Raven’s Return

A pecking on my cheek roused me. The little house was quite dark and it was cold. I was so tired last night I had forgotten to bank the fire.I closed my eyes, hoping an hour more of sleep. Another peck, this time on my neck. I half-opened my eyes. The sun was lightening the sky and I could make out a shadow perched on my chest.

“What the heck?” I muttered, but in reply I heard a familiar caw and a few words “Wake up. We’re in trouble and we have to wake Joey. He ate the straw house last night and now the three little pigs are coming through the woods.”

“Raven, it’s you! You’re alive.”

“Of course. Sorry for the scare. I pecked a dream seed from when you were sleeping the night before, and held it in my mouth. Once you gave my body shelter and protection under the leaves and the rock cairn, I warmed enough to dream. Raven’s dreams are very powerful, and I needed only to visualize my heart for it to mend. My dream, of course, came true.”

“Oh, Raven. I’m so glad you’re here. Now tell me what Joey did? Did you say he ate the straw house?”

“Don’t worry. It wasn’t constructed well, anyhow. I’m sure the first pig can move into another, stronger house. But now we must quickly leave. We haven’t time to eat.”

I stumbled out of my bed, while Raven went to wake Joey and give him a full explanation.

Raven and Joey were in a heated conversation when I joined them. “You’ll have to fly, Joey, and of course I can fly. But Bo’s gossamer wings won’t hold her at such heights. You must carry her again.”

“What’s the hurry, Raven? The least I should do is rebuild this house.”

“I’m truly sorry, Joey, but there isn’t time. The King has discovered all the strangers in his land, and he has sounded the alarm trumpet to summon the Giant. We have no choice except to go. Look. My fellow ravens are already escorting your friends through the clouds.”

“Joey, we better go,” as I started to panic. “We’ll find a way to rebuild the pig’s house later. We’d better leave now!”

“Oh. Bo. Relax. I don’t see any danger.”

Suddenly the castle door opened and creatures of all sorts crossed the moat. The King led the procession of dragons, witches, bears and a Green Giant that looked not a bit too friendly.

‘Bo, jump on Joey’s back. Fly through that ring of clouds. Once we are away from the Land of Fairy Tales, we will be safe.”

We flew with terrifying speed toward the opening and disappeared just as the King and his cronies spotted us. “Halt,” commanded the King, but it was too late. Raven and Joey, with me on his back, flew halfway to the forest floor, then stopped to rest in a walnut tree. The walnuts were split open, so we downed a breakfast of walnuts and Joey’s wine.

“Doesn’t Unicorn Wine ever run out?’ I asked Joey.

Mmm. Don’t know. Never happened to me, Bo.”

“Harumph!” Raven cleared his throat. “I do have further news for you. I received a message from Enchanteur as I was rushing to reach you. It seems we have been commanded to return to the Calabar. She will set sail on the night of the full moon.”

“Oh, dear. I had rather a bad experience on that ship,” I said. “Do we have to go there?”

“And risk angering Enchanteur?’

I sighed, a deep and mournful sigh. “Of course not. I will do what Enchanteur asks. Let’s go on our way.”

“Good, Bo. We will be there by nightfall.”

“I just wonder what type of trouble we’re rushing towards. Ebony Wilder, the Calabar and I aren’t on the best of terms.”

“Don’t worry, Bo. Maybe it will work out better this time,” nudged Raven. And we flew just above the treetops, headind towards the sea and a new adventure. I was sure of that.