Beneath broken stone and warped metal, a solitary raven panics as it senses imminent danger. It escapes certain death mere seconds before the structure finally crashes to the ground. On soaring above the devastation, the bird spies a wet-eyed woman...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
How long I'd been unconscious, I didn't know. My eyes opened to a sea of murky greys, browns and greens. Recall of what had happened sliced into my brain as a sharp pain tore through my wing and shoulder. No doubt, I had also accumulated extra bruising from my crashing through the branches of the apple tree.
I gingerly turned my head to look at my wing. Spread wide, primaries open, it was dangling, limp, over the edge of the broad limb on which I lay.
The arrow had snapped on the way down, both at its head and just below the cresling. The remaining shaft was still considerable.
I was going to have to extract it and hope it had not severed any crucial muscles. If it had, then I could lose the ability to fly altogether. I was dreading my next move; I knew it was going to be painful.
Sweet Elune! I hated being right sometimes!
I omitted a lengthy screech and rapid clicks as my body weight rolled to one side, allowing easier access to the broken arrow. My body shuddered with the agony. Panting, I bided my time until the pain subsided; then I took the shaft in my beak.
I counted to three then tugged. Further pain shot through my wing - I had to stop. Rolling onto my back again, caused my injured wing to thrash, and convulse, pain like fire coursing through my body.
Although it didn't help me, I now understood why Sarah cursed so profusely whenever she hurt herself. Despite their ineffectiveness, a few expletives raced through my mind.
As I lay, trying to find the courage to try again, I recalled Sarah's colourful language when she was in labour. No, it didn't help ease her pain, but it worked towards her shredding my skin as her nails dug into my hand. Inwardly, I smiled, for the joy we felt after seeing our newborn son, transcended all pain and discomfort.
On that note, I gathered my thoughts and focused once more. I grabbed the shaft, and this time I did not let go, although my entire body protested. I kept tugging and tugging until the arrow was removed.
Panting again, I let the piece of wood slip from my beak onto the soft lawn below. The exertion had drained me, and I felt my mind slipping to oblivion.
I was pulled awake by a woman's voice shouting. Her words at first were muffled as my hearing adjusted, but her fragmentary vocals soon became clear.
"Do you hear me, Dane? I said get down from that tree!" the woman's voice was a throaty rasp.
A shadow fell over me. Ordinarily, I would have panicked, but I felt too weak to muster even a shudder. Another more youthful voice then spoke. "I'm fine, mother! I've gotta rescue this bird."
The woman responded with a low growl. "If Sarah comes back and sees you clambering all over her garden, she'll be furious."
"No she won't, she'll be fine. I do it all the time," the younger replied, a hint of mirth in their tone.
