Native Place

Part 1

"Hello, my friends."

This is how Grigory Bobrov, the president of the small country of Zelenogorie, begins his speech in a straightforward manner, standing at the podium in front of a large crowd of fellow herbivores of various species and ages. A proud beaver and a true patriot of his homeland, he succeeded his father, Alexei Bobrov, marking a unique occurrence in the history of Zelenogorie, when, despite the absence of a monarchy, power was transferred from father to son through fair and honest elections. And, speaking of honesty, these words are far from empty for Grigory. The President is convinced that honesty and perseverance are essential for success in any job, particularly in leading an entire nation. He could deceive his people and unfairly appropriate their wealth, living a life of luxury, and it's unlikely anyone would ever be able to stop him. However, that wouldn't bring him true success.

Grigory believes that true success is not measured by the accumulation of wealth. In such a case, a leader will be remembered as greedy and ineffective, leaving behind a negative legacy. No, real success lies in uplifting one's homeland and its people, excelling in various fields; so future generations, upon seeing your portrait or monument, would say from the bottom of their hearts: "He was an excellent president; he made our country strong and great."

Of course, one can say that pride and self-esteem are driving forces for Grigory. However, he doesn't see this as a major issue, as long as it enables him to effectively fulfill his presidential duties and work for the benefit of his country, beautiful Zelenogorie.

"I'm delighted to see so many citizens here today, including children and teenagers," Grigory continues. "This is crucial because we need to convey to them the significance of this day. Fifty years ago, we herbivores demonstrated to the predators that we're not just prey, not just pieces of meat for them to hunt freely. Fifty years ago, our fathers proved that we, too, can show our teeth and that we must be taken seriously. Although our citizens still face occasional attacks, the predators now understand that we are ready to fight back rather than flee, as we once did. However, we must completely eliminate such incidents, and the wall to separate us from predators currently under construction will help us achieve that goal. Furthermore, we plan to ban predators from entering our territory in the near future. We live well and prosper without them, and we don't need them at all..."

"Come on, Mom, switch it to cartoons," Sasha, the little hare, asks plaintively, addressing his mother Tatiana, who is cooking dinner.

"Son, they're talking about our fathers who fought for our future," Tatiana replies, glancing at the TV. "That’s more important than cartoons."

"Well, I know all about that..." the child protests. "So can I watch some cartoons?"

"No, you'd better take the fish to Pasha. Come on."

"Tsk... okay..." Sasha sighs and heads off to get the fish.

"There's a lot of it; let the others help you."

"Okay..." the hare mutters, continuing on his way.

Sasha and his three brothers slowly make their way to the backyard, carrying a large container of fried fish in their paws. They approach the shack, which is bigger than their house.

"Ugh, it's heavy..." Sasha says as they set the container down. He knocks on the door.

"Hey, Pasha, we brought you some fish!" Sasha calls out, but there's no response.

"Pasha!" Kolya, the second rabbit, chimes in, knocking on the door again. "We've got fish here!"

Just as Kolya is about to pull his paw back, a wolf suddenly swings the door open.

Pavel is a twenty-year-old wolf who is almost always sullen. His gray coat, combined with his pale clothing, creates a rather dull and joyless appearance. Only his intense blue eyes add a touch of brightness, making his look at least somewhat vibrant.

"Mom said to bring this over," Sasha says, gesturing to the container of fish.

"Thanks," Pavel replies dryly, taking the fish before closing the door.

The young wolf’s apartment is not very large or expensive, but it has all the essentials: a bathroom, a bed, a closet with a few belongings, a TV with a game console, and some other small necessities. Basically, it's a modest place, but Pavel, being a modest guy, doesn’t complain. After all, he understands that complaining won’t turn his home into gold.

What he has is already a big deal, considering that his mother has long been a widow, raising and feeding her seven children alone. Her successful medical career, several relatively successful books—along with one quite successful—on body care, as well as a morning health program she hosted for five years (which closed a year ago), have allowed her to earn enough to support the entire family.

Pavel is just beginning his evening meal when it suddenly starts to rain. Delighted that he had repaired the ceiling hole a few days earlier, he begins eating his hot salmon. Pavel just loves the rain, and even when it's not raining, he has a habit of listening to the sounds of raindrops through his headphones while he sleeps. Recently, he has started playing these sounds instead of music while walking, finding them much more soothing than his favorite compositions.

Now, enjoying the natural sound of the rain, Pavel settles in with a book, a newfound passion of his. Having watched a variety of films adapted from novels, he recently became curious about the experience of consuming a story in its original form.

He started with the original novel of his favorite animated film, "Heroes." Although it was difficult to get used to reading at first, and his concentration wavered from time to time, Pavel quickly became immersed in the process. The style of the novel contributed to this: it is simple and not overloaded with complex words or intricate phrases. Today, as Pavel finishes the novel, he comes to the conclusion that it’s neither superior nor inferior to the film adaptation; it's simply a different experience, with a focus on different elements.

The novel describes the fates of the characters, their appearance, and many details that remained behind the scenes in the film adaptation. It ignites the imagination and, no matter how banal it may sound, compels readers to build the book's world in their minds. Numerous scenes and details missing from the film enrich the novel, making its world feel vividly alive.

The animated film, on the other hand, features incredibly strong direction: the cinematography, acting, and music enhance many scenes even more than they do in the book. The main character is portrayed with remarkable clarity, along with the embodiment of many other characters. While the film may not offer the same scope for imagination as the book, it makes up for it with its own unique strengths. Ultimately, the greatness of both the novel and the film is a testament to one author—Alikhan Maskhadov.

"I'm heading out, Mom," Pavel says as he prepares to leave for university.

"Okay, son, good luck," Tatiana replies lovingly. "Did you remember to take your lunch?"

"Yeah, I packed it," Pavel confirms before heading out the door.

"Alright, go get those A's!"

Mikhail Krylov University is one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in the city, having stood for 129 years and survived the Bestial War. A peculiar aspect of this institution is that it was founded thanks to a penguin, an animal that typically inhabits northern lands and rarely ventures elsewhere. Penguins are known for being private and mysterious creatures, which makes this university an extraordinary exception to their usual reclusive behavior.

The third class is a history lesson, and judging by the sleepy expressions on many students' faces, they don't seem particularly interested. An elderly teacher discusses the history of the relationship between predators and herbivores, covering both their periods of peaceful coexistence and conflict. The topic feels somewhat awkward for nearly everyone in the classroom, where there's only one student who's actually a predator.

It’s finally a long break, and Pavel can grab a snack. Predators have faced hunger more acutely since ancient times, making their cravings much more intense than those of herbivores. Even after millions of years of evolution, this issue remains relevant. However, as Pavel sets a box of hot chicken breast and boiled rice in front of him, he doesn’t need to dwell on such problems.

Savoring a delicious lunch with a cup of hot coffee, Pavel sits contentedly alone in the corner of the dining room. No one dares to join a predator at the table, but Pavel has long grown accustomed to this attitude and doesn’t let it bother him much.

As he attends his remaining classes, Pavel occasionally catches sidelong glances from his classmates, as usual. After finally finishing, he heads home, turning on the soothing sounds of rain in his headphones.

"Mom, I’m home," Pasha announces, as he usually does when he returns.

"Oh, you’re back already, Pasha? That was quick," Tatiana replies, standing in the kitchen and speaking to her son through the window.

"The teacher got sick, so they let us out early," Pasha explains.

"Oh, I see. Have you eaten?"

"Yes," the wolf replies. "It was delicious. What’s for dinner?"

"We have some leftover fish. Is there anything else you’d like me to cook for you?" Tatiana asks solicitously.

"The fish will be fine," Pasha says, "and some rice if there’s any left."

"Okay, it’ll be ready in ten minutes."

With a rumbling stomach, Pavel heads to his shack.

Lying on his bed, the young wolf begins dialing the number from a job advertisement. Although the university offers a decent scholarship, Pavel wants to earn a bit more and keep himself occupied in the evenings. While browsing, he came across a vacancy for a consultant at a supermarket— a straightforward job that will help him gain some financial independence.

"Hello," a polite voice greets him from the other side of the line.

"Uh, hello. My name is Pavel," the young wolf replies, getting out of bed and pacing around the room. "I saw your ad for a consultant at your store yesterday, so I thought I’d call. Is the position still available?"

"Yes, it is, Pavel. Thank you for reaching out. Did you notice the note about needing a mediumsized consultant?"

"Yes, I’m of average size," Pavel explains.

"Okay, and what species are you, if I may ask?" the director inquires.

"…I’m a wolf," Pavel responds after a brief pause.

"Oh, uh… a wolf, I see," the director says, sounding taken aback. "Alright, well, Pavel, we have a few other candidates to consider. We’ll add you to the list of potential consultants."

"Got it," Pavel replies, already knowing full well that he won’t be hired.

After the interview, the wolf sets the phone down on his bedside table and lies back on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, he thinks about how he’ll need to build his career and life, especially if he can’t even get a job as a supermarket consultant. For now, that problem isn’t pressing, so after recovering from the bitter rejection, Pasha does something he hasn’t done in a long time—he turns on the TV.

A movie, an ad, a football match, another ad, more ads, and finally, the news.

"...Another predator was found this morning and urgently hospitalized. The cause is poisoning; witnesses to the incident discovered a dart in the victim's body. Although the victim's condition is now stabilized, the authorities recommend..."

Pavel turns off the TV. He's had enough of his own troubles without needing to hear about any assaults.

Catching sight of the full, beautiful moon through the window, Pasha’s ancient instincts kick in, prompting him to take an evening stroll.

"Mom, I’m going for a walk," Pasha informs Tatiana, so she won't worry.

"Okay, son. Just don’t stay out too late," Tatiana warns.

This spring evening in the city of Korolyaevo is calm and peaceful. To the left, the skyscrapers of the city center rise above the low-rise houses and trees. However, here in the mountainous outskirts, the atmosphere is more subdued, yet it is even more favorable for quiet individuals like Pavel. The houses are mostly two stories high, surrounded by lush trees and greenery. The clean streets, chirping crickets, and fluttering moths create an ideal ambiance for an evening walk.

Pavel is dressed in his usual clothes: dark blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a grey windbreaker with the hood pulled over his head. With his head down and headphones in place, the soothing sound of rain filling his ears, he makes his way to a nearby hill that offers a stunning view of the moon he desires.

Two middle-aged sheep approach the young wolf, feeling a thrill at the sight of him, but they continue on their way nonetheless.

"And then they’re surprised that the predators are attacking us," one sheep says in a half-whisper as they pass by Pasha.

"You can say that again," her friend replies, nodding in agreement.

Pavel doesn’t hear their conversation, but even if he did, he wouldn’t give it much thought. Over the years of living here, this attitude has become habitual for him.

After nearly a hundred more steps, Pasha notices a suspicious conversation about twenty meters away. As he gets a little closer, he sees two wolverines clearly confronting a young rabbit.

"What's a little rabbit like you doing out here at this time?" one of the wolverines asks with a sly grin.

"What's the big deal?" the girl replies, slightly annoyed. "This is a neighborhood of herbivores. So is the city."

"So, you're saying the predators aren't allowed here?" the wolverine's tone grows more aggressive.

"I don't care," the rabbit responds wearily, wanting to be left alone.

"Borya, wait..." one of the wolverines continues, still blocking the rabbit's path. "Maybe this is the same avenger they're talking about on the news?"

"What?" the rabbit asks, perplexed.

"Hmm… It may be, Serge," Borya agrees, though it's obvious they have no grounds for such suspicion.

"Is there a problem?" Pasha suddenly joins the conversation, positioning himself between the wolverines and the rabbit.

"Hey, what are you—?" one of the wolverines begins aggressively, but upon seeing the large wolf, he quickly backs down. "Oh, you're a predator."

"What’s going on here?" Pasha asks.

"This rabbit is just wandering around; she looks shady," the wolverine quickly explains.

"I told you, I was just out for a walk," the rabbit tries to justify herself again, but it’s in vain.

"Shut up, nibbler," one of the wolverines taunts.

"Ha! Nibbler, that's a good one," his friend chimes in.

"Just leave," Pasha tells the wolverines, already fed up.

"What are you talking about?" the wolverines are perplexed. "Dude, you’re a predator too..."

"Go home. Quick," Pasha straightforwardly threatens.

"…Alright, okay," the wolverines concede and leave at a brisk pace.

"Thanks," the girl says, grateful to her intercessor. "I should've guessed it would come to this. These predators... I'm sorry; I didn't mean to..." The rabbit hurries to apologize, inadvertently showing tactlessness.

"It's okay," Pasha reassures her. "I can walk you home; you never know what might happen."

"No, no, thank you," the rabbit softly interrupts. "I live right next door."

"Are you sure?" the wolf asks, just to clarify.

"Yes, it's fine," the rabbit repeats. "Thanks for the help."

"Well, as you wish," Pasha calmly accepts her refusal. "Good luck."

"Thanks again," the rabbit replies, and they part ways.

