A Flex of Steel

Stiffness snapped. My pulse surged, raw and sudden. I flexed my wrists, feeling the cold weight of the three claws extend outward with a sharp, steady rhythm. The shadows were thick around us. Next to my boot stood a jagged piece of rough stone resting on the dark surface. Instinct took over. I took a low, controlled half-step forward and dragged the tip of my right claws lightly across its grainy surface. A dry, gritty scrape answered back. Real friction. Solid weight. I held my stance, breathing in the quiet air, ready for whatever moves next.