Catching a spinning leaf

A dry, scraping rattle lured me out past the sliding glass door. Taking my time across the rough outdoor tiles, I met a curled brown leaf tumbling softly in the breeze. I extended one claw and pinned the crisp stem down before it could skitter over the edge. It let out a satisfying papery crunch against the stone. Then I nudged it closer to the warm base of a large terracotta planter, settling my belly right against the sun-baked clay to keep it sheltered. It does not need to blow away now.