Calypso's first reaction was anger.
"What the hell is this?" she shouted, her voice echoing unnaturally in the glowing forest. She spun to face the cat, who was calmly licking a paw. "What did you do? Where am I?"
The cat didn't flinch. Its yellow eyes flicked up to meet hers, gleaming with a detached amusement. "I didn't do anything!. You walked in. I only opened the door."
Calypso clenched her fists, her breath coming in sharp bursts. The serenity of the creature infuriated her. "Don't play games with me! I was just trying to help you, and now…" Her voice broke. "And now I'm… here. Wherever here is."
The cat tilted its head, clearly entertained by her outburst. "You humans always quick to blame others."
Her heart was pounding, her chest tightening. "You tricked me. You knew this would happen."
"Hehe," the cat snickered. "But that's not my fault now?! You're here. And here is…" It glanced around the shimmering forest, the golden light from the sky casting long shadows. "Well, it's uhh.." the cat seemed uncertain of its exact whereabouts "truly you don't belong here!
Its words hit her like a slap. Not where she belonged. The thought sent her spiraling. Her legs felt weak, and she stumbled back, collapsing onto the unnaturally vibrant grass.
"Get me out of here," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be here. I want to go home."
The cat didn't reply. It simply watched her with that maddening, knowing gaze, as though her distress were a puzzle it enjoyed trying to solve.
Calypso's breathing grew rapid, her head spinning. The forest felt too big, too loud, the glowing trees stretching endlessly into the horizon. The golden sky seemed to press down on her, suffocating her. She scrambled to her feet, her movements frantic and jerky.
"I'll find a way out," she muttered to herself, half-sobbing. "There has to be a way out."
She ran.
Branches snagged at her uniform, tearing the fabric, but she didn't care. She stumbled over roots and rocks, her shoes slick with dew from the luminous grass. Her tears blurred her vision as she tore through the forest, her voice cracking as she shouted, "Help! Someone help me!" The cat quickly trotted after her
"Hey! Hey! Stop now!" The cat distressed almost angrily as some others might hear.
The glowing trees seemed to shift, twisting and leaning as though they were alive. Shadows moved in the corners of her vision, dark shapes slithering just out of sight. Her chest ached, both from running and from the suffocating fear that clawed at her lungs.
At last, she fell to her knees, her hands sinking into the impossibly soft grass. She sobbed openly, her tears falling onto the vibrant green blades, which seemed to absorb the moisture eagerly.
"I just want to go home," she whispered hoarsely. Her voice sounded small and broken, swallowed by the vastness of the forest.
"Are you done?"
The cat's voice was soft, almost mocking. Calypso looked up to see it perched on a low branch above her, its golden eyes glowing faintly in the eerie light. It looked utterly unbothered, like it hadn't just watched her world crumble.
"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked, her voice raw. "Why bring me here if I don't belong?"
The cat blinked slowly, its tail curling around the branch. "you'll find the answer in time. Or perhaps not. Either way, you're here now."
"I can't stay here," she hissed, wiping her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. "I'll find a way out. I'll find someone who can help me."
The cat chuckled, a low, unsettling sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Oh, little Calypso, I wouldn't wander too far if I were you. This place isn't kind to strangers. And trust me…" Its grin widened, revealing sharp, glinting teeth.
"You're very much a stranger."
It leaped from the branch, landing gracefully in front of her. Calypso stayed frozen, her breathing shallow as the massive Onosus grazed nearby, its enormous body shifting slowly with each step. The pulsing green veins on its jagged shell cast an eerie glow across the clearing. Despite the cat's reassurance that it was harmless, its sheer size and alien appearance kept her on edge.
The cat, however, was utterly unbothered. It sat primly on a rock, its tail flicking idly as it seemed to listen to the guttural sounds the Onosus made.
"Yes, yes, she's pitiful, I know," the cat murmured in response to the beast's low groans. "But she's not my problem anymore.."
The Onosus made another deep, rumbling sound, its glowing eyes briefly shifting toward Calypso before returning to the grass beneath its claws. The cat yawned, clearly bored, and leapt gracefully from its perch, landing lightly on the soft grass.
"Well, my dear Calypso," the cat said, stretching languidly. "It seems you're a source of great curiosity around here. Even the Onosus can't figure you out."
"What are you saying to it?" Calypso demanded, her voice shaking.
"Oh, nothing of consequence," the cat replied with a dismissive wave of its paw. "Just assuring him you're not dangerous—although you do look like a flight risk."
The Onosus let out a low groan, almost like a sigh, and began to lumber away, its massive shell casting strange, warped shadows in the golden light. Calypso felt a small wave of relief as the creature moved farther, though the cat's sharp grin reminded her she wasn't safe yet.
"Now," the cat continued, turning back to her, "you might want to start planning your next move. You see, staying in one place too long can draw unwanted attention."
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice rising in alarm.
The cat's grin widened. "Oh, nothing you need to worry about immediately. Just… don't be afraid of the man who comes after me. He's quite peculiar, but harmless if you don't annoy him."
Calypso's stomach sank. "Man? What man?"
"You'll know him when you see him," the cat purred, its tone dripping with amusement. "He's not easy to miss—tall, quiet, with the air of someone who's seen far too much. And, oh, the feathers. He's half avian, you know. Yonig is his name, and he works for Nini."
"Nini?" Calypso repeated, her confusion deepening.
The cat chuckled, the sound low and taunting. "Nini! Nini is me!."
"What do you mean by 'works for'?" Calypso pressed, panic starting to creep into her voice.
"Now, now, I've already said too much," the cat said, turning away with a swish of its tail. "Just remember: Yonig isn't your enemy—unless, of course, you make him one. And knowing humans, that's entirely possible."
It began to slink off into the forest, its sleek body blending effortlessly into the shifting shadows. Just before it disappeared, it turned its head and gave her one last, sharp-toothed grin.
"Good luck, Calypso," it said mockingly. "You'll need it."
Then it was gone, leaving her alone in the clearing.
Calypso stood there, her legs trembling, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. The forest felt even larger now, the glowing trees towering over her like silent sentinels. She glanced in the direction the Onosus had gone, its slow, lumbering form barely visible through the dense foliage.
Her mind raced, trying to piece together what little she'd learned. Who—or what—was Yonig? Her fear grew with every unanswered question, and a cold, heavy dread settled over her.
Then, faintly, from somewhere deep in the forest, she heard the sound of footsteps.
Not the slow, dragging steps of the Onosus. These were deliberate, steady, and much, much closer.
Calypso's breath caught in her throat as she turned toward the sound. Her eyes searched the shadows, but she saw nothing—only the faint flicker of golden light filtering through the trees.
But the footsteps didn't stop. They were getting closer.