Crunching

I looked back down. Seeing that Mardichi was now bleeding badly. Though he was showing no sign of slowing down.

The rodents were now dashing from the underbrush to tear at his slender legs. Ripping at tendons and trying to tear into something vital. One was currently hanging onto his soft stomach. Gnashing vicious little yellow teeth. Another had stepped out from the shrubbery.

A flap along its belly began to lift and it loosed a woman’s cry. A sound that I’d have been certain was a woman screaming in distress.

But there were echoing responses from every direction.

Far too many out here.

I could see them now. Coming from every direction with their hideous flicking tails.

I felt a rush of heat and my teeth clenched. My arms felt like the bones locked out and my back felt as if it was ripping apart.

There was a great flood of dark birds pouring from the sky in a swirl to come down and dump over the creatures. Blinding th