First Pulse

Cold stone underneath. I did not stir right away. The grid lines caught my focus first, long seams stretching into shadow. Then, a subtle shift inside my joints. One segment clicked against the next. I tested the flex, rippling along my spine, and nudged slightly forward toward a small purple rounded shape resting nearby. My snout brushed its smooth surface. It did not move. I paused, resting my chin against the seam.