Grouse Thicket started from the bottom

He reacted as quickly as he could, but some of the birds were fleeing on his bad side and he couldn't adjust in time. When Niamh came bursting from the grass nearby - chasing her own trove of pheasants - she directed him with shouts towards the terrified birds. He did as instructed and tried to leap at them, snapping as they came down; after the flurry of feathers calmed he was left standing over a half-dead bird with a broken wing. Beside it was a smear of blood, and one other plump bird with what appeared to be a broken leg, trying to hobble away. Screech felt very powerful all of a sudden - he had never been much of a hunter, and the accomplishment relieved him. He lunged at this bird with the broken legs and, grasping it by the neck, bit down and then tossed it towards Niamh. The bird was round enough that it could've been likened to a feathery ball. Maybe it was gross to play a game with the suffering birds, but Screech didn't care - he was happy for the first time in a while.