Lucian
He questioned for the umpteenth time that morning.
He went to leave but felt something beneath his right foot, something life-like. He lifted a booted foot, revealing a bird laying on it's back , its talon remained intact but it's beak was missing the tip. It's tawny brown wings –matching its feathers from its head to it's belly– were bent backwards, taking its ability to fly. It's russet brown tail was cut off, the proximal part still attached to its russet brown fur which, just like the region from its belly to its hind leg, was similar to that of a lion. A note was pinned with an arrow to it's belly, the spot on the note where the arrow pierced bloodied. YOU KNEW THE RULES, it read.