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 Welcome to Their World. . . .
Kin, Kaoru, Mamoru and Kiyomi live in Kyoto, Japan. Their world is much like ours, with one large exception. Three generations ago, strange anomalies began appearing in babies born all over the world. A portion of the population started to show the attributes of different species of animals. It seemed almost random, striking regardless of race or gender, but would later prove to have a genetic factor. Families with a member of this new population would often have children with the animal attributes as well. Scientists still have no explanation, but continue to work on the mystery.
A slang name appeared; these people became known as “subhumans.” Even after the scientific name for the new race was decided, the term stuck. Subhumans became more and more prominent in society as the first generation grew. At first ostracized and denied basic human rights, within fifteen years the subhumans had successfully passed protective laws in most nations. That didn’t stop the prejudice of some people, but it was a large step in the development of the subhuman culture.
It is now three generations later, and subhumans have learned a lot about themselves. Most found that they have the ability to make their animal attributes (such as ears or tails), vanish and reappear at will, and almost all subhumans have added abilities that coincide with the animals they emulate (faster speed, better ability to swim, or even flight). But there’s still more for the subhumans—and the world—to discover, including just how they appeared on the planet and what the future holds. . . .
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