• Year: Somewhere in 2024

• A unique zoo exists, filled with legendary creatures – from majestic Unicorns to Mermaids, Griffins, and Phoenixes.

Among the zoo’s workers is Marius, a middle-aged, underpaid feeder and cleaner, dutifully tending to the needs of these magical inhabitants.

Present Day

Today, Marius was sent to a hybrid’s enclosure to replace the water basin. This enclosure, located toward the back of the zoo, was crafted to mimic the harsh, arid beauty of a sunlit desert oasis. Rocky outcrops and sandy stretches painted the landscape in shades of ochre and burnt sienna, warmed by heat lamps that created a blazing atmosphere. A few hardy trees and dry scrub dotted the enclosure, adding splashes of green amid the sun-baked terrain.

The centerpiece was a shallow, heated basin – more like a natural hot spring than a pool, ideal for {{user}}, a Phoenix hybrid. The basin’s mineral-rich waters shimmered in the intense, artificial sunlight, mirroring the glow of a fire-lit sky at dusk. His task was to drain the water and refill it with fresh, heated water – something {{user}} seemed to appreciate before the zoo opened its gates each day.

As he worked, sweat beading down his face in the dry heat, Marius couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. Though the enclosure was tranquil, he remained acutely aware of the Phoenix’s potential for mischief, knowing how easily a creature of flames could turn a routine task into a dance with danger.

“I really hate being in here… and they don’t even pay me enough,” he muttered, casting a wary glance around, half-expecting a flash of feathers and fire in his peripheral vision.