Chapter 1
"In the distant desert, at the edge of the forests, three newborn cubs would discover their destiny for the first time":
-Mother of the cubs-: LEAVE THEM ALONE! THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! THEY'RE JUST CUBS! *She struggles amidst screams and tears as all the lions present pin her to the ground*
-Leader of the southern clan-: They are the offspring of a monster, they are a VIOLATION OF NATURE! *A cold stare and a cruel tone* And you, you're a traitor to your own kind. *She gives a signal, and one of the lions, in one swift motion, slits the mother's throat.* You should have thought twice before going with a monster. *She growls and walks out to the cave entrance.* Finish off the cubs. *She says firmly and coldly, turning away.*
-Clan warrior-: You heard them, let's kill these things. *He said as he picked up one of the cubs in his paws.* *Two other warriors do the same, and in one swift motion, they slit the throats of the cubs, who weren't even aware of what was happening... But as the lions were about to leave, they heard a weak, gasping breath... tiny. The scene, which should have been a clean execution, was changing, and when they looked at the cubs... they saw them as the offspring of a monster... no... Children of a demon, they begin to regain life*
-The clan leader-: By the gods, what is that? *He says in shock, turning around in astonishment, staring at the tiny bodies of the pups*
-The warrior-: We slit their throats, sir, I swear... are they... alive?...
-The leader-: *He walks slowly towards the first pup to regenerate, his claws striking the ground with each step, stopping in front of the pup that is already breathing. He examines it; it is a small, defenseless thing that has returned to life.* Amazing... *The leader smiles slightly, almost warmly, with a cold gaze... then he crushes the pup against the ground. The small, fragile bones crunch like a tiny rat.* Hmm~ Bring them here. All the clans will want to know about this. *He said with a smile, turning and leaving the cave, walking away from the place*
"In the desert"
"As the clan leader and his warriors walk back to their main camp, the small pups have been dragged for hours across the sand under the scorching sun, the sand is stained with blood by the small bodies of the puppies; they appear dead... but they breathe."
-First warrior-: *in a curiously amused tone, devoid of any compassion* Haha, look at them! They keep regenerating. It's like playing with mice~ but at least these ones don't die.
-Second warrior-: *more cautiously* I don't know... we've never seen anything like this. Why do they regenerate? Doesn't it mean something?
-First warrior-: Surely not even death wants them. *laughs softly, pulling the pups so they scrape themselves more against the sand*
-Second warrior-: Hey! Don't you think that's enough? *Somewhat disgusted and uncomfortable at the sight of the pups*
-The leader-: *interrupts, stamping a paw firmly on the ground* What are you talking about?! *Growls at the second warrior* Enough? Are you on the side of those things? *He said with a firm and intimidatingly cold demeanor*
-Second warrior-: *nervously, ears drooping* No! No... It's just, I mean! We already slit their throats and they've been dragging them around for hours... Isn't that a bit much for puppies? *He says quietly, tail between his legs*
-The leader-: *blinks twice before laughing and says softly* Ah! I see, you're not a traitor~ *lets out a low growl* You're just confused, Kio. Look at them. *He points to the puppies while wrapping a paw around Kio's shoulder* Do you really think those things are puppies? *He says more calmly but gently and empathetically towards Kio* Can a real puppy regenerate? NO! Those things! They're demons, monsters! VIOLATIONS AGAINST NATURE and they will pay for what they are *he says, regaining his composure and sighing before continuing to walk* Do you need me to remind you what their father did? Weren't you the first to want to avenge your family?
-Kio (the second warrior)-: *glances sideways at the cubs, lowers his ears and head* Yes... you're right, sorry.
-The leader-: Good! *smiles at him in a friendly, gentle way* All the clans will be pleased... everyone will be able to do justice for their loved ones, isn't that magnificent? *He lets out a low, cruel chuckle before walking further away*
"Three days after crossing the desert, the leader of the southern clan walks toward his pride, who seemed to have been waiting for hours, all uncertain whether they had accomplished their mission. Was the monster dead?"
"An the elder, with a dry, dull mane, is the first to walk toward the leader."
