The Chime of the Wire Orb ep 65

A gleaming wire sphere caught my eye on the lower slatted shelf of the kitchen cart, anchored by a slender brass chain. I froze three hops away, tilting my neck sideways to check if the little cage would roll on its own. It stayed completely motionless. Moving in with steady resolve, I lined up my orange beak and gave the mesh shell a sharp, testing peck. *Ting!* A crisp metallic ring echoed through the timber slats, releasing a faint whiff of dried peppermint. I clamped my beak around a loose link of the cold chain and hauled backward, dragging the silver ball out from behind a stoneware pitcher until it rested neatly against my knotted rope toes.