The
relative quiet morning of the day of the Crow in the week of the
Ember of month of the Hawk on the Fromth Plains was disturbed by an
argument between two young men. A crow lazily flapped nearer to
investigate insatiably curious as any member of it's kind. The 2
young men where handsome as humans judge such things and with them
were 6 other youths and a Centaur not far removed for being a colt as
the young men were all close to being children. Intrigued Corvus, as
he was known to the members of his murder, drifted closer.
“I
won't be long Peter I just need to get, uh see a few friends before
we leave for good” The better looking of the two was saying in a
reasonable tone. “Then we should all go or do you have friends we
don't know Marcus?”
Responded a sandy haired youth possessed
of an aura of confidence
presumably Peter. After a quick
pauses Marcus replied, “I have a sweetheart and farewells between a
man and a girl are not generally a spectator event!” Before Peter
could respond a red haired youth who hither to now hadn't seemed to
be paying attention to anything for long spoke up. “You do not only
Kale has a girlfriend sorta and besides you won't find what you want
to get where you left it anyways.” After the briefest pause a
welter of voices broke into a discordant chorus. A red faced youth of
notably large size was denying an amour betraying him as Kale. Marcus
was demanding Samoth tell him where his belongings where thus
identifying the red head. “Alright quiet down everyone” Peter
said coming to a halt and turning to face the others then meeting
Samoth's gaze. “Samoth what is going on I should know about?”. A
stern glance quieted Kale and Marcus. With a shrug Samoth answered
his big brother, “Marcus has been performing at the roadhouse and
has some nice clothes and a bunch of money he had hidden in an unused
sheep cote, A rather pretty young lady shows up know and again and
her and Kale go off together I have tried to find out where she is
from but she always heads out into the plains to far for me to follow
without getting in real trouble. Doren
wants Abel to meet some smiths along the way 'cause he is really
good. I haven't found out what Victor is up to yet. Mott can talk to
animals by looking at them and Merzbow can't believe how weird we all
are.”
“Anything
else?” Peter asked. “Othon wets the bed.” A bespectacled and up
to that statement quiet youth howled with rage “You will pay you
lying little bastard the Sisters aren't here to hide behind now!”
Peter and Samoth seemed somewhat stunned by the heat in Othon's
anger. “Nnn no if you try and hurt Samoth I will hurt you more.”
The largest and quietest of the youth stammered slightly as he
effortlessly picked Othon up by his collar. “Whoa, whoa whoa we are
all brothers and even if we say things to hurt one another we should
never try and harm one another. Samoth that was mean to embarrass
Othon, Othon you should think about the consequences of your own
cruel words to Abel and Abel please put Othon down.” Peter drew in
a breath a scrubbed his face with a hand. Corvus could tell things
would really get good now and alighted in a bush near the youths.
“alright we are all uneasy or upset to be leaving our home and
heading out to the unknown but you are my brothers and I will never
abandon you or leave you to face any hardship alone as I would hope
any of us would do for any one of us.” The
quarrelsome ones looked somewhat ashamed at Peter's sad tone. “Lets
try to treat each other with a little respect and pull together on
our way to the Stone, now what did you mean about Marcus' belongings
no longer being where he left them, Samoth?”
“I
put them in Abel's pack figuring he wouldn't notice the weight.” It
was apparent Samoth's attention was waning. “Okay why did you do
that?” Peter tried again smiling at Samoth in understanding of his
need to be doing something other than standing around talking. “Well
The Sisters
decided we would be leaving today so last night I got his stuff so we
wouldn't have to detour and get it.” Peter just sighed, by his
inflection Samoth must have meant Mother Beatrice and Sisters Anne
and Judith the three ladies most responsible for raising them and
Peter didn't need to ask how Samoth knew because he probably had been
eavesdropping by climbing up the outside of the tower. A new uproar
erupted just them Corvus's own eavesdropping had allowed Mott's wolf
companion to creep up on the bush and startle the crow into a hasty
flight and loud complaint. “Serves
you right for not paying attention” a
chuckle in his brain whispered cutting
the crow's outcry short. As the group moved off the crow kept them in
view. Knowing it wasn't wise the large black bird could not help it
they were the most interesting thing encountered in a long time.
