A shrill cry split the noon-day air as Tamir paused, glancing out over the rubble strewn landscape. He listened for a moment before he heard it again, a long high pitched wail that sent a shiver through his body. The sun was still up and it wasn't overcast, why was he hearing their calls now? Swallowing as he tried to suppress his fear he turned to his dog.
“Urd, home.”
The resting dog—a large four-legged beast of a robot—rose to its feet as its motors whirred to life and it began making its way across the broken landscape. In the distance, Tamir again heard the long shrill call and hoped that he hadn't been seen. They never strayed outside of the skyscapers during the day, there wasn't enough cover for them in the ruined landscapes surrounding the city. That one of them was calling however at this time of day frightened him and he wanted to get back home to safety before he found out why they were calling.
The steady tramping of Urd's feet as the robot made its way over the rough terrain gave him some comfort at least as he hurried across the ruined buildings and blocks of concrete after the dog. It was far too early to be going back home, in all reality he should have stayed out for a few more hours but he was spooked. The adults would understand. No one wanted to be out when the shrikes were active. Another long piercing cry sounded as Tamir ducked down the escarpment of rubble after Urd.
He wished the shrikes would stop calling. He wished that the world would be normal again. He was too young to remember what had happened before, what had destroyed the world, but people always told him how terrible it had been. They also told him about the glittering cities that lit up like the night sky. It was a weird thought, to think that the city once glowed like the stars. He couldn't imagine it in all honestly and as another forlorn wailing cry filtered out from within the city's center he wondered how anyone could ever miss the city.
Perhaps the shrikes had feared the light? If that had been the case then he could understand, but he wasn't sure. He didn't really understand what the shrikes were even, just that he needed to avoid them. He hurried after Urd as the robot continued on its way, seemingly oblivious to the continued eerie howls escaping the city behind them.