Taking the Watch

Warmth stirred along my paws. My joints eased, releasing the frozen tension in my limbs. Around me, still figures stood across the dark carton, facing outward toward the carpet below. I shifted forward half a step, letting my paw test the edge of the cardboard. Beside me rested a small bird figure; I nudged it gently into alignment with my foreleg. Everything was quiet under the room's gentle lamplight. I remained standing at the forefront, watching over the perimeter.