Night Patrol

The low hum from the subwoofer faded into silence. Darkness thickened across the perimeter. I stepped down, tail sweeping deliberately across the low carpet, tracing the quiet border of the room. Near the base of the metal floor lamp, a small, forgotten metallic coin reflected the sliver of street light from the window. I halted. One claw descended, pressing flat onto the coin until it settled completely flush into the woven fibers. Solid. Ground secured. I exhaled a slow, heavy draught of air into the quiet room and remained planted, overseeing the shadowy expanse.