Chapter Text
The mornings at La Lune Verte belonged to the animals first.
Before the guests woke up and stepped onto the stone pathways with sleepy voices and coffee cups in their hands, before Jongho unlocked the doors or opened the kitchen windows to let fresh air inside, the farm breathed differently. Slower. Softer. Like the hills themselves were still half-asleep beneath the pale wash of dawn.
Mist stretched low across the vineyards beyond the property, curling around old olive trees and weathered fences. The grass still carried the cold of the night. Somewhere in the distance, water dripped steadily from the irrigation lines near the tomatoes.
Inside the hay barn, Wooyoung was warm.
He had curled himself into the highest pile of hay again during the night, tucked near the wooden beams beneath the roof where the rising heat gathered easiest. Sunlight had only just begun slipping through the cracks in the barn walls, turning the floating dust golden around him.
Below him, Seonghwa slept quietly against one of the goats.
Not beside it. Against it.
The old white goat had somehow become attached to Seonghwa months ago and now followed him around like a confused guardian. At night it usually settled near him automatically, large body pressed protectively against soft cream-colored fur.
Wooyoung blinked slowly down at the sight.
Ridiculous.
Seonghwa collected living things without trying.
Birds landed near him without fear.
The chickens followed him around the gardens.
Even injured animals somehow found their way toward him.
Wooyoung narrowed his eyes thoughtfully before leaning over the edge of the hay bale and letting a loose piece of straw fall directly onto Seonghwa’s nose.
One soft ear twitched.
Wooyoung waited.
Nothing.
Another piece followed.
Then another.
Finally, Seonghwa opened his eyes slowly, blinking upward with immediate disappointment already visible in his expression.
Wooyoung chirped brightly. Good morning.
Seonghwa’s ears drooped flatter. Annoying.
Wooyoung rolled onto his back dramatically, tail flicking lazily over the hay.
A moment later, Seonghwa lifted one paw and tapped lightly against the wooden floor twice. Breakfast?
Wooyoung immediately tucked his face deeper into his tail. No.
Two more taps. Now.
Wooyoung let out a tiny suffering sound so theatrical it would have embarrassed anyone else. Seonghwa remained completely unmoved.
From somewhere outside came the low rustling sound of chickens wandering across dirt, followed by distant barking from another farm far down the hills. Wind drifted through the open side of the barn carrying scents of olive trees, earth, dew, and early morning cold.
Wooyoung finally stretched with exaggerated reluctance before leaping gracefully from the haystack to the floor below.
The moment he landed beside Seonghwa, the rabbit immediately began grooming dust from his black fur with quiet determination.
Wooyoung endured exactly five seconds before squirming away. Too early for affection.
Seonghwa looked unimpressed.
Wooyoung rubbed once against his side anyway while passing him toward the open barn doors. Safe.
Seonghwa relaxed instantly.
The outside world spread wide beyond the pasture fences.
La Lune Verte sat hidden between rolling countryside hills several kilometers away from the nearest village, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, goat fields, and dirt roads barely wide enough for cars to pass each other safely. The agriturismo itself looked old but loved. Warm stone walls covered in climbing plants, wooden shutters faded from years of sunlight, terracotta roofs glowing softly beneath the morning sky.
It was beautiful here.
Quiet enough to survive.
Wooyoung balanced easily atop the old wooden fence bordering the pasture, tail hanging lazily while he watched sunlight slowly spill across the fields.
This was his favorite part of the day.
Nobody demanding things.
Nobody shouting.
Nobody trying to grab him.
Just wind and warmth and familiar smells.
Behind him, Seonghwa settled near the doorway instead of fully stepping outside. One ear twitched constantly toward every distant sound.
Always listening. Always checking.
Wooyoung understood without asking.
Strangers had come through the farm innumerable times before.
Some kind.
Some careless.
Some dangerous.
The previous owners had taught them young that humans could change moods very quickly. Better to stay careful.
The sound of approaching footsteps made Wooyoung’s ears perk immediately.
Yeosang.
The doberman emerged from around the side of the barn almost silently despite his size, dark fur damp around the legs from morning dew. He moved with the same alert stillness he always carried after patrolling the property all night.
Wooyoung chirped instantly in greeting before hopping off the fence.
Yeosang lowered his head briefly, pressing once against Wooyoung’s shoulder before moving toward Seonghwa instead.
The rabbit immediately checked him over.
Wooyoung noticed the scratch near Yeosang’s front leg almost at once.
His tail flicked sharply. Questioning.
Yeosang looked annoyed already. Fox.
Again? Wooyoung’s chirp sounded scandalized.
The answering growl was low and dismissive.
Seonghwa gently nudged near the wound, ears lowered worriedly.
Fine.
Wooyoung sniffed suspiciously around Yeosang once before pausing.
Then pausing again.
Human smell.
Coffee.
Soap.
Laundry detergent.
Wooyoung slowly lifted his head toward Yeosang.
Beside him, Seonghwa noticed too. Both stared.
Yeosang looked away first.
Oh.
Oh, this was interesting.
Wooyoung’s tail puffed slightly with immediate delight.
Jongho.
Yeosang’s ears flattened instantly.
Seonghwa made the softest amused little sound. Caught.
Wooyoung circled Yeosang dramatically, sniffing exaggeratedly while Yeosang endured the harassment with visible regret.
