KORBIN
Leave my loneliness unbroken!
- quit the bust above my door!
- quit the bust above my door!
Even toppled and in ruins, the Palace was not deserted. The aviary where the messenger ravens had been housed was damaged and littered with debris, but still intact. Birds were slaves to habit, and the black corvids didn't care about dust or clutter. Some dedicated person was still bringing food to them, and that was all the reason they needed to remain.
They made for better company than people. Huddled in with the rest of the flock, Korbin was warm and snug, groomed by gentle beaks and offered morsels of half-frozen meat. The birds sensed his distress, and did what they could to help him, but no one shoved the food down his beak when he wouldn't eat, and there was no inane chatter. Only the occasional soft croak could be heard, and it was rarely directed at him.
The only real disturbance came from humans, who foolishly tried to send messages. Outsiders all. No one from Halo would be dumb enough to risk the ravens for a letter 'maybe' delivered. Korbin took a savage pleasure in emptying his bowels on those who tried, and he encouraged the other ravens to stay away from those who tried to call them down.
Most gave up, and left again with errands unfinished. Muttering about the odd behaviour of the birds.
They made for better company than people. Huddled in with the rest of the flock, Korbin was warm and snug, groomed by gentle beaks and offered morsels of half-frozen meat. The birds sensed his distress, and did what they could to help him, but no one shoved the food down his beak when he wouldn't eat, and there was no inane chatter. Only the occasional soft croak could be heard, and it was rarely directed at him.
The only real disturbance came from humans, who foolishly tried to send messages. Outsiders all. No one from Halo would be dumb enough to risk the ravens for a letter 'maybe' delivered. Korbin took a savage pleasure in emptying his bowels on those who tried, and he encouraged the other ravens to stay away from those who tried to call them down.
Most gave up, and left again with errands unfinished. Muttering about the odd behaviour of the birds.
Quoth the Raven,
"Nevermore."
"Nevermore."
