Literature
A Life for Death
I tried my hardest to be subtle--I'd ditched the black cloak and scythe long ago--but it never mattered. Wherever I went, a horde of carrion eaters followed. Rats skittered about my feet while a kettle of vultures kept up a constant circle above me. Crows flew ahead, scouting out the land. The larger scavengers (coyotes, hyenas, etc.) kept at a safe distance behind me, either out of respect or fear, I'm not sure.
I think the vultures were what gave me away first. In flat landscapes on clear, sunny mornings, that roiling mass of feathers could be seen for miles around. I guess that's how the residents of Doon, Iowa, knew I was coming long b