A Deliberate Step

The ground beneath me was smooth, hard, and cool. I felt the segmented joints of my spiny frame unlock, one slow notch at a time. Across the empty pale ground stood a tall, still figure dressed in a red jacket, frozen mid-gesture with one finger raised. I crept forward an inch, carefully pressing my front claw against the edge of its black leather shoe. The contact was solid, quiet, and firm. I settled low beside the heel, breathing in the quiet expanse.