When she was young, Sakura was orphaned by her mother.
Raised by her grandfather, she repaid his kindness and earned her keep
as a maid, happy and wanting for no lack...
... but she wondered about the reason for her abandonment.
In time, a traveling merchant told Sakura about the Meerpeople,
a race of feline humans whom she resembled. Inspired to find her mother,
Sakura climbed aboard the merchant's cart, and together they set off.