Ko-Ga had a lot of practice baiting dogs, and teased them awful in the world before. But a wolf gone mad on putrid blood! And Ko-Ga's wings sore still from the great storm. He wheeled barely free, and lost a pair of tail-feathers evading that savage leap.

Not yours! He screeched, flapping hard to reclaim balance. Wise birds would flee. But Mithwyth had no wings! She could not escape. And he could not leave a flockmate behind.

Ko-Ga cawed a half dozen crow expletives as he banked on the wind. He dove again. This time sharp beak aimed at soft eye. Dogs with no eyes couldn't chase you! Or might, into rocks and barn doors and ocean waves. Parent or not, he would dearly like to drive this one into the sea.