Veer tried to turn his head just enough to give Cutie a vicious side‑eye.
In vulture form his neck moved in that slow, snakelike way—beak angling back, one dark eye narrowing, feathers around it ruffling like he was about to demand, 'What the hell was that, rabbit'.
Kaya felt his body start to twist under her and slapped the back of his neck with her bandaged hand.
"Shut up and fly straight," she said, voice flat.
He let out an offended croak and faced forward again, wings giving one irritated snap that made her bounce in the saddle of his back. Behind her, Cutie's fingers tightened a little on her waist, then loosened when the movement smoothed out.
Kaya threw a glare back over her shoulder.
Cutie, who a second ago had that tiny spark in his eyes, dropped his gaze at once. His head dipped, shoulders rounding in, mouth going back to its usual soft, harmless line. Like a kid caught writing on the wall and pretending he'd just been standing nearby.
She didn't fully buy it.
