Sequoia Coast Off the beaten path

Okay! Thanks to you, too! :)

Floki's ears pressed forward as Hiraku provided him with a more lengthy explanation than he had expected. A few questions jumped to the forefront of his mind -- Where had he seen pictures of the beach? How far away was the river town? How had his home been washed away? -- but he swallowed them when Hiraku said he preferred not to dwell on the subject. Floki could understand that, so he didn't push for answers.

He was surprised, however, when the fox excused himself in the next breath. Hiraku turned to leave, pausing only to offer good luck to Floki before padding away. Floki blinked, watching as Hiraku's paws left small indentations in his wake, then called out after him, "Good luck to you, too!"

He waited until Hiraku's reddish figure had disappeared, then resumed his fruitless search with his nose to the sand.