Breaching the Mesh

From the sofa armrest, the coffee table was within reach across a narrow chasm. A single leap bridged it. Resting in the center was an overturned wire-mesh letter tray, trapping a thick stack of cardboard coasters underneath. A caged cache. I circled it once, testing the metal ribs with the tip of my snout. Cold, rigid wire. I wedged my lower jaw beneath the curved lip and shoved upward with my hind legs. The tray groaned against the polished timber, tilting sharply before sliding aside. I planted one talon atop the exposed cardboard. Perimeter cleared.