The Child of Ravens

Chapter One: Murder

Warning: Violence, Cursing, mentions of inter-species racism 

A murder is what you call a flock of crows

2 Years Later.................

The sound of 'Down with the King,' by Good Kid echoed through Cai's apartment as light filtered through the sides of his light-blocking curtains, making the Bird-Beast grumble, their wings feeling like weights on his back. Reaching a clawed hand out, they smack it on the side table a couple of times in search of their phone before managing to find it, blinking at the brightness and checking the time which read 8:45 a.m.

Slowly but surely getting up, he heaved a big stretch and set his feet on the floor, the talons making a clicking noises as he walked across the wooden slats of his apartment to his bathroom. Looking in the mirror with a yawn, Cai wasn't surprised to see--as Kieran put it--the 'world's worst bed-head' on full display, pieces of dark purple hair sticking up in every direction.

Grabbing the brush, she quickly combed through the messy mop before setting about brushing xier teeth and getting dressed, putting on the usual bird skull shirt and black sweatpants, slipping on their flip flops on the way out the door.

Walking downstairs in a full human disguise, Cai waved good morning to Pigsy and Tang before scooting in the back to make herself and them both coffee, with the espresso machine he'd managed to convince the pig-man to allow them to install.

"Here you go," Setting the two mugs down, they took tentative sips out of his travel mug, the trio sat in peaceful silence for about a total of ten minutes, before MK came crashing down the stairs in a panic. "Morning MK, sleep well?"

"Ah! Morning Cai, sorry Dadsy! My alarm didn't go off, and--"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, just sit down and eat breakfast, we still don't open for another two hours, you're good," Waving his now sixteen-year-old son off, the chef simply went back to drinking his morning coffee, watching as the brown haired teen sighed in relief before moving to eat the food Tang had set out for him. "You too Cai, don't think I didn't see you skip dinner last night."

Flinching at having been caught skipping meals last night, the female grabbed the held out bowl of oatmeal and dried fruit, and began eating as they avoided eye contact with the grumpy pig. 

"Listen, I know those commissions are important, but you need to eat, you're thinner than a pencil!"

And, here came the lecture about eating healthy....which is when Cai knew they'd be sitting there for a while.

After about half-an hour, Tang managed to get his husband to let up, allowing the twenty-one year old to sneak upstairs to the roof to feed her murder, which was patiently waiting--actually, scratch that, they were being impatient little shits.

"Shut up, Mr. Pigsy gave me another lecture, not my fault he caught me skipping last night's meal," Scowling back at Albus, who was cawing up a storm, he threw down some birdseed for the flock, who happily ate away at their morning meal. "You're lucky I'm feeding you at all after that shitty greeting you gave me. Honestly, who pecks at the person who's feeding them a free meal?"

Albus simply cawed back a sassy response, which earned him the middle finger.

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At around 3:30 p.m., Cai decided to go down to refill xier travel mug, which was now devoid of coffee and replace it with xier usual fruity drink. Getting off the last step, he noted that MK wasn't anywhere to be seen and concluded the boy was out delivering noodles for his dad.