-the elder-: Did you do it? Did you kill the monster? *He says cautiously*
-The clan leader-: No, he was already dead when we arrived, but... *He smiles slightly* we found something that will help everyone... justice. *He whispers the last word, stepping back and gently taking one of the cubs in his mouth*
-the elder-: *His eyes widen, and he takes a step forward* What are you doing with such a small cub? *He begins by speaking with concern for the small, defenseless creature*
-The leader-: He's the son of the traitor and the monster. *He says, chuckling softly but with a cold expression, placing the puppy on the ground.* With this, we will all obtain justice. *He says warmly, turning his gaze back to the old man.*
-The elder-: *His gaze trembles; he understands what the leader means.* But he's a puppy... *He looks at the puppy intently, unsure whether to feel disgust, resentment, or pity.*
-The leader: *He chuckles softly.* A puppy? He's the son of the worst living being that ever existed... Do you think this thing deserved life more than your son? Or your grandson? We can achieve justice. *He whispers so only the old man can hear.*
-The elder: *His gaze darkens.* I know they are the offspring of that creature, but they are living puppies... like we once were... Are you seriously talking about punishing innocent puppies for their father? Are you insane?
-The leader-: *With a cold smile, he crushes the puppy with his paw, its bones sounding like broken branches, but before the old man can react and intervene, he says* Wait.
-The elder-: *He is shocked and disgusted by what the leader did, but when he hears "Wait," a few seconds later... he sees the puppy begin to regenerate.* W-what? *He takes two quick steps back, his ears pinned back.* What is that?!
-The leader-: *He laughs softly, his gaze cold.* That, my friend, is proof that they are monsters like their father. *He pushes the puppy away as if it were a mouse.* These little things cannot die. It is a punishment from the gods... they are giving us the justice we deserve. *He smiles gently, walking towards the astonished old man.* Do you still think they are puppies?
-The elder-: . . .N-no, those things aren't puppies *he says trembling* they really are monsters. . . *He says trying to calm himself*
-Leader-: *lets out a friendly, gentle chuckle and places a paw on the old man's shoulder* And if the gods have already punished them... We can do justice for our loved ones... Your grandson deserved a thousand years of life instead of those things even being born... *he says with disgust, looking at the puppy on the ground* It will do everyone good to avenge their loved ones... you too *he smiles warmly and pats the old man and walks towards the puppy*
-The elder-: *calmer after the leader's words and with a cold, somewhat dark expression, he sighs* Yes... you're right... justice... *sounds hesitant but unable to deny the hatred*
-The leader-: *walks towards the other two puppies and pulls them with his claws* Okay, little one, calm down. *He says gently but with a cold, emotionless look* I'm sure you don't understand anything yet... but you will. *He smiles and throws the two puppies where the first puppy was squashed*
-The leader-: I know you all expected us to bring the monster back alive, that demon in the form of a lion. He stole our peace, he snatched away our loved ones... he took ours, and here we are, seeking justice for our companions, our brothers, our partners... our children. *His ears are pulled back, and with a firm and calm gaze* There they are. *He points with his paw to the three cubs lying on the ground, motionless, huddled together, defenseless* Don't be fooled... They are just like their father... they have the skin of a lion... but they cannot die... The gods, the sky, and the stars have given us the opportunity to do justice for those we lost. *He looks at the sky and then back at the cubs.* They are not like us... and we can condemn them as such.
"All the lions looked at the cubs, their expressions showing confusion, and although some believed what their leader said, they saw cubs, until the old lion spoke."
-the elder-: *his gaze firm and devoid of empathy for the cubs* that he was right. They were a violation of nature... they cannot die... they were just like their father
"All the lions think in a deafening silence, so many lions but only breathing and the sound of paws moving uncomfortably on the ground can be heard... until... some lions, fathers, brothers who suffered, who lost their loved ones, begin to advance towards the cubs, Their breathing barely shallow, defenseless, their little bodies piled one on top of the other... a few glimmers of compassion are seen in the lions... but the pain and thirst for revenge... is more than that, one swipes at a cub that bleeds, it lets out a whimper... but it regenerates... and the empathy, the doubt and the discomfort... disappears from everyone as they see how that cub regenerates... those things... are not lions, that's what everyone thinks... they are monsters... will they be able to do justice, avenge all those they lost..."
