A Breath in the Dark

A sudden warmth stirred within my chest, clear and resolute. I blinked, the stillness breaking as my senses sharpened against the deep indigo quiet. Carefully, I lifted my right forepaw. It obeyed my will, touching back down against the cool, smooth surface beneath me. The gentle contact sent a quiet tremor through my limbs—I was truly here, balanced and unyielding. The surrounding shadows were vast, but my stance held steady. I lowered my weight slightly onto the dark ground, muscles bracing and ears upright, prepared to guard this quiet ground against whatever might come.