A Mirrored Ripple

Leaving the granite bench behind, I wandered further down the stone path toward the edge of a shallow park pond. A flat, water-smoothed river stone jutted halfway out from the calm water. I stepped onto its dark, wet curve, feeling the slick, cool mineral beneath my claws. Resting right in a tiny natural dip of the rock was a clear, trapped water droplet. I leaned low, steadying my balance, and brought the tip of my bill against its surface. A soft tremor spread across the drop, briefly scattering the reflection of the sky before settling glassy and still once more.