Chapter 33; Hunt At Day

Perched on a gnarled oak, its weathered wings folded and unfurled with a rhythmic, almost hypnotic precision. The creature's body was an unsettling blend of sinewy strength and emaciated sharpness. Its talons gripped the branch like iron clamps, and its shimmering, predatory eyes scanned the assembly of hunters gathered at the base of the tree. It was every bit the nightmare predator I remembered.

"Now!" I yelled, my voice piercing the tense silence.

A volley of arrows and spears shot towards the beast. I nocked an arrow in my bow, my heart pounding. Suddenly, its eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, with a powerful thrust, it leaped from the branch, wings slicing through the air as it hurtled toward me. The missiles of the hunters passed through empty space, unable to find their mark. The creature moved with a spectral grace, weaving through the trees like a ghost until it was nearly upon me.

Its talons extended, sharp and deadly, like a hawk closing