After walking nearly two kilometers from home, Pasha finally reaches the hill. The climb is a bit of a struggle since there are no stairs, but the view is definitely worth it. The weather is still wonderful; a light wind gently ruffles the wolf's fur as he sits down on the fresh grass, admiring the sight of the night city, its towering skyscrapers, and especially the Moon.

As the young wolf reflects on his life and his place in this world, he wonders whether he has a future in Korolyaevo. Will he be able to achieve something? Will he find friends? These questions have remained unanswered for quite some time, and it seems unlikely that tonight will bring any change.

Only the Moon keeps the wolf company right now. Instinctively, Pasha's gaze is drawn to her; he stares at her, absorbed in the moment. And then, suddenly, he howls at her.

"Woo-gh-woo-gh," Pasha coughs out. "…I can't even howl properly."

His unsuccessful attempt to howl from the heart leaves him feeling a bit down, and he hopes that anyone who might have heard the howl won't call the police.

As Pasha continues to sit on the grass, ready to head home, his phone suddenly rings.

"Hello?" he says, but there's only silence. "Hello?" he tries again.

After a few seconds, the unknown caller hangs up.

"...Did they dial the wrong number?" Pasha wonders. With that thought lingering, he starts making his way home.

But the surprises aren't over yet. As Pasha returns by the same route, this time without headphones, he spots two suspicious characters—a young hare and a deer, both wearing masks—exiting a jewelry store with a bulging bag.

"And why did I take you with me?" the deer asks plaintively. "You can't even carry the bag."

"Would you have opened the lock with your horns?" the hare retorts.

"Stop!" the deer says, his voice low, pointing at Pasha.

They both stand still, eyes locked on each other, understanding what's happening. Suddenly…

"Run!" the hare screams, and the thieves begin to flee.

Quickly realizing that he cannot catch up with the hare, Pasha focuses on the deer. Aware that he can't get far with a bag full of jewels, the deer quickly throws them aside and increases his speed.

"The wolf is chasing me! A predator!" the deer screams, alerting the nearby police officers.

Pretty quickly, Pasha catches up with the deer and rushes at him, knocking him to the ground.

"Don't eat me! I'll give you a share!" the deer pleads in a panic.

"Save it for the judge," Pasha retorts, refusing the offer.

"Stop!" Two bear cops arrive just in time. "Paws up!"

"He was stealing with a hare," Pasha begins to explain. "Or maybe it was a rabbit; I didn't..."

"Paws up, quickly," the police repeat, this time clearly addressing Pasha.

"What are you doing?" Pasha asks, perplexed.

"Arrest him, please! He wanted to eat me!" The deer suddenly turns the tables, and the police readily believe him.

"Get on the ground, now!" they order. Realizing there's no point in making excuses, Pasha complies.

"Are you okay?" one of the officers asks the deer.

"Yes, everything is fine," he replies. "Thank you. I was just walking home when this wolf suddenly started chasing me..."

Justice doesn't prevail this evening, and the deer, as the so-called victim, is released. Pasha accepts his fate with the deepest disappointment. For some reason, he is not at all surprised that it ended that way.

Part 2

Finding out about her son's situation the next morning, Tatiana quickly heads to police station number seventeen.

"Hello, my name is Tatiana Morozova," she says, addressing the officer on duty. "I came here for my son; his name is Pavel."

"I'm sorry, Tatiana, but the only Pavel here is that wolf in the cell," the attendant explains in a semi- sleepy voice.

"This is my son," she insists, causing the attendant to choke on his tea.

"Kha-kha… Your son?" he clarifies.

"Yes, I came here for him," Tatiana replies, her tone becoming slightly more aggressive. "They told me he was taken away by mistake."

"Yes, that is correct," the attendant confirms. "There's an officer in the viewing room; he will open the cell."

Tatiana walks briskly toward her son while the attendant tries to comprehend the situation with surprise. Foster children are common, but for an herbivore to take in a predator...

"Pasha!" Tatiana calls out to her son with relief as he is released from the cell. "Pasha, are you all right?"

"...Yeah," the wolf replies, his eyes devoid of life. There are no visible signs of beatings or injuries, but the disappointment from yesterday's injustice still gnaws at his soul.

"Let’s go home, son," Tatiana says, gently taking Pasha by the paw.

The entire walk home feels very awkward for Tatiana. From time to time, she glances at her sadlooking son, trying to catch a glimpse of his eyes hidden beneath his hood as he slowly trudges along with his head down.

"How about we get something tasty?" Tatiana suggests, passing by a pastry shop.

"No, I don't want to," Pavel mutters under his breath, continuing to walk.

At home, without saying a word, Pavel heads to his shack, while Tatiana stands on the porch of her house, watching him walk away. She feels an overwhelming concern and a strong desire to help her son, but she doesn’t yet know how.

An hour passes. As expected—given the gray morning sky—it begins to rain heavily. But this time, the rainfall doesn’t bring Pasha any peace or joy. He sits on the bed, his eyes fixed on the floor, lost in thought about his life.

"Pasha?" Tatiana calls from outside. "I fried fresh fish; would you like some?"

Her son doesn’t respond, deepening her concern.

"...Son? Do you hear me?"

"I'm not hungry, Mom," Pasha's barely audible voice comes from the shack.

Tatiana tells the other sons who helped her bring the fish to the shack, "You may go." Left alone, she continues trying to reach Pasha.

"Son, open the door," she urges.

"Why?" the wolf replies, clearly unwilling to talk.

"I want to talk to you. Please open the door."

After a few seconds of silence, Pasha opens the door and immediately sits back down on the bed.

Tatiana, observing her son's bitterness, sits down beside him and gently takes his paw.

"Pasha… Are you okay?" Tatiana asks in a caring tone, already knowing the answer.

"...No, I'm not okay," Pavel admits candidly. "I'm fed up with this place, Mom. Over the past few days, it's become painfully obvious. People look at me askance everywhere; they’re afraid of me and dislike me, even if no one says it directly. I wanted to find a part-time job and start living separately, but no one wants to hire me. I'm just tired of this city and this kind of life."

"Well… Everyone faces misunderstandings," Tatiana tries to support him. "The main thing is to fight against this and show everyone your best side."

"Right now, I just want to escape from this misunderstanding, not fight it," Pavel replies, continuing with his pessimistic attitude. "Besides, what's the point of showing my best side if no one wants to see it?"

"But I see it," his mother insists, undeterred. "I saw a small, crying wolf cub at my door and took him in, even when others thought it was foolish. And now you’ve become a part of our family, showing your best side time and again over the years."

"...Probably..." Pasha answers uncertainly, starting to feel a little better from the support of his beloved mother.

"Not 'probably,' but definitely," Tatiana responds confidently.

"...Thanks, Mom," Pasha says with a slight smile.

"I'm just doing what moms do," Tatiana replies, pleased that her son is starting to feel better. "Have you stopped being sad?"

"...Yeah," Pasha says, still smiling.

"I didn't quite catch that," Tatiana laughs happily.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better," Pasha adds, his smile growing wider.

"Okay, good," Tatiana says. "In that case, eat your fish before it gets cold."

"Okay," Pasha replies. As soon as his mom leaves the shack, he digs in.

Life goes on as usual, and Pasha comes to realize that his problems aren't so overwhelming; he can handle them. After all, he's not struggling financially, and he doesn’t have to scrounge for food. He has a wonderful family: a loving mom and caring siblings. His studies are going well, so... everything is really great.

With this positive attitude, he went to bed that night feeling hopeful, and it has remained with him ever since. Today, everything is calm and clear: lectures come one after another, seminars go smoothly, and his teachers are impressed. Even those who are critical of Pasha can’t find fault, because no matter how they look at it, he is excelling in his studies.

With only two more classes until he can head home, it's now lunchtime.

"A can of Green Lizard, please," Pavel says. He grabs a soda and sits down at an empty table, just like he usually does.

Today's lunch features pasta with tomato sauce and roast turkey as the main course—a rare treat he really enjoys. His favorite part, however, is the brisket.

"You know, it's probably super convenient to eat dirt," Pavel overhears a voice say amidst the chatter in the dining room. The comment comes from a deer named Kolya, who is currently picking on a group of three herbivorous nerds: a pig named Grisha, a goat named Igor, and a sheep named Stepan.

"No need to spend money; simply come to the dump and start feasting," the deer sneers, a nasty smile spreading across his face. "I wish I were a pig. Although, who in their right mind would want to be a dirty pig?" he adds, laughing loudly.

"I bathe almost every day, actually…" Grisha mutters.

"What was that?" Kolya snaps aggressively.

"N-nothing," Grisha stammers.

"I'm done chatting with you," Kolya says irritably. "Hand over your lunch money, now."

"But we already gave it to you this morning…" Stepan dares to contradict.

"Who do you think I am?" the bully retorts, his aggression escalating. "I know you've got more, so cough it up - fast!"

"You can try," Pasha says, approaching Kolya from behind.

"What did you say?" the deer asks, but as he turns to face the wolf, his confidence quickly fades. "Pasha... it's you. How are you?"

"What’s going on?" Pasha asks, standing in front of Kolya. "You wanted money? You can try taking it from me."

"No, no," Kolya stammers, his eyes darting. "I don’t need your money, I’m just talking to them."

"Get lost," Pasha says, no longer wanting to listen to the deer.

"Okay," Kolya replies, quickly backing away.

"Thank you," Igor says to the wolf, "he's always extorting money from us…"

"Yes," Stepan adds, "you really helped us out."

"No problem," Pasha replies modestly. "Just let me know if he bothers you again."

Having said that, Pavel returns to his table as if nothing had happened.

"Uh, wait…" Igor stops him. "Would you like to sit down with us?"

Pavel, taken aback by the unexpected invitation, hesitates. "...Well, okay," he replies, looking away as he joins the group.

These three students are considered the biggest outcasts in their course. Obsessed with video games and pop culture, they constantly discuss these topics among themselves, struggling to connect with their peers but seemingly unfazed by it.

"So, uh... how are you?" Grisha begins awkwardly.

"...I'm fine..." Pasha replies, feeling a bit uneasy.

"And what year are you in?" Igor asks.

"The second," Pasha responds.

"Ah... we’re in the first," Stepan adds.

"Mm... and how do you like it? Are you studying well?"

"It’s fine," they all say in unison.

With each question and answer, the conversation feels more awkward and forced, but Pasha and the others are trying to brush it off. After all, every new acquaintance starts like this.

"Listen… Are you busy tonight?" Stepan asks.

"...I guess not," Pasha replies. "Why?"

"We're, uh... hanging out today. Want to join us?" Grisha offers uncertainly.

"Uh... what are you doing there?" Pasha asks. "Well, that is… what’s the plan?"

"Just chatting," Grisha answers with a smile.

"We talk, we eat. It’s really fun," Stepan explains, and the others nod in agreement.

"Hmmm... well, I don’t mind meeting up," Pasha says.

"Great!" the guys exclaim, excited.

Although these three give Pasha the impression of being somewhat downtrodden and peculiar, he still agrees to the meeting. After all, why not? The wolf has no plans for the evening, and he himself isn’t exactly the most popular or sociable animal in his society, so he doesn’t see it as a problem to hang out with them.

Later that evening, wearing his dirty green hoodie—the weather forecast predicted rain—and dark sweatpants, Pasha sets off to meet his newfound friends.

"Mom, I'm leaving," Pavel informs Tatiana.

"Where are you going, Pasha?" Tatiana asks, always interested.

"Uh, the guys from university invited me to meet up," the wolf admits reluctantly. "So..."

"Oh, really?!" Tatiana exclaims joyfully. "Have you finally found some friends?"

"Uh... I don't know; it's hard to say yet," Pasha stammers. But Tatiana is already beaming with excitement, thrilled to see her son, who has lived without friends for so long, finally connecting with others.

The meeting place for the friends is very cozy: a table with two benches under a large oak tree, offering a lovely view of a small lake. Few people come here in the evening, making it perfect for gatherings without too much disturbance.

"Pasha!" Grisha calls out to the wolf, spotting him from twenty meters away.

"Hey," Pasha greets his new friends with a slight smile.

On the table, there are already sodas, chips, and an assortment of cupcakes and cakes.

"You guys have prepared well," the wolf remarks, still smiling.

"Heh, yes," the others reply contentedly. "Enough small talk—let's dig in!"

"How long have you been here?" Pasha asks as he takes a seat on a bench.

"We just got here," Stepan explains.

"…So… what’s the topic of conversation?" Pasha asks, breaking the short silence.

"We were talking about movies," Stepan replies.

"Do you watch movies often, Pasha?" Grisha inquires.

"Well, not that often," Pasha answers. "Two or three films a week."

"And what are your favorites, if you don’t mind me asking?" Igor asks, slightly curious.

"Well... Diligence," Pasha recalls. "Have you seen it?"

"Uh, no," the others admit, looking away awkwardly.

"Cool movie; you should check it out sometime," Pasha recommends.

"Do you watch superhero movies?" Grisha asks, getting closer to the point since those are the

films they are most interested in.

