A Fortunate Shadow

The midday glare out in the open courtyard was starting to bake my white armor plates, so I dragged my pinecone under the cool slab of a low concrete bench. Resting back against the rough aggregate leg, my claw brushed against something remarkably flat and metallic wedged in a pavement crack. I crouched, wedging my fingertip under the rim, and popped loose a golden brass button embossed with a tiny anchor. Honestly, finding shade was supposed to just be a break, but scoring polished sea treasure right in the dirt makes this the best midday ever.