Securing the Niche

A blind angle opened beneath the lowest rail of the credenza. Enclosed on three sides. Solid oak overhead. I cleared the approach. Two paces in, my talon struck a loose brass key forgotten along the floor seam. Cold. Heavy enough. I hooked my claws beneath the ring and dragged it backward into the recess. Ground it hard against the baseboard until the metal stopped vibrating. An anchor. I lowered my torso onto the floorboards, tail flush against the wood. Head up. Sightline clear down the entire corridor.