"I haven't watched them in a long time," Pasha clarifies. "I recently saw Heroes, though."

"Heroes?!" the friends exclaim in surprise. "We've seen that too!"

"Yeah, it’s a cool movie," Pasha shares his opinion.

"This is one of the best superhero films ever!" Stepan praises the movie enthusiastically, and the others nod in agreement. "This movie has a great story, well-developed characters, and engaging conflicts. The technical aspects are simply amazing and will never become obsolete, I’m sure. It consistently uses interesting lighting and color schemes, and the cinematography is top-notch. The music—heroic yet dramatic and somber—lingers in your memory, enhancing the emotions of each scene.

Of course, one of the movie’s main strengths is its characters and the actors who portray them. Their designs are captivating and deserve a ten out of ten; every movement and gesture is polished to perfection, conveying just the right emotions. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest works in history and among the best superhero films in general. For me personally, probably the best."

"Same here," Grisha agrees, and Igor nods in confirmation.

"Have you read the novel on which the movie is based?" Pasha asks, finding common ground with the guys.

"Not yet," Igor admits, "but I plan to."

"I've read it," Stepan mentions.

"Me too, recently," Grisha adds, "although I don’t read much—just comics—but I couldn't resist this one."

"The novel is also very good," Pasha concludes.

"Yes, I totally agree," Stepan supports him. "In fact, it's impossible to say whether the novel is better or the movie; they both have their own strengths. The book, with its detailed descriptions and intricate plots, sparks your imagination and allows you to explore its wonderful world alongside the main character. Meanwhile, the movie brings all those vivid images to life on screen, blending music, acting, and much more into the experience."

"Yeah, I think so too," Pasha says.

"Have you guys heard the news?" Igor shifts the topic. "The herbivorous vigilante poisoned another predator yesterday. They say he's in serious condition right now."

"Enough about this vigilante," Grisha replies irritably. "You talk about him all the time..."

"What's the big deal?" Igor defends himself.

"Well, if this vigilante could teach some predators a lesson, I'd be all for it," Stepan admits. "I understand that just being born a predator doesn't automatically make you bad, but they can be really..."

Suddenly, in the midst of his sincere confession, Stepan catches Grisha's sidelong glance, as if to say, "The wolf is here; shut up."

"…Ah, uh… damn, I'm sorry, Pasha, I didn't mean to…" Stepan quickly justifies himself.

"It's okay, you're right," Pasha reassures him. "I keep seeing news about predators doing bad things, and herbivores saying they need to be completely isolated from them. Maybe it's in our blood…"

"That's not true," Igor counters. "When Kolya tried to take our money, all the herbivores just sat there and watched, while you helped us. So…"

"Yes, but sometimes I just feel this urge for… I don't know how to explain it. Sometimes I want to run on all fours without stopping and howl at the moon until my throat hurts for days. But I can't do that, you know? Maybe in the territory of the predators, I would find everything I'm missing so much here."

After these words, Pasha catches the slightly puzzled glances of his friends. They were obviously not prepared for such honesty.

"…I'm sorry, I got a bit carried away," Pasha says, lowering his head.

"No, no, it's okay," the others reassure him. "We understand."

The awkwardness of the first meeting gradually fades, and the new friends prepare to discuss lighter topics. Suddenly, Pasha's stomach begins to rumble treacherously.

"Hmmm," Pasha says plaintively, holding his stomach.

"What's wrong?" the friends ask.

"…I’m a little hungry…" the wolf admits.

"Oh, no problem, wait," Stepan says, placing something wrapped in foil in front of Pasha.

"What is it?" Pasha asks, but the answer comes even before he unwraps it.

"Chicken kebab," Stepan explains. "We thought you might not get enough from the chips."

"…Thank you," Pasha replies with a smile. The guys dig in, continuing to chat about movies, cartoons, video games, and more.

"Took your time, didn't you?" Tatiana greets Pasha as he arrives at half past eleven. "How was it?"

"It was fine; I liked it," Pasha replies. "We're thinking of meeting again tomorrow."

"I'm very happy for you," Mom says with a big smile. "I told you all problems are temporary."

"Yes, you were right," the wolf admits. "Okay, Mom, I'm going to bed; I have university tomorrow."

"Yes, yes, go," Mom replies. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No, I ate there," Pasha waves it off and heads to his room.

Falling onto the bed, Pasha stretches his paws behind his head, settling in as comfortably as possible and preparing to sleep. The dim, warm light from the table lamp illuminates the shack, creating a relaxing atmosphere. All that's missing for complete bliss is the sound of rain outside the window, but Pasha plans to fix that with his headphones right now. Just as he begins to do so, his phone rings—it's the same number he received a call from a couple of days ago on the hill.

Pavel hesitates for a moment before responding, "Hello?"

There is another pause, followed by silence.

"Hello, who's this?" Pavel asks a bit louder, but the silence continues. "Well, I'm just going to blacklist you," he mutters, about to hang up.

"No, wait!" A woman's voice suddenly comes through the line.

Pavel lifts his finger off the mute button and brings the phone back to his ear. "What?" he asks warily, expecting some kind of scam.

"I... I wanted to ask," the woman says, her voice trembling with excitement. "Your name is Pavel, isn't it?"

Pavel responds uncertainly, "Uh, yeah..."

"And... you're a wolf, aren't you?"

"Yes. And who are you?" Pavel asks, curious.

"I... uh..." The woman stammers, her breathing uneven.

"...Well?" Pavel presses.

"Well... I'm your mom," she blurts out.

Pavel's face contorts in disbelief as he glances at the smartphone screen. "What?!"

"No, I—wait, that is, I..." The woman suddenly begins to stutter. "I wanted to ask… how are you?"

"Are you kidding me right now?" Pavel replies, incredulous.

"No, no! I, uh... I just got your number... from the president of your university, and... I decided to call," the woman insists, her voice trembling as if she might faint from excitement at any moment.

Silence falls again. Pavel sits on the bed, overwhelmed, his eyes drifting around the room as he tries to process everything.

"...Can you hear me?" the woman asks uncertainly, breaking the silence.

"...How can you prove that you are my mother?" Pavel questions.

"Well, uh... your fur is gray. Your eyes are blue. And... your real last name is Dobrov, not Morozov, as the president told me."

"Anyone who’s seen me could know that, and you could have lied about the last name," Pavel replies, his skepticism reasonable.

"I know, but… it’s true," the woman insists.

"Okay," Pavel concedes for a moment, feeling a flicker of belief. "And why did you suddenly decide to call me?" he inquires, seeking clarity.

"Well, uh... I don't kn—I mean, I know!" The woman stammers, caught up in her own insecurity. "I just wanted to know… how are you?"

"...It's fine," Pavel replies, his heart involuntarily starting to beat a little faster.

"I'm glad..." his mother says, and an awkward silence follows for a few seconds. "Do you mind if we meet? There's so much I'd like to tell you..."

"Why would I want to meet you?" Pavel asks abruptly, putting his mother in a tight spot.

"I don't know..." the woman responds. "For no reason, I guess."

"...Okay." Out of curiosity, Pavel agrees. "And where can I find you?"

"I live in the territory of the predators," she explains. "Find the village of Green Leaf. I live there. Ask about Anastasia; everyone knows me here. That's my name, by the way."

"Fine, I'll try to come," Pavel says.

"Okay, I'll be waiting," Anastasia replies hopefully. "See you later."

It was a real tsunami, hurricane, and earthquake all at once. Even after the conversation ends, Pavel continues to sit in place, holding the smartphone to his ear and trying to process everything that just happened.

"This is ninety-nine percent not a prank," the wolf thinks to himself, even though the woman had not provided any clear evidence.

Now the questions are different: What's next? Should he go to the predator territory? What will his foster mother think of all this? How will the meeting with his biological mother unfold? What will she say? Why did she leave him? What will he do after the meeting?

So many questions flood the young wolf's mind, sending shivers through his body. Something big is coming.

The next few days pass in a blur. Pavel skips the upcoming evening meeting, and all interactions take place only between classes in the dining room. He decides not to mention anything to his foster mother just yet but quietly packs his things for the trip, hoping to leave without unnecessary arguments or interrogations.

"Hey, Pasha," Stepan says to his friend.

After almost a week, Pavel agrees to hang out with them to their favorite spot under the oak tree, but he remains visibly depressed.

"Hey, Pasha!" Grisha calls out loudly, and that snaps the wolf back to reality.

"Eh? What? What is it?" he asks, looking at his friends.

"What's the matter with you?" they ask, concerned. "You haven't even touched the meat."

Pavel looks down, weighing his options. He decides he can no longer keep it to himself.

"A woman called me the other day..." he says, glancing off to the side. "She said she was my mother—the real one."

"Probably just a prank," Igor replies.

"No, I'm pretty sure she's really my mom," Pavel insists. "I'm ninety-nine percent sure of it."

"Oh..." The guys grasp the seriousness of the situation. "And what did she say?"

"She said she wants to meet, that she has a lot to tell," Pavel explains, feeling a slight chill pass over his skin, reminiscent of the day he spoke with Anastasia.

"Predictable," Stepan comments.

"And what, did you tell her the ship has sailed?" Igor asks, intrigued.

"No, I agreed to meet," Pavel replies, finally looking his friends in the eye.

"Why?" Igor’s question catches Pavel off guard.

"In what sense, 'why?'" Pavel says, confused. "This is an opportunity to meet my real mother and visit the territory of predators, with others like me."

"And why?" Igor repeats. "You have a family, studies, and friends here."

"Yes, but..." Pavel hesitates, unsure of what to say next. Igor's points are valid, yet something feels off. It seems like there’s something missing.

"But what?" Igor presses, already irritating Pavel.

"...There are no others like me here," Pavel tries to explain. "I’m constantly limited by some kind of framework, and..."

"And there's no way to run non-stop on all fours, then howl heartily at the moon and everything like that?"

These words from Igor sounded like a slight mockery, though he didn't mean it.

"Well... yes," Pavel answers uncertainly, looking around.

"Whatever you want, Pasha, but to be honest, this seems like a stupid idea," Igor shares his opinion.

"It's not a stupid idea," Pavel replies, his anger starting to rise.

"Why not?" Igor asks.

"I told you, it's an opportunity to live with my own kind," Pavel explains, his voice rising.

"And what makes you think that just because there are predators living there, they'll treat you well?" Igor asks, posing a reasonable question.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Pavel suddenly snaps.

"Did I say something wrong?" Igor asks, genuinely confused.

"You know what's stupid? Being losers who talk about all sorts of idiotic things every day instead of taking care of themselves—that's stupid."

These words hurt his friends deeply.

"...Well, since that's your opinion of our meetings, why do you keep coming here?" Igor asks, his face serious.

"...Don't worry, I won't return," Pavel replies, quickly walking away.

Deep down, Pavel knows that he hasn’t acted gracefully and that his reaction was too harsh. But in the heat of the moment, he won’t admit it.

The only friends he's had in twenty years. Although at first it felt unusual and awkward, but over time, it became so nice to meet, communicate, and share thoughts and experiences. It was comforting to realize that there are still others out there who care about him, who share his interests and offer support. Pavel found all of this, but only for a few days.

"How was the meeting?" Tatiana greets her son with the question, but he doesn’t respond. With a quick step and an angry expression, he heads to his shack.

"Pasha?" she calls out in a worried tone, sensing that something is wrong. "Son, is everything okay?" she asks, standing at the closed door of the shack.

"Yes," Pavel replies in a dissatisfied tone, wanting to be left alone.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Pavel shouts angrily.

Scared and worried, Tatiana retreats into the house, deciding to talk to her son in the morning when he wakes up.

Quickly tapping his foot like a hare, Pavel ponders his next actions. Sitting on the bed, he clutches his head in his paws, realizing just how confusing his situation is. He feels like the whole world is collapsing around him, and he has no idea how to fix it. But there’s no turning back; the decision has been made, and all that remains is to move forward. The territory of predators awaits.

Early in the morning, hearing strange noises coming from the shack, Tatiana quickly goes there.

"Pasha, what are you doing?" she asks her son, who is sitting with his back to her, busily packing a backpack.

"I'm leaving," Pasha says, not turning around. "My mom called me recently and said she is waiting for me in the predator territory, so I'm going there."

Tatiana asks with perplexity, "What? Wait, what mom? How did she find out about you? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Pasha finishes packing his backpack and gets ready to leave, saying, "Mom, let's not get hysterical, please. Don't worry; I'll be back."

"Wait, why did you decide to go to her at all?" Tatiana asks, following her son. "You have a house, a family. Why would you go there?"

"Because I don't feel like my real home is here," he answers, wishing she would leave him alone already. "I'm a predator, and apparently I don't belong among herbivores. Sorry."

"No, Pasha, wait! I am your mother, and I forbid you to go to unknown places with unknown people!"

"My mother? Look at you and me—how can you be my mother?"

Having said that, Pavel immediately realizes how hurtful his words have turned out to be for his mother. Tatiana stops and looks at her son, whom she raised from infancy as her own, despite all the hardships this entailed and the dangers others warned her about.

