WOuld this beginning make you want to keep reading?

Declan scanned the trees as he raced through the forest, heart thundering. His mother ran just ahead of him, her blond hair swinging side to side as she searched the wood.

“What was your father wearing?” she gasped over her shoulder, “Do you remember? Which tunic?”

“Green...I think. No, brown,” Declan panted, “I can’t remember! What if we don’t find-“

“We will,” his mother answered, feet flying over the rocky forest floor as she picked up her already furious pace. A stitch seared Declan’s ribs as he struggled to match her long strides, panic sapping his flagging strength.

A series of shrieks reverberated through the air, close enough to make Declan stumble and twist his ankle. He and his mother wheeled around, racing toward the sound, Declan limping slightly. As they got closer to the source of the noise, his mother slowed down to a walk and whispered, “Keep behind me Dec. And be ready to run”.

Declan obeyed and dropped back a few paces, shivering from cold and fear. He couldn’t remember feeling this terrified in all of his twelve years on earth.

Another scream tore through the trees, this one followed by a triumphant shout. They were getting close, but to what, Declan had no idea. Well, he had an idea. But he didn’t want to think about that.

Declan tried to control his wheezing gasps for air as he strained to listen for another shriek, a voice, anything. His mother turned around and put a finger to her lips. Declan nodded, then mouthed a silent curse as his foot broke a twig in half. The small *snap* seemed deafening in the now silent wood.

They crept up to the edge of a wide clearing, a flood of early morning sunlight blinding Declan as he approached the edge of the treeline. He put a hand up to shade his eyes and made out two figures, both hunched over a body. The body was still.