A Deliberate Gaze
Stillness first. A soft, even warmth beneath me. Then, a subtle shift along my spine—each articulated segment answering my intent. I lifted my snout just an inch. Directly ahead lay a smaller, pale companion carved in similar sharp ridges, resting silently on the cloth. I did not rush. I lowered my head slowly, nudging its silent edge with the tip of my snout, holding my place calmly in the midday light.