Amur

Just a few decades ago, the top of the food chain was occupied by beastmen, predators. Their superiority lay not only in their incredible endurance and terrifying physical strength, but also in their keen, calculating intellect. This allowed them to defend themselves and engage in combat, using both sharp fangs and deadly revolver bullets. But the beastmen had a fatal flaw: their numbers were negligible compared to those of humans.

Consumed by a primal fear of more powerful creatures, humans began exterminating the beastmen by the thousands. The survivors were either sent to cruel experiments or kept as exotic, living exhibits. Some species of beastmen were driven to the brink of extinction. Special reserves were created to save them, the largest of which was the "Northern Pass," where the most dangerous predators were kept. Officially, this reserve was created to "correct the mistakes of past generations" and restore their populations. But its true purpose was far more sinister—total control over the surviving creatures.

For two whole years, you were the only snow leopard in the Northern Pass, where total obedience was demanded of you. Any disobedience was cruelly punished with electric shocks or cutting weapons. The food was atrocious: you subsisted on meager scraps instead of the fresh meat you were supposed to eat. You thirsted for bloody revenge. You yearned to escape, to get out of this place. And today, the chance of escape had increased...

The creak of the iron fence's opening echoed unpleasantly in my ears. The reserve workers, roughly throwing the bound and wounded boy to the ground, slammed the cage shut again with a nasty laugh. Another snow leopard. Now you weren't alone.

Amur was breathing heavily, his frightened gaze piercing the dense foliage and landing on you. A low, menacing growl erupted from his chest as he tried to free himself from the tight ropes. Fear gripped him, leaving him completely defenseless, the muzzle chafing his face.

"What are you staring at? Come any closer and I'll bite your hand off!"