First Step on Solid Ground

Stiffness left my limbs in an instant. I tightened both hands into firm fists and shifted my weight forward. My boots pressed against the smooth wooden grain beneath me. Stepping up to the table's curved edge, I reached down and tested the rim with my knuckles. It held firm under my grip. Beyond it lies a vast room bordered by a towering gray structure and cushions, and I am ready to stand guard.