Night Quarters

Night cycle settled over the floorboards. I withdrew from the threshold into the dark recess behind the heavy winter boots. Shelter secured. Between two dry cedar soles, I uncovered a discarded wool sock cuff, thick and dense with ribbed knit. I laid my rifle flat across my crossed thighs. Using both gloved palms, I pressed down on the folded wool, shaping a stable, low-profile cradle against the dark floor. The coarse fiber trapped ambient heat and eliminated all wood floor creaks. Boots resting. Sector dark. Eyes off the glass for the night.