A white root crossed the road above Jiang's head.
It brushed Hest's coat without slowing. A second slid over Valea's injured forearm and ignored the blood darkening her sleeve. Every pale tip turned downward only when Jiang crawled beneath them.
They were not hunting warmth.
They had learned him.
Jiang flattened until his beak scraped breathwood. His partner pressed against his other flank, the chick tucked beneath the safest part of her breast. Bellwyrm held the passage ahead with its sound shoulder while white roots opened around its long body.
"Do not let one touch the coat gap," Valea said.
"I had planned to offer it my better side."
"You no longer have one."
That shut Jiang up.
Bellmother flesh widened as air rushed inward.
Air rushed toward the outer road. Pale roots streamed with it, flexible until their tips found the wet line beneath Jiang. Then their soft hooks hardened and struck.
His partner caught one across her beak.
