By evening, the ship reached Sandy Island.
The shore was quiet.
No birds.
No sound.
Only the soft movement of the sea behind them.
Pinky Pig tied the ship safely.
"We wait here," she said. "Be careful."
Peggy nodded.
She held the map and looked ahead.
A thick forest stood before them.
Dark.
Still.
Almost like it was watching them.
"This is the place," Peggy said softly.
Chikku stepped forward. His eyes faintly glowing.
"The temple is on the other side," he said.
Kichy Rabbit's ears lowered. "I don't like this forest…"
Miku looked around. "Too quiet."
They slowly stepped inside.
The light faded quickly.
Tall trees blocked the sky.
The ground was soft, covered with dry leaves.
Peggy looked at the map again.
"We have to go straight," she whispered.
"Stay close… and don't make noise."
They moved carefully.
Step by step.
No one spoke.
Even Kichy stayed silent.
Suddenly… Chikku stopped.
"Wait," he said softly.
Everyone froze.
He pointed toward the ground.
A huge shape lay curled around a tree.
A giant snake.
Not moving.
Sleeping.
Kichy's eyes widened.
They slowly stepped around it.
Then another shape appeared.
And another.
Long, heavy bodies… resting everywhere.
"Snakes…" Miku whispered.
Chikku shook his head gently.
"Elephant snakes," he said.
"They are slow… but very powerful."
Peggy looked around carefully.
"They are sleeping," she said. "We must not wake them."
Just then, a deep rumble echoed.
The ground felt heavy.
From the shadows, a massive elephant stood still… its eyes closed.
More shapes appeared.
Elephants.
Standing like statues.
Sleeping.
"The map was right…" Peggy whispered.
"This forest is their resting place."
Kichy tried to move quietly…
…but his foot touched a dry twig.
Crack.
The sound echoed.
Everyone froze.
Slowly…
One of the snakes moved.
Its body shifted slightly.
A low hiss filled the air.
Kichy held his breath.
"Don't move," Peggy whispered.
The forest felt alive now.
Another snake stirred.
An elephant's ear moved.
Miku looked at Kichy. "Careful…"
Chikku stepped forward slowly.
"The forest is waking," he said.
His voice was calm… but serious.
Peggy looked at the path ahead.
The temple was still far.
Behind them…
The way back was closing.
Soft hissing sounds spread around them.
Heavy breaths of elephants filled the air.
The ground trembled slightly.
Kichy whispered, "What do we do now…?"
Peggy held the map tightly.
Her heart was beating fast.
"If we make one wrong move…" she said softly…
"They will all wake."
The forest grew darker.
The sounds grew closer.
And in that silent, dangerous place…
One question remained.
Will they be able to cross…
Without waking the forest?