Kyle's whistle cut through the still air like a blade, sharp and commanding.
Almost immediately, Queen responded, soaring into the sky and taking a wide arc over the valley.
Its feathers shimmered in the sun, casting a brief shadow over Kyle as it circled above the direction of the incoming threat.
He didn't have to wait long.
From the disturbed dust and rhythmic tremors in the ground, it was clear the beasts were getting closer.
Kyle raised his hand, fingers flashing through a silent signal. It was Melissa's cue.
She caught the motion from her vantage point near the edge of the village and gave a sharp nod before turning to move.
But before she could fully break away, a few worried villagers rushed toward her.
"Please, you don't have to go! It's not worth risking your life for us!"
One of the older women pleaded.
Melissa offered them a calm, soft smile that somehow made her look even more determined.
