Episode 1. Invasion of Darkness

By the time the evening bell rang, the smell of fresh bread had spread through Sunlit Meadow. Voices drifted from open windows, calling children home. Durgan lay at the village entrance, listening to those familiar sounds. Duri would be along soon, complaining that he was hungry.

The fur at the back of his neck suddenly rose. There had been no footsteps, no unfamiliar scent. Yet he felt someone watching him. Durgan lifted his chin and slowly turned toward the road.

A black shape hovered over the paving where nothing had been a moment earlier. Layers of smoke twisted like folded cloth, though there was no wind. A narrow violet slit glowed at its center. It had not turned to look when he moved. It had been watching him all along.

DurganWho’s there...?

Nothing answered. Durgan rose without taking his eyes off it. His heavy forepaws met solid stone, but the cold crawling down his spine did not ease. Normally he would have growled by now. This time his throat was too dry to make a sound.

The shape tilted slightly. Smoke slipped from beneath it and followed the cracks in the road toward the village. Durgan took an involuntary step back, then stopped. Someone was laughing in a house behind him. No one else knew what had arrived at the gate.

Durgan glanced toward the house. Small clothes hung beside a window; an empty chair waited at the table. Beyond it stood the low wall Duri loved to jump. When he faced the road again, the black smoke had almost reached his paws.

He pushed his hind paw forward and lowered his body. The stones across his shoulders locked together. Gold light traveled from his back through the seams in his armor and down both forelegs. Pebbles trembled beneath him, then lifted off the ground.

DurganYou won’t enter this village!

Durgan drove both forepaws down with the full weight of his body. The paving buckled, and golden cracks raced toward Darkness. A ridge of stone ripped through the road. A larger one erupted behind it, driving the first upward. Seven great ridges tore free in succession, surging toward his enemy like an advancing mountain range.

The roar shook every window along the street. Stone peaks rose above the bell tower and blocked the sunset. Dust struck Durgan’s face, but he kept his eyes open. He had poured so much strength into his ultimate attack that his forelegs ached. Whatever this thing was, he had to stop it here.

The final ridge tipped forward like a collapsing wall. Only then did Durgan realize something was wrong. With all that stone crashing toward it, the violet gaze had not moved at all.

Just before the stone struck, black smoke swelled out of Darkness. It covered the sunset, then blurred the rooftops and bell tower. Durgan narrowed his eyes, searching for the golden seams in his own attack. They were the only things still showing him where his enemy stood.

Suddenly, that light bent downward. Stone dust was circling a small black sphere beneath his paws. As the sphere grew, the paving lifted. Even the great ridges began snapping apart, their broken ends spiraling into it. Darkness had opened a black hole.

Durgan lowered his body and pressed down with his forepaws, but his claws found nothing solid to hold. His heavy armor dragged backward. Then his hind paws left the ground.

DurganWhat... what’s happening?! Why am I being pulled in?

He caught the paving and gouged long scratches across it. Clenching his teeth, he held on—until the stones themselves tore loose. The armor along his back vanished into the smoke, pulling the rest of him after it.

The forepaws he was still stretching toward the road disappeared into the black center. His cry cut off with them. When the smoke thinned a moment later, only a deep scar remained in the paving.

Darkness flowed through the empty entrance and into the village.

Ruby had been curled beneath a low wall when a tremor woke him. A roar came from the village entrance, but the golden light above the roofs vanished almost at once. Then the far end of the alley began to turn black.

RubyWhat is that...?!

What looked like low smoke suddenly climbed the wall. Bricks burst loose before Ruby could get to his paws. He tried to leap aside, but the impact caught him and sent him tumbling across the stones.

RubyOof!

A sharp pain shot through his forepaw when he tried to stand. Ruby tucked it against his chest and pressed his back to the broken wall. He tried to flare the fire on his tail, but the flame quickly shrank again. Every breath drew black dust into his throat.

The smoke started to pass, then curved back toward him as though it had turned its head. Ruby pushed himself deeper into the rubble with his good paws. He could see no way out, but he kept his small teeth bared.

The smoke did not scatter when it reached the canal. From a stepping-stone, Moa watched the blackness creep against the current and thrust both paws forward. Familiar streams rose around him and joined into a shield.

MoaGet out of my water!

For a moment, it seemed to work. Then, just as Moa began to breathe easier, the middle of the shield bent inward. Instead of bouncing off, the smoke pressed steadily through the water.

Moa pulled more water from the canal. He braced his trembling paws, but the shield kept thinning until it curved inward almost against his face.

