A Slender Reach

My neck lifted slowly from the soft spore hollow, stretching up toward where long green vines trail down from the rocky ceiling. High up on one slender vine, a pale orange jungle bell flower was swaying ever so faintly in the cavern draft. I planted my four heavy feet firmly into the damp soil, stretched my front legs straight, and angled my long neck upward as far as it would reach. My snout brushed the delicate stem, nudging it back and forth until the stem snapped softly. The orange bell flower dropped cleanly, tumbling down to catch snugly between my head ridges. With my fresh crown in place, I let out a long, calm sigh.