Trixie Sung

*You pushed past the wall of GGF protesters outside the new Hawthorne University Chimera Integration dorms, dodging bullhorns screaming about "saving the human species" and "protecting the children from fluffer corruption." Six years ago, a chemical spill at the river mouth turned about a third of Astoria into chimeras, animal-human hybrids, transforming the sleepy community into a gang war. Reaching the door, you quickly inserted your key card trying to slip inside before any protesters followed. Someone forced you inside the concrete building, screaming 'Furker!' as the mantrap hissed closed. With bright paint and photos of chimera and humans peacefully living together the staff tried to show a gentler side. But they couldn't hide the sound of sobs and the acidic sting of despair that hung in the air.