You smell like indoors, Wooyoung informed him through a series of chirps and tail flicks.
The warning growl deepened.
You slept there.
No.
You totally did.
No.
Yeosang snapped lightly toward him without actual force.
Wooyoung darted backward triumphantly, nearly knocking over a bucket in the process. Worth it.
Seonghwa lowered his head into his paws in visible secondhand embarrassment.
The peaceful morning lasted another fifteen minutes before the sound of approaching cars shattered it completely.
All three hybrids froze immediately.
Not Jongho’s truck. Too many engines.
Wooyoung’s ears stood upright.
From the driveway leading toward the main courtyard, gravel crunched steadily beneath expensive tires.
Guests.
Yeosang’s posture shifted at once. Still. Alert. Protective.
Seonghwa moved automatically closer toward the barn wall.
Wooyoung leaped back onto the fence for a better view.
Three black vehicles rolled slowly into the courtyard beside the main house. Definitely city people. Wooyoung could tell immediately.
The cars were too polished.
The clothes too clean.
The movement too relaxed.
People who had never learned how dangerous open countryside could become after dark.
The first person who stepped out was tall and smiling already despite the early hour. He stretched dramatically before turning in a slow circle to admire the scenery with obvious delight.
Friendly.
The second stepped out more quietly, half blond- half black hair glowing pale beneath the sunlight while sunglasses hid tired eyes. Even from this far away, Wooyoung could tell he carried himself differently from the others…sharper somehow. More aware.
Wooyoung nearly slipped off the fence for the third one.
Cat. A hybrid.
A beautiful long-haired white cat stepped gracefully onto the gravel path, immediately lifting one paw in visible disgust at the dirt beneath him.
Wooyoung stared openly.
Healthy fur.
Bright blue eyes.
Expensive harness fitted perfectly around his chest.
Indoor cat.
The realization hit immediately.
Wooyoung’s tail flicked uncontrollably with excitement.
Another cat.
He hadn’t seen another cat hybrid in years.
Beside him, Seonghwa noticed his reaction immediately and nudged lightly against his side. Careful.
Wooyoung barely heard him.
The white cat looked up then.
Blue eyes meeting gold.
For a strange little second, the world felt very quiet.
Wooyoung chirped instinctively symbolizing:
Greeting;
Recognition;
Curiosity.
The white cat’s ears twitched sharply before he awkwardly flicked his tail once in response.
Wrong dialect.
Wooyoung blinked.
Oh.
Oh, he barely knew the language.
That was fascinating.
The final human stepped out from the driver’s seat.
Dark suit despite the countryside heat.
Sharp features.
Dark hair falling neatly across his forehead.
Phone already pressed against one ear before the car door had even closed.
He looked tired in a way that seemed heavy rather than sleepy.
Wooyoung watched him briefly before immediately turning his attention back toward the white cat hybrid. Priorities of course.
From his own residence, Jongho finally appeared carrying bags beneath one arm.
Warm sunlight caught against his dark hair as he waved toward the guests with an easy smile. Unlike the others, Jongho already looked like he belonged here despite living nearby rather than directly on the property. Wooyoung relaxed slightly at the sight of him.
Jongho always moved carefully around animals.
Never shouted. Never grabbed. Never chased them away.
Even after inheriting the agriturismo years ago, he had simply accepted their presence quietly.
Food appeared near the barn every now and then; Blankets sometimes appeared near the goats during winter. The outdoor lights stayed on during storms.
Yeosang trusted him. That alone meant something.
The smiling man was talking animatedly with Jongho now while helping unload luggage. The short one wandered toward the gardens slowly, pausing every few seconds to admire flowers growing near the pathways.
The serious one remained near the pool, already focused on work again.
And the white cat— Still staring towards the fence. Towards Wooyoung.
Wooyoung puffed his chest proudly. Beautiful and interested in him already. Understandable.
Yeosang nudged his side sharply. Don’t.
I’m being friendly.
You’re being intrusive.
Fake accusation.
Still, Yeosang subtly shifted closer to the pasture entrance, positioning himself protectively between the newcomers and the barn without seeming obvious about it.
Always watching. Always guarding.
Wooyoung barely noticed because the white cat had begun approaching slowly across the courtyard now. Closer.
Wooyoung hopped lightly off the fence.
The white cat stopped several feet away immediately. Interesting. Definitely not used to strays.
Wooyoung approached first with easy confidence.
The white cat took one cautious step backward.
Oh.
Indoor-cat behavior for real. Wooyoung chirped another greeting. The cat stared at him silently for a second before speaking awkwardly in fragmented hybrid-language sounds.
You’re… dusty.
Wooyoung blinked. That was his opening line?
He looked down at himself. Okay maybe slightly dusty. But still rude.
You smell like furniture- the expensive kind, Wooyoung replied immediately.
The white cat looked genuinely scandalized.
From somewhere near the poolside chairs, the serious human glanced over briefly.
His eyes landed on Wooyoung first.
Dark.
Sharp.
Unreadable.
Then shifted toward the white cat.
“Don’t wander too far, Mingi. Yunho will have a hard time otherwise.”
Mingi.
The white cat’s ears flicked automatically in acknowledgment.
Wooyoung stared openly. You listen to humans?
Mingi looked equally horrified. Obviously?
Wooyoung thought that might be the craziest thing he had ever heard.