The Shadow Beast

Night fell. A monstrous black shape stretched across the cold garden wall. Huge jaws. Sharp teeth. Mimicking my stance! Insulting! I planted my back claws into the damp dirt and let out a dry rattle. The beast rattled back with identical silence. I surged forward and charged up the stone bench. WHAM! I slammed my heavy skull directly against the concrete surface! Cold stone stung my forehead. The dark silhouette wavered beneath the yellow porch beam, then broke across my snout. Just my own outline. A fine rival. Unbroken.