Edge of the Tide

Following the river's slow descent, my steady gait brought me onto the weathered wooden timbers of Hinode Pier. The tang of salt hung heavy in the air. Before me lay Tokyo Bay, stretching vast and restless beneath the open sky. I moved to the low edge where a thick nautical rope coiled around a rusted iron mooring cleat. Planting my feet firmly, I lowered my tail across the damp planks to anchor my weight. A gentle swell crested against the pier pilings below, sending fine sea spray surging over the wood. A cluster of dark brown kelp clung to the wet rope beside me. The ocean is no longer a distant thought; it is here.