Treasure in the Dust

A faint glint caught my eye from beneath the overhang of the armchair. Dropping flat onto my belly, I scuttled into the dusty gloom, claws clicking frantically across the floorboards. There, wedged firmly into the weave of the rug, was a small, polished wooden bead! A sharp chitter escaped my throat. Mine! I clamped both paws around the smooth curve, dug my hind claws into the floor, and hauled backward with frantic determination. My whiskers buzzed, teeth clamped shut in a desperate grimace. Pop! It broke free from the fibers, sending me rolling backward into the wooden chair leg, where I froze, clutching the prize tightly against my ribs.