First Stance

The ground beneath me was cool and firm. My knees were bent, arms raised, but the tension in the posture suddenly became mine to control. I flexed my right fingers inward, testing the pull of the joints. They responded instantly. Just behind my feet, a thin grey wire curved along the smooth surface. Shifting my weight without breaking guard, I touched the edge of my sandal against the wire, testing whether it offered resistance. It yielded easily. The perimeter is quiet, and my balance is solid.