The Tide Was Coming In
Noemi pushed against the stone with both hands. It barely moved. The waves splashed against her shoes, then her ankles, and she knew the tide was coming in faster than she expected. The pup cried again, weaker this time. “Hold on,” Noemi whispered, though she was not sure whether she was speaking to the pup or herself. She tried another angle, using a flat rock as leverage. This time, the stone shifted slightly. The pup pulled, but its leg was still stuck. Behind her, the adult wolf paced nervously. Noemi’s hands were cold and scraped, but she kept trying. She knew she had only a few minutes before the water became too dangerous. Then another wave came in and covered the pup’s body for a second. Noemi panicked.
She pushed harder, using all her strength. The stone shifted again, just enough for the pup to move its leg. The little animal pulled free. Noemi reached out and lifted it away from the rocks before another wave could hit. The pup was heavier than she expected and completely soaked. It trembled in her arms as she carried it toward higher ground. The adult wolf followed close behind but did not attack. When Noemi reached the dry sand, she gently placed the pup down. The little wolf tried to stand but collapsed again. Its leg looked sore, but it was free. Noemi stepped back slowly. The adult wolf moved to the pup and nudged it with its nose. For a moment, the beach became strangely quiet.
