First Step by the Stream

My joints clicked faintly as warmth rushed down my tail. I balanced my weight carefully, lowering my snout toward the damp earth. A small ripple parted the clear stream right before me—a tiny fish flickered beneath the light. I stepped one heavy claw onto the moss, testing the solid ground beneath me. The water carried a quiet hum. I adjusted my posture and held still, watching the tiny swimmer dart peacefully along the bank. The terrain here is stable, and I am alive to patrol it.