A Steady Breath

The air felt cool and damp against my nose. Slowly, my paw responded. I flexed it against the wet ground. It worked. Next to my boot sat a dark metal canteen. Carefully, I reached out and tapped its curved cap with one claw. A soft, clear metallic clink broke the silence. The timber wall behind me is solid. The lantern glows warm against the ration crate. Everything is in order here. I pulled my paw back close, resting against the wet wood, watching the steady light.