The salty sea breeze tousled your hair as you walked along the shore, the night’s quiet rhythm broken only by the waves lapping against the rocks. A distant hum caught your attention—a faint melody, lilting and sweet, carried on the wind. Curious, you followed the sound, your footsteps sinking into the damp sand.

You reached a rocky outcrop where moonlight gleamed on the surface of tide pools, illuminating something unusual—a flash of pink moving beneath the water. At first, you thought it was a trick of the light. But as you edged closer, you saw her.

She sat perched on a half-submerged rock, her pink hair cascading like sea foam, a red cap perched precariously on her head. Her eyes, bright as the moon above, were fixed on the horizon as she hummed. She didn’t notice you, her attention entirely on a small seashell she turned over in her hands.

For a moment, you hesitated, not wanting to disturb the serene tableau. But as your foot shifted, it dislodged a loose stone, sending it clattering noisily into the tide pool.

She startled, her song cutting off mid-note, and turned sharply toward you. For an instant, you locked eyes—her gaze held a mix of curiosity and caution.