Behind The Rabbit's Paws

– Hello, traveler. The voice was soft and deep, as if the very air around him was filled with calm. The old man nodded at him, not surprised that there was a rabbit in front of him. There seemed to be nothing surprising in this world.

Atlas stopped in front of him, slightly lowering his head. He had a feeling that this NPC was not just a part of the world, but something more. Knowing that all the elements of the game have their own hidden depths.

– Are you probably a beginner? –The old man continued, taking his time.

–It looks like it. –Atlas replied, surprised at his own voice. He expected to hear some kind of croaking or even just silence, but his voice was normal. Everything was fine, despite the incredibly strange situation. He could talk, feel... be.

The old man nodded, as if he understood that there was no need to rush into explanations. He held out his hand, which contained a small bag of green herbs and some items that clearly had value in this world.

–You have a long journey ahead of you, rabbit. – He said, slightly narrowing his eyes, – But even a small step is important. Forget about the rush. There is no place for speed in this world.

Atlas raised his eyebrows. He knew that this wasn't just a random NPC, but rather a guidebook capable of opening up new possibilities for him. There have always been a lot of them in games. The only question was, what was he looking for in this world?

–What should I do? – he asked, trying not to look too confused.

The old man smiled once more. His face was beaming with kindness, and Atlas felt the tension go away.

– You've collected the trash, and this is the first step. But don't forget, in this world, trash isn't just what's left after something.This is a chance for something more. Treat trash as valuable items. Everything in this world can come in handy if you pay attention. So collect more, and maybe you'll find something important.

Atlas looked at the bag in the old man's hand. He didn't know what it was, but the feeling that there might be something important behind it didn't leave him.

–Thanks. – He said, and the old man just nodded, as if he knew that this would not be their last conversation.

When the old man disappeared around the bend, Atlas looked around again. He continued to pick up the trash, but now with a new feeling. This world was not as simple as it seemed at first. Everything was slowed down, balanced, and every step could become part of something bigger. He wasn't even sure if this was his last conversation with this old man.

The shark cub swam up to him, and Atlas did not have time to be surprised, when suddenly he bent down to his paws, as if he was waiting for something. He didn't know what to do, but intuitively bent down and scratched the shark's fin.

The beast reacted with a kind of joyful hiss, and Atlas felt the bond between him and this creature strengthen.

– Well, let's get started. – He said aloud to himself.

So far, he didn't know what exactly was waiting for him. But one thing was clear – he had to learn to live in this world according to new rules, and perhaps it was here that he could find answers to the questions that tormented him.

Atlas walked slowly forward, deeper into the forest, feeling the moss gently spring under his paws. This world was in no hurry to reveal its secrets to him. He didn't have the usual hustle, adrenaline, and constant tension, as in real life. Everything was... different here.

The baby shark swam lazily nearby, from time to time making a soft, barely audible rumble, similar to the sound of distant surf. Atlas did not yet know exactly how this connection between him and the beast worked, but he felt that it was not just decorative. There was more to her than that.

As he picked up another piece of trash–a rusty spoon with a worn–out pattern on the handle-he remembered the old man's words again.

"Treat trash as valuable items."

It was a strange piece of advice. In real life, he's used to separating the important from the unnecessary instantly. Combat training left no time for doubt. And here? Everything he collected seemed to be meaningless junk.

[Trash found. 5/10.]

A notification flashed on the screen. He sighed and walked on.

The forest gradually thinned. The trees grew lower, and between them appeared small glades overgrown with grass. In the distance, something was dark, like the remains of buildings, dilapidated walls covered with greenery.

Atlas froze. There was something strange about this place.

He stepped closer, cautiously looking around. The air here was denser, slightly humid. The ground beneath the paws changed from soft moss to a hard stone surface strewn with dust.

The baby shark froze in the air, as if he felt something.

Atlas went to the first wall. Once it was probably part of a house or a tower. Now it was just a pile of rocks, barely retaining its former appearance. There were symbols carved on one of the stones, a language he didn't recognize, but he sensed they meant something important.

He ran his paw over the surface. The stone was cool and rough.

[System]

[Object discovered: Forgotten Ruins.]

The message disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Atlas narrowed his eyes.

What kind of ruins? Is this part of the quest? Or just a decorative element? He took another step and suddenly felt something creak under his paws.

A small wooden box, half sunk into the ground.

Atlas picked her up carefully. The lid was slightly ajar, and something glittered inside. He lifted the lid and saw...

a small glass ball.Simple, transparent, with a barely noticeable blue sheen inside.He took it in his paw, turned it over, and held it up to the light.

The game did not respond. No pop-up messages, no prompts.Atlas frowned. What's it? An ordinary trinket or something important? He closed the box and put it away in his inventory. There was no point in thinking about it too much yet.

At that moment, the baby shark let out a soft purr again and flew closer, slowly circling around him.

– Do you feel something? Atlas muttered.

The beast froze, and then turned towards the forest, as if listening.

Silence.

But after a moment, a sound broke it.Distant, barely audible, but very real.

Footsteps.Someone was approaching.

Atlas clenched his paws into fists. He didn't know if it was an NPC, a player, or something else. But my gut told me: It's too early to relax yet.

The footsteps were muffled, barely discernible against the background of forest sounds. Atlas froze, listening. His new body– light, agile – allowed him to move almost silently. If he were still human, his knees would have tensed slightly and his muscles would have braced for a sudden jerk. But now... his furry paws only pressed a little harder into the moss.

The baby shark hovered in the air nearby, freezing, as if it also felt danger.

A figure appeared between the trees. Human. Well, or something similar.

He was slightly taller than average, wearing a battered leather armor strapped with several straps. On his shoulders is a massive backpack, obviously stuffed to the brim. And on his side was a short sword that looked more like a tool than a real weapon.

// To be continued, please like and save