First Step on Soft Ground

Legs twitch. One. Two. Four. The surface beneath feels uneven, cushioned like rolling terrain. Tap, tap. My joints respond on command. Ahead rests a bright yellow patch upon the fleece weave. I shift my weight, scuttling forward three measured paces. Extending one front limb, I tap against the edge of the yellow shape. Quiet. The fabric holds firm beneath my weight. I pause, legs planted, observing the ridges.