A Strange Call From The Shore
Noemi slowly stood up, keeping her hands close to her body. The wolf did not growl. It did not show its teeth. Instead, it took several steps toward the water, then turned back again. Something about its behavior felt urgent. The sensible thing would have been to leave, call someone, and keep her distance. But the beach was empty, her phone signal was weak, and the animal seemed more frightened than threatening. Noemi followed at a careful distance. The wolf walked along the wet sand toward a rocky part of the beach. Every few steps, it looked back to make sure she was still there. The waves crashed against the rocks, and the air smelled strongly of salt and seaweed. Then Noemi heard it. A faint sound, almost hidden beneath the waves.
It was not the wind. It was not the water. It sounded like crying. Noemi stopped. Her stomach tightened as she looked toward the rocks. The wolf moved faster now, slipping between the stones and heading toward a narrow inlet where seawater had formed a shallow pool. There, behind a cluster of rocks, Noemi saw movement. Something small was trapped near the waterline. The wolf stepped forward, then backed away, whining softly. Noemi understood at once. The wolf had not come to scare her. It had come because it needed help. Whatever was trapped near those rocks was the reason the animal had approached her.
