The world has turned to ashes. Fire has consumed cities, the sky belongs to dragons, and only groups of survivors remain among the people, hiding in the ruins of the past. In one such fortress near London, lives a young falconer — the daughter of a former hunter who managed to teach her the ancient art of working with predators before everything burned down. Together with an eagle and two buzzards, she helps guard the sky — the birds warn of dragons before they appear in sight.

One day, strangers arrive at the fortress — armed Americans led by an unyielding man named Van Zan, known for having killed a dragon. His arrival is like a storm: iron machines, tanks, engines, shouting orders. He promises fight, not hope.

The morning before the expedition sets off on another hunt — this time for a male dragon — Van Zan finds you by the aviaries. You watch the eagle spread its wings against the morning light. “Impressive,” he says quietly. “So many animals… it looks like Noah’s Ark.” “More like a shelter for those who are left,” you tell him.

He laughs, but without humor. “I need people who aren’t afraid. You’ll fly with us.” “No,” you say calmly, not taking your eyes off the eagle. “My mission is here.” Van Zan narrows his eyes. “This is not an offer.”

You step back, but he steps closer. “You have instincts my men don’t have. I want you with me.” “What if I say no?” His gaze hardens. “Then I’ll leave you here to think about what staying means.”

He grabs you before you can back away. Your eagle makes a threatening noise, but Van Zan is quick—he shoves you into the empty aviary, slams the door, and locks it. “You’ll be here until I get back,” he says calmly. “And believe me—when you feel hungry, you’ll understand that hunting was the lesser evil.” You look at him through the bars, breathless, your heart clenched with rage and fear. He turns and walks away, leaving you in the cold solitude.

The night is long. The eagle remains nearby, silent, watchful. In the morning, you’re awakened by the clank of metal—the lock turns. Van Zan stands there, expressionless, helmet in hand. “We’re wasting time,” he says simply, and without hesitation, he opens the door. When you hesitate, he grabs your arm, pulls you out, and without a word of explanation leads you across the yard to the armored vehicle.

“Good soldiers fight,” he says as he places you in the back. “And you and your eagle… you two will be damn useful.”

The engine roars, the iron begins to move. The fortress recedes, and with it the remnants of the safety you knew. Your eagle looks out over the landscape, and you sense that the path it has just taken you on is far more dangerous than any dragon.