In the future, otters and skunks rule the Earth.

In the future, after the mass extinction event at the end of the Holocene era, Earth looked starkly different. The once diverse and bustling habitats were completely devoid of most life forms. However, miraculously, otters and skunks seemed to have survived the catastrophic event. As the Earth was healing from the effects of extinction, the otters and skunks began adapting and evolving in unimaginable ways. With a significant decrease in competition, these two species proliferated across the globe. They thrived in the absence of other predators and plentiful resources, evolving diverse lineages of skunks and otters. Over the span of tens of millions of years, otters, known for their semiaquatic lifestyle, spread across all bodies of water – rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans. They evolved into multiple aquatic species; some developed armor-like hides to protect from the radiation, while others grew in size and agility, becoming the apex predators. A few even adapted to live entirely underwater, developing highly efficient gills. Otters no longer were just playful creatures but the rulers of the waters. On the other hand, skunks took over the terrestrial landscapes. They evolved into several diverse portfolios due to their omnivorous nature. Some skunks grew larger and developed stronger bones and muscles, becoming formidable terrestrial predators. Many species increased their intelligence levels, akin to the development of primates in the Holocene. Several skunk species also took to the sky, evolving wing-like structures, making them the first of their kind to achieve flight. As the eons passed, these developed skunk and otter species became ever-more intelligent and complex, taking on roles that humans and other dominant life forms had once held. Society structures formed, technology advanced, and by about 100 million years in the future, otters and skunks were the dominant life on Earth. They had turned the planet into a prosperous utopia with skunks ruling the air and land, and otters the depth of the waters. In an interesting turn of events, one of the more intellectually advanced skunk species made contact with the intelligence of the aquatic otters, leading to an interconnection of the terrestrial and aquatic kingdoms, fostering a peaceful coexistence and a shared global ecosystem. It's a striking example of how life evolves and finds a way to fill in every niche available post-mass extinction events.