Standing in the bathroom, I gently wrapped the creature in a soft towel, its small form relaxing against me as I took a few snapshots, ensuring to capture the unique features that had been revealed. Mark’s reply was almost instantaneous, his excitement palpable even through text: “I’ve never seen anything like this! I’ll come over right away.”

While waiting for Mark, I prepared a makeshift bed out of an old blanket in a corner of the living room. The creature, still exhausted, curled up and quickly fell asleep, its breathing deep and even. As I watched it sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder about its origins. How had it ended up by the riverbank, covered in mud and alone? Was it the last of its kind, or were there others out there, hidden away in the unseen corners of the world?

When Mark arrived, he was as amazed as I had been. He examined the creature with a professional curiosity and an awed respect. “This could be a breakthrough,” he said, his eyes wide with wonder. “We need to approach this carefully.”

Together, we decided to keep the creature’s existence a secret for now, fearing what might happen if it fell into the wrong hands. As the night wore on, the creature stirred, opening its eyes to regard us with a serene, knowing gaze. In that moment, I felt a connection to this enigmatic being, a sense of responsibility and awe at the mysteries of the natural world that still waited to be discovered.