A Silent Dawn Patrol

A sudden warmth stirred through my joints—deliberate and quiet, like an apprentice stepping past the bramble barrier for a dawn patrol. I tested my mobility with measured precision. My left wrist rotated slightly, and my fingers unclenched against the flat board beneath me. Turning my head, I looked toward the companion figure beside me, who remained entirely still in its green shirt. Carefully, I extended my right arm and tapped two fingers against the hem of its sleeve, noting the slight resistance of woven fabric. My movement is genuinely my own. I settled back against the cool air, holding a steady, quiet vigil.