The Moa
by Lucy Buchanan
illustrated by Elliemay Logan
Winner of the 2017 Elsie Locke Writing Prize
"The brown-feathered bird stared down, studying her like prey. She wanted to run, to escape the terrifying gaze. The bird stepped back on its large clawed feet, keeping its small eyes on her. Ahorangi felt trapped beneath the glare, as if the bird were suffocating her, as if its claws were already scratching at her throat."