Go Hoon had been sitting still in the same spot for what felt like forever, eyes fixed on the building entrance.
He was bored out of his mind. And it wasn’t like he could relax either—he had to stay alert, watching all directions, which left his body tense and aching. Whenever unfamiliar footsteps passed nearby, his ears twitched, and all four limbs tensed, ready to spring at any moment.
The life of a stray cat is truly exhausting. That thought crossed his mind as he stifled a yawn trying to break free—when suddenly, the growl of a fierce beast rang out.
“Grrrrrr─.”
Go Hoon’s ears perked up instantly as he whipped his head around.
Sure enough, a large dog was baring its teeth at him. Judging by its fierce expression and solid build, it looked like a hunting dog. It wore a thick collar and leash, but no muzzle.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Janggun, hey! That’s not okay.”
Thankfully, its owner—a burly, muscular man—was holding tightly onto the leash.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
But even he seemed to be struggling against the dog’s strength. His body swayed under the force, and Go Hoon felt a wave of unease. He wanted to get out of there fast, but any sudden move might provoke the dog further. He couldn’t risk it.
“Woof!”
“Myaooong…”
Come on, no need to get aggressive. Let’s talk this out like civilized creatures, yeah? Go Hoon meowed desperately. But of course, there was no way a dog and cat could understand each other.
“Woof! Woof!”
The dog grew even more agitated by Hoon’s cry and began thrashing wildly. The man holding the leash was visibly struggling. Bulging veins rose on his arms.
“Whoa, hey! Janggun, easy now! Be a good boy…!”
“Woof!”
“Ah! Janggun! No!”
With one powerful lunge, the dog broke free from the man’s grip. The leash slipped from his hands—and now, the beast was charging at Go Hoon.
Time slowed.
Go Hoon kicked off the ground and dashed away. The unleashed dog tore after him, jaws wide, aiming straight for the back of his neck.
“Woof! Woof!”
The sharp barking rang terrifyingly close. No matter how quick a cat was, outrunning a hunting dog wasn’t easy.
Buildings blurred past like streaks. He zipped through a strip of shops and into a residential area. Up ahead, a wall about two meters tall came into view, with a forked path on either side.
The dog was gaining. Go Hoon could hear its paws pounding closer.
He hesitated for just a second, then leapt toward the brick wall. If he slowed down even a little, he’d be caught—that much he knew.
But pain shot through his knee mid-jump. He twisted it—and in the same instant, sharp teeth clamped down on his hind leg.
“Yiaaaang!”
Go Hoon let out a vicious screech and clawed at the dog’s eyes. Red slashes cut across the beast’s face, and with a yelp, it released him. Go Hoon tumbled to the ground.
The dog whimpered, pawing at its bleeding face. Seizing the moment, Go Hoon limped backward on three legs. Drops of blood followed his every step.
While the dog struggled to open its eyes, Go Hoon scanned the area. He spotted a gate connected to the wall—with just enough space underneath for him to slip through.
“Woof! Woof!”
The dog shook off the pain and charged again. Go Hoon darted for the gate, pushing his body through the gap just as—THUMP!—something slammed against the other side. The gate rattled violently.
“Aigo, what’s going on out here?”
The ruckus brought the homeowner outside.
Go Hoon, breathing heavily, moved away from the gate and ducked into the flowerbed. An old woman with a small frame appeared and assessed the situation. Then, without a hint of hesitation, she picked up a massive broom and marched toward the gate. With a loud SMACK!, she struck the ground. The dog, startled, fell silent.
“Get lost!”
Not satisfied, she raised her voice and slammed the broom down again with another sharp thud. A moment later, whining sounds faded on the other side of the gate, and the yard fell silent.
The old woman propped the broom up and dusted off her hands. Her wrinkled eyes turned to Go Hoon. With her hands clasped behind her back, she limped slowly toward him.
Go Hoon tensed, watching her approach.
“Grrrrrr─.”
Was she going to chase him out too? His ears flattened, and he let out a low growl of warning. He began to back away, but pain surged in his injured leg with each step.
The old woman stared at him for a long moment, then snorted.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, kid.”
The old woman tossed out her words casually, then limped her way back into the house.
Left alone, Go Hoon let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. His panting came out rough and uneven before his body finally gave out and slumped to the side. The moment the tension drained from him, every muscle in his body went slack.
He began licking his throbbing hind leg. The taste of blood was sharp and metallic. The wound was still bleeding.
He needed to get back to the center… Bae Jung-yoon might be waiting for him…
That thought stirred in the back of his mind, but his body felt far too heavy to move. Besides, there was no guarantee the dog that attacked him wasn’t still lurking nearby.
Just a little longer. I’ll rest here just a bit more before I go.
With that thought, Go Hoon let his heavy eyelids fall shut.
***
Go Hoon snapped awake, eyes wide, and quickly pushed himself up.
