The scene was set for a long night of responsibility. The room glowed under the watchful hum of rainbow LEDs and warm golden fairy lights draped like glowing vines on the wall. This was the Kingdom of Cozy, and its ruler, the Tuxedo Cat, was currently On Duty.
At the beginning of the evening, the Tuxedo Cat assumed the Perfect Loaf formation on his red snowflake blanket. His paws were tucked neatly beneath his chest, a sign of organized discipline. His eyes were wide, reflecting the purple ambience of the room. He stared directly ahead, stoic and unmoving. He had told himself he would stay awake all night. Perhaps he was waiting for the holiday spirits, or perhaps he was just making sure the blinking lights didn’t try any funny business. He was the guardian of the bed, and he took his job very seriously.
However, the Tuxedo Cat had underestimated his greatest adversary, The environment itself. The combination of the hypnotic, twinkling lights and the plush, warm embrace of the red fleece blanket began to weigh heavily on him.
As the night went on, his steely resolve began to crack. His head, once held high with dignity, started to droop. The eyelids grew heavy, turning his watchful stare into a sleepy squint. The battle against gravity had begun, and gravity was winning.
Finally, the sentinel could fight no longer. The warmth was too powerful. With a silent sigh that surely fluffed his whiskers, he surrendered. His chin sank down, finding the softest spot among the white reindeer patterns on the blanket. His eyes closed completely, shutting out the festive disco around him.
The vigilant watchman had officially melted into a puddle of purrs. The holiday lights still twinkled, but now they stood guard over him as he drifted off into dreams of endless tuna and chasing shadows.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
