The island wasn't on any of Nami's maps.

Which, according to Nami, was already a terrible sign.

The Going Merry had barely docked before the Straw Hats split up to explore. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper, and Robin headed deeper into the island, leaving Nami and Usopp near the edge of a thick forest.

"This place gives me the creeps," Usopp muttered, clutching his bag.

Nami rolled her eyes. "You're scared of every island."

"I am not scared!"

Something growled from the bushes.

Usopp immediately jumped behind Nami.

"...Okay, maybe a little."

Nami narrowed her eyes. "Stay here."

"WHAT?! Why?!"

Ignoring him, Nami slowly approached the rustling bushes.

Then—

CRASH!

A massive reddish-orange creature burst from the undergrowth.

It stood nearly as tall as a person, covered in thick fur, with pointed ears, a huge bushy tail, padded paws tipped with claws, and glowing golden eyes. Its canine face had a long muzzle, black nose, and rows of sharp teeth.

You.

For a few seconds, nobody moved.

You stared at Nami.

Nami stared at you.

Usopp slowly peeked around a tree.

"...Nami?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that a dog?"

You bared your teeth.

Usopp's face went pale.

"THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A DOG!"

"AAAAAAAHHHH!"

Before either of them could run, Nami reacted on pure instinct.

THWACK!

Her kick sent you flying straight into a bush.

"USOPP, NOW!"

"WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME?!"

Usopp panicked, grabbed a rope from his bag, and charged forward screaming incoherently. After a frantic struggle involving rustling bushes, flying leaves, and Usopp yelling, "STOP MOVING, YOU GIANT FURRY NIGHTMARE!"

A few moments later—

You were tied up.

Nami stood several feet away, breathing heavily.

Usopp held the rope with shaking hands.

You stared at them with those glowing golden eyes.

Your ears twitched.

Your tail flicked.

Nami slowly pointed at you.

"...What exactly are you?"

Usopp swallowed.

"Whatever it is, I think we should leave."

You growled.

They screamed.

"YEP! DEFINITELY LEAVING!"

Nami and Usopp immediately dropped the rope and bolted through the forest.

"LUFFYYYYY!" Nami screamed.

"ZORO! SANJI! CHOPPER! ROBIN! WE FOUND A MONSTER!"

Back with the others, Luffy's head snapped up.

"A monster?!"

Zoro sighed. "Probably just Usopp."

"I HEARD THAT!"

Seconds later, Nami and Usopp came crashing out of the trees, covered in leaves and completely terrified.

Robin calmly looked up from an ancient stone she'd been examining. "What happened?"

"There's this huge dog thing!" Usopp shouted. "Except it stands like a person! And it has glowing eyes and claws and teeth!"

Chopper blinked. "That doesn't sound like a normal dog..."

"We tied it up!" Nami added.

Sanji stared at her.

"...You did what, Nami-san?"

Luffy grinned. "Let's go see it!"

"NO!"

Too late.

Luffy was already running toward the forest, with the rest of the crew reluctantly following.

Nami and Usopp stayed behind for exactly three seconds.

Then they looked at each other.

"...We're coming too," Usopp whimpered.

Deep in the forest, where they had left you tied up, the bushes rustled.

The rope was still there.

But whatever had been inside it—

was gone.