Robin and the Red Crow

Chapter Twenty-Four -The Crimson Crow

BOOM.

Robin jolted awake at the sound of his book hitting the floor after sliding from his lap. Cookie, who had also been resting peacefully on his lap, leapt to the ground with surprise, and shot Robin a huff to express her displeasure over the sudden disturbance.

"Sorry, Cookie," Robin whispered, leaning over to retrieve the fallen book. "But it's alright now. Come on, hop back up." He added, gently tapping his lap and motioning her to rejoin him.

Cookie, however, refused his invitation and instead padded over to her small bed in the corner with an extra huff. Robin chuckled at the small dog's pettiness and stood up, stretching his aching back. Though the seats in Holly's study were comfortable, and meant for long hours of reading or working, Robin found that the chair was less comfortable when he had to remain still to avoid disturbing the Nanahound's sleep. Since doing so was such a great offense to the small creature.

It appeared to be almost midnight, according to the large wooden clock that sat opposite of Robins seat in the study. Robin had accidentally dozed off in the chair in Holly's library office while Holly worked. Robin reading and Holly hurriedly fulfilling holiday orders while listening to some of the old records from Robin's room.

The soft cracking of the record's end and the ticking of the old clock were the only noises that could be heard in the room. It seems Holly had also fallen asleep at her desk, a pair of half-finished earrings abandoned as she surrendered to exhaustion.

Robin took a short walk around the study, once again examining the unique collections of books and rocks that could be found on the bookshelves that filled the wall's entireties. He slowly walked behind Holly's desk, careful not to wake her, as to take a peak at the work she was doing.  However, a scrap of paper peeking from one of the drawers left ajar caught his attention from one of the bottom drawers. Carefully reaching down to pull it out and throw it out, he recognized it as part of the torn newspaper article he had seen before— but now somehow even more shredded.

Curiosity got the better of him this time, and he slowly opened the old drawer, cringing when it would let out a light creek, and he quickly glanced to make sure it hadn't disturbed the slumbering sorceress. When she didn't move, Robin carefully picked the pieces of paper out, slowly fixing the destruction done to the paper to read the article in its entirety.

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Crimson Crow Flies Off the Handle!!!

The famed sorceress, once fondly called "The Crimson Crow", has reportedly burned down an entire village, rampaging and destroying everything in her path. Great Plains Military Commander, Hank Furrow, lead Great Plain's troops and managed to subdue the crazed sorceress, critically wounding and capturing her,  while ensuring the safety of all the town's civilians.

"It calls into question the safety of the people of the Great Plains" One soldier, who was involved in the operation, told reporters. "If a witch can get moody and destroy a whole town, how safe are we, really, in our own country?"

For his bravery and timely response, Furrow will be receiving a medal of honor from the President of the Great Plains. This incident has sparked renewed debates about the safety of unchecked sorcerer powers and whether restrictions on heart stones or other controls are necessary to protect the people of the Great Plains from future attacks. The Crim-

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"Wait! Robin—That's... It's not..."