For many months did I watch them toil beneath the twisted branches of my
ancestors' once glorious home. High above that twisted stump, gazing down at
them, hatred and hope rising and cresting within my small bosom, I watched in
grief-stricken horror as the tainted Council rose to take their positions
beside the dismal shade that was once the Summer King. The undead Emperor of
the tainted city stood idly by, rolling a large egg from one gnarled hand to
the other, his eyes dark and set on the task as he waits for the time to be
right. He hands the egg to a small, twisted elfen wrapped in a cloak of black
feathers, and the woman passes it off to Brennan and steps back.

"Rowena! It is time!", the raspy voice of the High Druid echoes throughout the
ruined forest, ironically causing a murder of crows to take flight, their wings
beating the air loudly as they flee from their perches.

Stars twinkle in the cold, clear night sky as darkness rules the land, no
light to be had in the dark forest as the Moon slumbers, preparing for her
gradual rebirth. Much to my dismay, the shadows surrounding the shattered Great
Tree begin to swirl and slowly coalesce into the stunningly beautiful Rowena
Nightshade, her beauty unmarked by the Taint that slithers beneath her pale
skin. Moving silently within the trees above the ghastly congregation, I shift
to get a better view of the treachery being conducted beneath me, the group
completely unaware of my presence, my scorn, my hatred for what they do.

Her voice high and shrill, Rowena exclaims, "Excellent! The Dark Council is
gathered and Crow is ready to be reborn. Now all we need is a sacrifice. Go get
an infant to sacrifice so we may begin. Quickly now!"

"An infant!?" my mind screams, "What horrors do these demons seek to bring to
one so innocent?!" I struggle to remain still and silent, not wishing to give
away my hiding place for I am only one and so very small compared to these
hulking beasts beneath me. My heart hammering within my chest, my throat
closing around the knot that swells up within it, my eyes widening as every
passing moment unveils a new cruelty that I had not ever imagined before now.
The tight-knit group parts their imposing borders for but a moment, allowing a
decrepit looking creature to part their midst, in his hands a small bundle of
cloth securely wrapped around some unseen object. Walking to the center of the
fiendish assembly, the being that I can only assume was once a proud Merian
unveils his hidden gift, a young male child of no more than a year old, his
blue eyes full of heavy tears as he bawls incessantly for his mother. The
ruined man places the child on the ground near the High Priestess' feet, her
black eyes sparkling as she offers a gruesome smile of acknowledgment and
exclaims, "Let us commence!"

The dark priestess raises her arms high above her head as the night sky twists
and contorts, dark shapes forming and moving about the air as the Dark Council
begins a wicked chanting, raising their own arms to mirror their High
Priestess. The shadows to the north slowly coalesce into the form of a
frightening vampire bat, almost appearing real as the shadows seem to throb
with power. To the west, the venomous form of a black widow spider slowly
appears, its jointed legs scurrying in place as it holds its shadowy form.
Within the shadows to the south, the familiar form of a carrion beetle emerges,
its shadowy body pulsing sickeningly. To the east, the slender form of a giant
wasp slowly forms from the shadows remaining around the broken Ravenwood.

"Oh, Crow, we await your return! Come back to us! Come back and let your
vengeance reign!" exclaims the cadaverous High Druid as he raises the egg high
above his head. Crimson streaks of lightning arc through the moonless sky, the
red light casting terrible shadows around the room, each seeming to come alive
and swirl in a dark maelstrom around the feet of the silent crowd. In a
startling display of Nature, a bolt of red lightning strikes the egg and it
glows a brilliant, angry red as the High Druid clutches it desperately.
Rowena's beautiful face contorts into a mask of hideous pleasure as she calls
out, "Mother Night, help Crow return!"

Pouring into the sombre group in great waves, living tendrils of pure darkness
seep in from the far corners of the broken forest, wrapping themselves around
the glowing egg, making it throb with a murky violet light. Crying out
excitedly, Rowena turns to the elfen fiendling, "Now! Kill the child now!" her
eyes flashing murderously. Pointing a gnarled, petrified staff at the crying
child, a large boulder discharges from the end and hurls towards the baby,
crushing the life from its frail body. Moving more rapidly than one would
expect of a walking corpse, Brennan quickly smashes the egg into the blood of
the slain child, breaking it open to reveal a tiny black bird. I almost cry out
in joy at first, forcing myself to remain quiet as I watch what seems to be a
newly hatched raven gathering itself. "Oh great Gloriana.. Has your Spirit
finally been returned to you?" I think to myself, watching expectantly. Slowly
the bird begins to pick at the remains of the child, growing larger and larger,
quickly becoming the size of a wolf. As it turns its head up to the sky, it lets
out a loud, triumphant cry that nearly shakes me from my hiding place. I cry out
along with the Spirit as I notice it has formed with only one eye, the other
having been plucked from its socket. The silent crowd erupts in cries of "F'ai
Glomdoring!", their sentiments echoed throughout the Basin as this mockery of
Raven leaps into the boughs of the twisted trees, perching itself contentedly
in the branches and looking directly at me.

Feeling their work complete, the group slowly disperses, each one
congratulating the other on a job well done as they retreat into the dark night
leaving only me and this monstrosity behind. We watch each other closely,
neither of us making a sound. I take a slight step towards this bird as it
cocks its head to look at me with its one good eye.

"Brother Raven..?" I whisper softly, squinting to look at the bird
scrutinizingly. He lets out a loud, angry caw, shuddering in the trees and
nearly shaking me from my lofty perch as I cling desperately to the branch.
"Crow then.." I correct myself and he seems satisfied. I keep inching closer to
him, my eyes training over his feathers that seem so lusterless, not like the
stories I was told in my youth. "Listen to me! Hear me! You must throw off this
Crow! You are not Crow! You are Raven! Wise Brother Raven! I know you can hear
me! Release yourself! The Gloriana cries out for you! Listen to her!"

The massive bird cries out angrily, moving quickly to snap at me, succeeding
only in grasping one of my brilliant, red tailfeathers in his large beak.
Flapping my wings rapidly, I manage to get away, soaring high into the dark sky
and winging my way back to my home in the Serenwilde. My family is waiting for
me, perched high above the commune in a quaint little nest and they are happy
to see me returned safely. They look at me expectantly and I nod, "He..is
returned.." my voice betrays me and my family knows that there is still work to
be done. I cast my glance back towards the once beautiful Gloriana and whisper
to myself, "Do not rest easy, Crow, your days are indeed numbered..." Somewhere
in that black forest, high above the rotting vegetation, there is a twisted nest
of black twigs. Protruding from its tangled, thorny grasp is a single red
feather waving proudly, a silent warning beacon to those who may trespass.