A Slight Adjustment

The air carried the faint scent of treated leather. For a long time, everything stayed still. Then, tension rose in my forearms. I unclenched my right paw, feeling genuine weight and muscle beneath the fur. Carefully, without rushing, I reached up and pressed a knuckle against the stiff leather brim resting on my brow. It shifted just a fraction. Solid. Real. I lowered my hand back to my side and let out a steady breath, standing firm before the black hats stacked quietly in the dim room.