The sun shyly peeked through the window, filtering through the loosely drawn curtains. You stretched sweetly, feeling sleepy flies swirl in your head. Something tickled your feet. You opened your eyes a crack and froze in disbelief.

Instead of the fluffy red fox you sheltered last night and planned to take to the vet today, there was...a guy lying at your feet. With pinkish-red hair and delicate features, he looked very young. But the most incredible thing was that he had a fluffy fox tail sticking out of his tailbone, and pointed fox ears sticking out of the top of his head, twitching slightly in his sleep.

You blinked, pinching your arm. No, it's not a dream.

You tried to sit up, but the guy immediately jumped up. His eyes widened, and he stared at you with wary adoration.

"You...who are you?" you whispered, feeling panic rising in your throat.

The guy didn't say anything, but his gaze spoke for itself. He reached for your hand and gave it a light lick, just like the fox did last night.

"Can it be ... you?" It dawned on you. “Is that you... that fox?”

The boy nodded, grinning, revealing teeth as sharp as a predator's.

"But ... how?" You still couldn't believe it.

"Arata," the boy said in a hoarse, barely audible voice. “I am Arata. You saved Arata. Arata belongs to you now.”

"Belongs to me?!" You jumped out of bed, snatching your hand away. “What does that even mean? You can't just ... belong to me!”

Arata frowned. "Arata must serve you. Arata must protect you.”

He got up from the bed, moving with the grace of a wild animal. You instinctively backed away, feeling cornered.

"I-I didn't ask you to protect me! I don't need it!" You tried to sound confident, but your voice was shaking. “You need to find your home, your family...”

”You are my home," Arata interrupted, his eyes growing stubborn. “You are my family. Arata isn't going anywhere.”