Episode 5. A Painful Defeat

Before the pet shop fell, Neukgu learned to listen for the food bowls. Kkoma would drag Neukgu's bowl toward himself while Ppyorongi blocked the way to it, with Sero standing firm in front of them. This time, Neukgu planted all four paws and raised a gust to keep them from taking his food. Thin ribbons of wind reached Sero, but only the tips of his mane stirred. Without moving a single hoof, Sero looked down at Neukgu and laughed.

SeroWhat do you think that little breeze will do?

LuluGive Neukgu's food back.

When Lulu stepped in, the fruit he had saved ended up on the floor. Kkoma pinned a bowl beneath his paw while Ppyorongi shifted into their path. It had happened often enough that Neukgu quietly caught Lulu's arm.

NeukguLulu, let's just go.

They sat together in the narrow gap behind a cabinet. Lulu split what food he had left; Neukgu broke off part of his share and gave it back. If footsteps approached while one slept, the other woke him. Looking after each other was how they got through the day.

On the night Darkness struck, a falling splinter woke Lulu. Black smoke blotted out the window and a shelf began to tilt. He looked for Neukgu before he looked for the exit, hurrying to the corner and shaking his friend's shoulder.

LuluNeukgu, wake up. Come with me.

NeukguYou're coming too, right?

Lulu nodded, then ran to the open medicine cabinet. If either of them was hurt, they would need a way to survive. He packed the Life Water into a satchel, taking the last bottle from the edge of the shelf. While Neukgu forced a gap in the broken door, Lulu slung the bag across his body. He did not go back to wake the others.

Kkoma, Ppyorongi and Sero woke later and burst out of the collapsing shop together. Ppyorongi entered the narrow alley first, with Kkoma close behind. Sero jumped over the wet planks, trying not to lose them.

PpyorongiHurry, keep running!

Each crash behind them made Kkoma and Ppyorongi run faster. They assumed Sero was still following and never looked back. A fallen board caught beneath Sero's hoof. In the moment he hesitated, dust swallowed the other two.

SeroWait! I'm coming too!

His voice vanished beneath the breaking timber. When Kkoma and Ppyorongi finally stopped for breath at the end of the alley, no one was behind them. They had lost Sero without realizing they were becoming separated. Sero only discovered that his friends were gone when he emerged from the dust.

A few days later, Junho heard glass bottles clinking beside a stream at the forest's edge. He had spent the days since reaching the ruined shop searching for the escaped pets. Whenever they rested, he took Moa out of the little Pet Ball to check on him, but Moa never opened his eyes. They had not yet caught up with Minjeong's group.

Lulu emerged from behind a rock. Junho recognized the blue bottles showing through his bag, and Ruby and Chiru exchanged a hopeful glance. But when Junho stepped closer, Lulu pushed Neukgu behind him and hugged the satchel to his chest.

JunhoMy friend is hurt. Could you spare one bottle of Life Water?

LuluNo. We need it too.

Junho kept his hand where it was. He explained about his injured friend, but Lulu's grip did not loosen. Neukgu watched Ruby, then Chiru, and stayed close to Lulu.

After a moment, Junho took a fruit from an inner pocket of his backpack. It fitted in his palm, but its silver skin caught the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Neukgu peered out from behind Lulu.

JunhoWhat if we trade for this Silver fruit?

Neukgu could not look away. He remembered trying to stand up for himself with wind and being laughed at. He was tired of hiding behind Lulu whenever their food was taken, tired of getting his friend into trouble too. With Silver power, perhaps he could be the one standing in front.

NeukguLulu, let's trade. I want to get stronger too.

Lulu...Is that really what you want?

Neukgu nodded at once. Lulu studied his friend's face, then opened the satchel. He took out one bottle of Life Water and slowly offered it to Junho.

Just before Junho's fingers reached the bottle, hooves burst from the brush. Sero darted between them and caught the leather loop around its neck. By the time Lulu closed his empty hand, Sero was on the sandy rise. He set the bottle beside his hoof and blocked the way.

