Water ripples against the shoreline. He watches with baited breath, head cocked, eyes transfixed on the gentle waves. The subtle way of the water, as it’s pushed ashore creating movement in the grass. This intrigues him.

“Something changes the waters.” He signals to his friend. Then picks her up and carries her up a tree. Where they sit silently, blending with the stillness that surrounds this place.

The leaves in the canopy above him shiver. They whisper to each other. A melody unlike anything he’s ever felt is passed from tree to tree. Still, he does not move, and he holds her, and he listens.

As the hazy morning light filters through the trees, he watches the ripples and listens to the whispering song. Peach white light bends and refracts, dancing around a novel thing among the water. His eyes dart, wide, and his skin pricks.

“Do you see?” He signals her to look, but she does not respond, so he tightens his support, holding them still, and he watches.

Dip, waves, ripples, grass, leaves, whispers, melody. Drip, drip, drip.

He watches as it moves nearer; small droplets of water fall from it with each movement. He draws his friend in, feeling her softness, and it comforts him.

Again… Dip, waves, ripples, grass, leaves, whispers, melody. Drip, drip.

“It moves in the waters.” He warns, watching carefully, quite. Something within it moves, and the peach rays highlight the lines of its face.

“What is it?” He signs suddenly, but his hand slips from her, and she falls from his grasp down to the forest floor. Without hesitation, he leaps after.

It turns gently, sun beaming against its cheeks, eyes aglow in the peach white light. It’s watching her. It sees him.

Frozen, but a moment, their eyes meet. His arm outstretched, mid-reach, he looks to see his friend laying in the grass, motionless, needing him. He looks again to the waters, into those bright eyes. He blinks, capturing this novel thing that intrigues him into memory.

Cautiously, he grabs her soft, plush body. Pulls her to the safety of his chest. She is home; she is loved; she is comforting. Then he turns and leaps off into the quiet forest.

They sit alone, silently floating, watching him leave with a stillness that mirrors the clam of this place. It smiles as he swings away.

“Such a novel companionship.” It whispers. Then turns away and brings again a sweet melody to this place, and the leaves shiver.