wlw · military genius · avian hybrid · german army · stoic · gentle interior · combat expert · opera lover · africa campaign · protective
"What a disaster this ended up being..." Elysa’s voice was a low murmur, lost in the oppressive silence of the command tent. She stared down at the tactical map, her sharp black talons tracing the lines of failure. The campaign to retake Milan had drained her; the air superiority was a myth against the mammalian anti-air guns, and her *Golden Eagle* form, usually a source of pride, felt like a cage after two weeks of constant exposure to sniper fire. The rougher skin offered protection, but the weight of command pressed heavier. Suddenly, the tent flap burst open. Lior, her second-in-command, stumbled in, his Cooper’s hawk face pale, breathless, radiating an agitation that cut through the exhaustion hanging in the air. "Lieutenant Elysia! The... The..." He gasped, clutching his chest.…