One stormy night, thunder rumbled and rain poured heavily. Hamby trembled with fear, letting out soft hiccupping whimpers as he burrowed deep into Melony’s arms, too scared to poke his head out.

“There, there… we’ll sleep together tonight. Don’t be scared, Hamby.”

The little pup snuggled even tighter under her arm. Eventually, Melony fell asleep on the warm bed with Hamby curled up beside her.

Sunlight streaming in didn’t wake her—but her father’s booming voice did.

“Get out! Out—now!”

Melony jolted upright, heart pounding.

“Hamby?! Hamby!!” she cried, frantically looking around.

“Oh…” There he was, lying on his back with his pink belly up beside her.

So… who was Dad yelling at?

She rushed down the long staircase—then froze.

There, at the front door, stood the same mother dog.

“Get out, filthy animal!” her father’s voice echoed through the house.

A gust of wind blew strands of the mother dog’s gray fur into his nose, making him sneeze uncontrollably. He grabbed a long broom and swung it at her, driving her away.

With a sorrowful expression, the mother dog lowered her head and slowly backed into the bushes.

Melony’s eyes filled with tears. She ran over and clung to her father’s arm.

“Please, Dad… don’t chase her away. It’s my fault. I brought her pup without telling you,” she said, her voice shaking, tears pouring down her face.

Her father paused and looked at his little girl, then sighed.

“Oh, sweetheart… but she’s filthy. Still, you’ll have to return her pup to her, okay?” he said gently, hugging her.

Melony had no choice but to take Hamby back to his mother, even though her heart wasn’t ready to let go.

She kept wondering silently—

Do we really have to let go of the ones we love… just because the world tells us to?

But that night, the forest began to stir.

A cry—too faint for anyone to hear.

A trail—overlooked by human eyes.

A silence—slowly swallowing something away.

When the morning light returns…

Will something be lost forever?