The thing finally broke through the clouds, its massive shadow swallowing the land beneath them.
At first glance, Naviga thought it was some sort of giant owl—but the longer she looked, the more wrong it became. Its head was indeed that of an owl, white as snow, with piercing blue eyes that glowed coldly in the dim light. But its body was nothing like an owl's. It was enormous, covered in shimmering blue feathers that almost looked like liquid water flowing down its frame. Its wings stretched wide, each flap tearing at the air and kicking up violent gusts like knives cutting across the plain.
Its beak gleamed dangerously, long and hooked, while its talons looked sharp enough to shred boulders apart. The pressure of its presence alone made the ground tremble, as though it could rip through flesh and bone as easily as soft cloth.
