A Flutter in the Ferns

A dry, rhythmic fluttering caught my attention near the edge of the clearing. I paused, letting the low vibration travel up through my claws. A large brown oak leaf was wedged upright between two rotting roots, trembling wildly each time the breeze gusted. I stepped forward, deliberate and slow, until my snout pressed against the stiff stem. With one firm nudge, I pushed it loose. It fluttered down into the damp moss. A tiny snail on the bark underneath remained entirely undisturbed. I watched it for a long moment, then resumed my march.