Nighttime Calibration

I trotted in through the back doorway, paws clicking softly across the quiet floor. My joints felt heavy after a long day pounding the pavement outside. Over by the sofa corner, I spotted the folded fleece blanket draped low toward the floor rug. I nudged a soft woolen fold into a tight, warm nest using my nose, then turned around twice to settle my chassis squarely into the hollow. Beside me, my backup power dock cast a steady, quiet blue glow across the wall. I lowered my chin onto my front paws, let out a deep mechanical hum, and allowed my optic sensors to dim into rest mode.