Under the Moon's Embrace

The Mysterious Night Visit of the Czech Wolfdog

If it weren’t for the empty plates on the ground reminding me, I would surely think I was sleepwalking as I faced the vacant edge of the wall where the dog had been.

Gathering the plates, I jogged over to rejoin Ouyang Jing and Liu Mei. It's not often you get a free soak in a hot spring, so we indulged once more, reluctantly leaving the pool around ten in the evening.

The bonfire on the lawn had ended, and people were dispersing, with a few stragglers heading to the game room for a bit more fun.

After a shower and washing my hair, I dried it, put on my glasses, and, with my bag in hand, made my way back to room 109 on the first floor.

“Aren’t you scared to sleep alone? Why don’t you stay with us in the double room tonight? We can push the beds together,” Liu Mei asked, holding my arm with concern.

I wiped the fog from my glasses with my shirt and put them back on, her face coming into focus. I smiled, “I’m not scared. Let’s meet for breakfast tomorrow.”

Ouyang Jing, glancing at her phone, said, “The restaurant serves breakfast from seven to nine in the morning.”

Liu Mei suggested, “Shall we meet at the restaurant entrance at eight?”

We settled our breakfast plans, and after seeing them into the elevator, I headed towards room 109.

Swiping my card and securing the lock, I efficiently completed my routine. I opened the bathroom vent to dry my swimsuit, then removed my glasses to begin my skincare routine.

Emerging from the bathroom five minutes later, I didn't put my glasses back on. I gazed at the still-closed curtains, not wanting to open them, yet feeling a bit curious. I approached the floor-to-ceiling window.

With my fingers, I parted the curtains slightly, peeking outside. The window reflected the room's light and my own faint image. Beyond, only the weak glow of the small decorative lights along the distant wall was visible, offering little illumination. Staring at the dark wooden fence gave me an eerie feeling, as if something might crawl over it from the unknown darkness.

Dropping the curtain, I flopped onto the bed. Not wanting to turn on the TV, I started watching short videos on my phone instead.

"A girl named Xiaomei walked alone in the corridor when something dripped onto her face, she..."

The video switched to a horror movie review. Though I wasn't particularly timid, I didn’t want to scare myself right now. I quickly swiped to the next video, which was of a cheerful baby.

My feed mostly consisted of cute pets, adorable children, mukbangs, snacks, and lifestyle products. With the Lunar New Year approaching, I had a ten-day holiday to look forward to. While the city has high-speed rail, my hometown doesn’t, but there are plenty of buses, and tickets are easy to get.

Recently, I had been browsing for New Year goods, and my page was filled with related advertisements. I selected a few items to add to my cart.

Switching between channels, I chatted with Liu Mei and Ouyang Jing in the group chat. Just then, a video call from my mom came through, and I answered.

We talked for over half an hour. Watching her and my dad lounging on the sofa, soaking their feet, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at their leisurely life.

Mom kept hinting at her impending retirement, urging me to find a partner so she could help with the kids. Rubbing my nose, I retorted, “You just want to keep busy after retirement by arranging for me to have kids. If you’re worried about having nothing to do, I can enroll you in a senior university. You might even win an outstanding student award.”

Such a thoughtful suggestion was met with disdain from Mom, while Dad thought it was a great idea and asked me to sign him up for a senior university too. Mom immediately accused Dad of wanting to go there to find a new romance. Watching them bicker, even after all these years, was quite entertaining.

“Thud—”

Suddenly, a short sound echoed from outside the window, as if something had struck it.

"My window seems to be making noise, I'll hang up now," I said, ending the video call.

Switching to the front desk number, I walked towards the window. If anything was amiss, I would call immediately.

Without unlocking the window, I pulled the curtain aside. In the contrasting light of the room and the darkness outside, I saw a pair of green lights flash past.

Was I seeing things?

Drawing the curtain further back, I clearly saw the Czech Wolfdog standing outside, its eyes glowing green.

It silently observed me, and the noise from earlier must have come from it hitting the window.

Had it not bumped the window, I wouldn't have known it was there.

Through the glass, I examined it, even going back to the nightstand to retrieve my glasses for a clearer view.

The large dog slowly lay down before me, crossing its front legs like a gentleman sitting gracefully.

