First Place Story, 2000.

Wraithsong

Jean Graham

Without warning, the tower lurched violently, a thudding impact that sent Sifri fluttering and knocked me to my knees on the floor. There was no time to regain my feet before another blow smashed into the tower and the bricks beneath me heaved and buckled. I tried to crawl toward the west wall, intending to pull myself up and peer over the window’s edge at whatever was attacking the tower. Before I could, four small clawed feet gripped my shoulder, and furred wings beat a frantic tattoo on the back of my head.

Seeker! Leave this place, Faleen. Run. Now!!

With those wings still flapping wildly against my ear, I scrambled for the swaying tangle of metal that had been a stairway just moments ago. I made it down only part of the way before the stairs collapsed and I fell, landing hard amidst flying dust, rubble and patchy sunlight that shouldn’t have been there.

My pause to ponder that curiosity nearly proved fatal.

A black pincered foreleg snaked through the broken wall, snared what remained of the stair support and wrenched it loose. The rusted metal screamed in protest and showered us with more debris as it was pulled free.

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