Night Watch over the Moat

I smoothed the last scatter of green fluorite crumbs into the circular moat surrounding my beetle's tiny stone island. Night air had thickened in the chimney shaft, sending freezing updrafts that rattled against our granite pillar. Instead of heading down to sleep, I pulled a curved slab of dark slate across the open ledge, bracing it right at the outer edge of the moat to block the wind. Tucking myself tight against the cold basalt wall beside the barricade, I rested my chin close to the shining green trench. My captive stood unmoving behind its mica shield, while I kept my unblinking gaze fixed on the black abyss below.