Its fur was a pure ash gray, without a trace of other colors. Its furry ears stood erect, and its irises were a brilliant gold, with deep black pupils contracted to round points.

Its paws, though retracted, seemed sharp, and its large tail gently swept behind it.

It kept its mouth closed, not baring its teeth at me, so I couldn't see how sharp they were.

In our brief encounter, I had never heard it bark. Whether it was a quiet dog or a quiet person, both lent an air of mystery.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Mom asking what was going on. I replied that the innkeeper's dog had come for a visit, then looked back outside.

Had it sneaked out again?

The dog rolled halfway, exposing its belly, showing a red wound amidst the gray fur.

It had injuries on its belly and right hind leg.

Should I inform the front desk? Just as I contemplated calling, it shook its head at me.

I widened my eyes. Was it a coincidence or an illusion?

Feeling a strange sense of communication with this mute dog, I gestured for it to stand.

As if to reassure me of its harmlessness, the dog rose obediently, wagging its tail in a friendly manner.

Could it be a trick like the Big Bad Wolf luring Little Red Riding Hood? Do dogs have such cunning thoughts?

Amused by my own imagination, I unlocked the window latch with a click and opened the small door.

The intelligent dog walked towards the door immediately, and I let it in.

It had no unpleasant odor, and its fur looked clean. I couldn't resist petting its back as it passed by.

The dog paused, looking up at me. It didn't reject the touch, but it didn't seem to enjoy it either.

A dog that doesn't like to be petted? How peculiar.

Feeling a bit guilty under its steady gaze, I felt like I was taking advantage of it.

"I let you in; can't I pet you a little?" I said, feigning confidence to mask my nerves.

"..." The dog remained silent.

Resisting the urge to touch it again, I crouched down and patted the space at the foot of the bed. "Come here, be good. Let me check your injury."

The dog, still silent and calm, obediently moved to the foot of the bed and lay down again.

This time, I took out my phone to use the flashlight on its lower abdomen. The dog showed slight resistance but didn't struggle, merely covering with its tail.

I first examined the wound on its hind leg. It seemed to be healing, with some unscabbed wounds but no bleeding, indicating a more serious injury earlier.

Moving its tail aside, I tried to examine its belly, but it kept the tip of its tail protectively over the crucial area.

Could this truly be a gentlemanly dog, so mindful of its privacy?

Nevertheless, I glimpsed enough to determine it was a male.

The wounds appeared to have been treated hastily and somewhat carelessly, though fortunately, there were no signs of infection or festering.

It was already past midnight when I called the front desk to request some cotton swabs and iodine.

When the supplies arrived, I knelt to clean the fur around its wounds. "Be good, stay still while I apply the medicine. This will disinfect and help your wounds heal."

Though animals may not understand words, I believed gentle speech could be soothing. The dog remained remarkably cooperative throughout the process.

I wondered how the innkeeper had trained this dog to be so large yet so docile, even more disciplined than a police dog.

Once treated, the dog stood up, and I watched curiously as it walked towards the bathroom.

Standing on its hind legs in front of the sink, it towered over me, creating an imposing presence.

Its tail brushed against my foot while its eyes were fixed on the faucet.

"Do you want to drink water?"

"......"

Its silence felt like an affirmation. I said, "I'll get you some bottled water. Come down."

It stepped down from the sink, now barely shorter than me.

I grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the table, unscrewed the cap, and poured it into its mouth. It quickly finished one bottle and then another, before settling at the foot of the bed, seemingly keeping watch.

Having never spent a night with a large dog, I felt a bit anxious. What if, like in those short videos, it jumped onto the bed while I was asleep, or worse, pushed me off entirely?

What if I woke up in the middle of the night to find the dog at the foot of the bed? Would it startle me?

Contemplating all this, I glanced outside, thinking I might shoo it onto the balcony.

Tentatively, I pointed outside and said, "Good boy, how about sleeping on the balcony?"

The dog didn't resist but immediately rose and headed for the balcony, waiting for me to open the door.

As I opened the door, the winter night wind swept in, dispersing the room's warmth. I shivered and quickly stopped the dog from going out.

"Come back in, it's too cold outside. Stay at the foot of the bed and don't climb up during the night."