Cool Metal

A quiet warmth settled into my toes. The dark wire beneath them felt solid, cool, and lightly textured. I paused. Slowly, with deliberate care, I tightened my grip on the horizontal bar. The metal held firm against my weight. I tilted my head toward the gentle light drifting through the grates. Everything around me was still. The air carried the faint scent of dry perches and midday sun. I relaxed into the perch, steady and watchful.