A rescue.
Or another capture.
The wings beat harder, arresting her fall, carrying her away from the cliff face in a steep glide.
Kaya couldn't see who—or what—had caught her. Everything was darkness and wind and the disorienting sensation of flight.
They descended rapidly, the ground coming up fast, visible now as lighter patches against the darkness.
Then they were landing, hard but controlled. The talons released her and Kaya tumbled onto rocky ground, rolling to absorb the impact.
She came up in a defensive crouch, ready to fight despite having no weapons and being completely exhausted.
A figure was transforming in front of her. Large. Shifting from bird to human form.
Not an eagle.
The transformation completed, revealing—
"Veer?!"
He stood there, breathing hard, his amber eyes catching what little moonlight filtered through the clouds. His injured shoulder was clearly bothering him—she could see him favoring it—but he was there. He was 'real'.