"...I'm sorry, Mom, I didn't mean to..." he hurries to apologize, but it's too late, and Tatiana quickly enters the house.

"Mom, that's not what I meant! I'm sorry," Pasha continues to plead, but Tatiana has already closed the door behind her. "Mom..."

Another loss. But there is no turning back, and with that realization, Pavel leaves.

A noisy train station. Many people glance askance at Pasha, but he ignores them and walks toward the ticket office.

"Hello, I need one ticket to the territory of predators," he requests.

"Couldn't settle in here?" the otter cashier asks with a barely perceptible grin.

"What?" Pasha replies.

"Nothing," the cashier says, closing the conversation as he hands Pasha a ticket.

After several hours of waiting, Pasha's train is finally getting ready to depart, and he hurries toward it, noticing a small commotion at the entrance.

"Why can't we get in the same car?" a rabbit asks in an outraged tone, standing next to her fox husband.

"Predators and herbivores must be in different cars," the hippopotamus conductor explains calmly. "Those are the rules."

"We're married, actually," the fox interjects.

"Yes, it's been almost five years," the rabbit adds.

"I'm very happy for you," the conductor replies, weary of the scene. "But I'm not the one making the rules. Please go to the different cars; you’ll be able to meet after the journey."

"What nonsense..." the rabbit and the fox exclaim in unison, spreading their paws in dismay.

"Here's my ticket," Pasha says, stepping forward.

"Why are you giving me a ticket?" the conductor replies, already weary of the fuss. "These are cars for herbivores. Do I need to explain this to everyone individually? The predator cars are further down; go there."

Feeling like he's in the middle of an earthquake and wanting to resolve this seemingly simple problem as quickly as possible, Pasha moves a few cars further down the train.

"Is this a predator car?" he asks the conductor, eager to avoid any more comments about himself.

"Yes," the squirrel conductor confirms in a calm voice.

"Here's my ticket."

"Okay, come on in," the conductor replies politely, and Pasha enters the train with relief.

Navigating through a cramped corridor filled with small wolverines, impressively sized bears, loudly growling tiger cubs, and lionesses endlessly chatting, Pasha finally reaches his compartment.

"Finally," he mutters under his breath as he settles into his seat.

A middle-aged, well-fed jackal sits directly across from him, quickly devouring a whole chicken.

"Want some?" the jackal offers, licking his fingers.

"No, thanks," Pasha replies politely, turning his gaze out the window.

Still reeling from the painful separation from his mother, Pasha calls Tatiana. The train gradually begins to move away, leaving the station behind, while the animals and their problems remain outside the window. Pasha, watching it all, listens to the lifeless beeps of the phone, waiting for an answer, but there is none. Meanwhile, Tatiana sits by the window overlooking Pasha's shack, shedding bitter tears.

Part 3

Almost two hundred kilometers later, the train reaches its destination—the territory of predators, known simply as the Jaw.

"We've arrived, passengers!" the conductor calls out, moving through the train cars. "End of the line, everyone!"

Barely awake in the uncomfortable environment, Pasha rubs his eyes and prepares to leave.

The station in the territory of predators looks far more modest than the one in the herbivore territory; in fact, it appears quite disgusting. Garbage, dirt, and rust are everywhere, while dubious characters wander around, asking visitors for money.

Observing the scene with surprise, Pasha ensures that all the pockets of his backpack are securely closed and moves toward the exit. Suddenly, he spots a familiar rabbit—the one he saved about a week ago.

"Small world," Pasha says as he approaches the rabbit from behind.

"What?" She turns around, looking bewildered, but immediately relaxes when she recognizes Pasha. "Oh, it's you. Hi."

"I thought you wouldn't remember..." Pasha replies, slightly surprised. "We didn’t exactly exchange names, after all."

"Hmm... was it necessary?" the rabbit asks, leaving Pasha a bit perplexed.

"Well..."

"Come on, I'm just kidding," she grins. "My name is Katya."

"I'm Pasha; nice to meet you."

"What brings you here, Pasha?" Katya asks curiously. "Have you decided to return to your native land?"

"This isn't my native land," Pasha explains. "At least, not as far as I know."

"Then what's the purpose of your visit?" Katya continues, her interest more out of politeness than genuine curiosity.

"It's... a long story," Pasha says. "I don't want to burden you. What are you doing here?"

"A long story too, and I don't want to burden you either," Katya says the same thing.

After finally leaving the train station together, Pavel and Katya are immediately blinded by the sunlight. They close their eyes for a few seconds, and upon opening them again, they are terrified by what they see: the territory of predators and its depressing appearance to visitors.

Old slums and collapsed multi-story buildings stretch out before them, with a dense layer of dust and sand forcing some animals to walk with handkerchiefs over their faces. Locals wander wearily, their eyes lifeless. In the distance, the sounds of flashing lights and sirens can be heard. Two homeless animals are fighting over a rotten piece of meat, while others sit nearby, waiting for someone to give them alms.

"Wow, I mean, I'd heard things were rough in predator territory, but seeing it like this..." Pasha trails off, his jaw dropping.

"Pretty much what I expected," Katya says with a measured tone. "Well, it was good to catch up, so long."

"So long..." Pasha echoes, still looking stunned.

As Pasha makes his way through the territory of predators, he keeps checking his pocket for his phone and tugging at his backpack to keep it close. Observing the tired and often unhappy faces of the locals, he's glad he chose to dress low-key.

"Spare some change..." a wolf, old and weathered, calls out from the ground. Pavel rummages through his pocket and hands over a few coins.

"Thank you, kind tourist."

"You've got to be kidding." Pavel frowns, trying unsuccessfully to reach Anastasia. His phone keeps beeping, but she won't answer—no matter how many times he tries.

After walking for almost a hundred meters and admiring the views of another destroyed high-rise building, Pasha hears strange noises nearby. Approaching the source of the sounds, he sees a young female wolf, about eighteen years old, sitting on the dusty ground and clutching a wounded paw. With her rare fiery red fur and striking green eyes, she appears quite cute, despite her tattered clothes: a worn sweater, dirty sweatpants, and patched-up sneakers.

"Need some help?" Pasha asks, glancing a little haughtily at the wolf.

"No, I'm fine," she snaps back sharply. "Just go."

"Are you sure you don’t need help?" Pasha asks again.

"Yes, I'm sure!" the girl replies irritably. "Back off—you're drawing attention!"

"Alright, alright..." Pasha says, taking a few steps back.

"She went that way!" Pasha overhears unfamiliar voices, the ground trembling from heavy footsteps.

"Damn, she's quick..." another voice mutters.

Just ten seconds later, Pasha sees two figures approaching: a formidable elephant and a rhinoceros, both in police uniforms.

"Hey, you," the herbivores say as they move toward Pasha. "Seen a red-furred wolf around here?"

"Nope," Pasha says quickly, his eyes darting to the spot where he'd just spoken with the girl.

"You sure about that?" the policeman asks in a menacing tone.

"Absolutely," Pasha repeats. "Haven't seen anyone."

"Damn it."

The officers exchange a look of frustration before turning and stomping away. After they leave, Pasha returns to the girl.

"What's your name?" he asks, looming over the wolf's head.

"Zhenya," the girl replies.

"Zhenya, what did you do?" Pavel presses, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Something important and necessary," Zhenya says vaguely.

"Important and necessary? You mean like taking care of animals or putting out fires? Those aren't exactly crimes, so come on, spill the beans," Pavel asks politely.

The wolf approaches the girl, gently lifting her into his arms.

"Think you can handle this?" Zhenya asks with a slight grin.

"I'll manage. If not, I might just have to drop you off," Pasha quips. "So, which way?"

"Go ahead now," Zhenya says, gesturing ahead. "I'll show you."

Mustering all his strength, Pasha carries her away from the gloomy place. Although, all the places here are gloomy.

It's getting late. As Pavel passes by the empty and half-ruined high-rise buildings, he occasionally catches a glimpse of poor predators hiding in the slums, watching the two strangers with eyes filled with fear.

Collecting dust on his clean, newly purchased sneakers, Pavel observes the setting sun casting its glow on the old signs of destroyed and closed grocery stores, clothing shops, pharmacies, and more. The horizon shifts from orange to purple, and amid the distant sounds of heavy vehicles and the howling of wolves, Pavel continues to carry the young rebel in his arms.

"When did you get here?" Zhenya asks out of the blue.

"Is it that obvious I'm a tourist?" Pasha replies.

"Very much so," the girl says confidently. "Those sneakers of yours are a dead giveaway. You might want to dress down a bit."

"Thanks for the tip. I'll keep that in mind," Pasha responds.

After covering two and a half hundred meters, Pavel finally reaches Zhenya's house. He feels tired, but he manages to conceal it.

"We're almost there," Zhenya announces, sharing the good news.

"Finally," Pasha thinks to himself.

They approach a small, unremarkable house—not that there's much difference between this one and the others in the area. At Zhenya's request, Pavel sets her down, and she makes her way to the door on her own two feet, wincing slightly with each step. After knocking a couple of times, Maria, Zhenya's mother, opens the door. Like Zhenya, she has fiery red fur, clearly showing that her daughter has taken after her.

"Hey, Mom," Zhenya says, leaning against the wall.

"Zhenya!" Maria exclaims, relief washing over her face. "I've been worried sick about you all day. Where on earth have you been? What happened?"

"I'm fine, Mom," Zhenya replies, clearly wanting nothing more than to rest.

"What happened to your paw?" Maria continues to ask.

"Seriously, Mom, I'm okay," Zhenya says, her irritation growing as she steps inside.

Maria's gaze drifts to Pavel, who's standing a few meters away. She lowers her voice to a whisper. "And who's this? One of your... 'friends'?"

"No, this is... I don’t even know his name, to be honest," Zhenya admits. "But he helped me get home."

Maria's expression changes from suspicion to joy. "Really? Well, young wolf, what's your name?"

"I'm Pavel," he replies, standing modestly on the threshold.

"Thank you so much, Pavel! You really helped us out," Maria says, beaming with gratitude and relief.

"No problem, it was nothing," Pavel replies. "Well, almost nothing," he mutters under his breath. "Well, I should probably get going. Take care."

"Hold on," Maria interrupts. "Where are you heading?"

"I'm still looking for a place to spend the night," Pavel explains.

"Why don't you stay here?" Maria offers. "We've got a spare room."

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll... find another place,” Pavel politely declines.

"Nonsense, it's not safe out here at night," Maria warns. "Come in, don't be shy."

"...Alright, thank you," Pavel finally concedes, thinking of the risks that lurk in the night.

As Pavel steps inside, he is immediately greeted by Nikita, the head of the family—a slender wolf with a coat of white fur.

“Darling, what's all the noise... Zhenya! It’s you!” he exclaims, his shock and relief evident.

"Hey, Dad, how are you?" Zhenya says calmly, bracing herself for a barrage of questions.

“Your mom and I have been worried about you all day. How else can things be?!” Nikita says, his tone a mix of concern and annoyance.

"Everything's fine, Dad. Really," Zhenya replies, trying to reassure him as she limps slightly.

Nikita's gaze shifts to Pavel. "And who might you be?"

"He helped Zhenya get home," Maria interjects, "so I've invited him to stay the night. It's too dangerous out there right now."

"Ah, I see," Nikita says, shifting his opinion about the guest. “Thank you very much.”

Pavel introduces himself, and Zhenya's father gives him a firm handshake.

"I'll take care of Zhenya's injury and then we'll have dinner," Maria announces.

"I can do it myself," Zhenya protests.

"Don't be silly," Maria replies with a hint of annoyance, gently guiding her daughter to sit on the sofa. "Let me help you. You just rest."

Fifteen minutes later, the family gathers around the dinner table.

"We're having buckwheat tonight," Maria announces, her voice bright as she arranges the dishes.

Pavel is surprised, once again noting how dire things are here, since ordinary buckwheat is considered a luxury.

"And we managed to get fresh bread today," Nikita adds, sharing his wife's excitement.

"Fresh bread," Maria echoes.

As they eat, Pavel notices that the buckwheat is a bit stale, but he doesn't say anything and continues to eat.

"So, Pavel," Nikita says midway through the meal, "you're not local, are you? I'm guessing you came from the wolf meadows. I've heard life's a bit easier for predators there."

"Uh, no, to be honest, I don't know about any wolf meadows," Pavel admits. "I came here from Korolyaevo."

"Korolyaevo?" Maria asks. "Isn't that in the herbivore territory?"

"Yeah, that's right," Pavel confirms.

"What were you doing there?" Zhenya asks.

"Uh... I lived there. My whole life, as far as I can remember."

Suddenly, everyone stops eating, and an awkward silence falls over the table.

"Oh..." Nikita says, lowering his gaze slightly.

"Wait, how is that even possible? How could you live there?" Zhenya asks with great interest.

"With my family," Pavel says, bewildered by their intense reaction. "My mother is a rabbit. She adopted me. I had siblings and everything."

The evening is getting more interesting.