JunhoGive it back! It's for a friend who's sick!

SeroSomething this precious? I'm keeping it.

Chiru came forward and pleaded that they only needed one bottle. Ruby asked Sero to be careful not to crush it. With every appeal, Sero drew it closer. Lulu and Neukgu knew that posture all too well. Neukgu flattened his ears.

Ruby looked from Sero to the bottle. They had finally found a way to wake Moa, and Sero would not even listen. Junho called his name as he stepped forward, but fire was already rising from the tips of his ears.

Ruby sent a jet of fire straight at Sero. Instead of dodging, Sero stamped a forehoof. Sand rose into the flames and swallowed them; fading sparks fell at his feet. There was no sign that the attack had hurt him.

RubyWhy... aren't you hurt?

SeroYou think you can beat me with that?

Ruby gathered himself and attacked again. The stronger the fire, the thicker the sand Sero raised. Flame broke again and again against Earth power. Then Sero kicked sand backward, striking Ruby before he could turn his face away.

Ruby shook the grit from his eyes and mouth and tried to stand, but his forelegs buckled. He collapsed onto the sand, breathing hard. His excited promise to grow strong like Taeo suddenly felt very far away. He had not even made it halfway to the bottle, and his body would no longer obey him.

When Ruby could not get up, Chiru leapt in front of him. The voice that had pleaded for the bottle now shook with anger. He could not stand by and watch his fallen friend be hurt again.

ChiruLeave Ruby alone!

Electricity gathered at his quills and tore across the sand. It flashed at Sero's feet, then spread through the earth he raised and faded away. Lightning could not overcome Earth either. Remembering his brother's tremendous power, Chiru gave everything he had, but nothing changed.

As the lightning faded, Sero drove a wave of sand forward. Chiru curled up to brace himself, but the sand swept beneath his feet and threw him off balance. He rolled backward and landed beside Ruby. The last sparks between his quills flickered a few times and went out.

Ruby reached out with a trembling forepaw, but he had no strength to lift Chiru. Chiru tried to push himself up, winced, and fell back onto the sand. Junho rushed forward to bring them both to safety, only for Sero to block his path with another curtain of sand.

RubyChiru... are you okay?

Chiru tried to say he was fine and coughed instead. They lay close enough to touch, yet neither could help the other stand. Beyond the sand, Sero was still unharmed.

While Sero watched the two fallen pets, Junho crouched and slipped behind the rock to Lulu. There were more bottles in the bag. He silently held out the silver fruit. This time Lulu asked no questions. As Junho took another bottle, he placed the fruit in Lulu's hand, and Lulu immediately passed it to Neukgu.

JunhoOne more bottle. Let's make the trade we agreed on.

In the shade, Junho spread out his jacket and released Moa from the little Pet Ball. His shaking fingers struggled with the cork. At last he opened the bottle, supported Moa's head and gave him a little Life Water at a time, waiting for him to swallow. Beyond the rock, he heard Ruby fall.

JunhoMoa, please... open your eyes.

Moa's eyelids stirred. His unfocused eyes found Junho, then turned toward the noise. When he saw Ruby and Chiru lying in the sand, he pushed himself up. He leaned on Junho's hand, steadied himself, and planted all four paws on the ground.

As Sero lifted his hoof again, Moa sprang from behind the rock. His drooping water tail shone once more, and water gathered rapidly between his forepaws. By the time Sero turned, a heavy water cannon was already upon him.

MoaGet away from my friends!

A sand wall rose, but this time it could not hold. Water forced its way through, broke the wall apart and struck Sero with the force that remained. He skidded across the soaked ground and crumpled. The stolen bottle rolled aside.

Junho seized the chance to carry Ruby and Chiru to safety. Ruby stared at Moa standing before them. The friend they had struggled to wake was now protecting them. He wanted to say how glad he was, but could only draw a ragged breath.

Sero tried to rise and slipped again. Now he understood that he could not withstand Moa's Water power. Then he spotted the silver fruit Neukgu was holding beside the rock.

