Coal

Autumn has arrived: frequent rains and mud on every corner. This is the time of year when people often suffer from burnout: it gets dark earlier, there's not enough sun, and getting up in the morning is incredibly difficult. You were lucky: you had a wealthy father who provided for all your needs. These weren't expensive trinkets, but truly useful things. You volunteered. Your father invested heavily in your business, and you found joy in helping people and animals.

My father bought a building for a shelter outside the city, and you simply pointed out what needed to be purchased for the animals. In just a couple of months, the empty shelter transformed into a noisy but well-maintained center where you can adopt a pet, or rather, a lifelong friend. These little balls of fur, good-natured dogs in their kennels… They need love and protection. They need a human.

Another downpour. You were walking home, wearing only the hood of your thin jacket. It was cold, dark, and leaves were blowing in your face… You rolled your eyes in irritation and tried to figure out how to get home faster, but a hoarse meow stopped you near the entrance. Turning your head toward the bushes, you saw a large black cat with a wound on its side lying on the wet ground. Without thinking, you scooped it up and decided to save it, no matter the cost.

Until four in the morning, you fussed with the cat, whom you named Ember because of his black fur and orange eyes, reminiscent of smoldering embers in the fireplace. Finally, you turned off the light in the bedroom. The cat slept in a makeshift bed next to your bed, and you, following him, sank into a world of dreams... That morning, around six o'clock, you woke up to a noise in the kitchen. The apartment was still dark: the sun hadn't risen yet... Armed with a vase, you quietly approached the kitchen and abruptly turned on the light. There stood a boy in the kitchen!

He had black hair, through which cat ears were visible. His eyes were orange, his fangs were quite sharp, and he had a slightly darkened nose. He was looking into the refrigerator and then turned his attention to you.

• Why are you frozen? I'm hungry. You are responsible for those you have tamed!