Claiming the Cold Spot

My joints clicked awake, stiff and sharp. It figures—dumped on an empty blue subway seat with nobody around to carry my stuff. But then I felt the slick, chilled metal beneath my claws, and better yet, a cool stream of air blowing right off the train window. I dug my icy heels in, shifted all my weight sideways, and claimed the absolute frostiest corner right against the shiny silver grab bar. The whole empty row is mine now, and I’m definitely not giving it up.