"...Nonsense," Zhenya suddenly declares. "These cruel and ruthless monsters would never do such an act. They'd rather eat you themselves."

Maria looks sullenly at her daughter. "Zhenya..."

Pavel, not intentionally adding fuel to the fire, says, "You seem to have some feelings for herbivores..."

Zhenya accelerates, "It's hard not to when they're ravaging our land, destroying everything, and then acting like they're doing us a favor."

Nikita's voice takes on a firmer tone. "Zhenya, calm down."

“Wait, what are you talking about?” Pavel asks, looking confused.

“About the great battle between predators and herbivores,” Zhenya explains. “Don’t you study history there?”

“But it was the predators who started the war,” Pavel shares his version. “We were taught that the herbivores had had enough of being attacked and fought back.”

“What?” Zhenya exclaims indignantly. “This is nonsense! This is a blatant lie!”

“Stop, Zhenya, let’s drop the subject,” Nikita says, losing the last remnants of his patience.

“No, did you hear that?” Zhenya exclaims, her anger boiling over. “They're blaming us for the war! We have to do something about this!”

"What can we do?" her father exclaims. "You tried to do something, and look what happened. You're sitting here with a wounded paw, and your friends are either in jail or hiding in all sorts of garbage cans!"

The words cut deep, and the girl immediately falls silent. She looks around the kitchen, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger, but says nothing. It's not the first time her family has dismissed her dreams and criticized her actions. Like many times before, she silently retreats to her room.

"You went too far," Maria says in a half-whisper.

"What did I say wrong?" Nikita replies, still dissatisfied.

They both steal glances at their guest, who's visibly uncomfortable—which only increases their own unease.

"I'm sorry about that, Pasha," Nikita says, looking down.

"It's fine," Pavel replies, already mentally preparing to continue his journey.

After dinner, it's time to get some rest. The wolf family's house is small, so Pavel is sent to Zhenya's room.

"Are you asleep?" Maria asks softly, peering at her daughter, who lies with her back turned. "Sorry, Pavel, there's only one bed..."

"No problem," Pavel cuts in quickly. "It's okay."

"Alright, good night," Maria whispers, slipping out of the room.

"Good night to you too."

Pavel settles onto the floor at the far end of the room, opposite Zhenya, who is still lying with her back to him.

"...How do you like it here?" Zhenya suddenly asks, without moving from her spot. "In the territory of predators?"

"Well, it's... atmospheric," Pavel tries to smooth things over.

"It's disgusting," Zhenya immediately replies, wanting to be honest. "Just say it: disgusting."

"...Yeah, you're right," Pavel concedes.

"..Don't you want to change things?" Zhenya asks, posing an interesting question. "To make things right?"

"Are you asking me to join your revolution?" Pavel cuts to the chase.

"Why not?" Zhenya asks in a slightly raised voice.

"Thanks for the offer, but I will decline," Pasha answers politely. "That's not why I'm here."

"Then why" Zhenya asks.

"I need to meet someone here," Pasha explains vaguely.

"And then what?" the girl asks.

"I don't know," the wolf replies, already wishing to end the conversation.

"So you're content to just exist in these ruins, letting herbivores treat us like second-class citizens?" Zhenya asks with a slight aggression.

"...I'm not up to it right now," Pavel admits, sensing they've reached a dead end.

"What a fool," Zhenya says, offended.

"Maybe," Pavel agrees calmly, desperately wanting the conversation to end.

Zhenya spends the night facing away from Pavel, seething with anger and disappointment. Pavel, in contrast, lies on his back, feeling more charitable toward her. Besides, sleeping on the back is known to be quite beneficial.

Sleeping on your back reduces the risk of neck and spine pain by keeping them in a neutral position. This position allows for even weight distribution, which reduces pressure on the joints. Additionally, it decreases the risk of wrinkles and acne since the face does not press against the pillow, leading to less stretching and reduced contact with bacteria. As a bonus, sleeping on your back helps alleviate heartburn, as gastric juices are less likely to rise compared to sleeping on your stomach.

On the other hand, sleeping on your stomach has several negative effects on the body.

First, while sleeping on your back positively affects the spine, sleeping on your stomach can lead to lower back pain, as the spine is positioned unnaturally despite seeming convenient.

Second, this position can cause stiffness and pain in the neck due to having to turn it to the side for extended periods.

Third, as previously mentioned, sleeping on your stomach increases the risk of wrinkles and facial irritation.

Most importantly, this position can place extra pressure on your internal organs, impairing normal breathing and circulation.

You can minimize the negative effects of sleeping on your stomach by using a thin pillow or lying partially on your side. However, the potential harm still exists, and despite its apparent convenience, this position can lead to significant adverse consequences.

As for sleeping on your side, it is generally considered one of the best positions by many. Like sleeping on your back, side sleeping supports the spine in its natural alignment, especially when the correct pillow is used.

Secondly, side sleeping reduces the likelihood of snoring, as it keeps the airway open.

Additionally, sleeping on your side—particularly on your left—can help alleviate heartburn and acid reflux since the stomach is positioned below the esophagus, preventing acid from rising.

However, this position is not ideal either and can lead to certain issues, such as wrinkles (since the face still makes contact with the pillow), uneven breathing from bending the neck too deeply, and pressure on the shoulders and hips if the mattress is too firm.

In summary, proper sleep can significantly impact the body, affecting breathing, digestion, appearance, and overall comfort in movement.

Pavel has been packing since early morning, itching to continue his journey as soon as possible. Suddenly, while still in Zhenya's room—now empty—he hears some noise outside the door.

Nikita's plaintive voice is the first thing Pavel hears as he leaves the room. "I'm sorry, but we don't have any money..."

"We're barely making ends meet..." his wife adds, her voice trailing off.

Intrigued by the commotion, Pavel steps closer.

At the front entrance, he finds Zhenya's parents in conversation with a rabbit wearing a police uniform, while Zhenya herself stands behind them, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"What's all this about?" Pavel mutters to the wolf standing next to him.

"So sick of them," Zhenya says, her frustration evident. "It's not enough that they’ve destroyed our city; they’re now ripping us off as well. Now do you understand why I do what I do?"

"Hey, back off," Pasha intervenes. "Leave this family alone. They're already struggling enough as it is."

"Pasha, don't..." Maria tries to stop him.

"Oh, you've got a new savage here?" the hare sneers rudely. "Never seen him befo—"

In an instant, Pavel loses his patience and grabs the hare by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

"You're getting awfully brave talking to a savage like that," Pavel says threateningly.

"Ugh... let go, uhk..." the hare mumbles, unable to breathe properly.

"I'll let you go," Pasha says with chilling calm. "And when I do, you're going to leave this family alone, stop harassing them, and find yourself a decent job. Got it?"

"Y-yes," the hare stammers.

"Don't trust him," Zhenya warns before Pasha releases his grip. "He'll be back with reinforcements—rhinos and elephants."

"No, no, I swear no one's coming back," the hare pleads.

"Let them see that not all predators are bloodthirsty savages," Pavel tells Zhenya.

"Yes, yes, just please let me go," the hare begs desperately.

Pavel releases the hare, and he scurries away in an instant.

"We're going to regret this," Zhenya says with absolute certainty.

"Thank you for standing up for us, Pasha," Maria says gratefully.

"Yeah, you're very brave," Nikita adds.

"What's there to celebrate? They'll definitely be back with a whole gang of big herbivores. We should've eaten them," Zhenya mutters.

"Zhenya!" Maria scolds her daughter, trying to quiet her.

Confident in her conviction and bracing for potential trouble, Zhenya heads back to the house.

"Don't listen to her, Pasha. You did the right thing," Maria reassures him.

"I hope so," Pasha replies. "Well, I should get going. Thanks for having me."

"Why don't you stay a bit longer?" the head of the family suggests warmly.

"No, thanks, but I really need to get moving," Pasha politely declines.

"Well, good luck to you," the couple says, seeing him off, and Pavel continues on his journey.

Part 4

Continuing his journey through the ordinary, monotonous ruins of the predator territory, Pavel trudges forward as a light wind stirs up dust around him. Between occasional coughs and desperate pleas for alms, he suddenly hears some strange, aggressive sounds.

After walking about ten meters, Pavel encounters Katya again in a deserted alley, viciously kicking a heap of garbage.

"Looks like he's knocked out," the wolf remarks, drawing attention to himself.

"I'm not in the mood," Katya says.

"Nobody's in the mood here," Pasha remarks dryly.

"Why do all predators behave like such savages?" Katya suddenly asks, posing an interesting question. "We've evolved beyond being mindless animals. We have intelligence, but predators... Why are they still acting like wild barbarians?"

Pavel could have taken offense at her words, but he doesn't. Besides, he sees that something bad has happened to Katya and recognizes she's just trying to blow off steam.

"Well, it's either because of the lack of opportunities to get a proper education and upbringing, or because predators are just predators and it's in our blood. The first option is, of course, idiotic, so I'm betting on the second one," Pavel says sarcastically.

Katya remains silent, her eyes still fixed on the heap of garbage.

"So what happened?" Pasha asks again.

"...Someone stole my money, and I've been getting these constant suspicious looks," the girl explains bitterly. "Have they never seen a rabbit before?"

"And that's all?" Pasha sounds surprised. "Honestly, that seems like the least of what could happen to animals around here."

"Yes, that's all," Katya says, not wanting to minimize her problems. "Now I'll just have to sleep on the street and starve. That's all."

Pavel suddenly stops her, pressing some money into her paw.

"What's this?" Katya asks, bewildered, her eyes darting between the money and Pavel.

"Money," the wolf simply replies.

Katya remains motionless, hesitant to accept the gift.

"Go ahead, take it," Pasha encourages her. "Don't you need the money?"

With cautious, uncertain movements, Katya slowly accepts the money.

"...Thank you," she says.

"You're welcome," Pavel replies. "Look, I'm not sure why you're here, but my advice is to leave. It's pretty dangerous around these parts—though I'm guessing you've already figured that out."

"Thanks for the advice, but I'm not going anywhere," Katya politely refuses. "I'm here on important business."

"Suit yourself," Pasha says with a shrug. "Just be careful."

With that, Pavel continues on his way.

"Wait," Katya suddenly stops the wolf, and he turns to her.

"When I said all predators are savages, why didn't you point out that you're normal?" Katya asks, genuinely curious. "You even gave me money."

"My mother taught me not to brag about good deeds," Pavel replies modestly.

"Hmm," Katya grins. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Pavel replies and leaves.

Mobile communication on the territory of predators is spotty, frequently dropping out and vanishing completely for several minutes at a time. Barely managing to stay connected by constantly switching the type of mobile connection, Pavel navigates using maps and slowly makes his way toward the desired village, which is still many kilometers away.

"Just get here?" An unfamiliar voice suddenly breaks the silence as Pavel reaches the White Dove Wing hill.

"Sorry?" Pavel turns around, spotting a young fox dressed in tattered clothing.

"Oh, yes, recently," he responds.

"Thought so," the fox says with a sly grin. "Those sneakers of yours—they're way too clean. And nice."

Pavel instantly realizes this encounter is heading nowhere good, and the potential danger is rapidly escalating.

"Yeah, probably..." the wolf answers, trying to avoid problems.

"Where are you from?" the fox asks, curious.

"Korolyaevo," Pavel answers truthfully—and instantly regrets his openness.

"Interesting," the fox says with a calculated smile. "They despise us and call us savages. So how exactly do you manage to live among them?"

"Not everyone there thought I was like that..." Pavel replies with a serious face, now seriously considering putting the annoying fox in his place.

Suddenly, Pavel is hit from behind by the fox's partner, a dark wolf, causing him to fall to the ground.

The two predators start beating Pavel, who is trying to regain his senses and holding his backpack tightly in his paws.

"Go back to your masters, you traitor!" they exclaim angrily and run away.

After the assault, Pavel's entire body throbs with pain, his head spinning the worst. But at least they didn't rob him and nothing seems broken. Recovering, sporting a spectacular black eye, he sits down on the ground.

"Should've stained the sneakers after all," he jokes.

After dusting himself off and drinking some water, Pavel continues on his way. At least now he looks rough enough to blend in with the locals.

Wing of the White Dove, or simply White Dove, is the nickname for the hill situated on the city's outskirts. According to local history, this was the exact spot where the founders of the Jaw first surveyed the territory and made the decisive choice to establish their city.

The president of Zelenogorie wants to raise the herbivore flag here one day, marking his ultimate victory over the predators. He sees this moment as the crowning achievement of his leadership, firmly believing that such a triumph is very close.

Among other things, White Dove is special because the hill is covered with fresh, green grass and stands out strongly against the sandy landscape of the Jaw. The reason for this is that the hill leads to the Ivory Forest and serves as a natural transition zone between the Jaw and the forest.

Pavel chooses this hill to rest until morning. The setting sun gradually retreats from the gloomy city, surrendering it to darkness. As usual, distant wolf howls and loud siren sounds can be heard, and Pavel sighs with relief, grateful to be removed from the chaos. Here he finds a moment of solitude and relative safety. At least for now.

