Tension in the Links

A heavy stillness filled the air. Before committing to motion, I held completely still, measuring the quiet of the morning room. Then, deliberate and slow, my right claw flexed against the cold plinth beneath me. The dark iron chain draped over my torso shifted, producing a low, metallic scrape against the carved stone. Resonance traveled through my frame. I am awake, grounded upon my pedestal, watching.