Suddenly, a harsh wind swept in from nowhere, howling like a wounded beast. The trees bent and groaned, their leaves rattling in a furious chorus that sent a chill through every heart.
The ground trembled beneath their feet, a deep rumble rolling through the earth as though something monstrous stirred beneath. Confused cries rang out, and everyone there glanced upward to the darkening sky, then downward in alarm.
Without warning, thick roots burst from the soil with violent force, snapping like whips. They coiled around legs and torsos, dragging men into the air like helpless prey caught in a hunter's snare.
Screams broke out as the roots constricted, bones crunching under the crushing pressure until bodies collapsed in grotesque bursts. From the shadows, more vines slithered upward, winding around necks, choking the air from their lungs.
