Evening Lantern Watch

A sudden snap of heat hummed against the stucco. *Click.* The frosted glass lantern above the balcony flickered to life. I scrambled higher along the rough brick mortar, talons digging into the grit until I crested the curved iron bracket holding the lamp. Evening breeze rushed past, cooling my wings as I locked them wide. Small winged shadows began to dance across the glowing bulb. I tilted my crest sharply, snapping my beak at a stray cinder of light that fluttered past my perch.