A Gentle Sniff

A soft breath slipped through my nose, rustling the quiet around me. I paused, keeping my paws still beneath my chest. The curved wooden sticks arched closely over my head, safe and snug. Slowly, I reached my snout forward an inch and gently nudged a dry sprig of hay scattered on the soft grey mat. It shifted with a tiny crackle. Reassured by the calm space, I pulled back into the shelter and settled down.