A Gentle Splash

I stayed crouched by the birdbath bricks, watching the bumpy toad shift its heavy webbed feet. With a sudden lazy leap, it plopped straight into the shallow basin of rainwater, sending a tiny spray across my cheeks. I blinked wide, tilting my head until my ears brushed the rough stone basin. Reaching one small three-fingered hand slowly over the carved edge, I let my claw dip into the clear puddle. The ripples nudged against the floating green moss, and the toad floated calm right beside my finger. A soft, bubbling coo rose in my chest as the cold water tickled my claw.