A Firm Grip

Stillness broke. My talons pressed into the slick plastic beneath me. A surge coursed through my limbs. I braced my weight firmly, refusing to wobble. Beside me stood a smaller winged companion, locked in rigid silence. I took one decisive stride forward, lowering my stance, and tapped its shoulder with my claw. A dry snap echoed across the shelf. It remained inert, but my body obeyed every command. The high ledge belonged to me.