The cat's paw gently padded against the smooth, cool hardwood that nearly shone in the bright blue white balance of six a.m. Light elucidated every strand of fur lingering a few inches from its frail form, creating a soft evanescence of grey shades and tones as it swiftly stepped in and out of shadows from the slider doors. The amber contrast of the wood in the floor of the old refurbished town house against the azure hue of the cloud trick easily distracted from the feline's mission. The thick bamboo in the terracotta planter at the base of the winding, wrought iron staircase with its thin leaves and the ivory and navy toile drapes in the adjacent guestroom had a kind of iridescent aura about them brought on by the sunrise reflecting on the dew of the grass reflecting into the atmosphere.

It came upon the first step and sat, its tail swishing as if to count the moments of its contemplation. Its deep amber eyes retained their golden luster despite the wash out of the rising sunlight and it dolefully surveyed the potted bamboo as though seizing up an old acquaintance. First one paw and then another, facile in its advance as it steadied itself on its haunches and lifted itself up, sharing the dirt with the long hard stems of bamboo. Dampened with a recent watering and kept wet with the chill of night giving way to the proceeding day, the cat's fur of its paws began to darken in color with the dirt. Rethinking its step up into the bamboo's habitat it drew itself to full potential, sinking a few inches into the opaque soil as it bounded forth from the pot and onto the next step. Recoiling from the force, the pot tipped over the edge of its stair and spilled its contents onto the hardwoods; the cat began to clean its soiled paws apathetically.