Night shelter by the path

I followed the quiet dirt lane until the evening streetlamps flickered to life overhead. Near the edge of a neat garden hedge, an upturned wooden fruit crate rested among dried fallen leaves, propped slightly against a smooth paving stone. I steered my packed kit through the open gap between two pine slats. Setting the strap flat, I patted the secure brass binder clip and felt the cool edge of the brass ruler inside. Sitting back against the dry, fragrant pine lath, I let my paws rest on my knees while watching the lantern glow spread across the trail.