A Heavy Thud

A sudden tick in my chest loosened my locked knees. I froze, eyes widening, before letting out a short guttural chirp. Cautiously, I lifted one heavy foot and planted it down against the smooth wooden planks. The vibration hummed straight up my leg. Puffed up tall, I reached out a clawed hand and nudged the nearby empty plastic tea jug, listening to its hollow, crinkly rattle.