[Bêthberry]

Red, carmine and scarlet streaks washed over the sky as the mountains eclipsed the fading sun. Soon, it would be too dark to find a suitable roost and the entire flock would be at risk on the open field.

Pip'kha rose from his feeding and called his cadre to attention, to spread out and collect the lost crebain from Krikaw's company. Slowly circling in the sky, he cawed his position to Iadoc, Rik'ki'kew, Kadwyr, and Brak, whose slow circumnavigation of the battlefield drew the leaderless crows into the larger murder. With a silent slide and swoop, Pip'kha flew in amongst them, dividing them among the cadres left and assuming the places of those crebain who had fallen in battle.

A swarm materialized, with Mitikaw's cadre not far behind, which flew on towards the rasping 'Ckkrick, ckkkrick' of Akaaw, who could barely be seen in the shadowed trees. Pip'kha could not find Fingot, but the other elders were settled near Akaaw, who gave the nod. Pip'kha flew up, over the canopy of noxious trees, leading the flock to a rock cliff high in the foothills.

Here they would roost for the night, murmuring amongst themselves with a nervous guilt for their survival when others had fallen. Pip'kha noticed a subdued Mitikaw flit from one rock face to another, not sure where to roost, moving finally away from the companies of Brak and Kadwyr. Night spread her unease over all.

[ January 17, 2003: Message edited by: Bethberry ]