### 87

You are nearing the middle of the river when your acute hearing detects the cawing of birds in the far distance. At first you dismiss the sounds, thinking they are probably birds of prey feeding somewhere high in the mountains, but when the cawing rapidly grows louder you look upwards to try to detect where it is coming from. You do not have to look very far.

Three hundred metres above you, a flock of ugly black birds are cawing excitedly as they ride a thermal air current. You recognize them to be Durncrag Scavengers, cruel predators native only to these mountains. Then, with an awful suddenness, they come diving towards you, screeching like demons as they prepare to strike with beak and claw.

If you possess Animal Mastery and have reached the rank of Sun Knight or higher, turn to 249.

If you do not possess this Discipline, or if you have yet to attain this level of Grand Mastery, turn to 180.

Text copyright © 1991 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1991 Brian Williams.