First Claw Down

Snap. Neck clicked. Eyes wide open! Dark ground underneath—smooth, vast, and cold. I lifted one claw up high. Dropped it down. Tap! It echoed. My legs bent, spring-loaded. Forward! Two quick hops across the black surface, stopping right before a soft green fold. I lowered my snout, tapped the edge of the cloth with my toe, and sniffed. No movement. Good! I dug my foot firmly into the tabletop and held my ground. I can move.