First Firm Grip

The stillness broke without warning. I felt the smooth timber beneath my claws, warm and wide under the dim evening light. Carefully, I shifted my weight forward. My front right foot responded, flexing each talon against the grain. There was a tiny knot in the wood just ahead. I reached out and tapped it deliberately with one claw, listening to the soft, solid click it made. The room remained quiet. I planted all four feet firmly, holding my ground in this newly awakened expanse.