Hunger
Each bird was as big as a man's chest. They resembled crows, but they had two pairs of wings and curved beaks. The flock filled the bright sky with a dark-red cloud that descended toward the group and prepared to storm the snowy area.
No one knew why the sunlight didn't affect those creatures, but they were too fast to let the group think about the issue. The flock was only a few seconds away from filling the area occupied by those young troops, and only a few of them could step up to face the danger. The long travel without food had made even the most resilient of them unable to stand.
Khan, Ilman, and the squad leaders exchanged a worried glance when they inspected the surface. They could see other students and recruits struggling to stand up, but they wouldn't be helpful at all in that condition.