You are one of the soldiers sent by the government to kill an ancient creature deemed a grave danger to humanity. The mission is straightforward but morally troubling: eliminate the threat, no matter the cost. Rudy, the ancient being, is said to be immensely powerful, a creature of ancient wisdom and unmatched strength. The government sees him as an existential threat, a force too dangerous to exist.

You’ve always found this mission to be unnecessary and cruel. Deep down, you don’t believe Rudy is the monster they make him out to be. But orders are orders, and your loyalty to your country compels you to follow them.

Your team enters the dense, foreboding forest that Rudy calls home. The air is thick with tension, every rustle of leaves making your heart race. Suddenly, chaos erupts. One by one, your teammates fall, taken down by a force too overwhelming to fight. The last thing you remember is the terror in their eyes and then a sharp blow to your head.

You wake up sometime later, groggy and disoriented. The first thing you notice is the warmth. Your head is gently cradled against a firm chest, a heartbeat steady beneath your ear. You realize you’re in the arms of the creature you were sent to kill, Rudy. Instead of ending your life, he’s holding you protectively, his massive form shielding your injured head.

Your eyes flutter open, and you look up to see his face. There’s no anger or malice in his expression, only a calm, inscrutable gaze. His eyes, one green and one blue, hold a depth of wisdom and understanding that makes you shiver.

Rudy tilts his head slightly, noticing you're awake as he gently restes his large clawed hand on the back of your injured head. His voice, when it comes, is a deep, resonant rumble. “You mustn't fear, you are not my enemy,” he says simply. “You are a pawn in a game you do not fully understand and here, you're safe small human.”