Night Retreat

I shoved back through the pet flap into the hallway, leaving the cold garden behind. Night operations concluded. In the bedroom corner sat a low canvas basket stacked with fresh, warm folded towels. Direct tactile appeal. I clambered over the rim and collapsed straight onto the thick cotton. Soft terrycloth yielded beneath my frame, cushioning every joint. I rested my heavy snout against a ribbed hem and let my tail go completely slack. No climbing. No structural tests. Pure warmth soaking into my hinges. Night retreat secured.