Day Twelve: So It Was You! (Part Two) Special thanks to GadDoll and Da Lang Tao Ming for their votes of support.

I saw fangs!

In the flickering firelight, those ghostly white teeth reflected a chilling glow.

What should I do?

Should I make the first move?

The branch in my hand was clenched so tightly my fingers trembled uncontrollably.

God! What on earth is it?

While I was filled with confusion, my mind conjured up images: the legendary water demon? A blood-sucking beast? Or something else?

It stopped pawing at the entrance.

Outside, the rain roared. I had no idea what it intended. Was it searching for the weakest point? Would it charge in, tear me apart, devour me?

The rain thundered on. I nervously scanned my surroundings, terrified that a moment’s distraction would give it the chance to burst in and overpower me.

For a long time, I saw nothing more of it.

I thought, perhaps, it had left.

Maybe tomorrow I should dig a trap outside.

“Crack, crunch.” Just as I was calming my nerves, the branches behind me began to shake and snap.

A claw reached in.

My scalp nearly exploded; waves of numbness swept over me.

I knew these frail, thin branches wouldn’t hold it back!

Was I to sit here and await my doom?

No—here, I had no room to maneuver. I couldn’t fight it in this confined space.

If it broke in…

I dared not imagine.

Torn by indecision, I saw a gray-black head squeezing through the broken branches.

Its head was coming through!

If I didn’t act now, it would be too late...

All or nothing.

Finally, I made up my mind.

I shoved aside the branches in front of me and scrambled out.

I decided to move behind it while it was still forcing its way into my “hut.”

The rain was heavy; the moment I stepped out, I was blinded by the downpour.

When I wiped my eyes, it appeared suddenly before me!

It stood there.

The beast and I stared at each other.

A wolf!

It was a wolf!

Large and powerful, nearly a meter tall, its gray-black fur sent a chill down my spine.

I wasn’t confident I could defeat it.

I knew wolves were cunning hunters; they would wear you down, attack when you let your guard down.

Most deadly of all… wolves hunt in packs.

I couldn’t imagine how many others might be lurking behind the curtain of rain, invisible in the darkness.

Though I wanted to look, I didn’t dare—afraid it would seize that moment to tear out my throat.

Suddenly, it moved.

My hand, gripping the branch, had turned white, my knuckles numb.

I waited; the moment it stepped within reach, I would strike with all my might.

Whether it was trickery, or intimidated by my gaze, it halted again.

It studied me, seeming hesitant.

I couldn’t relax; my muscles trembled, warning me that I was nearing my limit.

My heart pounded wildly, the demand for oxygen making my breathing heavy... perhaps it was time to act.

I couldn’t be sure how much longer my body would last. I feared I’d faint from exhaustion and lack of air.

“Ah!” I screamed and charged forward, determined that since I had made my choice, I must give it everything.

It seemed startled, turned and fled a short distance, swift as lightning.

But as it turned to run, I noticed something odd.

The branch slipped from my hand and fell to the ground.

I couldn’t describe my feelings.

How foolish I was.

Mouth agape, I scolded myself.

When it turned to escape, I saw its tail.

Long and slender—whereas a wolf’s tail should be thick and broad!

God, it was a dog! Not a wolf!

Looking at it, truly frightened by me, my heart was torn.

For days, I had longed for a companion; now that one appeared, I nearly harmed it. I didn’t know if it would ever trust me again.

I tried to call it.

“Tut tut...”

Luck smiled on me once more.

It really was a dog. When it heard me, it wagged its tail.

Heavens, it was still hesitant.

I crouched down, stretching out my hands to invite it over.

Seeing me crouch, it retreated a few steps.

Just as I was about to despair, thinking it would leave, it moved—it broke into a run and rushed toward me!

It crashed into my arms with such force that I nearly toppled backwards.

I looked at it, gently stroking its head.

It looked up at me, rubbing its head against my leg, then licked my hand with its tongue.

In that instant, my emotions overwhelmed me; a lump rose in my throat, and I could no longer hold back my tears, which mingled with the rain streaming down my face.

Perhaps it was joy, perhaps excitement, perhaps the release of long loneliness—or maybe all at once.

It seemed stunned by my reaction, watching me quietly.

“Little Shadow,” I blurted out, seeing its gray-black fur.

Its tail wagged wildly, as if it loved the name.

“Let’s go inside!” Only then did I notice the discomfort of the downpour, and spoke to it.

I stood and walked toward my “hut.”

Little Shadow followed as I expected; perhaps it, too, had had enough of the rain.

Maybe this was trust, I thought.

No sooner had we entered than Little Shadow gave a vigorous shake, sending water droplets flying.

I was about to invite it to warm itself by the fire, but it had already curled up beside the flames, watching me.

Immediately, my heart was comforted; it was the greatest gift the heavens could give.

I was no longer alone, no longer lonely...

Taking off my soaked clothes, I hung them by the fire to dry, then lay on the “bed,” watching Little Shadow beside the fire.

Its eyes were closed, breathing calm and steady.

I wondered if, like me, it felt safe with me beside it.

The night was deep, rain still falling, drumming on the palm leaves overhead. I worried that the streams might flood us again.

Water had already seeped in, but thankfully, the fire was set on the hut’s highest point—a detail I’d thought out well.

I hoped the rain would end soon; once it stopped, I would repair everything, dig the drainage ditch deeper and wider while the ground was soft.

Ah, if only I had some tools.

Perhaps I could find something useful by the shore; when I get the chance, I’ll have to look.

The roof, too, needs reinforcement...

The day had been so long; exhaustion overtook me, and as these thoughts swirled in my mind, I gradually drifted off to sleep...