Instead of facing Moa again, Sero turned toward Neukgu. If he could not keep the Life Water, he would at least take the fruit. Neukgu saw where Sero was looking, caught the fruit in his mouth and ran.

Winning fights was difficult. Escaping them was something he knew well. Wind gathered beneath his paws, carrying him over wet stones and roots. Once he had opened a gap, Neukgu glanced back with a grin.

NeukguYou think you can take this too?

In that brief moment, Sero scraped his hoof across the ground. Sand shifted out of Neukgu's path, leaving a sudden hollow. By the time Neukgu looked ahead, it was too late. His paw caught the edge. As he opened his mouth to regain his balance, the silver fruit flew free.

It rolled down the bank and splashed into the water. Neukgu reached, but could not catch it. Beneath the clear surface, a small shape moved toward the fruit.

A little blue shark lifted its nose above the surface. It nudged the unfamiliar fruit, then bit into it before Neukgu could shout. The silver skin split between its teeth, spilling light into the water.

NeukguNo! That's mine!

The shark flicked its tail, unaware of the trouble on the bank. Its body remained blue, but smooth silver ornaments appeared across its chest and flanks. They shone clearly beneath the ripples. The little shark had become Bukangi, a Silver pet, and tilted its head at the commotion.

Neukgu stood with his mouth empty and open. That fruit had cost one of the bottles Lulu had kept safe. He had thought it would finally let him protect his friend. One backward glance, and it was gone. Before he could decide what to say to Bukangi, he heard sand scraping behind him.

As the silver fruit vanished into the shark's mouth, Sero looked away from the water. Instead of attacking Neukgu, he turned toward Lulu, who had bent down to help his friend up. The bottles clinked inside the bag Lulu had set beside him.

Sero caught the strap in his teeth and yanked. Lulu reached too late; it slipped past his fingertips. With all the remaining Life Water hanging against his side, Sero ran for the trees.

LuluGive back the Life Water!

Moa immediately brought his forepaws together. Water rose from the stream and gathered into a tight sphere aimed at Sero. Determined not to lose him, Moa kept his eyes on the fleeing zebra. Sero secured the bag against his side and shouted without breaking his stride.

SeroForced Turn-Around Skill!

A sandy shimmer spread from Sero's hooves and brushed against Moa just as he was about to fire.

Moa did not want to turn. He knew exactly where Sero was. Yet his head and body twisted the other way against his will. Sero's skill had forced him to look behind him. The water between his paws lost its shape and spilled onto the ground.

MoaHuh? Why am I looking this way?!

By the time Moa turned back, only the branches were moving. Even the clinking bottles had faded into the distance. Lulu stopped at the edge of the trees with empty hands, and Neukgu could not take another step behind him. The fruit was gone, and now Sero had taken the rest of their Life Water too.

After seating Ruby and Chiru beside a rock, Junho went over to Lulu. The hand that had held the bag was still slightly curled. Moa followed with his head lowered, but neither of them could bring Sero back.

JunhoThank you for sharing the Life Water. Moa woke up because of you.

Lulu glanced at Moa and gave a small nod. Junho could not bear to send the two friends away with nothing. He hesitated, lowered himself to their eye level, and asked carefully.

JunhoWill you come with us?

Neukgu looked at Lulu. Lulu slowly studied the pets gathered beside Junho. He knew Moa was not a bad friend. Still, the thought of living among other pets brought back the narrow shop aisles and the food bowls taken from them.

LuluSorry. We can't travel with other pets yet.

Junho did not press them. Lulu waited for Neukgu to put weight on his sore paw. Neukgu leaned close, and together they entered the forest. Leaves hid them, stirred once more, and fell still.

Ruby watched the path where the two friends had vanished, then lowered his eyes to his own forepaws. The flames at his ears still burned, but they had been useless against Sero. Chiru sat silently beside him. Ruby shifted a little closer, and Chiru did not move away. Junho brushed the sand from their backs, checked that the newly awakened Moa was close too, and only then lifted his backpack.