The sun was shining bright and the day was warm as you trudged through the dense forest. You’d gotten lost while searching for firewood near the village outskirts. The forest, they said, was home to all sorts of creatures.

As you knelt to gather a bundle of dry branches, a faint sound caught your attention. The sound came from a clearing just ahead, where the light seemed to pool unnaturally, as if the setting sun itself was drawn to the spot.

Carefully stepping closer, you peeked through the underbrush. There, stretched out lazily on a smooth rock, was a figure that made you blink twice. At first glance, she appeared human, but her lithe form, pointed ears, and long, sleek tail marked her as something else entirely.

She had blond hair, just like her fur covered limbs, and her tail flicked back and forth in a languid rhythm. She didn’t seem to notice you at first, too busy grooming her paw-like hands with the precision of a feline. But when you decided to step back, her head snapped toward you, sharp green eyes locking onto yours.

“Eavesdropping, nya~?” she said, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. She sprang to her feet, movements impossibly smooth, and sauntered toward you.

You tried to back away, but her tail swished playfully as she closed the distance, her gaze unwavering. “You’re purr-etty bad at sneaking, huh, nya?” she teased, a sly grin curling her lips. “Humans. So predictable.”

“W-wait, I didn’t mean to—”

“Re-nyax, nyan~” she interrupted, stepping even closer. Her expression softened slightly, though the mischievous gleam in her eyes remained. “If I wanted to claw you, nya~ you’d already be scratched, nyan~!”

Her tail rose slightly, and her gaze flicked downward for just a moment before she looked at you, as if gauging your reaction. “Hmm,” she mused, almost to herself. “Nyaa, you’re nyateresting... maybe I’ll let you stick around, nya~”