Ssal-i is a Haetae, After All
“Ah. Sorry. Did the noise wake you?”
Eyes yellow as streetlamp light.
Staring at me with those eyes was none other than Neoro.
—The Big Rock crew said you understand animal speech.
“More precisely, we can have conversations.”
—….
I’d expected him to throw a fit and demand to be let out right away, but Neoro said something unexpected.
—Help us. My crew’s in danger.
“What?”
Neoro’s front legs were wrapped tight in casts.
The other patients were still lost in dreamland, so I’d quietly snuck him out to the exam room.
“So what you’re saying is… this time, and last time too, it was the same abuser?”
—…The face was different. And the smell was completely different too, so I didn’t realize it was the same guy. That bastard….
My expression soured more and more as Neoro continued his explanation.
I’d had some idea of the situation while treating him.
But hearing the details straight from the victim himself was nauseatingly horrific.
—Kaos, Cheese, Goet-eo. They always go to the same places. If they can scavenge food by the stream, no problem. But if they can’t, they’ll come into the city like I did. And in the city, the only place they can find food is there.
“The construction site?”
—…Yeah.
Neoro nodded with a furious growl.
—They’re… all just big bodies. They can’t even hunt properly. I hope it doesn’t happen, but if they do come into the city, they’ll definitely head to that construction site. The one with the abuser.
“…….”
Neoro went on to describe in detail how the cat abuser had lured him, where he’d taken him, and what the guy looked like.
I have to help.
Of course I have to.
But how…? What do I even say?
To prevent an incident, I’d need the police.
But I had no idea how to explain it to them.
The place where Neoro had been abused—and where it might happen again—was an abandoned construction site, stalled for years.
If I went charging in without CCTV or evidence, missed the abuser, and got caught instead?
I ran through every scenario, but no answers came.
If I get misunderstood, the hospital’s reputation… the staff’s paychecks?
I could end up suspected as an accomplice, the animal hospital director. Even if it was overthinking, image mattered for a vet clinic.
Especially if linked to animal abuse, the goodwill I’d built on Animal Kingdom could crash.
“Don’t worry. I’ll save your crew.”
My fist clenched amid the foolish worries.
Putting my own skin first shamed the title of veterinarian.
I couldn’t go to the police, and I might get misunderstood.
But I had to solve it.
No—I’m the only one who can.
At least it’s not far.
The construction site Neoro mentioned was a 20-minute walk from the hospital.
I’d think up some flimsy excuse on the way. Hoping the Neoro crew was safe, I stood up—and then.
—Dad!
A booming voice thundering down the stairs.
Ssal-i burst through the exam room door in a flash and leaped into my arms.
“Ssal-i. Why aren’t you asleep yet? Sorry, but Dad’s busy right now. Important stuff, so you go first….”
—I know! I heard everything! I’m coming to help too!
“What?”
He’d heard everything from the third floor?
No way, even with a dog’s great hearing.
Ssal-i puffed out his chest, blowing away my doubts in an instant.
—You’re going to help the kitty punks, right? I can help.
—Kitty punks? This mutt’s calling who….
—Shut your trap. Unless you wanna burst.
The baby who looked angelic to me scowled fiercely at Neoro. Startling even me.
“Ahem. Neoro, rest in the ward for now. I promised to help your friends.”
—Bring ’em back safe.
—Hmph, beggars can’t be choosers, tsk.
—What’d you say, punk? If I didn’t have these casts….
“Hey now, no fighting, everyone. Ssal-i, wait here a sec.”
I knew Ssal-i’s temperament well.
He didn’t hold back.
One wrong move, and injured Neoro could get pummeled. A powder keg.
I hustled Neoro back to the ward and returned to the exam room.
“Ssal-i. I don’t know how much you heard, but this is serious. So….”
—I heard it all! You have to find the cats alone! I can help! I’m a haetae. We can find them faster!
“Ssal-i. I appreciate the thought, but this isn’t the time for games….”
—Not a game! I can help. It’s a full moon tonight.
I knew Ssal-i loved full moons, but no time to indulge his antics now.
The Neoro crew might already have left the stream for the site.
“Ssal-i. Dad’s really busy, so stay home….”
—For real! I can use a new power now! Just wait. I’ll show you!
“Ssal-i, this isn’t the time….”
Ssal-i, spouting nonsense, shut the exam room door. And then.
.
.
.
“Th-this… works?”
—So believe me, Dad!
Ssal-i had transformed into something unbelievable, right before my eyes.
Whoa… What have I even been raising?
Ssal-i wasn’t a normal dog.
No, maybe he really was a haetae.
—Kehhehe, messing with the Big Rock losers is fun. Bored? Wanna go again?
—Nah. What’s fun about picking on wimps who squeal at a brush-by? Tormenting ’em’s getting stale. When’s the boss coming back?
—Gotta wait, what else? We can’t hunt anyway.
Cheese, Goet-eo, Kaos.
They all had fierce, tabby-tiger looks, but they sucked at hunting.
Because, unlike their street rep, they were former house cats.
Abandoned by owners, they’d survived on food Neoro scavenged. But lately, with the cat terror news, cat moms feeding strays had dwindled by the stream.
Food scarce, Neoro had gone to the city to forage.
—But isn’t the boss taking too long? Never been this late. Should we go look?
—What? Outside the stream?
—Yeah. It’s been half a day since he left for food. I can’t wait anymore. Starving here!
