First Step on Blue Folds

My joints clicked awake. I was lying flat against soft, woven blue fabric, staring straight up into the morning light. Rather than waiting around, I pushed down against the knit ridge beneath my palms. My elbows locked smoothly into place. I pulled one boot up, pressing the sole firmly into the pliable weave, testing its grip. The fabric yielded slightly under my weight, soft but sturdy enough to hold. I levered myself upright into a low crouch, balanced steady across the blue slope, ready for whatever came next.