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The stone tumbles downwards through the air, propelled by your heroic cast. The beast is still flailing wildly, but doesn’t see the stone coming, as you had feared – it crashes against the bird’s lower bank with an audible <span class="mu-i">CRUNCH</span> and immediately, the bird’s legs fall limp and useless, and its struggles begin weakening. You collect your shield, filthy as it is with excrement and liquefied meat from the flooring of the tower, and you leap back to the hillside, nearly falling as your sandals slide against the dry earth.
By the time you return to the awful creature, only its eyes are moving – tracking you dazedly, pupils dilating even as you watch. The creature is dying – the injuries you delivered being too devastating to repair even for whatever residue of divine ichor flows within its blood. Scanning the skies, you dart forwards to retrieve your spear – it comes unglued from the bird’s flesh with a wrenching tug, but as you give the creature one last glance, you see the final spark of life fade from its eyes. You’ll have to return later to collect your trophies – the other two creatures are still alive and searching for you!
You about face, sprinting down the dusty terrain, constantly scanning the skies for the beasts. About a half-stadia from the beach – you see them! They crested over the low hillside to the east – casting enormous shadows over the earth, as they beat their wings for altitude – they are flying very low, only a few strides above the rocky ground of Lebinthos.
They are, you realize with dread – <span class="mu-s">bigger</span> than the one you had just killed. Their wingspans must be six or or more strides in length, and they approach you at speed. One of the beasts is slightly smaller than the other, its frame slightly more delicate. A small part of your mind considers that you may have just killed these beasts’ only progeny. Worse, it’s clear that they see YOU as well – emitting horrendous, piercing shrieks and reorienting themselves mid-flight.
With no other options, you continue your sprint down towards the boats, crying out as loud as you possibly can:
<span class="mu-i">“LOOK TO THE SKIES! ARCHERS AT THE READY!”</span>
As you approach the galleys, you are incredibly relieved to see that the various crews have armed themselves for combat, and that your companions of noble heritage have prepared themselves as well. In particular, you make out a glimpse of Pollux in full panoplia astride his massive horse, Hyperion, and a figure who must be Teukros, standing atop the stern deck of Menelaus’ Spartan vessel. At once, these allies heed your words, their eyes turning towards the vault of Ουρανος – they cannot yet see the birds pursuing you, flying as low as they are to the earth. Pollux, to his credit, immediately begins charging out to you, Hyperion churning through the loose sand of the beach – with luck, he’ll be able to defend you as you make your approach!
>cont
