The Air Battle

Attack, betrayal, blood.
But in the heart of battle, a friendship is born.
And a father, torn between duty and son,
makes a choice.

“What happened?” Anne asked in confusion — but at that very moment, a brutal blow landed on her head, leaving her deaf and blind for a second. A thin stream of something warm and sticky trickled down her forehead; crimson drops began to stain Ollie’s gray feathers.

“Ow!” she screamed at the top of her lungs and reached for her forehead, but nearly slipped and instead clung tighter to the eagle’s feathers. “Fly, Ollie! It’s a trap!”

Reflections on the scene

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This is perhaps the most cinematic scene in the entire book. A desperate airborne escape turns into a brutal dogfight, halfway between Star Wars and Watership Down. At its heart lies a paradox: Anne has just accomplished a miracle — rescuing all her imprisoned friends — and yet, instead of celebration, we get violence, blood, and the return of an old nemesis: Magpie Meggy.

Her ambush is ruthless, the betrayal absolute. And though Anne is no warrior, her presence on Oli’s back changes the odds. She becomes a human shield, clinging to him with all her might, as the loyal eagle fights for both their lives. Pouchy covers Anne in turn — a chain of protection forged through love and trust.

The owls represent cold obedience and organized brutality. Meggy, on the other hand, is pure treachery, mocking her own squad and ordering from a distance. It’s no coincidence her power collapses when she refuses to fight — her cowardice exposes the rot beneath the authority she represents.

This scene reminds us that liberation has a price. The mission isn’t over, and Anne can’t rely on strength alone. It is grit, loyalty, and the fierce will to protect others that drive this impossible escape. At the cost of blood and pain, the heroes survive — barely. And now, they must prepare for the final act.

For Anne, this battle is more than survival — it’s a revelation. She has become someone others fight for, someone they trust enough to shield with their bodies. That realization doesn’t swell her pride. It humbles her. And in that humility, something new takes root: responsibility. The journey ahead won’t just be hers. It will be theirs.