A Ring of Keys

I slipped under the front door after returning from the courtyard, leaving the cooler evening air behind. Across the quiet floorboards, someone had dropped a heavy bunch of metal keys beside the entry cabinet. I took four measured strides forward, then halted. The brass and steel keys lay fanned out in an irregular star around a split metal ring. Slowly, I extended a front claw to touch the flat edge of the largest key. It was cold, with jagged cut teeth along one side. I leaned my weight forward, nudging the tip with my blunt snout. The metal shifted against the hardwood with a clear, sharp jingle. I waited, letting the vibration fade, before flattening my belly against the warm grain.