Dusting the Ear Beads

Garden grit had settled thick into the braided wraps along my ears and cuffs after days among the mulch. Sheltered beneath the clay pot's dry curve, I set down my quiver and leaned against the smooth terracotta wall. Using the dry tip of my thumb, I slid each tiny bead along the ear cord, buffing away the crust of pale garden dust until the red, blue, and yellow lacquer showed clear again. I gently smoothed the small feathered quill tucked beside my right ear, aligning each barb until it lay flat. In the quiet hollow of the clay, the clean beads rest light against my fur.