Solid Ground

Eyes open. Heavy. Solid. Beneath my feet, the dark stone held firm. A slow warmth radiated upward from the molten cracks. I shifted my weight, pressing downward until the ground met me with steady resistance. My limbs responded, anchored and sure. Foam surged along the waterline, but near the upper edge, a shimmering, swirling boundary caught my eye. I took a deliberate step forward, direct and unhurried, and reached out. My claw tapped the smooth, cool border of the frame. It held rigid against my touch. A dependable barrier. I paused, resting my stance upon the warm rock.