Utensils and dishes rattled as the rickety camper rolled at high speeds through the uneven desert, Aput clumsily put his seatbelt on to reduce the bouncing he was experiencing in his seat. Powerful screeches from the monstrous vultures spread across the desert, he struggled to evade the animals that popped out of holes in front of him.
It would seem impossible to think of them being closer than ten minutes away, they appeared to be just a mere dot from where they camped. However, the animals were deceptively faster than what he could have imagined. Mere dots shaped to fully fledged birds of prey, murderous red eyes focused on its target. He counted ten vultures flying in a flock, and suddenly several fiery explosions lit the wavy desert ground. The vultures dispersed and flocked in a wide circle, then broke up into several groups. Six stayed behind and four chased after him, then two from the ones that chased him veered off towards another direction.
He pressed down on the gas pedal, pumping as much fuel into the engine to gain as much speed as possible. The vultures were closing the gap he had developed, they quickly gained on him and would be atop of him in just a few more seconds.
“Agatha! Hold onto something tight!” He ordered.
Expecting a response but only received silence, he probed for her attention. “Agatha? Can you please respond.”
Still silence.
Turning his head around momentarily, he could not see his daughter anywhere in the vehicle. A side window that was cracked open hinted at her stealthy escapade. He punched his right fist angrily on the steering wheel, which he instantly regretted after feeling the pain.
Of all the times, Agatha. Where could you have possibly gone? He thought.
Glancing over his wrist at the side-view mirror, the infamous words Objects In Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear painted on. The vultures face covered the entire mirror, and screeched loudly, showing off sharp serrated beaks. Fumes of the bird's stomach filled the entire cabin, sending acrid odors that caused his eyes to well up in tears. Holding back a nauseating belch, he spat out of the window to get the taste out of his tongue.
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He suddenly realized where she was, the vultures that veered away from him were hunting for his daughter. Cold breaks of sweat rolled down his collarbone, fearing for the worst. Parental instincts rein his actions, there was nothing a father or mother would not do for their precious child.
Twisting the steering wheel violently in wide circles, the camper went skidding in a wide right turn. Whipping it back straight, he drove towards the other two vultures that had flown towards the other direction. The ground exploded as a vulture behind him dove behind him, tossing up large pieces of stone everywhere.
From the side mirror he could see the other vulture diving atop of him beak wide open, intending to swallow him and the vehicle whole. He winced, anticipating the worst. Powerful metallic clang resonated, and fluff ugly black feathers scattered. The vulture that was going to eat him whole tumbled sideways, it made a final feeble effort to stand up again but limped back to the ground dead.
Looking at the direction from whence the blow came from, he spotted Lady Hammer riding atop the head of a vulture, guiding its flight by tugging on thick plumes from the side of its face. Behind Hammer flew close by another vulture that snapped sharp talons at her, trying to claw her off of its brother beneath it. Hammer ducked between each desperate strike, riding the vulture as a valkyrie.
Behind him, the bird stood back up and shook the earth off of its feathers, leaving a small dust cloud in its wake as it dove towards Aput again. Redirecting his attention back ahead of him, he saw the two vultures diving and slashing at random on the ground. The closer he got, the more powerful the wind gust he had to go through being formed by the vultures massive wingspan.
“You shall heed my command, beasts!” Lady Hammer bellowed.
Hollering over the galestrom, he tried to desperately gain Hammers attention.
“Save Agatha!” He yelled.
Hammer could not hear him above the monstrous screeches and wind blows that drowned out his voice.
“Enyo, save Agatha. Save her.” He pleaded hopelessly.
She leapt from the head of the bird she rode on, sending the bird in a downwards spiral from the force. Landing on the other bird that wrapped its talons around the camper, lifting it off the ground.
From ahead, Aput made out the tiny little girl standing in between the two massive birds that searched for her. It dove at her wide beaked, ready to mercilessly crush something innocent. Agatha watched in awe, pointing at the bird that dove at her.
Aput yelled from the top of his lungs in one final plea. “GRUSHA! SAVE AGATHA!”
Shortly after that, his camper caved in from the vultures firm talon grip, crushing the camper.