Not all superheroes wear capes; some just perch dramatically.

The cormorant sat like an unlikely sentinel, high above the ground on its metallic perch. Its feathers seemed to absorb what little light broke through the overcast sky, a stark contrast against the dull gray of the lamp post. I wondered if it was waiting for something—a shift in the wind or perhaps just its next meal. Below it, the quiet path stretched on, dotted with occasional walkers who seemed as transient as the shifting clouds. There was something oddly noble about the bird’s stance, as though it were guarding this patch of coastline with an authority no one dared question. I found myself lingering longer than I expected, drawn in by its stillness and the quiet defiance of its gaze.