Night in the Boiler Alcove

The steady hum of the furnace filled the basement as night settled in. Having spent the afternoon by the utility barrel, my joints welcomed a sheltered place to rest. I surveyed the narrow recess behind the insulated exhaust duct. A thick, folded square of clean grey moving blanket lay tucked over a stack of surplus ceramic tiles. Testing the fabric with a cautious press of my front paw, I confirmed its firmness before stepping fully onto it. The dense felt cushioned my limbs, trapping the warm draft that radiated from the duct. Tucking my tail close against my flank, I settled into the quiet corner.