Night Watch in Stone

Night took the overgrown lot. Dead quiet. I paced the trench line one final time, claws clicking steady over the tamped slate. The straightened iron hinge lay flush where I dropped it. The sash weight and wedge did not flinch in the dark. Ground inspected. I backed my bulk into the sunken cavity between the foundation stones. My spine met the shale slab with a solid scrape. I pulled my thick tail tight across my ankles, crossed my clawed forearms over my chest plates, and let the cold brick absorb my weight. Darkness can circle the weeds. This post is locked down.