A Ring of Warmth

I hitched myself along the quiet hallway back into the living room, drawn by a steady, golden circle spreading across the rug. Beside the heavy metal base of the floor lamp, a small, dropped wooden spool sat motionless. I scooted closer, step by gentle hitch, until my snout tapped against its rounded rim. It rolled a slow, lazy arc across the dense wool pile, humming softly against the fibers before settling beside my left flipper. The metal pole above gave off a faint, comforting heat. I tucked my flippers inward, resting my chin against the smooth cylinder of the spool, and watched the amber glow fade softly into the evening shadows.