A Midnight Ring

I slipped back through the screen door into the deep quiet of the dark living room. At the hearth, my little circle waited on the slate: the bottle cap cradling the marble, the copper coin, the silver key, and the brass curtain ring. Beside the tongs, a tiny discarded metal watch gear caught the faint gleam of the embers. I waited, letting the room grow entirely still before I took a step. Leaning forward, I nudged the gear with my snout. It skittered with a whispery clink, sliding straight into the hollow of the brass ring. It fit perfectly inside. I curled my front paws beneath my chest and rested my chin against the warm stone, watching the circle rest complete.