{} Cursed Crow {}

Chapter Four

It felt like everything bad that ever happened in Alikus's life was happening all over again.

But then a flame burst out. She crouched down, the flame keeping the shadows back.

Little Serendipity was holding the flames back with its fire.

The three of them hid behind the baby crow, crouching in the safe spot.

All of this was just... Unbelievable.

Alikus thought there was always a happy end.

Like the stories her parents told. In the end they'd always live happily ever after.

Ginkgo reached through the shadows, dragging in a limp form.

The Shepherdess.

"What are you doing?" Alikus shrieked to the heron-stork who clutched the bird close.

"She would've died, Alikus. I'm no monster." Ginkgo replied.

"She's the SHEPHERDESS of SHADOWS. She could save herself. She caused it." Alikus answered.

Ginkgo shook her head.

"The shadows were consuming her. I could see it." She replied.

"Ginkgo is right." Qulow nodded.

"Oh, you always take her side. What are you, soulmates?" Alikus grumbled.

"I don't appreciate how you are treating me." Qulow stated solemnly.

"Oh, stop speaking your fancy talk and leave me alone. Go on and try to save the bird who wanted to murder us all." Alikus growled.

Poor Serendipity was struggling so hard to breathe the fire.

"Serendipity, you can do this. Please try hard. You're saving us." Evereldette murmured.

And as quick as they had come, the shadows were gone.

Alikus blinked, staring at her surroundings.

Serendipity was coughing, smoke coming out of its mouth as Evereldette comforted it.

Ginkgo was nudging at the unconscious Shepherdess, and Qulow stood up, head lifted tall, and looked around.

And behind them.

The ground was barren.

Trees pushed over like toothpicks. And far ahead, the Tree stood tall.

The Shepherdess's crook laid in the sand somewhat ominously.

Tears filled Alikus's eyes.

"She killed everyone!" Alikus cawed, turning to Ginkgo.

"Alikus, listen to me." Ginkgo replied. "She was going to be killed. She said that she had to. That she didn't want to. I can just feel that she's not like the King. I'm not the kind of monster who leaves birds who could be good deep down to die."

"I don't care to hear a speech right now." She hissed, moving over to Evereldette and Serendipity.

"Alikus, not everyone's dead." Evereldette muttered as she came near. "I looked through my eyeglass. Remember the barrier that formed over the Kingdom? It was protecting it, and all the birds inside it. Alikus, what if your parents or family could have made it there?"

"Ugh, whatever." Alikus replied. "Is Serendipity okay?"

"No." Evereldette answered. "No one should use that much magic at one time, adult or hatchling. They've been weakened. They need to rest for a few days."

The ground shook. Alikus gasped, fluttering over to cling onto Evereldette.

Please, please, please no! Please, no!

But the others felt it to. And the barrier of the Kingdom slowly slid back into the ground.