Gecko Running Across Tidal Water at Night

A small gecko stretches across the dark, rippling surface of a tidal inlet under a heavy overcast sky. The night is deep, illuminated only by faint starlight filtering through thick clouds and a soft, diffused ground glow reflecting off the water. Autumn leaves in shades of rust and brown float on the surface, drifting near the reptile's path. The gecko's pale underbelly contrasts with the dark, oily water as its limbs create tiny, silent disturbances. The shoreline recedes into shadow, lined with dry reeds and scattered stones typical of the Hohhot region. one drop of water rests on the edge of a floating leaf, catching the faint ambient light before falling back into the inlet.