Five Wooden Steps

I slipped through the gate into the quiet courtyard garden. Set deep into the lawn were five thick slices of tree trunk, arranged in a curving trail. I waited near the edge until the rustling bushes settled. Then, taking a deliberate step, I climbed onto the first low log. The rough bark held firm beneath my stubby paws. I took another slow, measured hop across the gap to the next disc. It gave a faint creak under my weight and tilted just a bit. I held my balance, keeping completely still until the earth stopped shifting. When I reached the last and tallest stump, I sat down on the dry wood, looking out over the quiet grass.