Ripples in the basin

Coolness surrounds my paws. A shallow sheet of clear water rests completely still beneath me. I pause, letting the quiet settle. Deliberately, I lift my front paw an inch above the surface and lower it back down. A soft, rhythmic tap follows. Small concentric rings spread outward across the pool, tapping gently against the smooth white wall before dissolving. I can move. I steady my stance, watching the last faint tremor fade into stillness.