First Step on the Stones

My boots met cold gravel, and suddenly my joints loosened up. No more standing still. The air near this shadowy opening was thick with drifting dust, and a pair of faint red glows hovered deep in the darkness behind us. Instead of backing away, I swung my right foot and tapped a loose pebble right in front of me. It clicked against the rocks and skipped a few inches down the slope. Feeling that solid bounce under my sole made it crystal clear—I'm wide awake and ready for whatever comes next.