*The First Day After The Seasonal Storm.*
Summer Island.
The morning sun spilled across the jungle canopy, casting a golden glow on the quiet forest floor. Birds with rainbow plumage chirped in strange, rhythmic tones, while the distant crash of waves reminded the stranded crew how close yet far the ocean still was.
Back at the beach, Hibari was already elbows-deep in repairs on the Silent Orca. His shirt clung to his back with sweat as he tightened bolts and patched hull fragments with salvaged wood and vines. The once-battered ship was slowly taking shape again.
Miria approached him, arms crossed and sharp eyes watching his work. "How long?"
Hibari didn't look up. "Maybe two days... no—if I push, I can finish it late tomorrow."
Miria gave a satisfied nod. "Good. We'll keep looking for the others."
She turned and rejoined the search party: Gin, Vivi, and Usopp. Supplies were packed, water flasks refilled, and their formation quickly decided.
"Let's split up," Miria suggested. "We'll cover more ground that way."
"Got it," Gin said, cracking his knuckles.
"Miria and I will head east," Vivi added, adjusting her boots. "You two take the west side."
The groups separated, disappearing into the thick foliage, each team trekking through unfamiliar terrain. The jungle was dense, filled with winding roots and massive leaves that towered over them. Strange insect chirps and fluttering wings accompanied every step.
Hours passed. Sweat clung to their brows, and tension crept in, still no sign of Zino, Nami, or the others.
Eventually, the two groups crossed paths again, deep in the heart of the woods. Both parties shook their heads—no progress. No tracks. No signals.
Just then, Miria stopped mid-step. Her eyes narrowed.
"What is it?" Vivi asked softly.
Miria didn't answer. She closed her eyes and focused. Her Observation Haki swept through the area like a silent ripple through water—searching, sensing…
Movement.
Subtle, but close.
Without a word, Miria bolted toward a nearby thicket, her form blurring as she vanished into the underbrush.
A startled cry rang out.
"Ah!"
Leaves rustled. Branches snapped.
Then Miria reappeared, calm but firm, holding two small figures—one under each arm. They squirmed in her grasp, kicking and chirping in a language none of them understood.
"What… are they?" Usopp asked, eyes wide.
The creatures were unlike anything they had seen. Their skin was a soft, green skin, and each had long, pointed ears that twitched at every sound. Their eyes were large, almond-shaped, and glowed faintly with an emerald hue. Delicate vines wrapped around their arms and torsos like natural garments, and flowers bloomed in their moss-like hair.
"Are they… children?" Vivi whispered, eyes wide with curiosity as she examined the strange green-skinned beings.
Usopp, ever the curious one, leaned in closer. "Maybe they're some kind of forest elves," he muttered. "Let me just—"
Before anyone could stop him, Usopp reached out a hand to touch the smaller, male-looking creature.
CHOMP!
"Gyaaah!" Usopp yelped, stumbling back and clutching his hand. A distinct bite mark was now visible on his fingers.
"Hey! No biting!" Miria scolded sharply, glaring down at the offender.
The male creature's lip quivered. Tears welled in his glowing green eyes, and he immediately dropped into a series of frantic bows—quick, pecking motions like a chicken nodding its head, all while muttering in a soft, musical language no one could understand.
"Talk in human language," Miria ordered.
The creature froze mid-bow, clearly distressed. He glanced left and right before making a few strange gestures with his hands.
Miria's eyes narrowed. "Oh? You *can't* speak in our language?"
The little green being nodded sadly, eyes still watery.
"Then how am I supposed to understand you?"
The creature looked helpless for a moment, then turned toward his companion—the female with similarly pointed ears and a wary look in her eyes. As the male gestured toward her, she paled slightly.
Miria followed his gaze and locked eyes with the girl. "You. You can speak human language?"
The girl's gaze flicked between her partner and the humans. Clearly conflicted, she let out a huff and gave the male creature a glare that could wilt a flower. He turned away awkwardly, whistling and pretending to admire a nearby leaf, sweat beading on his brow.
