When she stepped outside, it had already started to drizzle. The wind wrapped around her like a warning. Debris skittered across the lawn, and the sky above churned in deep, unsettling colors. The dog’s barking had grown hoarse, but it hadn’t stopped. It barked like it didn’t know how to stop.
Maya moved forward slowly, boots sinking slightly into the grass. “Easy now… gentle,” she called out, her voice barely audible above the wind. The dog twisted against the fence again, glancing at her between bursts of noise. She held the rabbit up, heart racing. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m here to help.”