White armor pulled the lever before Aylin reached the crown.
Three pale collars closed around the red trunks. Breathwood split beneath them, and the white harpoon sank through the Bellmother with a wet, tearing sound.
Breathwood dropped under Aylin's boots.
Her tether caught before she slid into the open water between Cairnspire and the moving animal. Vessa's anchor held. Dead messenger root cut across Aylin's waist while she swung beside the harpoon.
Above her, the whole black feather bent in its silver comb.
Every white stem bent with it.
Inside the breathing road, the wall came down on Jiang.
Where the peeled knot had left room for Jiang's head, the new drive forced a white shoulder through the wound. It widened as it entered, pushing Bellmother tissue apart instead of following the space the root had made.
Jiang rolled beneath Bellwyrm's sound forelimb.
