Ray sat cross-legged in the grass, the puppy scrambling excitedly across his lap. His cheeks hurt from smiling, but for the first time in a long time, he didn't mind.
"What should I call him…?" Ray mumbled to himself.
He tapped his chin like a tiny philosopher.
"Think, Ray, think. Out of all those anime, manga, and novels you read, there has to be a cool name…"
The pup barked at a passing butterfly, stumbled, then face-planted into Ray's leg.
Ray snorted.
"Okay, maybe not a demon lord name."
He stared at the puppy's tiny teeth — barely visible.
"…Kiba," Ray said suddenly. "It means fang in Japanese. Even though yours aren't scary at all."
The puppy barked proudly, chest puffed out like he was absolutely convinced he was a wolf god.
Ray laughed.
"Kiba it is!"
And that was it.
Ray had never looked more content.
Behind Him
Kael stood still, shoulders tight, trying to keep his expression neutral.
He failed.
A crack of guilt showed.
Joren watched him carefully. "Don't break in front of the kid," he murmured under his breath.
Kael exhaled shakily. "I shouldn't have agreed to this."
"You had to," Joren said. No hesitation, no wobble. "You know what soldiers become out there. Soft hearts get killed first."
Kael's jaw clenched.
"That doesn't mean I should feed him one."
Joren looked away for a moment — just a moment — something like regret flickering in his eyes before he buried it again.
"…He'll grow stronger," he said, softer this time. "And he'll remember the warmth before he loses it. That matters."
Kael swallowed hard.
Ray's laughter floated through the morning air.
And Kael looked like a man being stabbed with every sound.
Ray Had No Idea
He rubbed his cheek against Kiba's soft fur.
"Kael! Joren! Look! He likes me!"
Kiba wagged his tail so hard his whole body wiggled.
Kael managed a small smile — the safe kind, the kind adults use when hiding something that hurts.
"That's good," he said.
But there was sorrow tucked between every word.
Ray didn't notice.
Why would he?
He was eight.
He had a puppy.
Life was perfect.
For now.
Kiba yipped happily, nudging Ray's hand.
Ray giggled.
And somewhere behind that bright moment…
Kael's heart cracked just a little more.
The village sky had turned a soft orange, and Ray sprinted down the dirt path like a kid possessed.
"KIBA, WAIT— don't eat that!! That's someone's boot!"
Kiba ignored him completely, dragging the boot along like a proud hunter showing off a prize.
Ray chased after him laughing, breathless, forgetting every bit of training Kael had put him through that morning.
Behind them, Kael jogged after both of them with the expression of a very tired man reconsidering his life decisions.
"RAY! Slow down! And put that—"
He sighed mid-sentence.
"—put that thing down."
Ray and Kiba burst through the front gate.
"Mom! We're back!"
Nora turned from the water barrel, wiping her hands on her apron.
"What took you two so—"
Her words cut off.
Her eyes landed on Kiba.
Kiba froze.
Nora froze.
Ray froze.
Kael walked in last and froze too, because he already knew this was going to be bad.
Nora blinked once. Twice.
Then—
"…what. Is. That."
Ray immediately picked Kiba up defensively.
"This is Kiba! He's mine!"
Kiba barked happily, as if introducing himself.
Nora pressed a hand to her chest.
"A puppy? Kael… you got him a puppy?"
Ray lit up. "We all got him! Well—Joren brought him. But he's mine now!"
Nora's face softened instantly when she looked at Ray… but then she slowly turned her head toward Kael.
Like a goddess preparing divine judgment.
"Kael…"
Kael swallowed.
Oh no.
"Oh no," Ray whispered to Kiba, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
Nora crossed her arms.
"Kael," she repeated, way too calmly. "You told me we couldn't get a pet. You. Told. Me."
Ray looked between them, suddenly invested in adult drama.
Kael rubbed the back of his neck.
"It… wasn't planned."
Nora stepped forward.
"So when I asked for a pet, it was 'no.' But when Joren mentions one for Ray, it's suddenly 'yes'? Explain that to me."
Ray hugged Kiba tighter, eyes wide like he was watching the best kind of soap opera.
Kael opened his mouth and nothing came out.
Ray leaned toward Kiba and whispered, "He's gonna die."
Kiba wagged his tail blissfully unaware.
Kael cleared his throat.
"I… didn't want Ray to get soft."
Nora raised an eyebrow.
"And how exactly does a puppy make him less soft?"
Kael coughed.
"…long story."
"Try me."
Ray slowly shuffled out of the way, Kiba tucked under his arm like a football.
Kael exhaled, long and deep.
"Ray's training started today. This—" he gestured at the puppy, "—was Joren's idea to help him… emotionally adapt."
Nora blinked.
Then her expression darkened.
"Oh," she said slowly.
"And you agreed just because joren said so, Kael?"
Kael froze.
Ray forgot to breathe.
Kiba sneezed.
The tension broke just a little when Ray sheepishly added:
"I really like him, Mom."
Nora sighed, her anger melting into exasperation.
Ray had that effect on people.
She knelt and patted Ray's hair.
"Well… he's adorable. And Ray clearly loves him. So he stays."
Ray beamed.
Kael breathed out in relief—
"BUT," Nora snapped, turning back to him, "we are discussing your decision-making tonight."
Kael instantly deflated.
Ray hugged Kiba and whispered triumphantly:
"She said yes. You win."
Kiba yipped in agreement.