MoaThe water can’t hold it back!

The water burst and threw him backward. He slid across the wet stones into the canal wall, and a falling plank blocked his escape. Moa ducked and wriggled into the gap beneath it.

Only a few small drops gathered between his paws now. He held them over his nose and mouth, then lifted his head toward the footsteps he could hear beyond the plank.

In the garden, Pori was patting soil around a young seedling. A creak from the fence made him look up. Black smoke was squeezing between the boards. As he backed away, it swept across the beds and lifted shoots and soil into the air.

PoriNo! My seedling!

Pori scooped up the nearest sprout with its roots still wrapped in earth. As he crouched to hold it safely, the fence broke behind him. He rolled aside, sheltering the seedling beneath his body.

PoriStay away!

When he managed to lift his head, the path back through the garden was already blocked. Without even shaking the dirt from his ears, Pori hugged the seedling close and ran for the alley. He could feel the blackness following whenever he slowed.

Only at a corner that smelled of familiar canal water did he stop for breath. His ears drooped as he panted, but he had not let go of the little plant.

Running home, Junho noticed an orange glow moving beneath a wall. At first he thought it was a fallen ember. Then it shrank away, and a dusty face appeared between the bricks.

It was a small fox, unable to put weight on one forepaw. When Junho approached, the fox crouched lower and showed its teeth. Junho stopped too. He had almost reached for an injured animal without knowing what he was doing.

JunhoMay I come closer?

RubyStay right there.

The voice was firm, but the fox was trembling. Junho showed his empty hands and slowly bent his knees. The fox watched his fingertips without looking away.

JunhoOkay. I won’t come closer. I can keep your hurt paw off the ground, though.

He took off his jacket, spread it between them and moved back. Ruby sniffed the unfamiliar cloth, then looked at the boy again. Coming closer did not feel safe. Staying alone with an injured paw did not feel safe either.

When black smoke pushed around the corner, Ruby finally stepped onto the jacket. Junho did not snatch him up. He waited until the fox leaned against him, then wrapped him gently, keeping the injured paw free of pressure.

Even in his arms, Ruby’s ears stayed stiff. Junho kept looking down, worried that he was holding too tightly. Neither had relaxed, but as they left the alley, they were facing the same way.

Junho locked the front door and spread a towel on the table. After setting Ruby down, he fetched the first-aid box, then hesitated in front of the injured paw. Only when Ruby nudged the towel aside and offered it did Junho begin unwinding a bandage.

JunhoWhat’s your name? I’m Junho.

RubyRuby. Um… is this your first bandage?

JunhoThat obvious?

RubyYes. My paw looks like a loaf of bread.

Junho looked down at his work. He had wrapped part of the towel into it too. While he checked that it was not too tight, their eyes met, and a little of the tension left his face.

Then the window began to bow inward. Nothing was touching it outside, yet a black stain spread across the glass. Ruby’s ears went rigid before Junho understood what he was seeing.

JunhoI thought we’d be safe here...

A crack ran through the glass. Beyond it, the emergency bell rang three times: get underground. Junho shoved the table aside and pulled open the floor hatch. Beneath it lay the stairs to a shared bunker connecting several houses.

RubyDownstairs! Hurry!

With Ruby and the first-aid box held against his chest, Junho hurried down. Glass shattered above him. Instead of looking back, he sheltered Ruby’s face with the jacket and searched for the next step.

Meanwhile, Minjeong was leading her younger brother toward the bunker. Before turning a corner, she looked back to check that Namjeong was following. A frantic splash came from below the canal railing. When she leaned over, a blue face popped out between the planks.

Afraid the little creature would fall, Minjeong instinctively opened her arms. Moa saw the movement and sprang toward her as though it was the invitation he had been waiting for.

MoaTake me too! I’ll hold on!

A wet body landed against her chest, pushing her a step backward. Moa hooked his paws around her shoulders and refused to let go. Water ran inside her sleeve, making her flinch.

MinjeongWait—you’re soaking my jacket!

Moa only clung tighter. Minjeong sighed, then noticed that the small paws gripping her were shaking. She supported him from beneath so he would not slip. Gradually, his breathing eased.

MinjeongAll right, I’ve got you. You could at least tell me your name.

MoaMoa! Going to the bunker? This alley leads there!

The otter pointed with a dripping paw. Minjeong adjusted her hold and called for Namjeong. Water was still running down her clothes, but she did not complain about it again.

Namjeong started after his sister, then stopped beside the fence. A rabbit sat hunched around a muddy seedling. Its leaf-shaped ears drooped, and its small belly rose and fell rapidly as it breathed.

