A Wolf Has Appeared?
The day after meeting Byul-i in his dream.
Before dawn broke, I headed to Big Rock with Ssal-i, carrying the carriers holding Nureoguman and Seondeo.
"You've been putting up with staying together for a few days. Must've been stuffy, right?"
Unlike Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i, who could fly off via the rooftop, Nureoguman and Seondeo had spent the night together at Hanmaum Animal Hospital.
I couldn't help but chuckle at how they were pretending it was no big deal.
"Should've taken you guys back to Big Rock right away. Sorry about that. Things were hectic, so I couldn't focus on you first."
"Sorry for what?"
I shook my head at Nureoguman's words.
"No. Even though it was short, it was a truly happy time. All thanks to you guys."
The mere fact that Byul-i had been alive until then was a miracle.
I'd thought finding even her final traces would be a blessing, never imagining I'd actually talk to her and share memories.
"I'm fine, really. No need for the pity party. Gotta let it flow."
"We're here. Come on out."
By the time we reached Big Rock, I opened the carrier doors. Nureoguman and Seondeo exchanged glances, then climbed onto my shoulders and started kneading with their paws.
"What's this?"
"Got it. Thanks."
As Ssal-i burrowed into my arms too, the warmth of the furballs enveloped me like a cozy hug.
I'd come early to release them before clinic hours, planning a quick goodbye and head back, when—
"Huh? Where's everyone gone?"
Something felt off.
"Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i too, and no Chaos Crew? Aren't they usually all at Big Rock around this time?"
With the cat crew—who'd made Big Rock their turf—gone, and Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i having flown off right after arriving in Seoul last night, an uneasy feeling crept in.
Thankfully, Maeng-maeng-i and Il-nam-i chirped from overhead and appeared.
"Really? Those guys aren't... causin' trouble again, are they?"
With Nureoguman and Seondeo up on Big Rock, Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i landed on a small rock below.
"...Guardin'? Suddenly?"
I knew without asking.
The cats were obviously trying to impress the street strays.
Their calculated good deeds felt a bit off, but no need to bring it up.
"Well, everyone's got their own lives. As long as it's not bad stuff, let 'em be. But why patrol till dawn? That much to do?"
"Weird stuff? What do you mean?"
"...Someone abandonin' pets?"
Pet abandonment peaks in July-August vacation season.
Trash humans fakin' "accidents" then.
But third week of March? Not peak season—odd.
"Weird how? Don't scare me like that."
Il-nam-i covered his beak with a wing, whispering.
"Unusual ones?"
"Lots of those lately?"
Il-nam-i flapped angrily.
As fellow birds, Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i were especially furious about parrot abandonment.
"Hmm. All animals struggle the same. But who told you?"
A deep voice boomed out of nowhere, making everyone yelp and recoil.
Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i shot into the air; Nureoguman and Seondeo scrambled onto my back, trembling.
It wasn't just the unfamiliar voice.
The small rock where Il-nam-i and Maeng-maeng-i had perched suddenly twitched and moved.
'Whoa. Scared me.'
I was startled too.
Even if I understood animal speech, the massive rock-like beast before me was a terrifying predator with 250kg of bite force.
"Why're you here?"
As everyone shivered, the rock-like thing below Big Rock stretched its neck toward Maeng-maeng-i and rumbled low.
The beast was a wolf turtle, infamous for its savage temper—the tyrant of the Americas.
The wolf turtle licked its chops and turned. Seondeo and Maeng-maeng-i shoved fluffy fur into my nape for cover.
To sort this mess, deal with the random wolf turtle first.
"...Hold on there."
"Yeah. No idea why a wolf turtle's here, but... let me introduce myself first."
Ssal-i and Il-nam-i had spread my story nationwide; even new animals knew me.
Maybe that's why the wolf turtle introduced himself before I asked.
"Ah…."
The wolf turtle was abandoned. He introduced himself as Smith.
Knowing I was a vet, or from being dumped, he spilled personal stuff right away.
"Mm. Gotta feed ya somethin'. Any food around…."
Glanced around—no grub. Couldn't leave the all-day-fasted guy.
Caught their eyes— they flinched and shook.
For Big Rock peace, and couldn't leave him—only one choice.
"For now... come with me."
In the end, I put Smith in a carrier and took him to Hanmaum Animal Hospital.
And.
Crunch-crunch-gulp-gulp.
Smith vacuumed up the beef brisket chunks I'd sliced.
'...Eats well.'
On the way, he said he'd lived in a nearby apartment.
"No, this is a hospital. Gotta find ya a better place."
"I'll handle that. No worries. First, let's call your owners."
Smith stopped munching brisket, eyeing me.
I handed the glum Smith another brisket chunk.
"Don't worry 'bout that. Just summon 'em."
"Nah, posters won't cut it."
Ssal-i's tail drooped, bummed at missing the answer.
I pulled the hefty Ssal-i onto my lap.
"Not entirely wrong, so no sulkin'. Somethin' better than posters."
"Yeah. SNS."
Like the saying "get applause for poopin' if famous"—thanks to Animal Kingdom, I had massive fame among pet lovers.
Now in March, Byulstagram had 1 million followers. Power influencer status.
"First, pic of Smith. I'll handle the rest. Relax."
One post on my Byulstagram—bigger than Yeongdeungpo-gu's population—had huge reach.
*Click-click-click.*
"Perfect."
Smith, brisket gone, craned his neck, blinking.
"Yeah. One post equals handin' out 100—no, 10,000 flyers."
"More brisket. Gotta work now. Ssal-i, watch him."
And bites didn't take long.