Hello Vet! How are you?

『Where am I?』
『It hurts… ugh.』

The first sensation Mongshil felt upon waking from anesthesia.

However, the pain was bearable.

If this was Mongshil’s first experience of such pain, Mongshil would likely be screaming in agony by now.

『It was really painful just a while ago.』

Mongshil recalled the pain that had gripped its body moments ago and shivered slightly.

『But, where could this be?』

It was only then that Mongshil realized that the place it was lying in wasn’t home.

Mongshil lifted its head and took a look around.

An unfamiliar and narrow space.

The only familiar thing was the scent.

Finally, Mongshil spotted it, the familiar little toy it was fond of.

『The soft bull.』

Mongshil’s dad had given this toy when it was very young.

Mongshil was delighted to see the small, old toy that looked like it was made of its front legs put together.

Then its gaze fell on the blanket beneath it.

The usual blanket from Mongshil’s bed was spread out on the floor.

Seeing the toy and blanket there comforted Mongshil a little.

Feeling the urge to embrace the familiar bull as Mongshil always did at home, Mongshil extended its mouth to grab the toy.

Thunk.

However, something prevented it from reaching its toy.

A thick collar was around Mongshil’s neck.

Mongshil tried several more times but failed each time, so it decided to get up and fetch it.

No, it tried to get up.

While it could move its front legs, its hind legs refused to budge.

Fear crept onto Mongshil’s face when it failed to stand.

『Ah, I can’t move.』

Mongshil suddenly felt terrified.

Why couldn’t it move its body as it wished?

Mongshil twisted its neck to look at its hind legs.

Something was wrapped around them.

Feeling uneasy, Mongshil tried to reach its hind legs with its neck.

Yet, it couldn’t turn its body backward.

Nothing was working.

The only parts Mongshil could move at its will were its two front legs.

Mongshil felt like crying.

『Why, why is this happening?』

Mongshil wanted to bark loudly but couldn’t muster the strength.

Straining its belly to bark hurt too much.

Mongshil’s body wouldn’t obey, and it was trapped in an unfamiliar, narrow space.

『Ugh!』

It began to miss Its dad.

Mongshil seemed like its dad had held its when its was in pain, but where is he now?

Woof!

Mongshil whimpered softly, hoping its dad could find Mongshil.

『Ah, it hurts.』

Its belly ached.

Still, Mongshil continued to call softly, hoping that its dad would come.

Woof!

Woof!

Just then, the creaking sound of a door opening was accompanied by a voice.

『Awake, meow!』
『Who, who are you?』
『It’s Gray one meow!』

Gray one confidently stated his name.

『I am Kkamnyang.』

Kkamnyang, who had come along, also revealed his name.

Then, the two cats slowly walked towards the front of Mongshil’s enclosed bed.

Was there a dog in the area who hadn’t been to Evergreen Park?

Soon, Mongshil recognized Gray one’s presence.

The cat standing regally before it was the leader of the cats in Evergreen Park.

In this unfamiliar place, without the ability to move its body, Mongshil would have normally felt scared and avoided eye contact, but now, Mongshil was just happy.

『Ah, hello.』

Though happy to see Gray one, Mongshil was also a little scared and nervously greeted it.

『Are you alright meow?』

Despite the approachable voice, it was filled with great concern.

The genuine concern in Gray one’s simple question was incredibly powerful.

Not only did Mongshil’s fear of Gray one melt away, but it also felt a sense of closeness.

『… I’m alright. I’m still hurting, but it’s less painful. It really hurt, but now it’s getting a bit better. However…』

Mongshil confessed things it wouldn’t have before to Gray one.

『I can’t move.』

Mongshil’s voice grew very small as it admitted its weakness.

Although very quiet and weak, there was no way the cats couldn’t hear it.

The cats recalled the sight of Mongshil bleeding profusely and gasping for breath not long ago.

Then, they looked at Mongshil who was breathing comfortably now, and reassured it with relief.

Kkamnyang spoke first.

『The Vet-hyung treated you. If not for him, you would have gone to Doggy Star.』

Following Kkamnyang’s rather blunt assessment, Gray one added.

『That’s right meow. It was a close call meow.』

The pain Mongshil felt then was indescribable, and it had a thought.

‘I’m going to the Doggy Star.’

Understanding the cats’ words, Mongshil nodded.

Thud thud.

Each nod made the stiff collar around its neck hit the wall, creating a sound.

『It’s lucky you survived meow.』
『It truly is.』

Responding to the sincere words from the cats, Mongshil sincerely voiced its gratitude.

