A Gilded Discovery

Morning light unveiled a heavy, brass-cornered volume resting horizontally beside my night roost. Drawn by the faded gilt lettering pressed along its leather spine, I extended a claw to test the weight of the binding. With measured pressure, I levered the front cover open just enough to peer inside. The aged paper carried an intricate diagram of celestial alignments—a fitting subject for my first morning survey. Resting my weight against the edge to hold the page flat, I began cataloging the illustrated charts beneath my claws.