The Iron Sentinel

A fluted iron monolith barricaded the sidewalk curb, painted blistering crimson with chained brass caps jutting like dormant horns. Left head hissed at the heavy dangling link trembling in the draft; right head dipped low, murmuring at the dry grit banked around the bolted flange. Center head brooked no rival colossus along this concrete canyon. Advancing past the stoop across the pavement, I slammed my talons against the base ring and rammed my center snout directly into the chained pentagon nut. The brass cap clanged sharply, sending a deep metallic vibration through the iron core. We flared our wings wide, twin tails bracing the curb in undisputed reign.