In this story, everyone is afraid of Black Heart. All the characters have told Emily to be careful not to get too close to him, as he can be very violent. Black Heart is a dog, but Emily believes he is also part wolf, and she claims he looks like a mythological creature. However, he seems to change when she sings:
<em>"One day, she sang to him after giving him his meat, and his vicious sounds ceased. Even with his gigantic, square head and his razor-blade teeth and his terrible scars, he looked familiar and approachable, like a misunderstood monster."</em>
We also know that Emily likes singing, and likes hearing people sing. This supports one of the themes of the story, which is the fact that Emily is constantly looking for a deep connection with someone, and is unable to reach it through words. She does not understand Spanish, and is therefore isolated in Argentina. Moreover, her parents do not talk or listen to her. Emily feels like a misunderstood monster. The only moments when this change is when she sings, which makes her similar to Black Heart.
