This location is only accessible during certain plot points
As Zell says on the train to Timber, there is no longer a forest around Timber. Which makes it weird when the party wakes up here, as a completely different set of people, during that train ride. Laguna, Ward, and Kiros will replace Squall, Selphie, and Zell respectively. They have slightly different stats, but will keep the original party's junctions and Spells intact. They also have separate gil—3,000 of it, to be exact. You don't keep this afterward, but you do keep anything you buy while playing as them. There won't be a chance to spend the gil this time, but keep this in mind when you find yourself in control of Laguna and company in the future.