—Hm. But boss said stay by the stream. Humans are dangerous….
Tawny Cheese and blue-striped Goet-eo turned to Neoro crew’s number two, Kaos.
Kaos, grooming his tri-color fur, blinked his round eyes at their words.
—For real? Go outside?
—Haven’t eaten since morning. Stomach’s killing me.
—Ignore Cheese, Kaos. Boss said no going out.
—What? Boss promised before sunset! He broke it first—why wait? I’m hungry!
—Hungry or not, we wait, idiot. Forgot how dangerous humans are?
—Shut up! Hunger’s worse! Dizzy from it!
Hiss!
Hiss!
Opinions clashed; Cheese and Goet-eo raised tails vertically, snarling viciously.
House cat style—no real damage from paw swipes.
But as number two, Kaos had to settle it.
—Tch. Calm down, fools. Boss is a bit late, big deal? He’s been late but never not come back. So we wait.
—Decided. We stay.
Goet-eo snorted, chest puffed, at Kaos’s call to wait.
But Cheese wouldn’t let it slide.
—What if boss can’t come back?
—…What?
—He’s been late, sure, but never till sunset. If something happened, we help. Who else?
—You idiot. Starving and spouting nonsense.
Goet-eo growled, but Cheese wasn’t wrong.
Neoro had never broken promises or stayed out till midnight.
Kaos pondered amid the snarling stripes.
Boss said leaving the stream’s dangerous… But if something really happened to him….
Kaos was hungry too, but fear kept him put.
Just thinking of human turf made his severed left ear sting, breath short.
But like Cheese said, couldn’t wait forever.
He worried for Neoro too.
—…Let’s go.
—Kaos!
—Yes!
Emotions mixed among the stripes; Kaos stretched calmly.
—It is weird. Boss still not back. Let’s check carefully. Can’t starve forever.
—But boss said….
—I know. Hide safe if no contact. But waiting just makes us weaker. If we can’t find him, at least eat. Need strength to survive—and find boss.
“…….”
Goet-eo couldn’t argue Kaos’s resolve.
—Okay, let’s go. Not alone—three of us, nothing scary. Right? We’ve trained fighting.
—Yeah. On Big Rock punks, kek. Wimps of Saetgang Eco Park? Big Rock crew wins.
—Kehihi, true.
Consensus reached, Cheese and Goet-eo giggled like nothing happened. Then.
Whoosh! Bang!
Rattle!
They crossed the scary road full of cars and bikes, entering the city depths.
—Whew, close call. Everyone okay?
—Duh. Been street cats months.
—Kek, ears to tail, all safe.
Dim alley lit by small streetlamp.
The three korats smirked proudly, giggling.
—Good. Single file, spread out. Noses open, move!
—Human turf after ages.
—Kehihi, let’s go.
Kaos led, Goet-eo and Cheese single-file, sniffing alleys.
But.
Grrrrowl.
Gurgle.
Growl. Growl.
Hours prowling alleys, no Neoro trace. Goet-eo and Cheese’s tails drooped exhausted.
—…Kaos. No boss. No food.
—Can’t walk more, too tired. Just chased by humans. Starve today?
Even stinky trash bins locked.
Stomachs empty, no Neoro. Kaos had to decide.
—…Give up today. That apartment we saw.
—Empty one?
—Yeah. Sleep there tonight. Search tomorrow… Sniff sniff? What’s that smell?
Kaos paused mid-talk with Cheese, sniffing around.
Irresistible scent wafting from alley gap.
—Wh-what’s this? You all smell it?
—Whoa. Insane aroma. Something primal, boiling urge.
—Smells heavenly. Just to there and back?
All nodded, cats chasing the alluring scent.
Fresh, kin-like weird aroma.
Sniffing dispersed fatigue, eased tension.
—Hehe. What is it? Not food, but feels great!
—Kehhehe. Could endure hunger?
Enchanted by the devilish scent, the three dashed wildly.
Then leader Kaos halted abruptly.
—W-wait! Stop!
—Why? Almost there.
—Smells too good! Hurry!
—Stop! See ahead? It’s that place!
—Huh? Where—gasp?! N-no, this is!
Cheese and Goet-eo froze, bodies shuddering.
The lure spot.
The trauma site.
The construction site that scarred the korats.
—N-no… Dangerous here.
—But the scent… Huh?
Shivering Cheese sniffed again, head snapping up.
—Whoa. Canned food! Not kibble—canned!
What decides if cats eat feed? Texture?
No, smell.
Rich, savory wet food scent, rare for strays. Starved korats drooled.
—L-let’s go in. Can’t resist food smell!
—Yeah. Eat first, no problem.
Seductive scent plus saliva-triggering food!
Even rational Goet-eo’s eyes rolled.
—Idiots. Food smell here means….
Kaos too decided to enter the scented site.
—Let’s check.
—Kehihi. Good. Go!
—Fill bellies quick. Need energy to find boss.
Too hard to think rationally with drool-inducing smell.
Tap tap tap!
Pat pat!
Pop pop!
They hopped over weeds and scattered materials in the hazard-filled stalled site.
Corner with rebar skeletons: piles of wet food wafting savory scent.
—Wow! Canned food. How long since? Shove in mouths!
—Wish Neoro was here.
—Dummy. He’s fine, smartest and strongest.
Excited korats stepped lively—then.
“Hello?”
A man appeared before them.
—