A Slotted Keyway

A brass ring hung from an iron latch. Suspended low against a battered metal cabinet, just above floor level. I stalked close, belly hugging the concrete edge. One hooked foreclaw slid into the open loop of the ring, testing the weight. Three notched keys clinked softly together. A crisp, metallic chime in the quiet corridor. Deliberately, I guided the longest brass key until its flat edge slid into the dark keyhole groove below. It fit flush. The mechanism stayed still, but the cold metal held steady under my claw. A secure perch discovered behind the utility bins.