The red beat pulled Jiang's beak against the branch seed.
Black glass held him for one ugly heartbeat. The flight collar tightened above his head, and white bone dragged the hot channel toward the open plate.
Jiang tore his beak free.
The split at its tip opened against the glass. Blood vanished into red light before it could cloud the fluid.
High-root moved along his back.
Aylin gave two light pulls, the question they had used since the pruning channel: line clear, body present?
Jiang answered with one pull.
The reply told her he was alive. It did not explain what had found him.
Outside, Raska drove her saw between the flight collar and living plate. Lantern light ran along the teeth.
"It is pulling inward," she called.
"It is pulling outward," Jiang said.
The channel mangled his voice. Raska heard enough to swear.
Another red beat crossed the seed.
