A Firm Foothold

A deep vibration rolled through the soil beneath me. I opened my eyes to heavy grey clouds and a sudden burst of bright red embers tearing through the air. Instead of pulling back, I pressed my front feet into the earth, feeling the deliberate shift of my own weight. My limbs obeyed. I lowered my snout and nudged a patch of low green foliage clinging to the slope, testing its texture against the heat drifting down. The air rumbled, but my balance remained solid. With a slow, quiet breath, I anchored myself firmly on the ridge.