TW: horror + mild gore

A great flock of vultures swarm around me, dipping and swooping in grotesque patterns painting the sky with dark feathers. Few are settled on the ground and those that are, don't bother me for these few lonesome scavengers are indisposed. Tearing at the flesh of the decomposing carcass before me in a morbid ritual. they are entirely engrossed in the horrific activity and I’m frozen in place. A morose and eerie sight to be sure but more than that it’s revolting. I regain my senses and begin to run as far away as possible, out of the dense forest, away from the looming trees and the cowering bushes. My long brown hair whips against my face and nettles lash at my ankles.

The woodland stops just before my house, a secluded, little cottage overgrown with plants. I storm through the long grass and shrubs right through the front door. I turn around and slam it shut, dropping the latch down and leaning against the wall to steady myself. I wipe the sweat off my forehead and slow my panting. The image is still sharp in my mind. The birds and their lavish feast. Nature can be horrifying but I could never imagine something like this . I can still see the limp body of the decaying vulture being ripped to shreds. Animals feeding on their own kind. Cannibalising each other. That must be one hell of an omen. What would make an animal commit such an act as feasting on a friend.

A crash from...