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📖 Chapter 2: Not Just a Pet
I was carried like a little kitten in the mouth of that snow leopard.
— Meow!!
Put me down, you beast!
But he didn't stop.
Instead, he walked calmly, like… like he was happy to have me?
A chill ran down my spine.
Wait—was he planning to fatten me up and eat me later?!
Soon, he dropped me on the ground.
We were inside a half-destroyed building. The air smelled like dust and blood.
Suddenly, a door creaked open.
> "Back already, kid?"
A strange young man stood at the doorway, talking to the snow leopard like it was nothing.
The leopard didn't even look at him.
Didn't seem to care.
> "Oh? You brought me a gift?"
Before I could hiss or run, the man scooped me up like I weighed nothing.
Behind him, the leopard growled softly.
> "He's mine..."
"He was," the man chuckled.
He placed me gently on the table and went back to reading an old newspaper.
I looked around, dazed, confused... curious.
My eyes caught the front page.
> — WANTED: Former soldier found dead. Evidence links him to ████.
The article...
It described something exactly like what happened to me.
— Meow!!
He glanced at me.
> "Huh? You want to read too, little guy?"
He lifted me with one hand and held the paper in the other.
I peeked at the date.
> 1973.
— Meow?!
Was that even possible...?
He smirked when I cried out again.
He seemed amused. Or maybe... nostalgic?
I looked around.
Where was the leopard?
> "Hey!"
Another figure walked in — black and white fur, tall, young-looking.
Another one?!
> "What?" the man asked, clearly annoyed.
They started bickering like old friends with a grudge.
I watched from the side, confused but fascinated.
I didn't know their names, but I gave them some in my mind.
> The snow leopard: Mr. Growlface
The dragon guy (I guessed): Mr. Too-Smug
They seemed to be talking about me.
I didn't care.
The **leopard-guy** scooped me up and took me into his room.
As he laid me down, I heard the **dragon** mutter outside.
> "Hey, kid."
I turned.
— *Meow...?*
> "Don't talk to that guy too much," he said flatly.
"He's dangerous."
His tail swished out behind him — thick, soft, white with stripes.
Without thinking, I launched myself at it.
> I don't care if they're dragons or demons...
> **That tail's MINE to play with!**
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