Night Sentinel

The copper flashing cooled as night covered the roof. Across the corner, a heavy steel door stood slightly ajar, rattling against its rusted frame whenever the wind surged. I marched straight to the aperture. A loose iron latch pin hung suspended by a frayed cord, swinging erratically against the doorplate. I did not flinch or back away. I planted both feet wide, raised my heavy clawed foot, and drove it down onto the swinging pin, pinning it flush into the door jamb. The rattling stopped. I leaned my bulk against the cold steel, braced my tail flat across the dark gravel, and held the perimeter secure.