His attention suddenly shifted to the cave entrance, captured by a muffled, continuous sound. It was a deep hum, vibrating through the stone, almost like distant thunder, but with a steady rhythm that made it different. River stiffened, senses sharpening, catching something she didn’t perceive the same way.

Stay here, he ordered firmly.

Wait… what? River!

But he was already running toward the front of the cave and leapt for the entrance. His black hair was the last thing Lyra saw before sprinting after him, not understanding what had triggered his alarm.

When she finally reached the opening, breathless and aching, heart pounding, she was met with a nearly comical sight.

River stood in the middle of the clearing, chest heaving, eyes locked on the sky, growling as he spun in place, looking upward like he was ready to tear something apart. But there were no wolves. No rogues. Only the blue-gray sky and a commercial airplane cutting through the clouds with its deep, steady rumble, flying