Beyond the Threshold

I crossed the cold metal threshold and stepped into the open air. The ground here is coarse concrete, rough against my claws. In the street, a heavy engine rumbled past, sending a low mechanical pulse straight up through the stone into my legs. I held my stance and listened. Suddenly, a dry brown leaf tumbled across the slab, pushed hard by the breeze. I did not retreat. I pivoted, shifted my weight, and brought my right foot down with deliberate force. The brittle spine snapped beneath my talons, pinned firmly against the concrete. I paused and scanned the wide perimeter of the front yard. Ground secured.