Summit of Stone and Steel

Rough concrete crunched under my claws as I advanced across the balcony perimeter. Ahead, a weathered terracotta planter sat squared against the metal railing base, forming a solid step upward. I planted one heavy foot into the dry packed soil. It held firm beneath my frame. Hauling my weight upward with counterbalanced tail, I crested the lip and climbed onto the flat iron railing. Cold metal met raw sky. Far below, stone streets cut between towering concrete facades, vibrating with the low, distant churn of the wider city. I stood wide, claws gripped around the iron edge, looking out across the open expanse.