WOUNDED {on hold}

"A wounded animal is no better than a killer."

--

Bear is a two-year-old German Shepherd with a powerful build and a coat that glimmers in the sunlight. His early life was marked by trauma; stolen and sold as a puppy to a group of ruthless men, he was thrust into a brutal world of dogfighting. In a dusty, makeshift arena that served as their battleground, Bear fought against other dogs, each encounter pushing him to the brink of his limits and instilling in him a fierce survival instinct. Through sheer determination and grit, he clawed his way to the top of the hierarchy among his small pack, earning a reputation for his tenacity and strength.

Now, as he sits at the pinnacle of his grim domain, the weight of his past bears down on him. One evening, while the harsh fluorescent lights flicker overhead, a group of new dogs arrives, their presence stirring an undercurrent of hope. Bear overhears several female dogs whispering urgently about the possibility of escape, their voices tinged with desperation. They speak of a world beyond the blood-soaked arena-a place where dogs can run freely without the threat of violence or impending death.

As they conspire, Bear's heart aches with longing. He dreams of freedom, envisioning open fields and the warmth of the sun on his fur, but the scars of his training run deep. The men who control their fates have instilled a paralyzing fear within him; he knows all too well what happens to any dog that dares to challenge their authority-those who attack the men are met with swift retribution, often resulting in a bullet. Torn between the desire to break free from the cycle of suffering and the instinct to obey his captors, Bear finds himself at a crossroads, grappling with the haunting memories of his past and the flickering hope of a future unbound.

{cover by @Spiritsx!}