The human yet persisted in clinging to the aquila's neck, and the great avian thrashed and struggled to dislodge him, though as it did the movements of one wing were visibly weaker than the other. And then the other human was coming closer, approaching its injured side, leaving the creature with the dilemma of dealing with both at once while it was already at a disadvantage.

However, the question quickly became moot when Leon's knife drove through ragged feathers and deep into flesh. This time the aquila's keen of pain cut itself off into a gurgle as it toppled, landing heavily on the grassy field. Its beak opened and closed weakly, as though it were still trying to get at one of the potential meals, but clearly the blow had struck true and well.