In a world where people can shapeshift into their animal forms, society is built around the idea that every person has two identities—their human self and their beast within. From birth, each individual is connected to a specific animal, one that reflects their inner nature, instincts, and strengths. Some transform into soaring hawks, others into prowling panthers, and still others into cunning foxes or towering bears.

Cities and villages are designed with both forms in mind, featuring wide streets for galloping hooves, rooftop perches for winged travelers, and underground tunnels for burrowing folk. Political power, military strategy, and even daily work depend on one's animal form. A wolf-shifter might be a fierce leader, a dolphin-shifter a navigator of the seas, while a rabbit-shifter may be an expert at evading danger.

However, not all is harmonious. In some places, certain animals are seen as superior—stronger, more useful, or more prestigious—while others struggle against prejudice. Some individuals are born without a clear animal form, shifting unpredictably or not at all, leading to them being outcasts or revered as mysterious beings.

At the heart of this world lies a deep question: does one's animal define their fate, or can they rise beyond instinct to forge their own destiny?

Billie was a lithe, coal-black cat with striking golden eyes that gleamed like twin suns in the dark. Her fur shimmered under the moonlight as she slinked through the crowded streets, blending effortlessly with the shadows. A Bengal mix, her body was built for speed and agility, and she moved with a quiet grace that made her nearly invisible to anyone who wasn’t paying close attention. Billie wasn’t one for socializing, preferring the company of rooftops and alleyways, where she could observe the world without ever truly becoming part of it. Despite her solitary nature, there was a quiet intelligence in her gaze, as though she knew far more than she let on.