The old witch doctor was preparing to lead the beast tide when a sharp, high-pitched scream echoed through the empty village.
It was the voice of a female.
The Bird Tribe leader stiffened, his feathers bristling.
"A female voice?" he whispered, his eyes wide. "Did they actually abandon a female here?"
The old witch doctor was stunned. He recognized that voice immediately.
His wrinkled brows furrowed in a way that was hard to read, but the Bird Leader didn't wait for him.
To any beastman, a female was the most precious treasure. Hearing her scream in agony made his blood run cold.
Without a second thought, the Bird Leader transformed into his massive hawk form. He soared toward the sound and hovered over a secluded corner of the tribe.
But as he looked down, he stopped dead in his tracks. His wings flared out to brake his flight as he stared at the horrifying scene below.
There was a huge, deep pit dug into the ground. Sharp wooden stakes were embedded in the ground.