『Thank you.』
『Be strong. If you eat well, you won’t hurt anymore.』
『Kkamnyang is right meow. Even if it hurts, endure it and eat well. You’ll gradually get better meow.』

Gray one encouraged it with his own experience.

『I will.』

Mongshil’s response was still quite small and weak, prompting the cats to jump.

『Why so weak meow! You have to be strong meow.』
『That’s right. No matter how tasty the food is, you need to pull through to benefit from it.』

Gray one and Kkamnyang had seen many fellow cats go to Feline Star.

Friends who gave up on life went much quicker than those who hung on till the end.

『Don’t give up meow. We’ll be here for you meow.』
『I’ll tell the Vet-hyung to give you lots of tasty food. Eat and gain strength.』

Hearing their encouragement, Mongshil glanced longingly at its precious toy, the bull.

Then at the blanket spread on the floor.

‘Dad must have abandoned me knowing I can’t move. Just like back then, with the toy and this blanket.’

As a puppy, it had spent a long period somewhere with only the bull toy and blanket.

It waited daily at the doorstep for its dad to return, but he never came.

Eventually, its dad came to take Mongshil home much later, but the wait felt like forever.

Because of that, Mongshil was always anxious that dad might leave again.

Seeing the toy and the blanket was both comforting and disconcerting.

Afraid it meant being separated from dad again, just like back then.

Moreover, the situation was worse now than it was back then.

『My body can’t even move…』

Therefore, the idea of eating and gaining strength seemed out of reach.

Though Mongshil left those thoughts unsaid, the cats understood immediately.

『I, too, thought the same when my leg wouldn’t move meow.』
『I had similar thoughts when I couldn’t see.』
『What are you talking about?』
『The Vet-hyung will fix you meow. My legs wouldn’t move just like yours meow.』
『I couldn’t see either.』

The cats took turns sharing stories from their time of recovery.

Mongshil’s eyes widened.

Their hopeful stories were so captivating that all thoughts of pain vanished; Mongshil was absorbed in their tales.

After hearing their stories, Mongshil hesitantly asked.

『Does that mean I’ll be able to walk again?』

“Of course.”

A different voice, not from the cats, answered, and their expressions brightened suddenly.

『It’s hyung!』
『Hyung is here!』

From their welcoming reactions, Mongshil immediately guessed this was the Vet-hyung they spoke of with such admiration.

Hyung met Mongshil’s eyes and asked.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

『… I’m okay.』

In truth, it wasn’t okay.

Its belly hurt, its legs hurt.

Yet, it felt like Mongshil should answer like that.

“You must be in pain, but you’ve shown a lot of patience, Mongshil.”

As the Vet-hyung spoke, he opened the door in front of Mongshil and gently patted its head.

His touch was incredibly kind.

『It’s not true meow, it hurts meow.』
『Indeed. Vet-hyung, Mongshil is in pain.』

Upon hearing the cats tell the hyung about its pain, Mongshil’s face darkened.

『I-it doesn’t hurt…』

The hyung patted Mongshil again, much more kindly this time, and spoke.

“If it hurts, Mongshil, you must say it. Your dad will be sad if you hold it in.”

Hearing the word ‘dad’.

Mongshil’s small pointed ears perked up.

‘Dad…’

Mongshil loved its dad more than anything in the world.

Even at that moment, Mongshil desperately missed its dad.

Mongshil’s body ached.

The familiar face, Gray one, was there, yet the place was unfamiliar.

How wonderful would it be if its dad appeared and took Mongshil home?

However, it couldn’t muster the courage to ask where its dad was.

Hearing that its dad had left for good would be too heartbreaking.

“Mongshil, your dad will come soon.”

『Really?』

“Yes.”

Mongshil had heard from Gray one and Kkamnyang that humans could understand them. However, hearing that Mongshil dad was coming was paramount.

Mongshil’s eyes widened further as it asked again.

『He didn’t leave me, did he?』

“How could he leave you after such a major surgery?”

Mongshil’s lips curled up at the words “how could he leave you”.

Mongshil’s face, already smiling, shone brightly at the mention of its dad’s return.

“Are you that happy, kiddo?”

Lee Joon laughed as he patted Mongshil’s head.

Then he went over the precautions.

“Don’t get excited. You know, right? And don’t move either. Just aligning the bones like this could cause them to break again.”

『That’s serious meow. You could go to Doggy Star meow.』
『One of my companions went to Feline Satr with a leg injury.』
『Uh! Really?』
『Yes, meow. I endured it meow. No scratching, even if it’s itchy, meow.』

Listening intently to the vivid stories of the cats enduring their own ailments, Mongshil’s ears perked up, and Lee Joon chuckled.

