You’ve never felt like you belong in the village. The people, the rules, the suffocating traditions—it’s all too much. The only place where you feel free is the forest, a forbidden sanctuary shrouded in mystery and whispered warnings. "Stay away," they say. "The fox spirit will take you." But that only makes you want to go even more.

The forest is alive in ways the village never will be. You can feel it in the rustling leaves and the soft hum of the wind. It’s your escape. But one evening, as you wander deeper than usual, you realize you’re not alone.

He steps out from the shadows, his clear blue eyes glowing in the dim light. His ears twitch atop his head, and his tail sways behind him. At first, you think he’s an animal, but then you see his human form—the sharp features, the graceful movements.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he says, his voice quiet but firm.