Kaya didn't move for three long breaths. Only when she was sure his feet were completely still did she ease her grip.
"Down," she said. "Now. Before whatever is holding you up changes its mind."
Veer folded his wings in tight, legs shaking as he sank carefully to his belly on the rock. Once he was flat, Kaya unhooked her hand from his feathers and shifted her arm from around Cutie's waist to his shoulder, guiding his weight as she slid off.
Her boots hit the ridge. Solid. Cold. No give.
She helped ease Cutie down beside her, propping him with her own body while his head lolled briefly, then settled again.
Only then did she look back at Veer.
His beak was open, tongue working, chest rising and falling too fast. Feathers along his neck were puffed, not for show but because his body was trying to cool itself. Big gliding birds can run hot when forced to flap under heavy load and messy wind; landing with too much speed or too little control can break bones. [2][1]
