Standing Ground

A heavy, dark stone sphere teetered on the bottom shelf, then dropped. A falling rock—the so-called asteroid meant to end everything. Freeze. Jaws parted, tail thrust straight out as a rigid counterweight. You thought a tumbling stone would wipe me out? Never. It hit the dense weave with a dull thud and rolled hard across my boundary. I did not retreat. With a low, rattling hiss, I charged into its path and slammed both foreclaws down against the smooth curve. My claws skidded, digging deep into the pile until the sphere halted dead against my flank. Threat stopped cold. No extinction on my watch.