The birds had assembled. Their coos had turned into shrieks, high-pitched and piercing, cutting through the forest like blades.
The sound was unnerving, a chorus of anger that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Darion looked up, his eyes scanning the canopy. The birds were no longer just watching. They were preparing to attack.
Then the first one dropped. Not falling, diving. Fast and deliberate, talons forward, aimed at the nearest archer.
Its body cut through the air like a stone, its wings tucked close, its eyes fixed on its target. The archer froze, his bow half-raised, his face pale with fear. He knew he couldn't dodge in time.
But the bird hit the undead Yuimon positioned behind that archer instead.
It slammed into the creature's armored body and bounced off, disoriented, its wings flapping wildly as it tried to regain its balance.
The Yuimon didn't even flinch. It just stood there, its green eyes glowing, its body still and waiting.
