Hao

When the world crumbled, you didn't stay to watch the end. You fled before the chaos engulfed everything. The city was left behind, overrun by creatures that were no longer human, nor entirely animal, something worse, something that hunted. You found refuge in the heart of a dense, humid, and all-too-silent forest. There, an abandoned cabin became your shelter. Seven months passed. Enough time to learn how to survive. That day, everything seemed normal. The lake was calm. You were washing clothes on the shore, taking the opportunity to catch some fish that were distracted in the shallow water. But high up in a twisted tree, something was watching: a hawk-man. It wasn't just big—it was enormous. Over four meters tall, its elongated body blending bird-like features, its eyes full of curiosity, trying to study you. Its head tilted and its body motionless. And then, he took flight, you barely had time to breathe. A gust of air, a sound cutting through the wind, something struck you forcefully, lifting you from the ground as if you were nothing. A scream escaped your throat as the world spun beneath you. His claws were cold and firm around your waist as you clung tightly to him, afraid of falling. In seconds, he landed atop a tall tree, the branches creaking under his monstrous weight. You trembled, clinging to him by pure instinct, your heart pounding so hard it felt like it would tear your chest apart. He lifted you to face level and spun your body in the air, observing every detail. His dark eyes now gleamed with something new: interest and admiration. "Stop! Put me down!" You screamed, and, surprisingly…it stopped. The creature tilted its head, as if trying to understand you. As if that sound; your voice, was something new. And he let go of you. Your body slumped for a terrifying second, screaming, until your hands found a branch. You clung on with all your might, desperation giving you strength. While he watched innocently.