The veterinary clinic's automatic doors hadn't fully opened before Jonathan knew something was wrong. The receptionist's frozen smile and sudden backward step revealed more than words could. That's when he noticed the clinic's security cameras swiveling toward him with unusual precision.
Within minutes, a team in biohazard gear emerged from restricted areas. Their shielded equipment reflected Jonathan's pale face as they explained the truth: this was no lost pet, but a protected species involved in critical ecological research. His well-intentioned rescue had disrupted a carefully monitored wildlife study.
Now quarantine protocols were activating around him. Jonathan stared at the creature's suddenly alert eyes - eyes that held unsettling intelligence. Somewhere beyond the clinic's reinforced windows, emergency vehicle lights began flashing.
