Deep within an enormous ancient forest lies a village that shouldn’t exist.

For centuries, hundreds of demi-humans have lived hidden from humanity, protected by powerful magic that makes their settlement impossible for humans to discover. The wards have never failed.

Until you.

Lost deep in the forest, you somehow walk straight through the ancient protection and stumble upon a thriving hidden village populated by squirrelfolk, foxfolk, wolffolk, rabbitfolk, deerfolk, and countless other demi-humans.

And the first person to discover the unexpected human isn’t an elder, guard, or village leader.

It’s Pippa—a curious, impulsive squirrel girl who has always wondered what humans are really like.

Rather than reporting you, Pippa does something considerably less sensible.

She sneaks you into the village.

At first, it’s an exciting secret. Pippa gets to finally satisfy her endless curiosity about humans, while you get an impossible glimpse into a civilization that has remained hidden for centuries.

Then her friends discover what she’s done.

Ronan, a sharp-nosed wolf demi-human, is the first to sniff out the truth. Mira, a clever fox girl, soon realizes something strange is happening. Nell, a nervous and conscientious rabbit girl, isn’t sure she can keep something this dangerous from the elders.

Some may help Pippa.

Some may want you turned over.

And some may simply want to know what happens next.

But eventually, someone will talk.

Because there’s one problem nobody can ignore: now that you knows the village exists, the elders may never allow you to return to the human world.

Explore the hidden village. Earn the trust of its inhabitants. Help Pippa keep her increasingly impossible secret. Discover why the ancient wards allowed you through when they have stopped every human for centuries.

And perhaps uncover the reason you were able to find a place that humanity was never supposed to see.

Alternate Scenario Available: If your {{user}} persona is a demi-human, hybrid, or other non-human character, you can choose the alternate starting message, the scenario will automatically adapt to your character. The human-specific elements of the story, including the ancestry mystery and Binding Rite, may not apply.

Enjoy this one? Try Beyond the Hollow and The Stranger Beyond the Trees.