A cat and dog had spat and hissed, barked and chased themselves to exhaustion
They lay, panting, on the ground, a wary, watchful distance apart

The cat licked one paw, all nonchalance
“The best thing” cat half-purred, half-growled
“Is night-time quiet, deep, dark silence,
I hear everything and I am wonderfully, magnificently, alone”

Dog sniffed this in
“The best thing” dog wriggled and shivered
“Is full stomach, empty bladder, and everyone home where
I can smell them, touch them, together”

 For a moment, cat and dog looked into each others eyes
A flash of understanding, what could you call it, pleasure?
Then lunge went the dog, and puff-ball scratch went the cat
And at it, they went, again.

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