The boy froze, realizing that any movement could provoke an attack. He mentally sifted through possible scenarios, but each one ended in his death. Looking around, he understood that climbing down from the tree wasn't the best option—the creatures had surrounded him on all sides, and there could be other threats lurking on the ground.
The leader—a creature resembling an owl but with human eyes—didn't take its gaze off the boy. There was no stopping now; otherwise, everything would be in vain. The boy took a step forward, trying to appear menacing. He tensed his muscles, ready to jump or counterattack, but deep down, he knew his chances were slim.
Suddenly, the creature let out a piercing screech, and the entire flock shot up into the air, forming a tight circle around him. Fear shot through him, but he didn't allow himself to flee. However, the leader unexpectedly lunged at the boy, tearing into him with its claws. The strike was so fast and powerful that the boy didn't even have time to react.
He was thrown backward, barely managing to cling to the branch. Sharp pain shot through his side, but he struggled to hold on, trying not to fall. Blood began to trickle down his body, but the panic only fueled his resolve. He knew this was his last chance.
The boy started retreating along the branch, but the creature jumped at him again, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling. The branches beneath him creaked, and he barely managed to stay on the narrow limb, painfully striking his side against it. Blood began to blur his vision, but through the haze of pain, he managed to grab onto the branch with his hands and pull himself back up.
The leader soared again, preparing for another strike. Without wasting time, the boy, despite the pain, darted forward along the branch, glancing at the nearest trees. There was no time to think. He leaped to the neighboring branch, barely holding on, and continued to run.
The creature and its flock pursued him relentlessly. They moved faster than he could hope to, giving him no time to catch his breath. The boy knew his strength was waning, and his wounds deepened with every move.
He managed to reach another tree and jumped from branch to branch, lower and lower. At that moment, one of the creatures tried to attack him from above, but he dodged at the last second, receiving only a superficial cut on his arm. Desperation drove him, but it also paralyzed his mind.
He knew stopping meant death. The boy could barely see the path ahead, moving on autopilot, feeling every movement echoing with throbbing pain. The forest around him seemed like a living labyrinth with no exit.
The boy jumped from the tree to the ground, fell, but immediately sprang up, not allowing himself to stop. He ran with all his might, pushing through thick grass and bushes. Sharp branches scratched his body, and tree roots tried to trip him, but he kept moving forward.
The creatures were close behind. They were only a few steps away, their breath hot on his neck. One of them tried to grab him, but the boy sharply veered to the side, continuing to flee. He felt each step growing heavier, but within him, a resolve grew: he wouldn't give up, even if this was his last attempt.
The boy fought with all his strength, each movement like a dance on the edge of life and death. The creatures flew after him, their wings slicing through the air with a whistle. But the forest, though dark and foreboding, offered some protection. The tall trees with dense canopies limited the creatures' freedom of flight; they were forced to maneuver, descend, and slow down, giving the boy a slight advantage.
But the forest was growing thicker, and the night was pitch black. He could barely see anything, but his mind clung to the slightest sounds and movements around him. Tree roots and fallen branches hindered his running, but they also slowed down his pursuers.
He desperately pushed through thick underbrush, moving aimlessly, when suddenly he stumbled and fell, his body rolling down a slope. He scrambled to his feet, but felt his wound bleeding more profusely. The situation was becoming critical. He looked around, but instead of moving forward, he pressed himself against a tree trunk. He needed to come up with a plan, and quickly.
The creatures, trapped in the narrow space between the trees, slowed down even more. They flew low, their eyes gleaming in the darkness like predators, and they were waiting for the moment to pounce on him. The boy knew it would be his end if he stayed in place. But then he noticed something that helped him plan his next move.
The boy knew he had no chance of winning in a direct fight or escaping by speed, but the forest was full of sharp roots and branches. If he used them as cover and simultaneously as obstacles for the creatures, he might have a chance. Looking around, he saw that the leader was still ahead, but now it was struggling due to the tangled branches.
Taking advantage of the moment, he rushed forward, breaking through the thick bushes, leaving broken branches in his wake. The creatures, enraged by his boldness, charged after him, but the forest seemed to rise to protect him. The deeper he went, the more natural barriers stood between him and the monsters.
At some point, he noticed that he had overcome another tangle of bushes but found himself on a slope. Standing on the edge, he nearly tumbled down, but grabbed onto a root at the last moment. Breathing heavily, he looked around. Below him was a cliff, and below that, thick undergrowth, with a barely discernible path leading into a dark crevice.
He quickly let go of the root and jumped down, hit the ground, but continued to roll until he found himself at the bottom. Lying on his back, he tried to catch his breath, but felt the creatures closing in on him. Getting up, the boy groped for a narrow passage between the rocks and quickly headed there. He entered the crevice, feeling blood dripping down his arms, and heard the creatures catching up to him.
But at that moment, it became clear: their speed and agility had worked against them. They couldn't slip through the narrow rocks as quickly as the boy, and they got stuck trying to squeeze through. The boy heard their angry hissing and the sound of wings beating against the stones, but he kept moving forward, trying to stay in the shadows.
Emerging from the crevice, he found shelter among thick bushes and finally allowed himself to collapse to the ground. Exhaustion and the pain from his wounds overwhelmed him, but he knew he had fought with all his might. Next time, he knew, it would be even harder, but for now, he had time to catch his breath and think about his next move.