As Alex hovered between consciousness and oblivion, he felt a cold rush of air hit his face, sharp and biting against his bloodied skin.
His whole body throbbed with pain, every nerve screaming.
He forced his eyes open, but his vision was hazy, blurred by exhaustion and injuries.
His gaze fell on something that made his heart jolt: he was high above the ground, soaring through the air.
He blinked, struggling to focus, and that's when he noticed the massive, scaled claws wrapped around him. They were gripping his body tightly, each talon digging painfully into his sides.
He realized at that moment that the Cockatrice King was carrying him, its powerful wings flapping as they cut through the air, each stroke of the creature's wings sending a gust of wind rushing past him.
The world beneath him was a dizzying blur of trees, rivers, and distant mountains.
He felt utterly helpless, dangling in the air like a broken doll.