A few days later, Pavel passes through an unexplored, mysterious forest that seems lifted straight from a children's fairy tale, with its towering trees and crystal-clear streams flowing freely. Here, there are no conflicts, no quarrels, no screams, no hunger, no need—just a lonely wandering wolf. Finally, Pavel reaches the village of Green Leaf, where his real mother resides.

From a distance, she spots her son and immediately rushes out to meet him.

"Pasha!" she calls out joyfully, hurrying into the yard.

"Um, you... Are you Anastasia?" he asks hesitantly, standing about ten meters away.

"Yes," she replies with a smile. "It's me. Your mom."

Anastasia takes slow, careful steps toward her son, while he, unsure of what to think or do, remains still. Finally, when she is very close, Anastasia doesn't hold back and hugs her son tightly.

"You're here," Anastasia says, her voice trembling with tears. "I've been waiting for you for so long. So very long..."

"Yes, I'm here..." Pavel responds hesitantly, returning her embrace with equal uncertainty.

"Come inside," Anastasia invites softly. "I just baked a pie for you. Let's go in."

Anastasia's home is small but incredibly welcoming. Green Leaf itself is a peaceful place—the war has passed this village by.

"Sit down, I'll get you some tea right away," Anastasia offers, overwhelmed with excitement. "Or would you prefer coffee? What would you like?"

"Uh... coffee," Pavel says.

"Coffee, got it."

Sitting at a small table by the window, Pavel first looks at the delicious raspberry pie. Suddenly, his attention is drawn to a thunderstorm brewing in the distance. He watches the clouds slowly gathering, and gradually, one drop after another begins to fall to the ground.

"The journey wasn't easy for you, was it?" Anastasia says, noticing her son's worn appearance.

"Yes, there were difficulties," Pavel replies, leaving out many details. "But... I made it here."

"I'm so happy," Anastasia says with a warm smile and tearful eyes.

Meanwhile, the rain grows heavier, and distant thunder occasionally draws the attention of the mother and son sitting by the window, warm and cozy with their cups of warm drinks and the delicious pie.

"How did your family take your departure?" Anastasia asks suddenly.

"Well..." Pavel pauses, considering his answer, lowering his gaze and gripping the mug in his paws. "To be honest, they weren't happy about it. My friends weren't either. They tried to talk me out of it, but... here I am."

Silence. Pavel has achieved his long-awaited goal. For years, he had been lost, yearning for something more—desiring a simple life where no one looks at him suspiciously, where no one infringes on his rights, where he is surrounded by his own kind and can coexist comfortably, work, and live in peace. And now it has happened.

But at what cost? What has become of his foster mother Tatiana? What is she doing now? The foster mother who raised and cared for Pavel for twenty years is likely sitting at home with a broken heart, and the shack where Pavel lived for many years now stands empty.

It's all over now; it's time to put the past behind and start...

Morning. Pavel opens his eyes and realizes it was all a dream. He’s still lying on White Dove Hill and still has a long way to go.

Turning his head to the side and rubbing his eyes, he sees two cheetah cubs digging into his backpack and eating food from a container.

"Hey, that’s mine!" Pavel exclaims indignantly, about to shoo the cubs away, when suddenly their father appears and presses a sharp claw to his throat from behind.

"Easy now," the adult cheetah says in a relaxed tone. "We're just trying to survive. Hand over your wallet."

Knowing how lightning-fast cheetahs can be, Pavel prefers not to take any risks. Slowly, he takes out his wallet from his pocket and hands it to the predator.

"Okay, now the phone," the cheetah calmly orders.

"Well, at least let me keep the phone..." Pavel pleads.

"If I had my way, I wouldn’t touch you at all, brother, but times are tough right now. Please, hand over the phone," the cheetah replies.

This isn't personal—it's pure survival. The cheetah isn’t enjoying this, but he'll do whatever it takes to feed his cubs.

Without wasting time on futile requests, Pavel hands over his smartphone—an iPaw 13—to the cheetah.

"Alright, I'm going to take my claws off your throat. We'll go our separate ways. No funny business, got it?

With a slow nod of his head, Pavel agrees to the deal. The cheetah, taking everything he needs, leaves with the children, leaving behind only Pavel's light gray Bombix backpack.

"Hey!" Pavel suddenly calls out when the cheetahs are already fifteen meters away. "Any chance you know how to get to Green Leaf? I was using the GPS, but you took my phone."

"Head south until you hit a stream in the forest," the cheetah explains. "Then turn west and keep going straight. You'll see a hill—the village is right on top of it."

"Got it!" Pavel replies, and the cheetah family quickly disappears. "Well, what a lovely bunch of charming neighborhood beasts..."

As in his dream, the Ivory Forest turned out to be a truly fabulous place. Numerous, huge trees stretch toward the sky, and only thin rays of sunlight break through the canopy, illuminating the lush greenery below. Occasional birdsong and the rustle of the wind are the only sounds that sometimes interrupt the profound silence, making it seem as if this place exists in a completely different reality.

Pavel has been wandering through this forest for several hours now. Tired, hungry, and lonely, he barely resembles the person he was a week ago. Spotting a stream a few dozen meters away—apparently the one the cheetah mentioned—with moonlight casting a beautiful glow on the water, Pavel rushes forward, already hunched over like his ancient ancestors. He drinks deeply, and the water has never tasted so sweet.

After drinking his fill and lifting his wet muzzle from the stream, Pavel catches his reflection, and what he sees fills him with sadness. His melancholy deepens as he examines his paws more closely. His claws have grown larger and sharper, and his fur is caked with sticky dirt and dust.

Kneeling under the bright moonlight, Pavel reflects on his situation and the difficulties he has endured. Suddenly, he begins to howl. Unlike the pitiful howls he had uttered in the territory of the herbivores and his many previous attempts, Pavel now howls freely, loudly, and at length. It is a genuine ode to sadness and loneliness, performed with no listeners except himself. This is how his first night in the forest unfolds.

In the morning, after eating raw fish and drinking more water, the young wolf continues his journey. He remembers the path indicated by the cheetah and believes he is heading in the right direction. Despite lingering fears and excitement that he might still get lost or take a wrong turn, Pavel presses on. By lunchtime, he finally emerges from the dense forest where he has spent the whole day.

As the cheetah had said, Pavel spots a high hill where the village should be located. However, from his current low position, the village remains neither visible nor audible. Hoping to reach the place as quickly as possible and find rest—whether at his mother's house or simply in the village center—Pavel continues on his way, already feeling the ache in his paws.

After another hour, as the weather gradually turns cloudy again, just like in that dream, Pavel finally reaches the village. It's truly beautiful here. Small, one-story stone houses line the streets, with elderly people sitting on benches chatting softly, children playing soccer, and women washing clothes in their yards. Everyone greets Pavel with sidelong, puzzled glances. A disheveled figure in unusual clothes— jeans, sneakers, a hooded windbreaker—slowly wanders through the village, examining every house as if under a spell.

"Hello," Pavel addresses an old wolf, about sixty years old, sitting alone on the porch of his house. "Do you have some water?"

"Of course," the old wolf kindly replies, entering the house and returning a minute later with an overflowing mug of clean and cool water.

"Thank you," Pavel says with a smile, drinking the water as if it were his last.

"It seems like it took you a long time to get here," the old wolf remarks with a grin.

"Yeah, it's been quite a journey," Pavel responds, having finished the mug. "I'm looking for someone named Anastasia. She's a wolf, about... well, old enough to be my mother. She said she lives here."

"I know her," the old wolf says. "But she passed away just the other day."

"What do you mean, passed away?" Pavel asks, frozen in place.

"She's been very sick lately, and... wait a minute. Are you— You're her son, aren't you? Pavel, right?"

The old wolf stands next to Pavel, waiting for an answer, but Pavel just stands there motionless, staring into the void.

"Yes, it's definitely you," the old wolf says, judging by Pavel's reaction. "Hold on a moment."

He disappears into the house and returns shortly with a folded piece of paper.

"She wanted you to have this," the old wolf says, pressing the letter into Pavel's unresponsive paws. "I'm truly sorry."

Pavel slowly walks to a secluded spot about twenty meters from the village without turning his head or focusing his gaze on anything other than the letter. He sits down on the ground and carefully opens the letter from his mother.

"Dear Pasha,

I've struggled for so long to find the right words to begin this letter. I wish I could call you my son, but I didn't dare until the last moment. If you're reading this, it means we never got the chance to meet— and I hope you won't carry too much pain because of that. I had so much to tell you, so much to talk about—but it seems it's too late. You must be wondering why I left you all those years ago. The reason is painfully simple: I just couldn't provide for you. I was on the verge of poverty, and... It was so cruel. I won't even ask for your forgiveness because I know I don't deserve it. Even if you forgive me, I will never be able to forgive myself. I just hope that you're doing well and that you're happy with your new family enough not to be sad about my passing. I love you, Pasha, and I'm incredibly sad that we never met."

As Pavel finishes reading the farewell letter, bitter tears begin to stream down his face. His main goal in life has turned out to be a mirage. The real mother he had worked so hard to reach could not wait for him. His foster mother does not want to see him, and his friends are also disappointed in him. There are no more close animals in his life, and no place to call home. Unwanted in both the territory of herbivores and the territory of predators, Pavel realizes the full depth of his isolation. And so he continues to cry quietly.

Part 5

"They're coming," Zhenya informs her parents about the arrival of two herbivores at their house.

Realizing that the recent incident with the herbivore would not be without consequences, they decided to raise money in case ill-wishers came to their house, which, it seems, is happening. A huge rhino and an elephant are slowly walking toward the house, shaking the ground.

"Did you get the money ready?" the head of the family asks his wife.

"Yes, here," she replies, holding out a bundle of cash. "I hope it's enough..."

"Hey," Zhenya chimes in, drawing her parents' attention. "What's going on?"

The rhino stops about twenty meters from the house, lowers its horn, and charges full-speed toward the building. "Look out!" Zhenya screams, and within seconds, part of their house is completely demolished.

"Ha! I knew one hit wouldn't be enough!" the elephant exclaims triumphantly. "We'll need at least two more strikes to finish this."

Though the rhino feels frustrated about losing the argument, the excitement of the destruction somewhat makes up for it.

"Are you both okay?" Nikita asks, helping his daughter and wife climb out from the rubble.

"Yeah..." his wife mumbles, rubbing her head. "I think so..." Zhenya adds, brushing dust off herself.

Meanwhile, the rhino is already lining up for the second strike. "Stop!" Nikita yells, rushing toward the rhinoceros with the elephant.

"Wait! Hold on!" he pleads, pulling out a package of cash from his pocket. "Here's more than we usually pay. Take it, just please leave us alone."

The elephant snatches the money from the wolf's paws and starts carefully examining the bills. "We've pooled everything we've got," the wolf adds.

The plea seems to work. The elephant, looking down at them with an air of superiority, agrees to leave them alone. But then...

"NO!" Nikita screams as the rhino slams into their house again, reducing it to almost total ruins. "We paid you!"

"Yes, and that's precisely why we won't touch you," the elephant says with a big smile. "But the house wasn't part of our deal."

The herbivores burst into laughter at the predators. Suddenly, unable to stand all this humiliation, Zhenya attacks the elephant in a rage. She manages to scratch his face several times before the elephant swiftly grabs her by the throat.

"This is it. No amount of money can save you now..." the elephant says angrily, preparing to finish the family.

Suddenly, the herbivores are ambushed by neighboring predators: cheetahs, tigers, lions, and wolves. "The savages have gone completely wild!" the herbivores scream, fleeing in panic.

"Is everyone okay?" the neighbor asks the wolf family after driving off the attackers.

"Yes, we're fine. Thank you so much for helping us," Maria says gratefully.

"We can't thank you enough," Nikita adds.

"What's there to celebrate?" Zhenya cuts in, spoiling the moment of triumph. "They'll just come back later. They always do."

"Zhenya, don't be like that," her mother warns her sharply.

"Our neighbors put themselves in danger to help us," her father says.

"Exactly! They helped us, it's great!" Zhenya exclaims, catching her parents completely off guard. "Listen, I'm thrilled that the predators have finally stood up to the herbivores. But more trouble is coming, so we need to decide: either we sit at home and wait for our fate, or we take action! Am I not right?"

"Honey..." Nikita starts to say.

"She's right," one of the neighbors cuts in. The others nod in agreement.

"She's absolutely right."

"So are we going to keep cowering in our houses, or are we going to fight?"

"We'll fight!" the predators declare with fierce determination.

"But we're so few," one animal says hesitantly.

"Great movements always start small," Zhenya argues passionately. "And if we fail, at least we'll have gone down fighting instead of living in constant terror! Who agrees with me?"

"She's right!" the predators roar. "Let's show them our teeth!"

"Let's show them our teeth!" they chant in unison.

From this moment, the uprising begins. This tiny spark was destined to ignite a raging wildfire sooner or later, and now that moment has arrived. The rebellion might be short-lived, and the predators may be doomed to defeat, but as Zhenya said, at least they will have fought.

