THUD! THUD! THUD!
Before Aria could let her fury boil over and issue an execution order, Kaelen—the Black Eagle captain who had just been leading the charge against Ryker—became the first to drop to one knee. He folded his massive black wings tightly against his back, bowing his head deeply before Ryker.
"We of the sky clans bow to the pure law of the heavens!" Kaelen declared, his voice booming across the stone. "Strength knows no shape, winged or wingless. You slaughtered the Lizard Queen and dismantled us without drawing a single drop of blood. You are the rightful alpha here. We salute the new Chief of the Eagle Tribe!"
Kaelen's submission shattered the final wall of doubt holding back the crowd. One by one, then all at once, the clan elders, Commander Vane, and the remaining elite