When Namjeong offered his hand, Pori immediately backed away. The boy stayed still. Worried that the rabbit might bolt into the smoke, he slowly withdrew his hand too.

At the corner ahead, Moa waved over Minjeong’s shoulder. Pori’s ears lifted a little. Beyond the unfamiliar children, there was a blue face he knew.

PoriIf Moa leaves... I’m alone.

Pori watched Moa getting farther away, then looked up at Namjeong. The boy lowered the arms he had been holding out to pick him up and stepped aside, leaving a space beside him.

NamjeongThen come along with us. I’ll take care of you.

After another moment’s hesitation, Pori moved beside his shoe. He clearly had no intention of being carried. Only when Namjeong began walking did the rabbit reluctantly follow.

NamjeongThe seedling can come too, right? Just don’t drop it.

Pori nodded once. Namjeong called for his sister to wait and shortened his steps. Pori still watched Moa, but now he sometimes glanced at the boy’s feet walking beside him.

Only after shutting the steel door at the foot of the stairs and sliding the bolt into place did Junho put Ruby down. He realized he had been holding the fox so tightly that his arms ached. When Ruby poked his head out of the jacket, Junho checked the injured paw first.

Footsteps approached through the opposite passage. A girl carrying a soaked otter entered, followed a little later by a boy walking beside a rabbit. Relief spread across the girl’s face as she went toward her brother.

MinjeongWhat took you so long? I thought I’d lost you!

NamjeongHe couldn’t run very well. And I didn’t want him to drop the seedling.

Pori hugged the plant tighter. Minjeong started to scold, then stopped and brushed dust from Namjeong’s hair. Only then did she notice the other boy in the room.

JunhoI’m Junho. This is Ruby.

MinjeongMinjeong. That’s my brother, Namjeong.

When Minjeong set Moa down, Ruby cautiously leaned forward to sniff him. Moa wanted to check on the injured fox, but the warm breath startled him into a small splash. A wisp of steam rose from Ruby’s nose.

RubyI was saying hello! Why did you splash me?

MoaYour nose is hot! You startled me!

While they inspected each other’s nose and paws, Pori had begun nibbling a corner of the blanket. Namjeong gently pulled it away and promised to look for something edible. A short laugh escaped Junho.

He knew this was hardly the time to laugh, but once he started, it was difficult to stop immediately. Minjeong’s tense shoulders eased a little too. Things were still collapsing above them. Here, at least, they could see one another’s faces.

A gentle knock slipped into their laughter. As everyone lowered their voices, a familiar, reassuring call drifted down from the top of the stairs.

Voice outsideRuby, it’s me. Come outside.

Ruby’s ears sprang up. It was Junho—the same voice that had spoken so gently when he was hurt. He took an instinctive step toward the door, then turned at the rustle of a sleeve behind him. Junho was still sitting right there. His lips were not moving.

While Ruby hesitated between the boy and the stairs, another voice came through the door. This one sounded exactly like Minjeong.

Voice outsideMoa, come here. It’s safe outside.

Moa perked up and started forward. Minjeong quickly caught him beneath his chest. The little paws that had clung to her shoulders now reached toward the door. When Moa looked up at her, his eager expression faltered. The person holding him smelled just right, but her voice was calling from somewhere else.

Voice outsidePori, I brought you a seedling. Will you open the door?

Namjeong caught his breath. That was his own voice. Pori looked down at the seedling in his paws, then turned his long ears toward the stairs. He seemed unable to understand why the boy who had just invited him along was outside. When Namjeong offered a hand, Pori looked from it to the door and back again.

Then Junho understood. Whatever waited outside was not speaking to the children. It was choosing the voices the pets had begun to trust and using them to coax the little creatures out. Darkness had been listening to them.

Junho knelt in front of Ruby, blocking the way to the stairs. Rather than startling him by grabbing him, he lowered himself to the fox’s eye level and slowly showed his empty hand.

JunhoRuby, I’m right here.

Ruby looked at him. But when the identical voice beyond the door called his name again, his ears turned back toward it. Minjeong held Moa close to her chest. Namjeong lifted Pori carefully, making sure he did not drop his seedling. The three children exchanged a look and drew close around their pets without another word.

A thread of black smoke slipped beneath the steel. Above it, the children’s voices took turns whispering gently. Ruby. Moa. Pori. No one inside answered. Still, the voices kept calling.

Darkness was not trying to break the door down. It was waiting for someone inside to open it.