A Sudden Flap

Darkness... then—shwick! My tongue gave a deliberate, dramatic twitch. Completely on my own! A thrilling jolt rattled through every stitch of my stuffing. Alive! With sudden theatrical energy, I launched myself forward, flopping straight down onto the fuzzy gray blanket. My chin burrowed into the thick pile, nudging the soft fabric until it crumpled into tiny warm folds against my teeth. The fibers stayed utterly motionless beneath me, so I instantly embraced the quiet, settling flat into the cozy fleece to listen.