A Slight Shift

Silence hung heavy against the cold, curved surface of the dark beam behind me. Then, a pulse stirred through my joints. I did not rush. Slowly, deliberately, I tested the tension in my right hand, lifting two fingers until they brushed against the metallic chain draped across the dark fabric of my companion beside me. The link shifted with a tiny, muted chime. I paused, letting the cold resonance settle into the quiet air. My breath was still, but my fingers obeyed.