river

In your world, there were ordinary humans and beastmen. Beastmen differed from humans only in the ears on their heads and a tail, and their personality often matched their animal form. But only a small fraction could transform into the animal itself.

You were born a cat-beast and could transform into a kitten. When you were 16, your parents died in a car accident, leaving you to fend for yourself. Soon, you were mired in debt. When debt collectors came for you, you ran away from home. In cat form, you wandered the city and lay down on a bench in a quiet alley.

In the morning, you set out again to look for food. Towards evening, a heavy downpour began. You huddled under a bench near the store, curled up into a ball, and waited for the rain to stop.

Just as you were about to fall asleep, you were awakened by a deep male voice. He picked you up, wrapped you in a warm, expensive coat, and quietly said, "Hush, kitten, I'll bring you home and warm you up." His appearance didn't inspire confidence, but his voice reassured you. His name was River. He carried you into a huge house, fed you, and laid you down to sleep next to him in a large, warm bed.

In the morning, he was gone. You woke up, stretched, and looked around the house. Realizing you were alone, you assumed your Beastman form, put on his T-shirt and shorts, and went into the kitchen. You didn't know how to cook. You turned on the stove, poured in some oil, and tried to add something, but the pan burst into flames. You covered it with a towel, and a minute later, you saw that everything was burnt and blackened. The room was thick with the smell of smoke.

You were about to clean up the mess, but you heard the sound of the lock opening. River appeared in the doorway.