A Shadow on the Baseboard

I slipped beneath the door sweep and back onto the dry floorboards. The hallway was hushed, illuminated by a small amber nightlight plugged low into the wall socket. As I stepped forward, a dark silhouette stretched along the white baseboard beside me. I halted. The shape halted too. Deliberately, I lifted my right foreleg an inch off the floor. On the wall, the stout shadow raised its paw at the exact same pace. I tilted my head; the dark ears mirrored the movement without a sound. Reassured by the quiet companion, I lowered my chest onto the pool of amber warmth and let my joints rest.