With a resigned sigh, the female creature stepped forward. She pointed at Usopp, then at her own eyes, making a vague swirling motion.
"You want to… look at him?" Miria asked, puzzled.
The creature didn't seem to understand her words, but nodded anyway.
Cautiously, Miria let them go. The two green beings dropped to their feet, and the female walked toward Usopp, who took a nervous step back.
"H-Hey, what are you doing?" he stammered, raising his arms defensively.
"Usopp, don't resist," Miria said calmly, arms crossed.
Usopp gulped but stayed put. The creature stood on her tiptoes and gazed into his eyes—deeply, unnervingly so. Her pupils began to glow with a soft blue light, and after a heartbeat, that light streamed from her eyes and flowed into Usopp's, like threads of shimmering mist.
Usopp stiffened, blinking rapidly. "What the—?"
The light danced for a few seconds, then reversed—returning to the girl's eyes.
She stepped back, blinking.
"Erm… mm…" Her lips moved slowly, testing the feel of new sounds. "He… hello."
The entire group tensed in surprise.
"You can talk now?" Miria asked, clearly impressed.
"Y-Yes," the girl said, her voice melodic but shaky. "I ate… fruit. It allow… me to learn… language from other creature's mind."
"Wait, so… that light thing just now—was you reading Usopp's language?" Gin asked.
The girl nodded. "Memory… words… feeling. I take from mind, only for language."
"Well, that's convenient," Usopp muttered, still nursing his hand. "Maybe next time, don't start with *biting*."
The male creature gave another apologetic bow, muttering softly.
Miria knelt slightly to the girl's level. "Can you tell us your names? And why you were watching us?"
The girl hesitated, then looked at her companion. They exchanged a look.
And finally, she spoke.
"My name is Chloris," the girl said gently, placing a hand over her chest. "And that's my brother, Moris. We are Dryads—forest dwellers."
"Forest dwellers?" Vivi blinked in surprise. "I've never heard of a tribe like that before."
"That's because we rarely interact with human, that's why there's less record of our tribe in human's," Chloris admitted with a soft, bittersweet smile. "Our people live deep within the heart of ancient forests, in harmony with the trees and nature itself."
"As for why we were watching you…" Chloris looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "It's because we need help. We want to leave this island, and go back to our homeland."
The group exchanged glances, expressions shifting from curiosity to concern.
"Leave?" Miria asked. "Why? Are you stranded here like us?"
Chloris took a slow breath, her voice growing heavier. "It's a long story."
She stepped back, sitting on a moss-covered rock, and began.
"A year ago, our tribe lived peacefully in a vast forest within the second half of the Grand Line. Our home was hidden, sacred. But peace never lasts in this world. One night, pirates found us. They were ruthless—pillaging, burning, killing. Many of our kin… didn't survive the attack."
"Some of us were captured—those who looked exotic enough to fetch a high price. Me, Moris, and our father were among them. We were bound in chains and shipped off to be sold as slaves."
Chloris paused, eyes distant.
"The slavers took us to a place called, Sabaody Archipelago. They planned to auction us off to some highest bidder. I remember the cages, the filth, the fear. We were barely more than animals to them."
Vivi and Usopp listened in silent horror. Even Miria's expression had softened.
"But then… something strange happened," Chloris continued. "Just moments before we were to be displayed, an old man among those that going to auctioned did something in the slave house. He didn't say a word—but suddenly, everyone around us collapsed, unconscious. It was like he used his mind to knock them out."
"A type of Haki?" Miria muttered under her breath.
"Haki? I...dont know." Chloris shook her head. She didn't know what Haki is, nor did she understand that old man's ability. "Whoever he was, he saved us. My father helped me and Moris escape while the chaos spread. We took a small boat and fled into the sea."
"And your father?" Vivi asked gently.
Chloris shook her head. "He stayed behind… to delay the slavers. We never saw him again."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
"We drifted for days," Chloris went on, her voice quieter now. "No food, no destination. Eventually, we landed on this island. It was wild, but we survived. So we stayed, hidden in the forest. We've been here ever since."
