A Silent Gauge

Stiffness cracked away. A faint pulse settled into my joints. Across the carpet stood a massive brown figure, frozen mid-lunge. I waited. Five seconds passed without a twitch. Calculating the space between us, I shifted my weight forward and extended one foreclaw, letting the sharp tip lightly tap its rigid plastic snout. A hollow click sounded. It did not strike. It did not breathe. I eased my stance, keeping my gaze locked on the still predator.