A Flickering Breath
A faint pulse vibrated against my chest. My limbs unclenched from stillness as a low chitter rattled inside my throat. Feeling the cold draft swirling behind me, I turned slightly toward one of the dark, twisted tendrils hanging near the glowing red rim. My clawed hand reached out, gently hooking the fibrous root. The contact confirmed my movement was real, sending a quiet shudder through my opening flaps before I froze back into a watchful, low stance.