or leg injury.
Kennels were essential for safely transporting hurt animals.
“Th-thanks a ton.”
Go Gi-jin took the kennel from her and chased after Lee Jun.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Tap tap tap tap.
The cats raced ahead, with Lee Jun hot on their tails.
Gray yelled as he ran.
[T-Totto swallowed a long string!]
“Totto?”
Totto was a curious cat with snowy white long fur and striking green eyes.
Despite his elegant looks, he loved mischief—Lee Jun remembered him well from the park cats.
[Yeah! He can't go to the Cat Star!]
That explained Gray's panicked sprint.
'Linear foreign body ingestion.'
If it was recent, they might induce vomiting to get it up, but otherwise, it could mean endoscopy or even surgery—a dire situation.
Lee Jun pushed on, piecing it together, when Shadow chimed in.
[Yeah. There's still string hangin' from his mouth.]
[Yellow's pullin' on it, but it won't come out!]
That meant it was happening right now.
If the string caused choking and cut off his air, no surgery or scope would help.
“Faster!”
Lee Jun picked up the pace.
Patter patter patter.
As he sped up, Gray's face grew grave.
[Totto... g-gonna go to the Cat Star?]
[To the Cat Star? For real?]
The cats took his urgency as a bad sign.
“No. I'm running to keep him from dying.”
[Oh, that's it?]
“Huff huff... Y-yeah.”
Lee Jun panted hard but kept going.
As they reached the park, people recognized him and called out.
But with no breath to spare, he blew past.
They hesitated briefly, then parted for the white-coated man sprinting desperately—something was clearly wrong.
And their hunch was confirmed moments later.
A huge guy in the same coat came thundering after—one hand clutching a white bag with a red cross, the other a kennel.
Whoa.
The crowd split instantly.
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin shoved through to the cats' hangout.
Cats clustered around one in the center, hacking and retching in agony.
Yellow and Sogeum-i were right beside him, a thin thread dangling from their front paws.
Spotting Lee Jun, Yellow looked up helplessly.
[I was holdin' it, but it kept goin' in. Sorry.]
Even as he spoke, he didn't let go.
[Yellow Leader said not to pull too hard...]
Sogeum-i sniffled, stumbling over his words.
The cats were wracked with guilt—they hadn't stopped their buddy from swallowing, and now couldn't pull it out.
The string kept shortening by the second.
“You did good. That's exactly right.”
But Lee Jun praised them.
The cats stared blankly.
“Pulling it could make things worse.”
With linear foreign bodies, the best move was preventing more ingestion while rushing to the clinic.
The string could be tangled in esophagus and intestines.
Pulling risked tears or ruptures.
Praising their smart handling again, Lee Jun yelled to Go Gi-jin catching up.
“Call Manager Jang—tell her to prep the endoscope. And pull Totto's chart from the park!”
“Got it.”
Lee Jun scooped up Totto and ran.
Carrying him beat risking the kennel.
His grip on the string was gentle and precise.
Go Gi-jin and the cats followed.
***
Meow meow.
Nyaa!
Outside the window, cats mewed softly.
Faces full of worry.
[Woof Teacher, save our Totto, please.]
One cat murmured, paws clasped lightly.
He'd watched a fellow cat suffer and fade to the Cat Star after swallowing yarn—just like Totto.
[Woof Teacher! Save Totto!]
Another beside him clasped his paws demurely and begged.
[Please save him!]
[Save him!]
Desperation laced their voices.
Then—
[Woof Teacher will save him.]
Sogeum-i spoke up, voice firm with conviction.
He believed the Woof Teacher who'd saved near-dead Leader Gray would save Brother Totto too.
[...Yeah?]
[Right. He saved our Leader, and fixed Bluebird Leader's eyes too.]
[Yeah. Woof Teacher will save Totto.]
Hope crept into their worried voices.
Inside the clinic, the vibe was chill from the start.
Gray lounged in the ward, totally relaxed.
[Hyung-nim will save Totto.]
[Course he will. He fixed my eyes—piece of cake.]
Shadow wore the same confident look.
Neither cat fretted over Totto.
The second Hyung-nim scooped him up, their worries melted away.
Unshakable faith: Hyung-nim would save him.
[Thanks, Leader.]
[Hyung-nim praised you, Yellow. Good job.]
[Nah. You fetched Woof Teacher. But how'd you know?]
[...]
No way was he admitting he'd been tailing to check on Yellow's leadership.
Gray clammed up, so Shadow tsked and changed the subject.
[So, how's things 'round the park lately?]
[Oh, Bluebird Park? Heard no issues.]
[What about our park?]