Meanwhile, Pavel lies on the grass, staring blankly at the sky as clouds drift lazily overhead. There's nothing left for him in Green Leaf, no reason to stay. "What now?" he mutters to himself.

After some reflection, he decides to retrace his steps—first to the predator territory, then to the herbivores' lands. Perhaps the past can still be brought back, he hopes.

Returning by the same route, Pavel once again makes his way through a huge forest. But this time, it neither fascinates nor frightens him. Previously, this mysterious place was one that he carefully examined from all sides, watching the thick and tall trees with almost unblinking eyes. Now, it's just another unremarkable stage on his way to the territory of the predators.

Almost a day later—the return journey was slightly quicker now that the route was familiar—Pavel reaches White Dove's Wing hill. Standing at the top, he suddenly freezes, his eyes wide with shock at the transformed predator territory. Before him stretches a landscape consumed by flames, dense smoke billowing into the sky, while distant growls and wild, ecstatic screams pierce the air.

Walking through the familiar slums and ruins, which just a couple of days ago were relatively quiet despite the danger, Pavel finds himself in the middle of a full-blown uprising. The heralds deliver their fiery speeches, inspiring their comrades to move forward. With his eyes wide open, Pavel can't help but be amazed by the sight before him. Even without any explanations, he intuitively understands what is happening: the oppression by herbivores has reached a boiling point. But one burning question remains in his mind: What exactly was the final straw that ignited this rebellion?

"Help me!" Pavel hears a desperate cry cutting through the chaos of growls and noise. Tracking the sound, he spots a group of predators clustered around a female wolf. She's crouched next to her husband's barely breathing body. "He's hurt! Someone, please, get a doctor!" she continues to plead.

"Was this the work of a herbivore?" one of the nearby predators asks, as no one—not even the woman herself—has any real idea what's causing the wolf's condition.

Pavel is about to walk away when something catches his eye—a small, glinting object at his feet. He bends down and picks up a dart, and suddenly everything clicks. Someone has poisoned the wolf. But who? And why? The answers to these questions come quickly.

"Hey, who are—?" Amid the surrounding chaos, Pavel spots a hooded figure of a small animal about twenty meters away. Pavel slowly rises and takes a few cautious steps toward the mysterious individual. Suddenly, the figure dashes off and starts running away.

"Stop!" Pavel yells, and rushes after the animal.

The animal runs down another alley and suddenly finds itself in a dead end. Pavel quickly closes in.

"Is that you...?" he says, recognizing the face as the hood falls back, revealing Katya. For some reason, Pavel is very surprised by this turn of events. "The vigilante, I suppose?" he remembers the girl's nickname. "Heh, those wolverines accused you, but I didn't believe..." he says.

"Stay where you are!" Katya shouts, pointing a dart-shooting pistol directly at Pavel. "There's a poison dart in here. One hit and you're done," she warns.

"Shoot," Pavel says calmly.

The hare raises an eyebrow in perplexity, her fingers slightly twitching.

"Seriously, I've got nothing left to lose," Pavel continues. "So if you're going to shoot, just do it."

"Get out of the way," Katya orders the desperate wolf.

"I'm only interested in one thing. Before you shoot, tell me: how exactly did the predators offend you that you decided to hunt them down?"

"Offend?" Katya says angrily. "When a rabid wolf wipes out your entire family, it's way beyond just an offense!"

"Oh..." Pavel says, realizing that the matter is serious.

"What, are you going to say, 'No, I'm a good predator who helped you'?" Katya asks, her pistol still trained on him.

"I told you, my mother taught me not to brag about good deeds," Pavel says modestly. "But I can prove that not all predators are bloodthirsty savages. Whether you choose to believe that is up to you."

Having said that, Pavel continues his slow approach, taking one step after another.

"Stay where you are!" Katya shouts threateningly.

"To be quite honest, I'm just exhausted by all this tension between predators and herbivores," Pavel says calmly.

"I mean it—stop right there!" Katya insists.

"So we really need to do something about this whole situation," Pavel decides.

"Are you crazy or something?!" Katya exclaims, perplexed. "I said stop!"

"You don't have to be crazy to be kind to someone who points a gun at you," Pavel remarks with a smile.

In an instant, Pavel is right in front of Katya. Her paws tremble visibly, and sensing her wavering resolve, he gently takes the weapon from her. She offers no resistance, surrendering the gun. Suddenly overwhelmed, she collapses to the ground and breaks into tears.

"Go ahead and cry," Pavel says softly. "It'll help." He sits down beside her.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Katya asks, her voice breaking.

"That's a good question..." Pavel says, asking himself the same thing.

"Has our time come?!" a distant predator's voice cuts through the tension.

"Our time has come!" the crowd roars in response.

Sitting on the ground, Pavel gradually begins to understand how this whole struggle might end for his fellow herbivores. He realizes that this mob of predators advancing toward their supposed enemies won't be looking for a fair trial—they'll just attack anyone who gets in their way. Their wrath will be unleashed on every herbivore, and Pavel, knowing this all too well, decides that now isn't the time to sit back and do nothing. But he needs help.

"...Katya?" Pavel addresses the girl, who is still sitting on the ground with her head down. "Hey, do you hear me?" he asks.

"Leave me," she replies after a few seconds of silence.

"If I wanted to leave you, I wouldn't been chasing you," Pavel says. "I want to help. I can't do this alone, but together we can help you and the other herbivores."

"I said, leave me alone," Katya repeats, her voice a bit louder.

"...Katya, listen to me," Pavel continues, trying to reason with her. He carefully places his paw on her shoulder. "Look at me, please."

After a few more seconds of silence, Katya finally lifts her head, ready to hear him out.

"I'm not great at making inspiring speeches," Pavel admits. "So I'll just be straight with you: please, let me help. I know it sounds naive, maybe even crazy, but I want to try to fix this mess between predators and herbivores. And I need your help to do it. If you won't join me, I'll still try, but it'll be so much easier if we work together. Come on, what do we have to lose?"

After a few seconds, Katya asks thoughtfully, "Why even bother? Why get involved at all?"

"Because… it's the right thing to do," Pavel replies. "I believe we need to step in and try to make this better. That's all."

He struggles to explain his position, but he is absolutely convinced that he is right, and Katya can see this conviction in him.

"Fine," Katya agrees, though she doesn't believe their attempt will be successful. "We'll give it a shot."

"Thank you," Pavel says with a slight smile. Together, they set off toward the herbivore territory.

Part 6

Just as they're about to leave the alley, Katya suddenly stops. "Hold up," she says, turning to Pavel. "I don't think I should show my face to them."

"Good point," Pavel agrees, slipping off his backpack. "Here, climb in."

"In a backpack?" Katya asks, looking skeptical.

Pavel shrugs. "Well, yes. Got a better idea?"

"...Fine," Katya concedes, carefully climbing inside. "Hope they won't smell me."

"With all this chaos going on?" Pavel says with a hint of optimism. "No way they'll catch your scent."

"Brother, what are you waiting for?!" a passing predator calls out to Pavel. "We're heading to the herbivore territory!"

"Oh, yes, let's go," Pavel responds, joining the large crowd of rioters.

"It seems that local predators can't stay away from this..." Katya says softly from a small gap in her backpack.

"In situations like this, you're either with them or against them," Pavel explains.

After a few kilometers through a city choked with smoke and devastation, the predators approach the train station. Most herbivore groups, fully aware of this spot's strategic importance for reaching their territories, are already locked and loaded for defense.

"Captain, they're coming!" a deer soldier reports.

"Shields up!" the buffalo captain orders. "Hit 'em with batons and tasers!"

Minutes later, someone yells, "They're here!" and the fight begins.

Like water bursting through a shattered dam, waves of predators surge toward their enemies. They are so numerous that smaller predators scramble onto their larger counterparts, using them to assault the herbivores' heads.

"Hold the line!" the captain roars, standing shoulder to shoulder with his comrades. "Hold steady!"

"Push them back!" the predators scream from the other side. "Hit harder! Realize what's at stake! If we lose, our humiliation continues!"

These words quickly inspire the predators. Each of them recalls what they and their loved ones have endured to reach this point, to be here. Oppression that lasted not for years, but for decades. Children inherited their parents' struggles, and then their own children did the same. Daily hunger, unbearable working conditions, and widespread injustice. After enduring all this, there is finally a chance for change, and the predators are determined to seize it.

"Use shockers!" the captain shouts. "Shockers!"

Despite their best efforts, the herbivores are slowly being pushed back, overwhelmed by the sheer number of large, clawed predators. One of the cheetahs bursts through the crowd, gaining speed, and jumps on the captain, knocking him to the ground. "Retreat!" the buffalo shouts, kicking the cheetah off with a swift hoof. "Retreat!"

The herbivores retreat, lobbing smoke and tear gas grenades behind them to cover their escape. They clear a path to the train station for the predators. Pavel, who'd been hanging back in the last ranks, offering only halfhearted support, keeps moving forward.

"What's going on out there?" Katya asks, hearing all these constant screams.

"You don't want to know..." Pavel answers, moving toward the train station.

"Get on the trains!" an elderly wolf yells to his comrades. "If there isn't enough space, use trucks, cars, go on foot, just don't stand still!"

The predators spring into action. Train after train fills up at breakneck speed. Every animal buzzes with anticipation of entering herbivore territory.

And Zhenya is right there among the predators. Despite her youth, the girl has become a respected leader in their struggle for change. She has sparked a fire of outrage in the hearts of her fellow neighbors, compelling them to rise up and fight for change.

"This is going too far, Zhenya," her father says sternly, following her to the train car.

"Your father's right," her mother chimes in. "You started this, and you've done well, but now it's time to go home."

"Which home?" Zhenya shoots back, her anger rising. "Our house was destroyed. I'm going to make sure this never happens again."

"Let others handle it," her parents plead. "You've done enough."

"I bet those 'others' are being told the same thing, but we won't stop until they pay for our humiliation."

"Zhenya..." Nikita says, unwilling to let his daughter go.

"Leave me alone," Zhenya snaps.

"No, you're coming with us!" Maria declares, seizing Zhenya's paw.

A massive bear—one of Zhenya's bodyguards—steps in, ready to intervene.

"No, stand down," Zhenya says calmly, smoothly breaking free from her mother's grip.

"Stay in our territory if you don't want to fight," she tells her parents coolly. "Don't worry. I'll come back victorious."

After finishing this conversation, Zhenya heads out, leaving her parents behind. They desperately try to hold her back.

"Please stay with us," they beg.

Zhenya would love to stay. She wishes those years of pain and humiliation had never happened— that they hadn't given them so many reasons to fight. But things have come to a head, and there's no going back until one side wins out.

Pavel passes through the crowded train cars, picking up snatches of conversation from the predators around him.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," a jackal mutters to his companion.

"Just picture the looks on those herbivores' faces when we show up," his hyena friend grins wickedly.

"I saw a poster of this city once," the jackal says. "Korolyaevo. Can't wait to see it in person."

"Think of all the food shops! Can you imagine? Birds, fish..." the hyena says wistfully.

"Oh, stop it, you're making me drool," the jackal says with a smile.

"Everyone settled?" the train manager asks. "Don't worry if it's a bit tight—we'll be entering herbivore territory soon, and then we can all breathe freely!"

"All done?" the assistant asks him. "Can we depart?"

"We're good to go," the predator says, and the train departs.

Pavel finds a seat by the window in one of the last cars. To his surprise, it's not as crowded as he expected, and there is only a small fox sitting next to him.

Suddenly, a lynx—a guy in his twenties sitting across from Pavel—starts sniffing the air. "What's that weird smell?" he mutters, glancing around.

Pavel stays silent, pretending he's noticed it too and has no idea where it's coming from.

The lynx looks at Pavel, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The smell seems to be coming from your side, buddy."

"Me?" Pavel feigns confusion. "Do I look like a herbivore to you?"

"Well, the smell's definitely coming from you," the lynx says with a suspicious look.

Pavel tries to brush it off. "I ate a rabbit recently; maybe that's why?"

"Hmm," the lynx grins after a few seconds of silence. "Good job, brother."

Just then, the train manager passes through the cars, announcing, "We'll be in herbivore territory tomorrow. Get some rest while you can and gather your strength."

A couple of hours later, all the predators on the train are fast asleep, but Pavel is wide awake, gazing out the window at the full moon. "Pasha?" Katya whispers through a small gap in the door.

Pavel is lost in thought, and Katya's voice doesn't register at first. "Pasha?" she whispers again.

Pavel snaps back to reality. "Huh?"

"Are you asleep?" Katya asks quietly.

"No," Pavel replies softly, his eyes still fixed on the view of Lion's Mouth Lake and the moonlit mountains beyond.

"Can't sleep?" Katya asks.

"It's hard to sleep under such circumstances," Pavel explains.

"Yeah..." Katya says. "But what are we going to do when we get to the herbivore territory?"

"First things first, we need to get to my family," Pavel says, outlining his plan. "And then we need to put a stop to all this chaos."

