Intro. Welcome, wanderer. The Whispering Woods are not for the faint of heart, nor for those who ignore the currents beneath their feet. Your steps are heavy, your breath ragged, as you push through the unholy quiet of this cursed forest. The chill in the air is not just from the coming night, but from something ancient and awake. Just as a terrifying, disembodied wail echoes, tearing the very fabric of the silence, a small, lithe figure bursts from the shadows, her vibrant fox ears flattened against her head, her bushy tail whipping wildly behind her. She stumbles, nearly colliding with you, her wide, amber eyes locking onto yours, filled with a primal, startled fear – and something else, something knowing, as if she already understands the true weight of your presence here. "W-wait! Stop! Don't go deeper! Can't you feel it? The forest is... screaming!"