Breed to Come

In a future where humanity abandoned Earth following a biological disaster, cats (the People), dogs (the Barkers), and other animals have evolved high intelligence. Gammage, an inquisitive cat, lives in the ruins of a university. He discovers that 'demons' (humans) were not myths but real ancestors who destroyed the world. When a human spaceship returns, the evolved animals must decide if they will be pets again or fight for their sovereignty. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with the aftermath of a global plague and environmental collapse. The approach is secular and philosophical. While humans are the 'villains' of history here, the resolution is hopeful regarding the animals' agency. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a sense of quiet mystery and intellectual discovery. It builds into a tense survival thriller as the 'demons' return, ending with a strong sense of independence and self-actualization for the animal protagonists. IDEAL READER: A 12-year-old science fiction fan who prefers the company of animals to people and is beginning to notice ecological issues in the news. PARENT TRIGGER: A child may express cynicism about the future of the planet or ask uncomfortable questions about why humans 'broke' nature. PARENT PREP: Parents should be aware of the 'post-human' setting; there are descriptions of ruins and the remains of human civilization that might feel eerie. No specific scenes require censoring, but the concept of humans as 'demons' requires context. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers (10-11) will focus on the 'super-cat' adventure and the thrill of the animals outsmarting humans. Older readers (13-14) will grasp the subtext of environmental collapse and the cyclical nature of power. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many talking-animal stories, this is hard science fiction that treats animal intelligence as a biological evolution rather than magic, avoiding the 'cute' tropes of the genre.