A Silent Step on Stone

Silence. Then... tension in my joints. I shifted my weight forward. My boots clicked faintly against the coarse stone beneath me. I am awake. Scanning the open expanse, I noticed a brittle, dried leaf lying just inches away. Moving deliberately, I extended my right hand and tapped its curled edge. A soft, dry rustle answered. Terrain confirmed. I drew back into a steady, watchful stance.