"Ma Blackshank!" cried Raven.
"I said bugger off!"
"Ma. Please..." begged Raven. There was a desperation in Raven's voice that Ma Blackshank hadn't heard before and it made her pause from the tattered old book she was thumbing through. Ma had a splitting headache - one that she just couldn't shake. It had been years since she'd had one so bad but she had tried to ignore it. It couldn't possibly be a... could it....? mulled Ma before coming to her senses again as Raven tried one last thump at the door.
"All right, all right girl! Leave the damned hinges on me door won't you?" barked Ma. "Penfold! Stop that and let Raven in before she knocks a hole through." Seconds later Raven felt the door begin to open and she threw herself into the shack before Ma changed her mind. She had been allowed into Ma's 'humble abode' as Ma called it, many times, but she'd also been refused access and told to 'bugger off' even more. Raven knew that Ma Blackshank wasn't one for visitors, but for some reason she had warmed to Raven and had taught her many things about the forest, the wild animals that made it their home and all the natural remedies that could be found in the many plants and fungi close by.
As Raven stood up and held onto the the table that Ma was sitting at, she noticed that Penfold had returned to his favourite spot by the open fire and started chewing the rug. "Thank you Penfold" she said before turning to Ma Blackshank, realising the old woman was scowling at her and waiting for an explanation as to why she had refused to leave her in peace.
"Well child?" barked Ma. "What could possibly be so important that you dare to disturb me? I've got a splitting headache and I'm busy - I'm not in the mood for visitors."
"Ma, I'm nearly 18, not a child anymore" bristled Raven "and you know I would never want to make you angry, but you have to help. I think the village is in danger. No-one's seen anything like these weirdos in the village before! They cover their faces and bodies with cloaks made of some weird cloth that stops anything from getting near them and they talk funny and..."
"Whoa, slow down Raven. Sit down and start from the beginning. Penfold put the kettle on."
"But Ma, there's no time for te..."
"Yes, there is child. Penfold... tea".
YOU ARE READING
Raven & The Angel
Ficción GeneralMix together an old hag who lives in the forest, a goat and a brave teenager. Add in a hint of mad professor and a few aliens, and you end up with Raven And The Angel. This story is a mix of book genres like no other. The appearance of five stran...
