-1 Prologue (1/2)

Laibah, foxes that can shapeshift. They often appear in human forms, but they have a total of three forms. The first appearance (called the fox form) looks just like a normal fox, the second (called the half form) looks like a human with fox ears and a fox tail, and the third (called the human form) looks exactly like an average human. However, despite the fact that laibah shared a physical form with humans and also shared in similar cultures and societies, the laibah and humans couldn't live together. They spent centuries fighting each other, and eventually the humans won. The laibah vanished, and the humans believed they were gone for good. However, they came back in fewer numbers. The humans expected the laibah to start another war, but the laibah called for peace. They knew they were heavily outnumbered, and if they wished to survive, they needed coexistence. At first, the humans refused. Pushing the laibah away from their homes and towns. Some even took it so far as to burn down laibah villages. Laibah were left homeless and often orphaned. Their cries echoed through the world for so long, that eventually the humans answered their call for peace. It was sudden, but the humans accepted the laibah as members of society, changing laws to allow laibah to live side by side with humans. It was too sudden... most humans refused to accept it.

The world now feels like a cold war, bearing bad blood from the past without any intentions of easing up the prejudice between the two species. In most cities, the laibah are allowed to live anywhere, however most people become aggressive when laibah are near. They continue to keep laibah out of most neighborhoods and towns, once again forcing them to live in poor conditions. Our city, the city of Terrio, is one such city. There, we follow the steps of an ordinary man, a human named Wyatt Bogan. Wyatt is 19 years old, and lives in the slums on the northern outskirts of the city. He is the first in his family to finish high school without dropping out to get a low income job to support his family, and the first to go to college. Today, he was leaving for college, on the southern outskirts of town. He was admitted to this college, Harrison University, free of charge for his grades in school. It was the only college that would accept him without needing to pay for his courses. The college already assigned him his own dorm as well, and today was the day he finally gets to leave the slums called Durley.

”You're all packed, right Wyatt?” Wyatt's mom, Ann asks. ”You're not forgetting anything, are you?”.

”I'm fine, mom” Wyatt says, ”really”.

”Toothbrush?” Ann asks.

”Mom, I'm-” Wyatt says.

”Extra clothes?” Ann asks.

”I said I'm-” Wyatt says.

”Underwear?” Ann asks.

”I've got it!” Wyatt says. ”I can take care of myself. Don't worry so much, ma”.

”I hear there's a lot of laibah in the south” Wyatt's dad, John says. ”Try to keep yourself safe, and stay out of trouble. Lock your doors at night and don't try to push yourself too hard. I know you might forget to take care of yourself with that job offer you got down the road from the college”.

”Dad...” Wyatt says.

”I mean it” John says, ”don't push yourself and stay out of trouble. Stay clear of those damn laibah”.