Tension in the Air

Suspended mid-drop. Still. Then my fingers twitch against the empty space. Every joint locks into place. Tension rises along my back. I extend one lower limb downward, tapping the clear acrylic arm bracing my waist. A sharp, hollow chime resonates through the plastic. The vibration confirms it. Ground is distant. Threat level unknown. I stay crouched, claws curled, eyes fixed on the blank perimeter below.