The Great Forest's rainy season meant endless rain, with wet weather stretching on and on.
In some low-lying parts of the forest, the standing water had reached a terrifying depth of five meters.
"Though I do quite like rainy days. It was raining when I crossed over, too."
Cui Ciyou leaned alone beneath the eaves of a treehouse veranda, gazing at the densely woven curtain of rain outside as he murmured to himself.
The fresh air in the rain certainly lifted his spirits, but several consecutive days of gloomy weather also left him somewhat at a loss.
"But it's pretty boring, too. All I can do is wander around."
The usually popular "cat-petting" activity had come to a temporary halt today:
The restless Alice had been led off by the even more restless Tona, along with Seni and the little blond fox named Luna.
Naked, they were excitedly splashing one another on the waterlogged platforms between treehouses, their bright laughter drifting faintly through the rain.
"Ah!... I'm so bored!"
Walking along the boardwalk between the enormous trees, Cui Ciyou stretched and let out a sigh.
With nothing to do, he could only wander aimlessly through the maze-like treehouse village.
When he reached a raised platform near the outskirts, a huge, prison-like cage built from thick logs caught his attention.
Looking at the crude enclosure, which resembled an oversized cat or dog cage more than a prison cell, he couldn't help remarking:
"Why does this cell look so much like a cat or dog cage back on Earth? Are the cat and dog tribes' prisons all this bizarre?"
After a cursory glance, his gaze settled on the figure inside.
Inside the cage, which stood roughly two or three people tall, a figure lay on the damp wooden planks, looking utterly bored.