Marbles was the first to greet Mrs. James and Juno when they stepped into the clinic. He was Dr. Mateo's three-year-old border collie, with one soft brown eye and one bright blue. His tail wagged gently as he trotted over, head tilted with curiosity. The glint in his sky-blue eye sparkled like a gem.
Solani, Dr. Mateo's daughter, stood quietly by the front desk. Marbles - her loyal companion - had already made his way to the newcomers, tail swishing like a soft hello.
Dr. Mateo appeared moments later, greeting them with a warm smile. He approached slowly, then knelt to gently lift the mewing kitten from Juno's arms.
"We'll take a closer look at - what's your kitten's name?"
"Lupi," Juno said nervously.
"Lupi," he repeated, flashing a reassuring smile. He guided them toward a small table tucked behind a curtain.
After a quick assessment, he turned to Mama and spoke softly.
"It feels broken," he said, "but I'll do an X-ray just to be sure."
Juno listened closely, fingers crossed tight. She hoped with all her heart that Lupi would be okay. Grandma had given her the kitten from El Lugar Amoroso - The Loving Place. She couldn't imagine losing her.
Feeling drained, Juno found a quiet bench by the slightly open window. It looked out into the garden behind the clinic. She was tired - but not too tired to notice the fireflies blinking in the lantern-lit path.
Were they blinking in patterns? Like a secret code?
Juno sat up straighter. Just as she began to wonder if she was dreaming, a strange melody drifted in from the woods behind the clinic. She turned quickly to see if anyone else had heard it.
But Solani was gone. The animals still chattered softly. Mama and Dr. Mateo continued their quiet conversation, as if nothing had happened.