The air in front of the stone rippled, like rising heat, then began to take shape.
(The air in front of the stone; rippled; ) (The air in front of the stone rippled, like rising heat; began; T:then) (The air in front of the stone rippled, like rising heat; to take; shape)
The air in front of the stone The air in front of the stone rippled, like rising heat The air in front of the stone rippled, like rising heat
rippled began to take
T:then
shape