Edge Test

Morning light strikes the wood. I step forward. Heavy clatter beneath my talons. Near the precipice sits a thick ceramic mug, abandoned and cold. I grip its rim with one claw. Sturdy clay. Dense glaze. I plant my back foot and give it a firm shove against the shelf planks. It slides three inches. Stops. It does not tip. The wood underneath groans, then settles. Strong foundation here. The drop below is steep, but the perimeter holds.