Renard is a small frog who lives in the swamps outside Sapien City. Life has never been easy there:
waters covered in pollution, heavy air, and soil poisoned by the waste of the walled city. But unlike other places on the planet, the swamp still held on to something: community.
Since childhood, Renard shared life with Artemisia, a clever turtle who lived in the hut next door. Together they grew up playing games, imagining battles, and dreaming of the future. Over time, however, their paths began to drift apart.
Renard dreamed of escape. They treasured an old, stained flyer found in the mud: El Sapo Morton, Live in Concert. To them, that paper was a window to another life. If Morton had made it out of the swamp and shone in the big city, then it was possible. Renard swore that, with effort and sacrifice, they too would one day reach Sapien City, show their talent, and live a better life.
Artemisia, on the other hand, never cared for the city. For her, what mattered was the urgency at home. Her brilliant mind turned discarded Sapien technology into inventions that helped the entire swamp: she built a communal water purifier, designed special goggles so Renard could fish through the murky waters, and worked on a solar generator that would free their people from Sapien energy and its immoral prices.
Years went by. Renard worked tirelessly, fishing and selling what little they could, until finally saving enough to buy a Sapien passport from a vending machine at the city gates. The excitement was indescribable: at last, the dream would come true.
But life in Sapien City was nothing like Renard imagined. There were no stages or opportunities, only miserable jobs, discrimination, and ridicule. To the city’s inhabitants, Renard would always be a “swamper.” Every attempt to fit in ended in failure, and it soon became clear there was no place for someone like them.
On the brink of misery, Renard found work in a run-down bar, waiting tables. It was there that the defining moment arrived. One night, the host announced with pomp: “Directly from the swamp: El Sapo Morton!”
Renard froze. Their idol, the same one from that crumpled flyer, appeared on stage. Old, tired, voice worn down — yet still carrying himself with dignity. Renard’s eyes filled with tears, as if all the effort of their life had been justified in that instant.
But the Sapiens in the audience didn’t see it the same way. One shouted with contempt: “Get off the stage, ugly toad! You’re finished!” Morton ignored him and kept singing. The Sapien grew angrier: “I said get off, filthy swamper!” He hurled a bottle that smashed against Morton’s head, knocking him unconscious. The hall erupted in cruel laughter.
Something ignited inside Renard. Humiliation, rage, pride. Without thinking, they grabbed the bottle from their tray and smashed it over the Sapien’s head. The bar descended into chaos. Three Sapiens leapt on Renard, beating them savagely, while some animals tried timidly to stop the fight. Security droids stormed in and crushed Renard to the ground.
Bleeding, on the verge of unconsciousness, Renard managed to whisper with broken lips:
“Take me back to the swamp… the swamp…”
Then everything went black. When they opened their eyes, they were alone in a cold cell — with the certainty that nothing would ever be the same again.