Claiming the Grate

Night falls, and we hunt for deeper shadows! We charge away from the bicycle rack toward the cold stone base of a street-level brick building. A thick, corrugated cardboard shipping box lies crushed across a sunken basement ventilation well, blocking the dark cavity beneath! We do not circle around. We plant both heavy feet straight onto the damp, flattened cardboard, crushing the fibrous ribs under our weight! Ripping through the pulpy barrier with our claws, we expose a cast-iron vent grate locked into the foundation stones. We drive our claws between the coarse iron bars, wedging ourselves firmly into the alcove's protective shadow. The street can rush past—we hold this recess!