A Soft Bookmark

Coming inside from the dark garden, my paws were quite ready for a rest. I sat down on the braided rug beside the armchair and carefully drew the striped feather out from the spine of my green book. Under the warm lamplight, the pale and brown bands looked wonderfully neat. I laid the feather flat across the open fabric page, smoothing its downy edges with one paw until it lay completely still. It made a very soft, sleepy blanket for the stitched leaf underneath. Leaning back against the chair leg, I took a slow breath and let the quiet house settle around me.