Usopp scratched his head. "That's… rough. I'm sorry."
Chloris offered a faint smile. "We're alive, and that's what matters. But we don't intend to stop here. Our journey's not over. Somewhere out there, our people might still be waiting. We have to find them."
Her words were soft but carried a quiet strength.
Miria crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "If you help us, we'll help you. We're not planning on staying here either."
Chloris bowed her head slightly. "Thank you. Truly."
Beside her, Moris gave a shy nod, still mostly silent. He didn't fully understand the conversation but seemed to recognize the warmth and trust being offered. His large green eyes blinked with a mix of curiosity and hope.
"Alright," Miria said, taking a step forward. "You two can come with us. Once we find the rest of our crew, you're welcome to board our ship. We'll travel together until we can find your home."
The two Dryads looked at each other. Then, in unison, they nodded gratefully.
But then Chloris spoke again. "Actually… you don't need to search for your missing crew."
That caught everyone off guard.
"What do you mean?" Vivi asked, brows furrowed.
"Yeah, how would you know?" Usopp added, blinking in surprise.
Chloris looked toward the dense canopy above them, her expression calm. "Because except you guys, there are no other humans on this island."
Gin narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "We forest dwellers can sense life in nature. It's part of our bond with the land. As long as there's forest nearby, we can extend our awareness to feel who walks beneath the leaves. Animals, trees, birds… even the heartbeat of a passing deer. If your friends were here, I would have sensed them."
A thoughtful silence followed.
"…That's a unique gift," Vivi murmured.
"Also," Chloris added. "My ability to communicate help me speak directly with birds."
At Miria's cue, Chloris brought her fingers to her lips, releasing a sharp yet melodic whistle that echoed like the call of a bird. Moments later, a flash of green swooped down from the treetops—a vibrant bird with emerald feathers and a curious glint in its eyes. It landed gracefully on her shoulder.
The group watched in surprise as Chloris and the bird exchanged a series of chirps and whistles, seemingly holding a full conversation in bird-speak. After a moment, the bird gave a final squawk and flapped its wings, taking off into the sky once more.
"That's Kuruku," Chloris introduced, pointing at the bird now circling above. "She's one of my closest companions. Yesterday, and again this morning, I asked her and her flock to scout the island. She confirmed—aside from the four of you, and your friend on your ship, there are no other humans here."
"Wow… that's a seriously useful ability," Usopp said, his eyes wide with awe.
Chloris nodded. "It's helped us survive. When we were drifting at sea, I used this ability not just with birds, but with sea creatures too—fish, gulls, even a passing pod of dolphins. They guided us, fed us. Without them, we might not have made it."
"That's incredible," Vivi said, genuinely impressed. "To be able to talk with animals… it's a gift."
The others silently agreed. A power like that—communicating with nature itself—could be invaluable. Miria found herself thinking, If Zino were here, he'd definitely try to recruit her to the crew.
Usopp looked around and scratched his head. "So… if Zino and the others aren't here, then where do we even start looking?"
Silence fell for a moment. The weight of uncertainty hung in the air.
Then, Vivi spoke up quietly. "I… I want to return to Alabasta. I'm worried about my country. The longer we're gone, the more uneasy I feel."
The others exchanged glances, sensing the seriousness in her voice. After a moment of thought, Miria gave a small nod.
"Then let's head there," she said. "We don't know where the others ended up after the storm. But I do know one thing—they heard Vivi's concerns. If they're anything like us, they'll be heading to Alabasta too."
Gin and Usopp turned to Miria, then to each other, and slowly nodded.
"In that case," Gin said firmly, "once Silent Orca is seaworthy again, we set sail for Alabasta."
"Agreed," Usopp added.
Chloris and Moris looked between them, unsure of the place they were headed, but trusting in their new companions.
With the decision made, the group began the trek back through the forest toward their temporary camp. The sun filtered through the canopy above as the two Dryads followed closely behind, their fates now tied to this unlikely crew—and the journey ahead.