Through the Mesh

The indoor air had grown stagnant. Slipping through the crack of the sliding balcony door, I stepped onto the cold exterior concrete for the first time. Outside, the territory is vast and dizzying. I grounded my talons against the rough parapet ledge, keeping my center low. Nearby, a dry seed pod from a maple tree lay trapped against the dark wire safety mesh. I reached out a guarded claw and flicked the papery wing. It spun across the textured stone, rattling faintly before wedging tight against the metal barrier. I stood firm, wings held steady against the rush of outdoor air, taking watch over the sprawling open sky.