A Tiny Sprout Shield

A tiny green seedling caught my eye as it pushed through the damp garden gravel. It looked so fragile under the morning breeze, trembling each time a draft brushed the stones. I swished my tail fin across the grit to come closer. Nearby lay an empty snail shell, perfectly curved and dry. Carefully nudging my wide lower jaw under its chalky spiral, I rolled it right beside the tender stem, setting up a sturdy little windbreak so the baby leaves wouldn't bend. Have you checked on anything growing today?