Ruby — Before We Close the Door

Until that evening, Sunlit Meadow had been ordinary. Bread steamed in the bakery. Parents called children home for supper.

CRASH!

A black mass dropped over the bell tower. Street lamps went out, one after another. Darkness had come.

Ruby looked up beneath a low wall. A black gust tore the bricks apart.

RubyWhat is that...?!

There was no time to dodge. Ruby tumbled, an injured forepaw folded beneath its chest. The flame on its tail shrank to an ember.

RubyOof!

The little fox bared its teeth at the advancing smoke.

Black smoke poured into the drainage canal. Moa pulled water up with both paws.

MoaGet out of my water!

The thin shield held the smoke back. Once.

CRACK!

Water burst into droplets. Moa skidded across wet stone. A fallen plank blocked the way out.

MoaMy shield... won’t hold!

Moa gathered a few smaller drops. Enough, perhaps, to protect one little body.

The garden fence bent inward. Pori’s muddy paws went still.

A dark gust raked the beds, tearing young shoots from the soil.

PoriNo! My seedling!

Pori snatched the last seedling and leaped. The fence snapped just behind.

PoriStay away!

There was nowhere to hide. Leaf-shaped ears flattened, Pori fled toward the alley.

Junho stopped on his way home. Two amber eyes moved beneath a collapsed wall.

An injured fox. As he stepped closer, it showed its small teeth.

JunhoMay I come closer?

RubyStay right there.

Junho stopped. A talking fox? Slowly, he opened the hand that had frozen in surprise.

JunhoOkay. I’ll wait here.

He laid his jacket on the ground and moved back. Ruby watched the jacket, then his hand.

Black smoke curled around the corner. Ruby limped onto the jacket. Keeping his movements slow, Junho gently wrapped the fox in it.

Neither had relaxed. But now they were running in the same direction.

Junho locked the door and laid Ruby on the table. Water. A towel. A first-aid box. His hands shook so much he dropped the bandage three times.

JunhoYour name?

RubyRuby. Is this your first bandage?

JunhoThat obvious?

RubyMy paw looks like a loaf of bread.

Junho almost laughed. Then black smoke pressed against the window.

CRACK.

JunhoI thought we’d be safe here...

The emergency bell rang three times: get underground. Junho pulled open the trapdoor beneath the table. The shared bunker connected several houses.

RubyDownstairs! Hurry!

Junho scooped Ruby up and raced down the steps. Glass shattered behind them.

At the same moment, Minjeong waved for her younger brother to follow her down the alley. A splash came from the canal.

A blue face popped out between the planks. Minjeong reached out in surprise—

MoaTake me too! I’ll hold on!

SPLASH!

Moa leaped into her arms first. Wet paws fastened around her shoulders.

MinjeongWait—you’re soaking my jacket!

Moa showed no sign of letting go. Minjeong looked at her wet sleeve, then at the paws holding on so tightly.

Minjeong...You could at least tell me your name.

MoaMoa! Going to the bunker? I know the way!

Minjeong adjusted her grip and ran where the little otter pointed.

A few steps behind, Namjeong stopped. A rabbit beside the fence was holding a seedling.

When he offered his hand, Pori backed away. Namjeong stayed where he was.

At the corner, Moa waved a paw over Minjeong’s shoulder.

PoriIf Moa leaves... I’m alone.

Pori looked from Moa to the waiting boy. Its ears drooped.

NamjeongThen come with us. Take your time.

One step. Another. Reluctantly, Pori stopped beside his shoe. It did not jump into his arms.

NamjeongThe seedling can come too, right?

Pori nodded once. Instead of running, Namjeong shortened his steps to match the rabbit’s.

Only when the steel door shut did Junho breathe out. Minjeong arrived through the opposite passage. Namjeong and Pori followed a little later.

MinjeongWhat took you so long?

NamjeongThis one wanted to walk.

Pori hugged the seedling tighter. Minjeong started to scold, then ruffled her brother’s hair instead.

JunhoI’m Junho. This is Ruby.

MinjeongMinjeong. That’s my brother, Namjeong.

Ruby leaned in to sniff Moa. Moa startled and splashed. Hiss—steam rose from Ruby’s nose.

RubyI said hello! Not wash me!

MoaWhy are you so hot?!

Between them, Pori was quietly chewing the blanket. Namjeong gently pulled it away.

NamjeongThat isn’t dinner.

For the first time, they laughed. Above them, the village was falling apart. But in this little room, there were six of them.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

The laughter stopped. Everyone looked at the steel door.

Voice outsideNamjeong. It’s your sister. Open the door.

Namjeong froze. His sister was beside him.

Voice outsideI thought we’d be safe here...

Now it was Junho’s voice. The words he had said at home—even the sound of his breath.

MinjeongOutside... those are our voices.

JunhoNobody answer.

A thread of smoke slipped beneath the door. Moa gathered water. Pori set the seedling down.

Ruby stood on its bandaged paw in Junho’s lap. A small flame caught at the tip of its tail.

Darkness already knew their voices.