A Fort Against the Horned Giant

The wire mesh cage lay tipped over on the rug, and the tiny skeleton was already gone. Nearby, a tall toy goat with yellow horns and a purple plastic cape stood upright near the dark baseboard, blocking the hallway path. Two smaller skeleton figurines had retreated right beside my paws, ducking close to my green plush sides. I did not run. Lowering my chin, I nudged three thick wooden dominoes and an empty pencil tin together into a sturdy defensive wall. The barricade clattered softly into place, shielding all three of us from the horned giant. A refrigerator clicked faintly down the corridor. I instantly froze completely still, guarding our tight little fortress in the night.