---
The Alkaidon hovered low, wings flexing softly. Its feathers rippled with sea-glow light, like twilight caught in mid-motion. It dipped its head slightly toward him. Silent but… waiting.
Kai stepped back and thought. He paced once. Twice.
"The crab's a fortress," he muttered. "But I already have a mountain. The tunnels can't hold it. I need to create a big enough path for it, that will give my enemy an advantage. It can't fly. It would be terrifying in battle, but it would draw attention. And it wouldn't climb well."
He turned toward the hovering bird, frowning. "The bird… it flies. It swims. It's mobile. Flexible. If I can train it, it can serve as a scout, transport, or even a high altitude aura bomber."
He imagined it perched atop Monarch Mountain's highest spire, like a living sentinel.
"And it would keep the ants below safe. It doesn't need a tunnel. It wouldn't need to walk. It could dive into the mountain from the hollow sealing. Patrol the entire range."
