Raven & The Angel

Chapter 9 - Ma & The Dune

As Ma Blackshank marched towards the village square, Raven darted from shadow to shadow, keeping out of sight but in close enough range to see where Ma was going and listen in on any conversation if the weirdos turned up.
Sure enough, as the sun's rays began to appear, five tall strangers could be seen reaching the edge of the village. They made their way to the square where Ma was waiting for them. Raven watched open-mouthed as they stood in a line and bowed. Ma returned the gesture and their leader stepped forward.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ma hissed looking around the square as she spoke. Raven was so impressed with Ma's bravery, challenging the five strangers the way she does all unwelcome guests, that she smiled to herself despite the seriousness of the situation. 

"It is good to see you The Angelina" responded Dune, ignoring her question. "It has been a long time...". Despite his face being covered Ma could tell that Dune was smiling. It didn't change her mood or her welcome.  Penfold looked up at the strangers and blinked, the last strings of rug disappearing into his mouth. "Bleat..."

"I ask you again The Dune - why are you here? It's stupidity to risk showing yourselves here. You're putting yourselves and this village in danger. You know how these people react to... You know...  And there are others to consider here.." she ended in a whisper.

Raven froze as soon as Dune had spoken. "What the...?" she breathed. Her mind was buzzing with a thousand half formed thoughts. He knows Ma... Wait, Angelina? Ma's never called Angelina, what a ridiculous... Hang on 'Angelina...', 'ANGELina'... ANGEL... My god, Ma is The Angel.  She knows these weirdos!  She didn't tell me...

Ma could sense some of the villagers watching from the safety of their homes and was desperately trying to figure out how she could both help Dune and send him back where he came from and, if she succeeded, how she might explain to the villagers how she was able to persuade the strangers to leave. She needed them to go, now...

"The Angelina, please let me explain. You know we wouldn't have risked coming here if there hadn't been any other way..." Dune began. The smile was gone, Ma could tell. Deep down she already knew that whatever had brought Dune here was life changing - for someone, and if not for someone, for a whole planet...

"OK. Start talking, now." Ma ordered. "Penfold, listen up. Check every detail, you hear me?". Penfold gave a bleat in reply and stared expectantly at Dune. The most observant onlookers may have noticed Penfold reach back under one of his back packs and lift out another small segment of carpet with his teeth, not once taking his eyes off Dune.

By this time Raven had crept as close as she could without being seen by Ma or the strangers. A huge feeling of foreboding had overcome her as she had listened to their conversation. At the same time, she couldn't help but feel drawn towards these strangers and what they might want. What was it about them that confused her inner feelings so much? They were a huge threat to her people - they proved that yesterday, but why did she not feel as afraid of them as she should be? Why did she feel that they weren't as threatening as they seemed? Why had she been able to hit Dune when no-one else could?