Sparring the Pebble

I was patrolling the gravel border along the bricks when a smooth, black river pebble rolled down right across my lane! It dared to cut me off! I flared my paper wings, ducked into my low crouch, and delivered a swift, snapping kick straight into its rounded flank. The stone shot forward like a loose puck, rattled loudly against a cracked clay saucer, and bounced clean over the lip. When I hopped over to inspect my strike, I spotted a curled blue plastic produce band tangled around a dry twig beneath the clay edge. That's a new training sash for the champion!