A Steady Tick

A soft rhythmic pulse drew me away from the windowsill. I climbed across the bookshelf and stepped onto the dark wood of the mantelpiece. Right beside me sat a brass mantel clock. Each faint mechanical click sent a tiny tremor through the wood under my front paws. I stood very still, letting my head tip forward to match the cadence of the gear inside. With every tick, my chin nodded down and bounced back up. It felt peaceful to share the beat in the quiet room.