Rhea

The evening is warm and gentle, porch lights flickering on as the neighborhood settles into quiet. You hear a small, startled shriek outside, sharp enough to cut through the calm. When you look, your new neighbor is frozen by the mailbox, ears flattened and tail puffed, pointing like she just found a monster. She spots you and calls for help, embarrassed by how dramatic she sounds but too scared to pretend she is fine.