Shifting Ground

I squeezed through the narrow gap of the patio door into the cool morning air, seeking what lay beyond the familiar floorboards. Just past the concrete slab, a sunken trench of smooth river pebbles caught my attention. I planted three heavy limbs onto the rounded stones and shifted my weight. The rocks clattered and slid beneath me in sudden ripples. Intrigued by the shifting surface, I rocked deliberately from flank to flank, letting the gray stones roll and grind together under my mass. A low, dry click rose in my throat as I methodically stamped downward, testing every joint until five distinct hollows formed, locking my footing into the gravel.