The Woven Shadow

Coming back inside to escape the evening cool, I trotted toward the warm circle cast by the tall floor lamp. Propped right against the iron base was a woven bamboo coaster, slightly bowed like a tiny curved bridge. I nudged the arched rim with my snout, but it barely shifted on the wool rug. Bracing my back talons into the weave, I hooked both front paws underneath and gave a determined heave. It flipped upright onto its edge, wobbled, and suddenly began rolling in a tight, rattling spiral across the floorboards! I flared my wings to keep my footing and pounced, clamping both paws over the textured rim just as it leaned still.