The tide had retreated, leaving behind a glistening stretch of sand that shimmered in the early light. Yuki walked slowly along the shore, her bare feet sinking into the cool grains. The wind was gentle now, brushing her hair like a familiar hand. She paused, eyes scanning the beach.126Please respect copyright.PENANAG4LePeAazR
There, pressed into the damp sand, were fresh paw prints — small, precise, and leading away from the water’s edge. They curved toward the dunes, then vanished where the wind had swept the surface clean. Yuki knelt beside them, her fingers hovering just above the impressions. The cat was gone, but its presence lingered.
She stood and looked out to sea. The horizon glowed with the first blush of dawn, and the sky held the last traces of night. Somewhere out there, her wish drifted on the wind, carried beyond sight. She felt no need to chase it. It was enough to know it had taken flight.126Please respect copyright.PENANAQHNAa4JRj5
As she turned inland, something caught her eye — a single blossom, pale and perfect, nestled in the crook of a driftwood branch. She picked it up gently, cradling it in her palm. The petals trembled in the breeze, and for a moment, she thought she heard a faint purring, carried on the wind.
Yuki smiled. Not the wide grin of surprise, but the quiet curve of someone who understands. The wind had answered, not with words, but with signs. And she, in turn, had listened.
She walked on, the blossom tucked safely in her pocket. Behind her, the beach lay empty, save for the fading paw prints and the hush of the sea. The sun rose higher, casting golden light across the water. And the wind, ever present, followed her steps.126Please respect copyright.PENANA0gjsy5ECAB
-- The End --126Please respect copyright.PENANAwluqVeDRG1


