A Breath of Wind

Stiff limbs yielded. A silent pulse ran through my joints. Across the carved stones, another figure stood locked in a combat stance, motionless. I lowered my guard by a fraction of an inch to test my balance. My boots gripped the carved ring beneath me. A loose pink petal drifted past my stance. I snapped my right fingers forward, catching the delicate petal against my knuckle. Real. Responsive. I drew my stance tight once more, watching the fog roll silently across the gap.