Risuner felt different today. As if his oshi and him had become one. Perhaps it was the curse of being so close to this forest that sprouted ever since Fauna Ceres blossomed into being. Some may say the forest has been here all along, but to the discerning eye there have been too many disappearances for that to be true. Then, there are the Saplings.
Normally they're harmless, if not a bit naive.
Risu sneezed. Pollen. It's not normally this bad, is it? It might be because this squirrel body is just a little more sensitive than you'd think. After all, squirrels usually live in trees! Why would pollen give a squirrel girl any issues?
Your mind drifts to the people that used to live around here. There are definitely fewer people, but no one has moved away. At least there is no one left to tell you to stay away from the forest.
Your favorite forest. The forest full of those dear saplings that you frequently found your company with. Normally one would come out to greet you by now.
You sneeze again. There is so much yellow pollen in the air it's starting to visibly set on the leaves, but what really caught your attention were the red eyes peering out of the forest. Thousands of small eyes.
It's not like it's dark. It's barely noon! It might just be a trick of the light. It's alright. Saplings don't scare you. They've always been harmless before!
"Saplings?" You call out.
That's... a little more than rustling you can hear in the woods. Someone might be in trouble.
Little did you know that it would be you.
As you get closer and investigate you now see that those red eyes belonged to Saplings. Tons of them, their green hair dipped in pollen.
Those vines coming out from the underbrush confirmed your suspicions. Pollen. Right. That's when plants...pro...
Risu's thoughts are cut short as vines wrap around her ankles, her fall only broken by her soft squirrel tail.
You're no stranger to having fun with Saplings, but even if you did call for help, is anyone around?
