The commotion in Sunoo’s animal hospital was unlike any other. Calls flooded in about a massive snake rescue operation from a nearby village where flooding had forced dozens of snakes—both venomous and non-venomous—into residential areas. Sunoo immediately sprang into action, gathering his gear.
His husbands, however, froze at the news.
“Snakes?!” Jake exclaimed, his face pale. “You mean the slithery, creepy, potentially deadly kind?”
“Yes, Jake. Those snakes,” Sunoo replied calmly while fastening his gloves. “They need to be relocated safely. We can’t let them or the villagers get hurt.”
Heeseung stepped forward hesitantly. “I mean… I love you, but snakes are not my thing.”
“Mine either,” Jay added quickly, backing away as Sunoo packed antivenom and rescue kits into the ambulance.
Jungwon, Sunghoon, and Niki exchanged nervous glances before reluctantly nodding in agreement.
“You’re all staying in the ambulance, aren’t you?” Sunoo guessed, raising an eyebrow.
There was a chorus of sheepish nods.
“Fine,” Sunoo sighed, but his tone remained understanding. “Just don’t freak out if one slithers near the vehicle, okay? I’ll be out there doing the real work.”
The staff, however, knew how dire the situation was. They volunteered immediately, joining Sunoo in the field as they drove to the affected area.
The scene in the village was chaotic. Sunoo and his team began carefully locating and capturing snakes that had found their way into homes, sheds, and even trees. Despite the danger, Sunoo was focused and calm, gently guiding his staff through the process.
In the ambulance, the husbands stayed huddled together, peeking through the windows every so often.
“Is that… a cobra?” Jungwon whispered, pointing at Sunoo through the glass.
“Don’t say cobra!” Niki groaned, hiding his face behind a pillow he found.
“Guys, he’s fine. He knows what he’s doing,” Jay tried to reassure them, though his clenched fists betrayed his nerves.
“Did you see the size of that one?!” Sunghoon yelped as Sunoo carried a massive python toward a containment crate.
Despite their fear, their admiration for Sunoo grew. He moved with such grace and confidence, a stark contrast to their collective panic in the safety of the vehicle.
Sunoo knelt in the damp grass, carefully reaching out to a large python coiled around a tree branch. His voice was calm, almost melodic, as he spoke in soft, soothing tones.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Sunoo murmured, his gaze meeting the snake’s unblinking eyes. “I know you’re scared, but I’m here to help. Let me take you somewhere safe.”
To anyone watching, it seemed as though he was simply talking to himself, but his husbands knew better. Sunoo had a unique gift—a deep, empathetic connection with animals. Somehow, he could feel their thoughts, their fears, and even their trust when it was earned.
The python loosened its grip on the branch slightly, and Sunoo’s mind was flooded with its emotions: Fear. Displacement. The need for safety.
“I was resting. The water came. I didn’t know where to go,” the snake’s thoughts resonated in Sunoo’s mind, fragmented yet clear.
“I know,” Sunoo replied softly. “The water isn’t safe for you. I’ll take you somewhere dry and peaceful, I promise.”
The snake hesitated, its muscles tense, but Sunoo extended his gloved hand patiently. Slowly, the python uncoiled itself and allowed Sunoo to guide it into a secure containment crate.
