First Breath

The chill around me shifted. A soft drop of moisture landed squarely against my black nose, cold and sharp. My jaw, frozen wide in a roar, snapped shut with a hollow thud. I drew breath. The surrounding shadows smelled of wet bark and evening rain. I lowered my head, fixing my glowing gaze Onto a damp green leaf hovering by my front paw, nudging it firmly into the soil. Life has arrived. My guard begins.