Tactical Terrain Inspection

Midday patrols require surveying every perimeter flaw before they escalate. I slipped past the open back screen door and dropped onto the grey flagstone walkway bordering the garden. Wedged tightly between two paving stones was a forgotten metallic washer, tarnished by soil and rain. Planting my boots firmly on the rough grit, I knelt and used the edge of my gloved palm to pry the flat steel ring upright from the gap. A sharp metallic flick cleared the dirt. I set the ring flat atop the border stone as a fixed landmark. Nothing slips out of order on my watch.