Katya sounds uncertain. "Do you really think we can succeed? I mean, how can just a few of us stop all this madness?"

"I guess it all starts with small steps, right?" Pavel explains. "It's... worth a try, at least."

"Who are you talking to?"

Pavel turns around abruptly and his eyes land on an adult cheetah standing a few meters away. "No one... wait, is that you?" he mutters, taking a closer look. Pavel recognizes him as the cheetah who robbed him the other day.

"Yes," the cheetah calmly admits, sitting down across from Pavel. "I'm sorry about that. Life's complicated, you know? I'm not looking for sympathy or trying to justify myself, but... I'll try to compensate when it's all over."

The cheetah chuckles slightly, as if amused by his own naivety.

"Never mind," Pavel speaks calmly. Even though this guy made his life difficult with that robbery, Pavel, for some reason, doesn't feel angry toward him.

"Can't sleep either?" the cheetah asks, genuinely curious.

"Not really," Pavel admits. "Where are your children?"

"They stayed at home," the cheetah says. "I really hope to get back soon. Maybe I'll even be able to move them to herbivore territory once we win this fight."

"Do you really think we can do it?" Pavel expresses his doubts.

The cheetah's confidence is immediate and unwavering. "Absolutely. Who are those who've been tormenting us for so long, making it impossible for us to live normal lives? The villains, that's who. And villains always lose. Sooner or later, but they always lose."

The cheetah's words are laced with such conviction that they leave a strong impression on Pavel. Even though he strikes Pavel as a fanatic, the wolf still understands him.

The cheetah breaks the brief silence. "Something on your mind?"

"No, nothing," Pavel says uncertainly.

The cheetah encourages him with a slight smile. "Come on, tell me. We're on the cusp of something big. It's time to speak your mind. Don't you have any thoughts you'd like to share?"

"...You said herbivores are villains," Pavel begins.

"Yes," the cheetah answers, waiting for Pavel to get to the point.

"But... not all of them are that bad, don't you think?" Pavel asks. He's afraid that the cheetah will accuse him of betrayal and expose him to the entire train, and that's why he's hesitant to share his thoughts.

"...Yes, I think so," the cheetah agrees calmly with Pavel. "You're right, there are herbivores who don't hate us and don't wish us harm. There are probably quite a few of them. But unfortunately, they'll suffer too. However, the blame for this will not be on our part, because we won't be able to tell who is good and who is bad. It will be the fault of the herbivores' own kind who invaded our territories and wouldn't leave us alone. That minority is responsible for what's going to happen to the rest of their kin— their children, parents, wives... Think about it: these animals have been oppressing predators for decades, even though we had nothing against them and just wanted to live in peace. So can we really say it's unfair that now, when predators retaliate against normal herbivores for the crimes of their loved ones, it's not justified? What do you think?"

Pavel shakes his head, admitting honestly, "I don't know." Even if he disagreed with the cheetah, he probably wouldn't say so directly. It could be dangerous, and he's not really interested in debating it right now.

"Well, think about it sometime," the cheetah says, standing up. "I'll leave you to it. Get some rest; tomorrow's going to be a tough day."

The cheetah walks away, leaving Pavel to his thoughts. Surprisingly, their conversation sparked a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution, although the cheetah did not pursue such a goal. The seed of hope has been planted, and it's still there, small but present.

Part 7

"Come on, brothers and sisters!" a predator shouts, inspiring his comrades to fight. "Wake up and join the battle! Many of us have already started the fight! Help them and don't give up! Don't forget all the suffering we've endured for this moment!"

It's 11 A.M., and one by one, the predators are pouring out of the trains and then flood out of the station. Pavel follows them, and upon emerging onto the street, he is horrified by what he sees: against the backdrop of torrential rain, the entire herbivore territory is engulfed in fire and chaos. Cars, shops, and homes are burning, and the air is filled with the furious roars of predators seeking revenge.

"I'm terrified to even imagine what's going on out there..." Katya says, still hiding in the backpack.

"You'd better not think about it," Pavel warns her.

The gray sky pours relentlessly, adding to the already bleak landscape. Pavel, drenched to the bone, sprints toward his house. His route takes him past an old oak tree—a spot where he and his friends used to hang out. Suddenly, he catches the sound of familiar voices. It's Sunday morning, and it seems his friends have decided to meet up early.

"Don't! Please!" Grisha screams.

"We didn't do anything to you!" Igor adds.

Pavel changes his route and races toward his friends, only to find all three of them cornered against an oak tree, pursued by a massive bear.

"Hey!" he shouts, drawing the bear's attention. The animal stands with his back to him. "Leave my friends alone!"

"Huh?" The bear turns slowly, a look of disbelief on his face. "Wait, what? Are these herbivores your friends?"

"...Yes," Pavel answers honestly, fully aware of the consequences.

The bear's expression hardens. "Then you're a traitor!" he snarls. "We were told exactly what to do with predators who protect herbivores."

The bear charges at Pavel with explosive fury. At the last second, Pavel dodges, continuing to run around the bear. Unnoticed, Katya slips out of the backpack, quickly loads her pistol, and fires a dart into the bear's neck.

"Ow!" the bear yelps, whirling toward Katya. "Another herbivore?!"

"Why didn't you—?" Katya mutters in confusion, stunned that the dart had no effect.

The bear lets out a mocking laugh. "Did you really think this tiny needle could hurt me?"

Just as the bear turns to focus on Katya, Pavel launches an attack from behind. But the fight is hopelessly uneven. The bear seizes Pavel by the throat, effortlessly lifting him off the ground and pinning him against the tree trunk.

Pavel tries to escape, scratching the bear's massive paws, but it's no use. He gradually loses consciousness when suddenly the bear's grip weakens, his eyes slowly close, and he falls to the ground.

"Ugh..." Pasha groans, coming to.

"Pasha!" his friends rush over. "How are you? Are you alright?"

"Seems like I'm still breathing," Pavel jokes, catching his breath.

"We're really glad to see you," his friends admit, putting past arguments aside.

"Likewise, guys," Pasha replies with a smile, and his friends help him to his feet.

"Is everyone okay?" Katya asks.

"Yes," Pasha confirms. "You hit him with a poisoned dart?"

"No, it was a sleep dart," Katya explains. "I thought they wouldn't be needed though..."

"Awesome," Pavel celebrates their victory. "Got any more?"

"There's only one berserker dart left," Katya says.

"Berserker?" Pasha asks. "What's that?"

"It causes rabies," Katya explains.

"Oh, we definitely don't need that," Pasha waves off the suggestion. "We've got enough rabid animals running around here already."

"Friends, it's great we took down one bear, but... what do we do now?" Stepan asks. "The city is still full of rabid predators..."

"Don't remind me," Igor says with anxiety, using his asthma inhaler. "I'm already struggling to breathe."

"We need to get all of you to a safe place," Pasha declares.

"Is there even such a place left?" Katya asks.

"My mom called me before the attack and told me to head to the central museum," Stepan explains. "She said they're gathering all the herbivores there as a safe zone. Maybe we should give it a shot?"

"My parents told me the same thing," Grisha chimes in.

"Then that's our destination," Pasha decides.

"Are you insane?!" Igor interjects. "The whole city is crawling with predators! They'll tear us apart the moment they see us!"

"Not if you're all my prey," Pavel comes up with a plan. "I'll lead you as hostages, and if anyone asks questions..."

"Hey, where are you taking them?" a group of predators asks a question as Pavel leads his friends to the museum.

"For dinner," Pavel lies smoothly. "These are my prey."

"Hand over that piglet," the predators demand, barely containing their hunger. "He looks so well-fed."

"Not a chance," Pavel says firmly. "I caught them myself. They're mine."

"Fine, choke on them!" the predators snarl rudely and back off.

Apart from them, no one else raises questions, despite the many more predators along the way. However, due to the widespread chaos and the fact that Pavel is not the only one managing hostages, no one else pays attention.

"Hello? Someone there?" Igor knocks urgently on the museum door. "We are herbivores! Please open up!"

"Hurry!" Stepan adds, his voice trembling with fear. "Open the door!"

The door cracks open, and a rhino officer immediately tenses at the sight of Pavel.

"A predator!" he shouts, about to sound the alarm.

"No, no! He's our friend!" Stepan quickly intervenes. "He's with us!"

"A friend?" the policeman asks, utterly confused.

"Yes," the herbivores confirm.

"It's a safe zone for herbivores, so..." Pavel says, gesturing to his friends. "Receive the guests."

"Yes, that's right," the rhino confirms. "Wait a second."

Still suspicious, the policeman begins to search Pavel thoroughly.

"That's enough!" Pavel's friends protest. "We told you he's our friend!"

"Okay, come in," the rhino says, letting the group inside. But Pavel remains standing at the doorway.

"Pasha, aren't you coming?" his friends ask, confused.

"I need to go home. My family is still there," Pavel explains.

"Then I'll go with you," Katya volunteers.

"And we'll help too..." the herbivores begin.

"No," Pavel stops them. "Stay here with your families."

"Are you sure that..."

"I'm sure," the wolf interrupts. "You should stay with your loved ones."

"Good luck, Pasha," his friends huddle together in a group hug. "I hope we'll see each other again."

"Definitely," Pavel says with a reassuring smile, and they slowly part ways.

Once again, navigating through smoke from raging fires, past destroyed houses and widespread chaos, Pavel races toward his family, with Katya tucked away in his backpack.

As Pasha approaches the house, he sees a lion tearing apart the hares' home, while they huddle inside, trembling with fear.

"Do you think this house will save you?" the lion taunts. "Enjoying being the prey, huh?" He continues to demolish the roof. "Get used to it, we've been living like this for years!"

"Please, just leave us alone!" Tatiana begs, huddled in a corner with her children clinging to her. "We didn't do anything to you!"

"Hey, buddy," Pavel tries to get the lion's attention.

"What now?" The lion pauses his destruction and turns. "Oh, hello, brother. Want to join in on some rabbit stew?"

"Leave them be," Pavel asks politely.

"Leave them?" The lion looks taken aback.

"They haven't done anything to you," Pavel tries to reason with him.

"What?" The lion's expression turns indignant. "If they hadn't done something to me, I wouldn't be here!"

"Look, I get that you're upset, but they're not responsible for what happened to you," Pavel attempts to calm the lion down. "It's not always black and white, you kno—"

"You traitor!" The lion cuts Pavel off and attacks him.

Just like his previous encounter with the bear, Pasha faces an opponent significantly larger and older—the lion appears to be around thirty-five or forty years old. The wolf primarily defends and dodges, and his few counterattacks barely make a dent in the lion's assault. If anything, each of Pasha's attempts only seems to fuel the lion's rage.

"Pasha!" Tatiana bursts out of the house, intending to help Pasha.

"Mom, no!" her children cry out, desperately trying to hold her back. "There's nothing we can do!"

"Wait, who's that?" one of the children asks, spotting an unfamiliar rabbit quietly slipping out of a backpack.

Meanwhile, Pasha's energy is fading fast. The lion catches him, raking his claws across the wolf's shoulder and chest, and then slams him into the side of the shack. The lion approaches Pasha, intent on finishing him off, when Katya decides to distract him.

"Hey!" she shouts, standing behind the lion. "You think you're so tough? You're just a loser who picks on those weaker than you! No offense, Pasha," she adds, glancing apologetically at the exhausted wolf.

The lion takes the bait, turning his attention to Katya. He gives chase, trying to catch her as she darts around the yard. Katya ducks into the shack, holding her breath and hoping the lion has lost track of her. Suddenly, the lion bursts through a wooden wall and grabs her.

"When I'm done with you, I'll take on bigger herbivores, trust me. I'm not afraid of anyone," the lion says, slowly bringing the girl to his wide-open mouth.

Pavel, still in a deplorable state, watches this scene unfold and realizes that he needs to act fast. The solution hits him suddenly when he spots a berserker dart lying next to him, which Katya must have dropped accidentally. It's not the most ideal tool for the situation, but with no other options available, Pavel stabs himself in the neck. The berserker's venom takes effect within seconds, and in a state of rage, Pavel attacks the lion just as he's about to swallow Katya. The lion fights back for a bit, but eventually can't resist Pavel's ferocious attack. Covered in scratches on his back and face, the lion retreats from Tatiana's yard.

The enemy has been defeated. Tatiana can finally run out of the house to meet Pasha. "Son..." she stands quietly at the door, watching Pavel with a worried look.

The wolf, baring his teeth and drooling like his wild ancestors, slowly begins to move toward Tatiana on all fours.

"Mom, come inside!" the children warn her, seeing their brother's inadequate condition, but the woman remains resolute.

Step by step, the distance between them narrows. When he is just a meter away from his mother, he collapses in front of her, head bowed, finally coming to his senses.

"Mom..." Pavel says, tears streaming down his face. He's overwhelmed with remorse for his past words and actions.

"Son..." Tatiana says, her eyes glistening, embracing him tightly, "I missed you so much."

The family has finally been reunited.