Finding the Rhythm

I stepped onto the lowest dip of a heavy iron chain suspended between two granite bollards. The cold metal dipped under my weight, swaying forward and back in a slow, wide arc. Instead of hurrying off, I bent my knees and lowered my center, letting my tail drift outward to catch the counterweight of each swing. With every pulse, the heavy links groaned softly against the anchor rings. I waited for the pendulum to steady into an even rhythm, then began stepping forward along the curved iron links, one careful foot at a time. The sway smoothed out beneath me until I walked right up the rising curve to the stone post.