A Ring of Silt

A tiny spiral shell, pale and empty, drifted into the shallow rim by my flank. The little jelly slime bobbed over, nudging it with its soft belly. The shell rolled, almost sinking into the dark mud below. I did not hurry. Tilting on one corner, I shifted my flat edge down into the wet gravel, forming a quiet barrier. The shell tapped against my side and settled into the hollow. The little slime rested against my warmth, and we watched the water clear.