A bright light stained his eyes. "Shiro... Shiro," a voice called softly. His body was heavy, but the voice was familiar. "From today, your name is Shiro," Luis said.
There was a slight pain as the bandages were removed, then the cool relief of fresh dressings on his wounds.
"You'll be fine," Luis murmured. "I'll take care of you." Hózhó let the words settle in his mind. "Shiro... So it's my new name."
"So, he's the one who saved me."
A dull pain shot through his body as he tried to move. I should leave… but I'm not healed yet. He clenched his jaw, frustration raging inside him.
His breath raised. Then I have no choice… I need to take some life force from this brat.
Without warning, he lunged forward. Before Luis could react, sharp teeth pierced into his wrist. Skinwalkers can drain life force slowly by drinking blood, and Luis could feel his strength ebbing away with each moment.
Luis grimaced in pain, but then his expression shifted to one of complete neutrality. He looked at the dog and said coldly, "The bruises and cuts are nothing new to me. You can't hurt me more. I want a companion, but if you don't, you can leave once your wounds heal."
Shiro, shocked by Luis's unexpected response, released his grip on the wrist and stepped back.
"Why do I feel like I've heard this voice before?" Shiro muttered in confusion, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Luis. A strange, unshakable sense of familiarity stirred something buried deep within his memories.
"Or maybe it's because of the life force I obtained from him," Shiro murmured to himself, still unsettled by the strange familiarity.
His gaze lingered on Luis, searching for an answer. But Luis remained calm, his expression unreadable, as if he had already accepted whatever fate awaited him. The air between them grew heavy with unspoken thoughts, and for the first time, Shiro hesitated.
Luis, unaware of Shiro's true nature, clutches his wrist to stop bleeding. He glanced at the dog, looking in its eyes. "I think you're afraid," he said with a faint chuckle. "But I guess you've been through a lot too."
Shiro's gaze remained locked on him, an internal battle raging within. He hadn't expected this. He was supposed to kill, regain his strength, and move on. But something about Luis was different—something that unsettled him in a way he couldn't explain.
"I will go out to bring something for you to eat. Just wait here," Luis said with a smile while bandaging the wound on his wrist.
Shiro lowered his head, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. A strange warmth spread through his chest—something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"I will come fast; just stay here, then we will play." Luis left with a smile.
Luis reached a store and asked the shopkeeper, "Hey! Hi, can I get dog food?"
The shopkeeper blinked in surprise, staring at Luis as if he were seeing a completely different person.
"Dog food?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Since when do you have a pet?"
Luis chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "I just found on the. He's been through a lot, so I figured I'd take care of him."
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment before nodding. "That's… unexpected," he said, grabbing a bag of dog food from the shelf. "I've never seen you this happy before."
Luis tilted his head, realizing the man was right. It had been a long time since he felt this kind of feeling inside him. He took the bag with a grateful smile. "I also want a ball."
"Maybe it's just nice to have some company," he admitted before heading back home.
Luis walked into the house, smiling. But his smile quickly disappeared. The room was empty.
Shiro was gone; the bag of dog food fell from his hands and hit the floor with a dull thud. The ball he bought for Shiro rolled away and stopped near the door. Luis felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and emptiness spread inside him.
"So… now I'm alone again," he whispered, clenching his fists. He knew this could happen—after all, Shiro was just a stray dog. Now it hurt. His home, which had felt warm for a moment, now felt colder than before.
In the evening, Luis sat on the floor by the door. He tossed a ball into the air and caught it. This simple action helped him avoid the loneliness that surrounded him.
Then, the ball slipped from his fingers and rolled out the door. He looked at it for a moment but didn't get up.
"What's the point?" he thought, staring at the floor. The silence in the house felt heavier.
As he sighed, he heard something rolling. His breath caught in his throat.
The ball had rolled back to him. Luis's eyes opened wide in surprise, and his heart raced as he slowly looked up, trying to figure out how it had returned. Then, he saw Shiro.
Shiro sat next to him, wagging his tail. His bright eyes held something hard to explain. Without waiting, the dog lowered his head and gently licked Luis's hand.
Luis felt warmth in his chest, a feeling he thought he had lost long ago. A smile spread across his face, filling him with happiness.
"You came back…" he whispered, his voice shaking with relief. Shiro wagged his tail as if he had never left.
Shiro's mind raced, filled with doubt. What is this feeling? Why can't I leave this brat? But one thing was certain—it wasn't because of the life force. I'll just wait and see what happens.