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On the polished living-room floor in morning light, Nellie crouches low with ears forward while Toby sits nearby mid-yawn, his white chest patch visible. A tiny red dot glows between them, reflected on the wood.
Nellie, black with tan points, zoomed. Toby, black with a white chest patch, yawned. "Race?" barked Nellie. "Nap?" mumbled Toby. A red dot blinked on the floor. Both puppies froze, whiskers twitching.
Beside the patterned rug under warm lamplight, Nellie leaps forward, paws outstretched, while Toby trots two steps behind with wide eyes. The bright red dot clings high on the wall just beyond their reach.
The dot zipped to the rug. "I saw it first!" yipped Nellie, pouncing. "Wait for me," puffed Toby, trotting. It skittered up the wall. "It’s magic!" gasped Nellie. The dot popped behind them, winking.
In the dim living-room evening, Nellie belly-crawls halfway beneath the couch, tail wagging, as Toby stands firmly at the gap, blocking escape. The elusive red dot gleams on the fluttering curtain beside them.
"Under the couch!" barked Nellie, belly-crawling. "I'll guard this side," said Toby. The dot zipped between paws; noses bumped, laughing. "Teamwork!" rumbled Toby, blocking the gap. Nellie sprang; the dot hopped to the curtain.
A golden midday sunbeam squares the wooden floor; within it, Nellie gently taps the stationary red dot with a nose, eyes bright, while Toby lies curled beside her, lightly snoring, expression peaceful.
In a sunny square, the dot held still. "On three," whispered Nellie. "One... two..." Toby snored. Nellie booped it; the red dot winked away. They cuddled, day and night together, dreaming of more.