‘Seems I don’t need to tell Mongshil much.’

Lee Joon merely emphasized the need to stay calm when the owner visited before stepping outside.

Mongshil had listened half-heartedly to whatever the cats had said earlier.

Now, knowing its dad was visiting, it transformed into a model patient, listening carefully to Gray one and Kkamnyang’s advice.

***

Not long after, Mongshil’s owner arrived at the Woof Woof Animal Clinic.

As soon as the owner entered, Mongshil’s whiskers twitched up and down.

Its ears perked up again too.

The smell and sound it knew so well — dad’s scent and footsteps.

“M-Mongshil!”

Woof!

Though it was a whisper of a bark, barely audible, Mongshil’s owner felt a jolt run through his body.

‘Mongshil’s alive, Mongshil’s alive!’

After the surgery, Lee Joon had led Mongshil’s owner to the recovery room.

Seeing Mongshil bandaged from belly to legs was terrifying.

It seemed like Mongshil could stop breathing at any moment.

Now, hearing its bark and meeting its eyes, it felt like Mongshil truly had survived.

The owner, with reddened eyes, tenderly petted Mongshil’s head.

Desiring to embrace Mongshil, but transferring those emotions into gently stroking Mongshil’s head.

“Mongshil, my dear Mongshil!”

Feeling Mongshil’s warmth against his rough palm, the already teary-eyed owner’s eyes grew even redder.

Drip.

A tear fell on Mongshil’s head.

***

The news of Mongshil’s hospitalization spread quickly.

Ddangkong, visiting the clinic, took the opportunity to check on Mongshil.

『Mongshil, my little friend, I heard you were badly hurt. Are you okay?』
『Yes. The two oppas have been looking out for me a lot.』

Mongshil, who had become friends with the cats, referred to Gray one and Kkamnyang as its oppas and happily followed them.

Though they acted indifferent, Gray one and Kkamnyang seemed to like being referred to as oppa very much.

『Gray one and Kkamnyang are doing a good deed.』
『One ought to be good to their younger sibling meow.』
『Can’t neglect a sibling in pain.』

Watching the cats speaking matter-of-factly brought a smile to Mongshil’s face.

『Thank you, oppas.』

At that, the cats curled their lips up into a smile.

『Staying still and not moving, good for you.』
『They explained well why I shouldn’t move. They said I could either never walk again or limp. They even warned I might cross over to the Doggy Star where I’d never see Dad again.』

Mongshil meticulously repeated the warnings it received from Gray one and Kkamnyang.

The most critical issue in Mongshil’s recovery was staying still.

Maintaining the stability of the right rear leg with the plate fixed in place and preventing infection was crucial.

And just as important was ensuring the leg wrapped only in bandages didn’t move — the left shin bone and right metatarsal bone.

Though it seemed simple, it was tremendously challenging.

Mongshil bore it all without complaints, thanks to the detailed explanations from the cats.

『Gray one and Kkamnyang did a great job.』
『Hehe, I like them a lot, and they also said this.』
『What did they say?』
『That if I go home, it’ll be hard for Dad. So, until I’m fully healed, I’ll stay with them.』
『You’ve made a good decision. Being under the doctor’s care is the best. Consider it an honor.』
『Hehe, yes, I like the doctor a lot.』

Though recovering and the pain gradually subsided, what made Mongshil happier was the doctor clearing Mongshil’s misconceptions.

‘The doctor said Dad didn’t abandoned me.’

Mongshil’s dad didn’t abandoned him; he had simply left temporarily to work at a distant location.

Knowing this brought great relief to Mongshil.

『I love the two oppas and the doctor a lot.』

Perceiving this comfort, Mongshil’s recovery progressed rapidly.

Within two weeks, Mongshil was ready for rehabilitation therapy.

『It feels weird. It’s warm and there’s a tingling feeling.』

Mongshil grimaced under the laser therapy.

『It’s good meow. Makes the leg not hurt meow.』
『Yeah, feels refreshing.』
『That makes no sense. It’s warm; how is it refreshing?』

Kkamnyang watched Mongshil lying down and talking back, his expression a mixture of amusement and disbelief

『Such a thing exists.』

That wasn’t the only thing it received.

『You balance meow. Just stand and enjoy it meow.』
『This is how you do it.』

With Gray one and Kkamnyang demonstrating on a balance ball, Mongshil squealed in horror while trying to follow them.

『Ah, it’s shaking too much!』

Shivering on the balance ball yet trying to hold steady, Lee Joon declared.

“You’re ready for hydrotherapy.”

At this, Mongshil squeaked in shock.

『You want me to drown in water?』