Some time had passed—his hind leg was now wrapped in a bandage. It wasn’t the work of a professional, but someone had clearly tried to treat his wound with care.
He looked around. He was lying on a cushion inside what looked like a private home. Judging by the furnishings, it likely belonged to an elderly person.
What happened? He frowned, rising slowly. His leg still ached, making it hard to move, but at least the bleeding had stopped completely.
A few steps away, he noticed a small dish filled with water and food. The dish was adorned with floral patterns, a clear reflection of the homeowner’s taste.
Go Hoon limped over to inspect it. Inside were pieces of shredded chicken breast.
Grrrgle—even in his weakened state, his stomach growled. A good sign. If he was hungry, he couldn’t be on the brink of death.
Without hesitation, Go Hoon dug in, devouring the food with desperate hunger.
“You finally up?”
He flinched at the voice behind him and quickly turned, tensing up. It was the same old woman he’d seen before he passed out.
His pupils widened as he stared at her, but she didn’t even glance his way, going about her business as if nothing had happened. Her indifference gradually helped him relax. He returned to the cushion, lying down, watching her move about the home.
She never showed much interest in him. And yet, every meal, she gave him chicken or fish. With rough but careful hands, she cleaned and rewrapped his wound. Occasionally, she’d reach out and gently stroke his head.
Seeing her like that, Go Hoon couldn’t help but think of Bae Jung-yoon—how devoted he’d been when tending Go Hoon’s injured leg after the fight with Choi Joo-won.
He’d tried to distance himself after seeing a side of Jung-yoon he’d never known. But someone who had been so endlessly kind to him… he just couldn’t push away. Those memories lingered, haunting his thoughts.
Was Jung-yoon looking for him now? Had he realized something was wrong? Or did he just think Go Hoon ran off after a fight? He hoped that wasn’t the case. He didn’t want to be misunderstood like that.
Then a new wave of anxiety swept over him. What if something had happened to Jung-yoon while he was gone? He was the impulsive type, after all.
All Go Hoon could do was hope he’d be patient—just until he could make it back.
Four days passed.
His leg had healed enough that he could now stand, walk, even run a bit. His overall condition had improved noticeably.
Stretching out with a long yawn, Go Hoon rose to his feet. As expected, the front door was open again today.
The old woman often left it ajar while tending the small flower bed out front. It was her quiet way of being considerate—to let him go whenever he felt ready.
Go Hoon stepped outside into the warm sunlight. The breeze brushing his fur felt incredible after being cooped up inside.
He walked over to the gate and leapt lightly onto the wall. There was a slight sting in his still-healing leg, but it was nothing serious.
He took in the peaceful scenery of the quiet neighborhood. Everything felt calm and still. After basking in the sun for a while, he turned his head. As if sensing something, the old woman—hands dirtied from gardening—looked up at him.
“Heading home now?”
“Mya─ong.”
Go Hoon meowed softly and bowed his head to her. She chuckled and, hands clasped behind her back, turned and strolled slowly back into the house.
He watched her retreating figure for a long moment, then cautiously began to move.
He planned to head to the spot where he’d hidden his clothes. With his condition the way it was now, he felt confident he could shift back into his human form.
He picked up the pace—better to move quickly before running into anyone. As he left the residential area and entered the commercial district, an ominous sound made his fur stand on end.
“Grrrrrrr─.”
The hair along his spine bristled. His tail puffed up instinctively. Go Hoon turned his head—and there it was.
The same dog from four days ago.
He had hoped the mutt would’ve gone home with its owner, but clearly it had been wandering the neighborhood this whole time. Its once-sleek coat was now filthy and matted, and it looked skinnier than before.
“Woof! Woof!”
Still got a hell of a voice on you, huh? Go Hoon thought grimly, as the dog let out another low growl and thick drool dripped onto the pavement.
He debated whether to shift back into human form. But there wasn’t enough time.
“Woof!”
Of all the things that could’ve happened—why this? What were the odds of running into this dog again? Cursing his rotten luck, Go Hoon spun around and took off at full speed.
Thud-thud-thud. His heart pounded as he sprinted. There was no turning back to the old woman’s house—it was in the opposite direction. His best bet was to head for somewhere crowded.
Go Hoon dashed onto a wide street, weaving deftly through the legs of startled pedestrians. People shrieked and stumbled back as a cat and dog suddenly tore through the road.
He kept his eyes forward, focused on escape—until a sharp jolt of pain shot through his injured leg. His footing faltered. He stumbled—and fell.
Go Hoon squeezed his eyes shut.
I’m going to get bitten again.
That was his first thought—right before screams erupted around him.
But nothing happened.
Seconds passed. Still nothing.
Go Hoon opened his eyes.
The dog had lunged—but it had bitten someone else.
And that back… that silhouette…
It was unmistakably familiar.
