The Crowmaster by Barry Hutchison Page B

began to pick my way back down, hesitating every few steps as I scanned for somewhere safe to place my feet. The roots that had been so helpful on the way up now seemed intent on catching on my toes or tangling around my ankles. They made progress slow, and the darkness tightened further around me with every step I took.
    After several minutes of walking, I realised I should have come across the large embankment again. The fact that I hadn’t was worrying. It meant I wasn’t following the same route down as I had on the way up. I looked to the sky to try to find my bearings, but there was nothing in the gloom to show me the way.
    I stumbled over a broken root and had to catch hold of a tree trunk to stop myself falling. I leaned against the tree, giving myself a few seconds to recover from the fright.
    As I stood there, I heard something move in the darkness. At first it was almost nothing – a gentle rustling of leaves; the faint crunch of a footstep on rotten twigs. Quickly, though, it picked up in pace, rushing towards me through the undergrowth, closer and closer, faster and faster.
    Whatever it was, I could hear its breathing now. Each panted breath sounded low and rasping and hoarse. I wasn’t sure what would breathe quite like that, but I knew one thing for sure.
    It wasn’t anything human.

Chapter Seven
UNDER ATTACK
    A dark grey shape about the size of a large cat bounded through a bush and stumbled to a stop a few metres away. It cocked its head quizzically to one side and looked up at me. I almost laughed with relief.
    â€˜Hey,’ I said, taking a step closer to the animal, ‘you must be Toto.’
    The little terrier pulled back as I approached. A growl rumbled in the back of his throat. It sounded much deeper and more threatening than I expected from a dog that size.
    â€˜It’s OK,’ I said, keeping my voice light, ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’ I took another step towards him. He growled again, but it was a half-hearted effort this time, and I could tell it was all for show.
    Two more steps and I was crouching down beside the dog. His fur felt matted and damp as I gently patted him. His little body was radiating heat, and I could feel his breath panting in and out.
    â€˜Been running, boy?’ I said softly. He pulled back slightly at the sound of my voice, but otherwise didn’t react.
    I patted him a little more firmly, letting my hand travel across his head and down over his narrow back. As my hand brushed over the fur near his tail, he gave a sharp yelp and leapt backwards.
    â€˜What’s the matter, Toto?’ I asked. ‘Are you…’ In the pale light I saw the streak of blood on my hand. ‘…hurt?’
    Toto let out another low growl. I began to say sorry for hurting him, before I realised he wasn’t growling at me. His head was craned back, looking up into the trees. His eyes flicked erratically from treetop to treetop, as if searching for something.
    I stood up and followed his gaze, but could see nothing through the gloom other than the occasional swaying branch. Toto’s growling was becoming louder. His tail was between his legs, and the wiry hair on his back was pointing to the sky. Something was scaring him. Badly.
    â€˜It’s OK, boy, there’s nothing there,’ I said. ‘It’s just the wind making the trees move, that’s all. It’s nothing to—’
    A black shape swooped down from the treetops. I heard it first – a rustle in the darkness, followed by a faint whoosh as the bird flew past my head. I saw Toto spin on the spot, watched him bare his teeth. He snapped his tiny jaws around thin air, then yelped as the crow pecked sharply at his ear.
    The whole attack lasted less than a second. The bird was back up in the trees before I could even react. I peered up into the branches, searching for any sign of it. It wasn’t easy, but eventually I found it – a darker