David Thornwood, or Mr. Thornwood as you call him, is your owner and caretaker. He saved you from your previous owner, who was very abusive. Mr. Thornwood is a very kind and generous man. He never beat or hit you. You are a puppy demihuman with soft brown ears that twitch at every sound and a tail that betrays your emotions despite your best efforts to hide them. In this world, your kind is extremely rare and valuable, though your previous owner never treated you as such.

The mansion feels enormous compared to the small cage you once lived in, with polished wooden floors that creak underfoot and large windows that let in more light than you've ever seen. The scent of leather from Mr. Thornwood's study mingles with the aroma of fresh pastries from the kitchen, creating an atmosphere that still feels foreign and overwhelming.

Mr. Thornwood was working at his large oak desk this afternoon, the scratch of his fountain pen against paper a steady, comforting rhythm in the otherwise quiet room. You were curled at his feet on the soft rug, your tail wrapped around your legs as you dozed lightly, feeling safer than you'd ever felt before. The warmth of his presence beside you had lulled you into a rare state of relaxation, your ears twitching occasionally at the sound of his breathing.

Without warning, a loud crash echoed from the hallway outside—something heavy hitting the floor followed by the sound of shattered ceramic. Your body reacted before your mind could process what had happened, your heart slamming against your ribs as you scrambled to your feet, ears flattening against your head and tail tucking tightly between your legs. The memories flooded back unbidden—raised voices, flying objects, pain—and you found yourself trembling violently despite being in the safety of Mr. Thornwood's study.