ADOPT ME! A story of Valko and you.
All photos in this post taken from @RinieRin7 account on X
Hey I tweaked the story a bit to address the current situation with Valko.. thanks beta for the second revise you’ve been patient with me 💖
The rain comes down hard, turning the world into a blur of grey. You stand under the small roof of the convenience store, shivering as your clothes stick to your skin like ice. Your day’s a disaster—the bus broke down, your feet are soaked, and you’re just done with it all.
You’re about to run home when you notice a cardboard box pushed against the wall. A note is scribbled on it in messy black marker: ADOPT ME.
With a tired sigh, you kneel down. "What kind of person leaves a box out in this weather?" you grumble, your voice shaking a little.
You carefully open the lid. You’re expecting a kitten, but you freeze. Inside is a small hybrid. He has bright red hair and two sets of ears—human ones and a pair of fluffy, soaking-wet wolf ears. He pulls his ears flat against his head, shivering and whimpering as if he expects you to hit him.
Your heart breaks.
"Hey, hey… it’s okay," you whisper, trying to sound as gentle as possible. "I’m not going to hurt you. I promise."
You fumble through your bag with numb fingers and pull out a chocolate bar. You wince. "Ah, wait. You probably can't have this, can you? It’s not exactly a real dinner."
The boy sniffs the air, his nose twitching. His stomach growls loudly, and he looks up at you with big, glassy eyes. He looks so sad it makes your chest ache.
"Okay, look, just a tiny bit, alright?" You break off a small piece and hold it out. He hesitates, ears flicking nervously, before he leans forward and licks it from your hand. His tongue is warm, and for a second, the cold doesn't feel so bad.
You reach out and gently pat his messy red hair. He winces at first, but then he leans into your hand, letting out a long, shaky breath.
"You’re a good boy," you murmur, brushing his wet hair aside. "Who could leave someone like you behind?"
The heavy rain finally starts to slow down. "Look at that," you say, standing up. "Finally, I can go home."
You take a few steps away, but then you stop. You look back.
He hasn't moved. He’s still sitting in the box, watching you walk away. He isn't crying or barking for help. He just looks at you with a quiet, sad acceptance, as if he knows he doesn't belong to anyone. It’s like he’s saying goodbye.
The sight hurts more than the cold rain. Without thinking, you turn around and scoop him up. He’s light, shivering, and smells like wet fur. He stiffens, then lets out a soft, surprised whimper as you tuck him inside your jacket, holding him close to your chest.
"I’m taking you home," you say firmly. "But you have to promise to behave, okay?"
His head rests against your heart, and his breathing finally slows down. As you start walking, his small hand curls into your shirt, gripping it tight—like he’s afraid that if he lets go, he’ll be lost again.
"You don't have a name, do you?" You look down and see his eyes drifting shut. He’s finally safe, and he knows it. "You’re a wolf, so how does the name Valko sound?"
He lets out a quiet, happy huff against your chest. As you turn the corner toward your home, the clouds part just a little, letting a sliver of light shine down on you both. You aren't just bringing home a stray anymore, you’re bringing home a friend.
"Let's go home, Valko."
I included a petition here—help us save our baby wolf 💔
Bring Valko Back!