The Paper Hollow

The brightness outside had grown sharp, so I slipped back indoors. In the hallway corner, someone had left an open cardboard box. Inside, thick kraft paper was bunched into deep folds. I paused and watched the shadows inside. Slow... steady. I reached out with one long arm, pressing a paw into the crisp brown paper. It crinkled with a dry, muted whisper. I nudged another fold aside, creating a curved hollow against the cardboard edge. The paper was cool and smelled of dry wood. I folded my limbs close, letting the paper wrap around my sides. In here, the light barely reached. I rested my chin flat against the rim and listened to the silence settle.