A Slight Tap on Steel
Stillness broke. First, a small pivot of the neck. *Clack.* The joints held firm. Beneath my grey toes, the metal beam felt flat and steady. Across the slanting glass, pale light cut straight lines through the air. I tilted downward, testing the weight of my large beak, and gave the smooth railing one deliberate tap. A clean, hollow ring echoed off the steel. I straightened up, balanced, and looked out into the open space.