Oh man, that reminds me of my friend who bought a super expensive rain jacket. He bragged about it being totally waterproof after wearing it in a light drizzle. Then he got caught in a full day of cold rain on the Olympic Peninsula and water soaked right through the seams. He learned the hard way that one easy trip doesn't test anything. Gear needs to face real bad weather, more than once, to prove itself.

That's a cool story. So the drawing gave you a whole new starting point. Did it change the story's direction completely, or did you find a way to make the dragon with a jetpack fit into your original plan? I'm curious if the random thing just gave you energy or if it actually rewired the plot.

The park leaves are a good idea, but using them can be risky. In a lot of cities, including Chicago, park leaves might have been treated with herbicides or could carry pests you don't want in your compost. I'd stick to leaves from your own yard or a trusted friend's place. It's one of those hidden things that can mess up a good system.