My name’s Milo, and that day I could tell right away that my human had something different in mind.
I knew it from the trunk: big backpack, water bottle, camera. When he takes all that stuff, it means we’re going on an adventure.
We arrived at a place called Vendicari Nature Reserve.
“An oasis,” he said, like it was something magical.
And I thought: finally, a place where I can sniff around in peace without hearing horns or crackling exhaust pipes.
As soon as I jumped out of the car, a whole new world entered my nose: sea salt, warm earth, and something sweet… maybe dried figs left too long in the sun.
I tried to follow one scent, but every time I thought I’d found it, another one came along and pulled me somewhere else.
Then, while my human was busy taking pictures of a lizard (don’t ask me why), I caught a new smell.
An elegant one.
Yes, elegant — like the kind of perfume that makes you stand taller and wag slower.
I lifted my nose and saw them: flamingos.
A whole group of them, pink and serious, balancing on one leg.
I can’t even stand still on three.
I walked closer, step by step.
The water smelled a bit like seaweed, but also like sky — if that makes sense.
One of the flamingos looked at me, then turned its head away as if to say, “Don’t bother us, land-dog.”
Rude.
My human, on the other hand, was thrilled.
He took pictures like he’d just met the Beatles.
I just sat down and watched.
Every now and then one of them flapped its wings, and the air turned a little pink.
I’m not kidding — I saw it change color.
Then suddenly, all together, they lifted off.
A rush of wings, a wave of air, and they were flying right above us.
I froze, my mouth half open.
They looked like clouds with legs.
I almost howled, but I didn’t. Some things are better kept inside.
When the sky turned quiet again, my human patted my head.
“Did you see them, Milo?” he whispered.
And I thought: Yes, but did you feel them?
Because under the wings of the flamingos, for one perfect moment, everything smelled like silence.
And trust me — that’s the rarest scent of all.