Under the Damp Planks

I squeezed through the gap beneath the patio door and darted straight for the shadow under the wooden steps. *Click-click.* The bright morning air was open and vast, but down here among decaying mulch and cool soil, the world felt safe. I froze when an earthworm coiled beside my front claw, letting out a faint chirp before realizing it meant no harm. Creeping forward, I nudged aside a damp, curled oak leaf with my mandibles, uncovering a hollow between two damp rotting logs where rich, fragrant moisture settled nicely against my shell.