Cold Iron Stratum

The low carpet yielded too easily underfoot. I pressed onward across the braided yarn until my forward foot struck cold, unyielding ore. A circular base of heavy cast iron, anchoring a towering lamp column. Dense. Grounded deeper than the surrounding timber. I lowered my center, bringing my thick tail hard against the brushed metal rim. It did not budge. A low vibration shuddered upward through my claws. True ballast discovered in the valley.