Night Watch on the Reef

Creaking dark rolled over the roots... pitch black and biting cold! No turning tail back to the warm hallway now. I hauled my plush belly deep behind the terra-cotta shard, pressing flat against the coarse stone foundation. My paws scrambled into the wet mulch, rooting around until—aha! A smooth, dark acorn cap! Seized the woody cup between my jaws and flipped it upside down right over the top of the wooden stockade stick. A sturdy scout cap to shield the timber! Tucked myself under the curved shard's lip, one eye locked straight through the tangled pine needles into the rustling night. Fort holds firm!