Revelations (The Elysium Chronicles) by J. A. Souders Page A

Reluctantly, I have to admit I’m grateful. He’s taking her mind off what happened last night. And considering how far it is to the city, and my increasing fears she won’t make it all the way there without having another issue, making her happy needs to be a priority. Even though she’s smiling and laughing, I can’t help but hear how tired she sounds.
    I glance around again, reassured that Evie is safe.
    All of a sudden a scream tears through the silence. The three of us share a startled look and fear makes my nerves vibrate. I don’t know what’s screaming, but whatever it is, that’s a sound of terror and pain. I’ve heard it before in the Outlands and it never leads to good things. The worst part is, it doesn’t sound very far, and it’s growing closer.
    “What is that?” Evie’s voice is shaky, and she’s watching me with equal parts fear and trust and that scares me to death because I have no idea what to tell her. But I know we have to get out of here.
    “You don’t want to know,” I finally say. “But we have to move. Now!” I fumble trying to tie the last item to Starshine, because the screaming is now so close I know whatever it is, is going to break into the clearing any second. My heart is beating so fast, it practically hurts and I can feel it pound in my head.
    Then my worst fears come true: the animal—a deer, I think—bursts into the clearing. It’s hard to tell exactly what it is because chunks of its skin are shredded off, claw marks mar the parts that aren’t torn off, and blood covers the rest of it. One ear is completely gone and its mouth is open in its scream. And surrounding it, trailing behind it, is a whole flock of birds.
    They’re huge. At least three times larger than any bird I’ve ever seen. I curse under my breath. I’ve never heard of them being this close to the village. And I’ve never personally seen one, even considering I’ve been hunting in these woods since I was a kid. It makes me nervous that they’re here. Not just for us, but for what it means for the village.
    I can only stare in shocked horror as two of the birds grab the deer on each end of its body, lifting it into the air. I want to close my eyes. I know what’s going to happen. I want to run to Evie and block her from seeing this, but I can’t move. I’m petrified, stuck exactly as I am, forced to watch the deer’s grizzly end as the rest of the flock latches on to it.
    Horrible ripping and shredding sounds mix with the flapping racket. The deer’s screams get louder and tear into my heart for only a second before it’s abruptly cut off. And in just another second I see why. The flock breaks into three, flying into the trees with three different parts of the deer.
    My stomach lurches as I glance at Evie and Asher. If it were just me, I probably wouldn’t even be worried. I can protect myself, but I can’t protect all of them and Evie has to be my top priority. I have to get out of here. I have to get Evie out of here.
    “What are those things?” Evie asks. She doesn’t look as nervous as I know she should be.
    “Vulture-hawks,” I say, trying to keep the fear from my voice. “They usually don’t bother humans, but they’re mean.”
    “I can see that,” Asher says, staring up into the trees.
    “We should get out of here. Now.” I glance around for my gun so we can get going and my heart sinks when I see it. Oh God. It’s still lying where I left it when I went to help load up Starshine. Just a few feet from where the birds disappeared into the trees.
    I’m not willing to leave it behind. We’ll need it. I’m sure of it.
    I race toward it, hoping the birds will ignore me for their kill.
    Something heavy falls to the ground just inches from my outstretched fingers. I’m certain it’s the deer, but it’s hard to tell after the work of the birds.
    I don’t want to, but it’s like I have to. I look up into the branches and see them staring down at the deer—at me—with