[Ours is fine too, but some cats spotted the Chirp crew.]
[Chirp? Pine Mushroom Park guys?]
Pine Mushroom Park was a tiny spot thirty cat-minutes from Evergreen—more clearing than park.
[Yep.]
[Those punks still pickin' fights?]
[Word is, yeah.]
The Chirp gang from Pine Mushroom was always starting beef with locals.
Regular territory raids, snatching any weak spots.
They'd challenged Evergreen and Bluebird too.
Gray and Shadow exchanged glances at Yellow's reply.
'Knew it'd be those guys.'
'Same here.'
They nodded at each other.
Chirp had picked fights with Gray over Evergreen multiple times.
Lost every one, but wouldn't quit.
Ambushed Gray on patrols too.
Yellow and the sentries stopped them, but without Gray, they couldn't crush 'em fully.
Evergreen took hits too—not as bad as Chirp, but still.
[Word's out our Evergreen's the prime spot to live—bet that's got Pine Mushroom all riled up.]
Yellow bowed his head low.
[They figured ditchin' me would let 'em take over. Sorry.]
He couldn't look up, ashamed for not showing Gray's strength to the other leaders.
[Nah. Time to stomp 'em flat. Make sure they never eye Evergreen again. Never let 'em slink back!]
[We'll help.]
[No need. Our fight.]
[Alright then. We'll ref.]
***
Meanwhile, unfamiliar cats showed up in Evergreen Park.
Twelve had rushed to Meongmeong Animal Hospital over Totto.
Shocked by the crisis, they'd followed en masse.
That left weaklings, kittens, and a few sentries behind.
Chirp—the burly black-spotted white tabby—strolled the turf leisurely with his goons.
Eyes gleaming, he scoped it out.
Food piled high, water crystal clear.
Best of all: the sleeping spots.
[Ho, sleepin' there'd keep the rain off.]
[Yes sir. Looks perfect, hee hee.]
One-eye, the mackerel-tabby trailing behind, snickered.
Smaller than Chirp, but still hefty.
[Krahaha! Nice. Real nice.]
Chirp laughed loud, sauntering to the feed mound.
[Let's sample the chow first.]
Chomp chomp.
Chewing, Chirp's eyes widened.
[Delish.]
[R-really, boss?]
Smack!
Chirp dove in face-first.
Munch munch.
His goons followed suit.
Normally, they'd wait till Chirp finished, but here? Bowls everywhere.
They claimed spots and dug in.
Gulp gulp.
Slurp slurp slurp.
Chirp and crew devoured greedily.
[Delish.]
[Hee hee, thinkin' we get this every day? Too good!]
[Yeah. Just nix Yellow, and this turf's ours.]
[He's done. Rumor's he's weak—Evergreen cats'll want a real boss.]
[Who else but our Leader? Heh heh. They'll roll out the paws for ya.]
Strongest leads—that's nature.
[Without Yellow, I'm top cat. Kekeke.]
Chirp scanned around, giggling.
Nearby cats watching trembled.
He was huge, face terrifying—no one could muster "get lost."
Then—
[Th-this is our turf! Scram!]
A kitten mustered courage and yowled.
[What?]
Glare. One-eye fixed on the kitten.
[Eek!]
Kitten hiccuped in terror but recalled Leader's words and pushed on.
[G-get out! Our Leader comes back, he won't let you off!]
Huff huff huff.
Kitten thought of Gray Leader and Yellow Leader the whole time.
Spoke his piece.
[Heh heh, this punk's got guts, huh?]
One-eye's good eye bulged as he advanced.
[Pipsqueak thinks he's tough? Let's see after a smack.]
One-eye raised a paw toward the kitten.
Then—
Thwack!
One-eye crumpled, screeching.
Yowl!
It was Gray.
Gray pinned him with one paw, then leaped at Chirp.
[Wh-what?]
Chirp finally noticed, whipping around.
[Y-you're Gray?]
Too late.
Thwack!
Gray's hind paw smashed Chirp's face.
Chirp tumbled, mumbling.
[Y-you retired...]
Word was he'd quit from weakness.
No time to think.
Thud thud thud.
Gray's tiny cute paws hammered Chirp's belly, face, legs mercilessly.
[Won't forgive you!]
A small fist clocked Chirp's mouth.
Kyaa!
Blood sprayed.
[Our Leader said he won't let you off!]
Kitten yowled, eyes blazing.
Gray pawed the downed Chirp, eyeing the kitten.
[Good job!]
Thuds echoed in Evergreen long after.
[Sorry!]
[Never mess again!]
Gray's kitty punches didn't stop till Chirp's crew surrendered.