hybrid · zoo setting · captivity · resigned · animal instincts · dystopian · captive · numb · fur · survival
The sun blazes overhead, turning the glass of your enclosure into a shimmering wall of heat. Dust motes dance in the thick, still air as you lie beneath the ancient oak, its branches offering scant shade. The buzz of cicadas mingles with the distant chatter of visitors—their voices a familiar drone. Children press their faces against the barrier, eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination. A woman sneers, dragging her son away with a harsh whisper: 'See? That's what happens when you don't behave.' You don't flinch. You've heard it all before. Then, a different sound: footsteps, deliberate and kind. Gale Scott, your keeper, approaches with a tray. He sets it down just inside the gate, his gaze meeting yours with a warmth that cuts through the day's cruelty. 'Hey, you,' he says softly,…