The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo (Books 1-3)

Black Wings Chapter 7- The Shattered Axe

~Chapter 7- The Shattered Axe~

Corri hurried through Titus Forest in search of Nout and Temp. If she was going to find those Raven Riders, she'd need help. Corri headed to Koka's home in the bayou, carefully jumping from tree to tree. She found Nout and Temp talking to one another outside of the hut.

Corri swung from a branch and landed directly beside the two, "Guys! I need your help!"

Nout happily said, "Corri! I heard you were here. What do you need?"

Corri explained that a group of raven riders led by Coppah was robbing people and that they were being mistaken for the Sky Bandits. Corri continued to explain that she needed to find them, or her dad and his friends would end up fighting the Four.

Nout was more than eager to assist her, but Temp was reluctant.

"Corri, your dad, and the other Sky Bandits robbed my village when I was a kid. There's no way I'm going to help them now." Temp replied coldly.

"But they didn't do this! They've put that sort of life behind them!" Corri explained.

"Even you said your dad was a terrible parent. Why do you want to help him now?" Temp pointed out.

Corri paused. That was a good question, one which she hesitated to answer. "He might be a bad parent, but he's not a bad person. Not anymore. And he's not the only one. All the Sky Bandits have tried to be better."

"They're crooks, Corri. I doubt they've changed," Temp harshly responded.

Corri raised an eyebrow at him, "You used to be a bandit, didn't you? You changed. So did they."

Nout put an arm around Temp's shoulder and smiled, "She has a good point there."

Temp groaned aloud and put his hands in his palms, "You two are such a pain... I'll help."

"Thanks, Temp!"

Temp stood up straight, "Let me make this clear. I'm helping you, not the Sky Bandits."

Corri shrugged, "I'll take it either way."

Nout looked to Corri, "So, what's the plan?"

Corri hashed out a plan with them. To start, she would investigate the Sky Lands for any appearances of the raven riders. Meanwhile, Temp and Nout would search the ground, meeting with people who've been robbed thus far for information. After that, they'd meet back in Titus Forest and exchange information.

"You said Coppah was leading them?" Temp clarified.

"Yup."

Temp nodded to himself, "Okay, I have an idea of where to check."

Temp mounted his hyena Kelvin and took off for the west. Nout began to speak with the nearby people who'd been robbed, and Corri took to the skies with Rojo.

Corri went as fast as Rojo would allow, but no matter where she checked, no one had any information on the raven riders. Completely fruitless. When she returned to Titus Forest, Nout didn't have anything of much use either. All the victims were robbed at night and didn't have a good view of the thieves nor where they fled to.

Corri and Nout waited for Temp, hopeful that he had found something more substantial. When he finally returned, he was smiling.

"Come with me," He said.

They traveled west to a small town with rough-looking folk. Temp brought them to a tavern with a sign over the top saying 'The Shattered Axe'. Above the sign was a familiar-looking great axe with a shattered blade.

They entered the tavern and saw who was manning the building, Ekor. The rotund man who once led a group of bandits that used to give Corri and her friends a lot of trouble.

Nout's fist clenched, and Corri was ready for a fight as well, but Temp put his arm in front of them, "Don't worry. He's cool now. Isn't that right, Ekor?"

Temp strode up to the counter Ekor stood behind. Corri and Nout followed him.

Ekor gave a nervous smile, "Hey, kids."

Corri and Nout simply glared at him.

Temp put his hand on the counter, "Tell them what you told me about Coppah."

Ekor swallowed, "Coppah and her new crew have been coming around here once a week to flaunt what they've been earning. They've been coming in on these black birds. With how long it's been since they've come by, they should be back soon. They usually come at night."

Corri and Nout looked at one another, "That's perfect!"

"Thanks, Ekor," Temp nodded to him as they left the tavern.

"Okay, when they come here, we'll have to take them down after they've gotten off their ravens. If we give them a chance to fly, we'll never catch them." Corri explained.

"Right... What're you thinking?" Temp said.

"Well, one of us should be outside watching for them. Another of us should be there to make sure they don't leave the tavern once they come inside. I'll handle them inside the tavern. I'm pretty sure I can take Coppah and the rest of them on my own."

"I'll watch from the outside," Temp said.

"I've got the entrance then," Nout added.

"Alright... We've just got to be ready."