By the rugged coastline, there is a solitary cat known only as Hanky by the Sea. Local lore whispers that he comes from a peculiar lineage, with a father said to be a notorious pirate captain and a mother who adored the finest milk chocolate. Though his blood may be tied to adventures on the high seas, Hanky has always been drawn not to the water but to the rocky shores where it crashes.
Each night, as shadows lengthen and the tide rolls in, Hanky takes his place at the base of a weathered lighthouse. There, he toils quietly, ensuring that the great beacon casts its light far across the water to guide home any sailor who might be lost in the dark. The ocean seems to call to him, but Hanky never dares to answer. Instead, he gazes out over the waves, the salt air drifting over him as he enjoys his favorite treat—a square of milk chocolate with a hint of ocean salt. Salt, he feels, connects everything here: the lighthouse, the sea, even the treats that tie him to the land.
Though he’s grounded on the shore, Hanky has the air of a creature who has wandered much further. Some say his pirate blood anchors him here, that he inherited his father’s yearning gaze and his mother’s refined taste for sweet luxuries. Whatever the truth, Hanky’s life is one of quiet, salty nights and glimmers of light, guiding others where he himself will never go.
