The Waiting Heart

Evander lowered his head, his ears slightly pinned back, his tail tightly pressed against his legs. Every movement he made reflected the turmoil inside him, as if his body obediently followed the heartbeat racing wildly within. His thoughts spun uncontrollably around the image of Harmony, who had vanished through the spiral of light, her figure still shimmering before his eyes. Despite the sense of loss, a quiet but indelible certainty burned within him: their bond was not broken, not even close.

“Harmony… I have to bring her back,” he whispered, his voice trembling, yet in every beat of his heart there was a determination that surpassed fear. His tail moved with purpose, swaying slightly in rhythm with the strength rising inside him, and his ears pricked forward, as if trying to catch every whisper of her presence still lingering in the air like an invisible thread. Memories of her laughter, the warmth of her touch, all tangled in his mind, and his heart ached to see her again. “I can’t lose her. My life has meaning because of her,” he murmured quietly to himself.

Slowly, he turned to Lysar, his eyes wide, filled with fear yet unwavering determination. His mouth was set in a silent promise that he would not give up, no matter the cost. His tail swished in a short arc, as if physically grasping the resolve and power he felt inside him—strong and untamed.

Lysar stood before him, silent, yet attentive to every motion, every heartbeat in Evander’s eyes. Despair, sorrow, and unwavering resolve—all were written clearly in his gaze. “I can help you,” he said, his voice gentle yet firm, like solid rock.

Evander lifted his head, and a spark of hope flickered in his eyes. His ears twitched slightly, his tail lifting in a small, hesitant swing—a subtle sign that he was ready to accept help, that he was no longer alone. “Really? Tell me,” he said, his voice still tinged with anguish but now carrying a hint of trust. His tail rose slightly, responding to the tiny spark of courage Lysar had just ignited within him.

Lysar nodded, his eyes full of understanding and steadfast will. “I can send you to Earth,” he said, “but we must wait for the full moon.”

Evander paused for a moment. There was still time until the full moon, but he would wait if it meant he could reach Harmony. Lysar warned him: “On Earth, you will be just an ordinary dog. No powers, humans won’t understand you, you’ll only be able to bark. And Earth is full of dangers for animals.”

“I will do everything for her,” Evander replied, resolute, his eyes burning with love and longing. His thoughts constantly returned to her, to the feeling of her presence washing over him like a wave. “Even if the world doesn’t understand me, even if I am alone… I will do everything to find her and bring her safely here.”

“Very well. When the time comes, I will send you to Earth. Until then, all we can do is wait,” Lysar added.

Meanwhile, on Earth, morning was slowly awakening. In the quiet of the room, soft paw steps could be heard. Two cats jumped onto the bed, the white one first, followed by the black. They began to purr gently, as if trying to wake Harmony from her dreams. She slowly opened her eyes, the morning sunlight spilling softly through the window, illuminating every familiar object. She took a deep breath, her heart still racing, as if she had just crossed the boundary between worlds.

“Yuki and Nero—every morning, the same,” Harmony thought, stroking both cats as they continued to purr tirelessly. Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked at her hands, touched her head—nothing unusual, no cat ears, no tail. Everything was familiar, ordinary. Yet the sensation that had overwhelmed her still smoldered inside. The warmth she had felt with Evander, the gentle purring, her own feline abilities, and finally the unexplained light that had enveloped her… was it just a fleeting dream, or a real experience?

She smiled faintly to herself, confused, yet shyly thought, “Maybe… it wasn’t entirely a dream after all.”

She sat on the edge of her bed, legs swinging slightly back and forth, her gaze fixed on the empty room. Within her, the feeling simmered that a part of her heart remained elsewhere—in a world where love, courage, and adventure weren’t just dreams but held real meaning. She tried to immerse herself back into her everyday life on Earth. She went to school, struggling to focus during lessons as her thoughts continuously drifted back to the canine and feline world, a place completely unlike life on Earth. Her heart whispered constantly, beckoning her back to the place where she had both lost and found something. The feeling was simultaneously painful and sweet, and it frayed her nerves, driving her nearly to distraction. She felt as if she were losing her grip on reality.

Yet the images of the canine and feline kingdoms before her eyes were so vivid—the scent of meadows, the whisper of the wind, and those deep brown eyes gazing at her with admiration and longing. She could barely resist them. Every time she remembered his presence, she felt a yearning for his touch and the safety he had given her. Her inner world was both turbulent and serene, filled with feelings she could not name.

On the lookout platform in the canine kingdom, Evander stood beneath the starry sky. His ears strained to catch any sound of Harmony in the distance, yet there was nothing. His gaze was empty, but in his heart he felt that faint call—something he could not explain. Every shooting star brought memories of her, of her light, of the moments they had stood together. The ache pushed him forward, compelling him not to give up, to follow the invisible thread that still connected them. His thoughts repeated ceaselessly: “Where are you? How are you? I need you… I must find you at any cost.” The kingdoms remained in harmony, yet both felt the absence of Harmony.

Over time, Harmony devoted herself entirely to her passion—caring for animals, observing their behavior closely, tending to them, helping them in any way she could to make their lives easier. Every book she read, every experiment she performed gave her the sense that she was doing something meaningful, something important. She accepted these thoughts and dreams as a compass. Every time she felt his gaze in her mind, she remembered the courage and warmth she had felt with him. Her dedication to the animals became a reflection of her love, and a way to maintain her connection to the other world that existed only in her mind.

As she walked through the streets, cats would approach her feet on their own, while dogs wagged their tails happily; some she knew and they played joyfully with her. Occasionally, she would stop to feed the strays, and while stroking them, the brown eyes of Evander appeared in her mind again—always present, always clear. Yet she pushed the thoughts away, even though they made her heart race uncontrollably.

“Only vivid dreams… Too beautiful and incredible to be real,” she whispered to herself, staring at the horizon, sensing that a part of her still belonged somewhere else.