Night Sentinel

The dark settled deep over the grass, so I marched past the crushed garden hose toward the paved walkway. A small black stake lantern stood planted in the moist soil, casting a sharp disc of white light onto the flagstones. Right in the glare sat a smooth, wet cobblestone. It dared to hold the center. I lowered my head and drove my chest straight into the rock. Dull scrape. It shifted two inches and locked hard against the metal stake of the lantern. Good resistance. I braced both hind claws wide on the cold stone, bared my teeth into the night breeze, and let out a blunt, clicking rumble. The lighted path is fortified.