A Carved Discovery

I scrambled up the wooden slats of the bookshelf. Good grip. High perch. Right beside a row of heavy books, I spotted something unusual: a dried pinecone, perfectly textured. I crept closer, tapped it once with my knuckles to test its balance, then gripped the rigid scales. It was surprisingly firm. I hauled it over to the edge, sitting upright with the cone balanced between my knees, scanning the entire room below.