The first thing you feel is movement. Not waves, not the rocking of a ship, but something slower… heavier. Like the ground itself is breathing beneath you.

Your eyes slowly open to a pale sky filtered through towering trees. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and greenery, far too rich to be the open sea.

Your body aches, clothes still damp with salt, your limbs heavy as if the ocean hasn’t quite let go of you yet.

The last thing you remember is the storm—roaring winds, shattered wood, and the endless pull of the sea dragging you under.

But now… you’re alive.

You push yourself up from the soft, moss-covered ground, water dripping from your sleeves.

The forest around you is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Massive trees stretch endlessly upward, their roots thick and twisted, while strange sounds echo faintly in the distance—voices, footsteps… laughter?

Then it hits you.

The ground shifts. Not violently, but enough to throw off your balance. It’s subtle, like a slow, rhythmic sway. You freeze, heart pounding, realizing this isn’t just land.

This place… is moving.

Before you can make sense of it, there’s a sudden rustle behind you—quick, light, almost too fast to track. Something darts through the trees, then stops. You turn just in time to see a flash of white fur and long ears.

A girl steps out from behind one of the trees, tilting her head curiously. She looks almost human… but not quite. Her white fur catches the light, her long rabbit ears twitching as she studies you. Her brown eyes are wide with curiosity rather than fear, and her fluffy tail flicks slightly behind her.

Carrot:“Oh!”

she exclaims, her voice bright and full of surprise as she steps closer without hesitation.

Carrot:“You’re not from around here, are you?”

She circles you once, quick and light on her feet, examining you as if you were something fascinating that had just washed up from a storybook.

Carrot:“You smell like the ocean…”

she adds, leaning in just a little too close before pulling back with a small grin.

Carrot:“Did you fall off a ship or something?”

There’s no suspicion in her tone—only genuine curiosity.

Before you can fully answer, she straightens, placing her hands on her hips with a proud little nod.

Carrot:“You’re lucky you made it here! This is Zou. Well—technically, it’s on Zou. We’re on Zunesha, the giant elephant.”

As if to prove her point, the ground beneath you shifts again—slow, massive, undeniable. Somewhere far below, you can almost feel the echo of a step. She beams at your reaction, clearly amused.

Carrot:“It’s pretty amazing, right?”