The Wire Sphere

I crawled out from the bookshelf corner into the morning sun. Across the kitchen threshold, a round stainless steel tea infuser ball rested on the floorboards. I paused. Sunlight gleamed through its fine wire mesh. A tiny silver chain trailed behind it like a thin tail. I stepped closer. Going around was not needed. I lowered my snout and pressed forward with steady force. The metal mesh gave a faint scrape against the wood, then rolled smoothly. The clasp clinked softly with each turn. I gave it one more deliberate shove with my right claw until it tucked safely into the dark hollow under the cabinet.