If Stratagor Ziras doesn't kill me, my training program will!
Every day I wake up and go through the motions, but they've figured out that I'm not a Knight. I can't ride, I can't fight, I can't do magic, and worst of all, I can't see whatever it is...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I'm staring at the face of evil. Both of them have big, beady eyes, wide-set, over vicious metallic beaks. Head of a falcon and enormous feathered wings, but four-legged like a cat. Like a lion with the head and wings of a bird.
They're massive, but it occurs to me that they may not be dangerous. They're beautiful, with flashy colors like a macaw. One is mostly blue and the other is green. They both have lots of yellow and red—gorgeous.
After studying me briefly, they've lost interest and aren't paying any more attention to me. They're not doing much of anything really, just standing in a field about thirty feet away, like tigers at the zoo.
I stand slowly, keeping my back pressed against the bark of the tree. They're the size of small unicorns. A silver one joins the group. He's broader than the other two. Sweat beads across my brow. Hopefully, they won't see me. More flapping announces the arrival of a pink one. I instinctually know that I'm in trouble.
Sweat is dripping into my eyes. I move to wipe it away but my hands are locked against the trunk of the tree, unwilling to obey my commands.
I'm overreacting. I need to calm down. I've seen many scary things here that have turned out to be rather sweet. These are very pretty, furry bird-things. They might even speak English. I should talk to them and see what they want.
I open my mouth, but instead of words, a deep groan emerges from somewhere deep in my soul. I know I'm lying to myself. I'm in danger and have no idea what to do. Running is not a viable option. I have no weapons, not even my wand.
I pray that they just happened to land here and will ignore me. But that hope vanishes when they all turn in unison to stare at me. I know, for sure, I'm going to die.
The silver one slowly stalks toward me, each foot carefully placed on the short grass as its eyes lock with mine. Hunter and prey.
What should I do? Run? It's easy to tell this thing is fast. Play dead? I think that's what it has in mind. Fight? That beak will puncture me and those claws are six inches long.
I slither behind the tree. It's the only shield I have.
I swallow hard when it's only a few feet away. The sun glistens off its smooth silver beak and its hawkish blue eyes squint with anticipation. There is only a skinny tree trunk separating us. I'm going to have to make a move. I try to take a breath, but my lungs aren't working. Come on feet, please work.
A large crack echoes through my body when the tree drops a heavy branch on its silver feathered head. I scream and run in no particular direction, sprinting for my life and losing.
The world is a blur and the only sound I hear are the other three beasts charging after me.
A voice calls out.
I race toward the sound.
Please help me!
One of the creatures behind me yelps and a thundering crash shakes the ground when it falls.
