The Raven

Chapter 3

Today was the day. I finally got to see the path my ancestors had chosen for me. My light, green hair fell in my face as I ran through the wind. I looked around. Many other children were racing to the same place.... "The Nest".

The Nest was the place where children at age 10 were finally permitted to go to. The Nest was activated every month by the flock leader. The flock leader's name was "Cinereous". He had long, gray hair that pooled around him and nobody had seen his eyes in years. The path the flock's ancestors had chosen for him was the path of the Bearded Vulture.

I couldn't wait to meet Cinereous. I had heard so much about him and how he had been a skilled warrior back in the day. My mother said there were rumors of him being weak and fragile lately. Mother had also been distracted lately. I wondered what was wrong.

Quickly, I ran into The Nest bounding up the stone steps two at a time. The Nest was in the shape of a dome with long stone pillars. There were beautiful crystals and antique artifacts from long ago. I looked around my eyes opening wide, taking in everything that was visible to me. I smiled as I saw my friends, Aubade and Azuline. My name was Virid and many people commented about how my destiny was going to be very successful. My friends and I were always talked about because of our bright colors. Usually that meant we would be the next three prophesied ones. I guess people thought wrong.

It had been a few hours. I sat patiently waiting for my name to be called up. I had seen many people receive their destiny. Some screamed in pain as the visions hit them and some smiled or sang in happiness. I knew mine was going to be great. Aubade got the destiny of the Flame-colored Tanager. It was a beautiful red bird with black, white, and sometimes other colors such as yellow or green. I guess that made sense considering his bright red hair and amber eyes. I was extremely happy for him. He was one of my best friends. Azuline got the destiny of the Blue Bunting. It was a dark blue bird with black on the wings. Azuline was another one of my best friends and she was always the one to look on the positive side of things. Next, it was my turn.

"Virid!" one of the generals yelled. He was a hawk with spiky, brown hair and gleaming, amber eyes.

I quickly stood up, holding my chin up high. My emerald eyes scanned the dome looking at all the people. Aubade gave me a thumbs up and Azuline winked at me. I saw my mother Jay and younger sister Dove sitting in the crowd of people. I quickly bounded down the steps gracefully and walked swiftly right in front of Cinereous.

Cinereous held out his hand and I took it cautiously. Instantly, flashes of images flew through my head. Pain, death, terror, torture, disease, and the monster inside of me. I fell to my knees screaming in pain. My hair changed to a deathly black, my eyes glowing red. Black feathers fell around me and the sky erupted in stormy clouds. Cinereous also screamed in pain and fell to his knees. He pointed a bony finger to me and looked up, white eyes looking at me in terror.

"You....you have gotten the path of the Raven. That shall be your new name. You... are the cursed one."

Then, he fell to his side as all the life left his body.