As quickly as he'd started for the bird, he wasn't able to reach before it got a hit in on the kid. Thankfully Tsubaki was able to keep her head about her better and kept Sora from getting ripped to pieces with the next moments. Whatever weapon she held proved enough to force the bird back Kurogane's way, closing the distance and granting him a much quicker attack than he'd anticipated.

Using Tsubaki's attack as a diversion, he reached the bird from behind and immediately swung the branch up, striking the sharp end through the base of its left wing and pulling back as hard as he was able. The Aquila shrieked at the strike and began flapping both wings furiously to remove the branch, all the while reaching its talons out to grasp Kurogane. The ninja dodged what he was able, letting the claws strike at the branch once or twice, but took some cuts in the process as he refused to let go.

So long as he held the branch caught in the Aquila's wing, there was time enough for the kids to get away, and what was more, he had the chance of grounding the thing if it thrashed enough to tear its wing apart. Both the kids' and his chances of escape were much higher without having an airborne adversary.

"Get going!" he ordered at the two, hearing Sora's own call to leave and hoping Tsubaki would follow suit. Kurogane knew he could keep this one from following after them for a least a few moments, long enough that they could take cover and maybe see to Sora's wound. He could handle himself afterwards.