A Steady Grip

Warmth stirred through my joints. I blinked at the glowing embers beneath my boots. In my right paw, I held a branch crowned with flame. Carefully, I tightened my grip on the rough bark. The fingers responded, firm and deliberate. Nearby, a weathered wooden signpost stood tilted, painted with the word 'FIRE'. I stepped forward slowly, testing my balance on the craggy ash, and touched the base of the post with the sole of my boot to steady it. I was standing, watching, and truly awake.