A hollow rattle

A tiny wooden box rested half-open on the polished coffee table. I paused at its edge, tilting my ears forward to catch the quiet. Slowly, I reached in and pushed a small, smooth acorn across the lacquered tray. It rolled with a deep, hollow rumble that echoed softly inside the wood. I leaned my paws against the rim to peer down at where it settled beside a dried seed pod. The sound faded into a peaceful hum.