He's just taking a step

A warm pulse stirred along my back, and suddenly I was looking at the zigzags underfoot with brand-new clarity. I wiggled my long tail carefully, feeling its solid weight brush the floor. Right in front of my left claw sat a thin dark cable resting across the pale pattern. Wondering what it felt like, I took one slow, deliberate step forward and nudged the rubber cord with the tip of my foot claw. It rolled aside with a soft slide. I stood steady, taking in every detail around me, ready to explore each small thing one step at a time.