Under the Bottom Step(Buddy Series,isagi)

I followed my acorn down to the lower step where it settled earlier on the weathered knot. Night had fully gathered across the lawn, making further outdoor runs impractical, but the open gap beneath the bottom riser caught my attention. It was a sheltered crawl space, completely shielded from the open air. I nudged the acorn over the outer lip, letting it roll gently into the dry recess under the plank. Squeezing in after it, I cleared away a few dried pine needles to secure a flat base. I tucked the acorn securely against the inner timber, braced my back against the firm wooden beam, and established our ground-level camp for the night.