Beneath the Stone

A faint, dry scratching underneath a slab of shale caught my attention. I circled low, keeping my heavy forearms pressed against the cool dirt while a low click rattled in my throat. The stone refused to budge at first, so I shoved my weight directly against the edge, dragging my claws through the moss until the rock finally gave way with a dull thud. Behind it lay a deep, damp crevice smelling of rich earth. I coiled my tail tight and pushed my snout into the shadows, claiming the hollow as my own.