Title: Raven
Author: Tapestry
Rating: R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
'italics' denotes mind speaking
bold italics denotes flashback
14/11/05
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
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- Prologue: The Myth -
Ravens are mysterious creatures. In history and legend, they have both been feared and revered by many cultures all over the world. A familiar of evil, a messenger of the gods. Trickster. Harbinger of death, and a symbol of longevity.
But what is the Raven anyway?
Just a bird with glossy black feathers? Or are they something more?
In a modern world where myth and legend are just that, no one ever questions anymore, whether other beings walk the land with us. We all know the myths of werewolves and vampires. We all know the legends of deities and demons.
But none know of the Ravens.
Some called them fallen angels turned demons. Others knew them by the name of Karasu Tengu, and some people knew them merely as beautiful cloud dwelling deities.
But none are true.
They are not angels, nor are they demons. They are not deities and they are not tengu crows.
They are Ravens.
A race blessed and cursed with long life and special abilities, cultivated early on from a time when gods and humans still walked the earth together.
A Raven has but one mate in its lifetime and finding that one mate is difficult if not impossible due to their insufficient numbers and difficult struggle to reach adulthood.
Mated pairs usually produce only one egg every half a century and there was also no guarantee that the egg would survive.
Ravens who survived the regular 500 years without a mate had the option of either going insane slowly or relinquishing their powers, their human form and humanity completely to take the mortal form of their Corvus cousins, living out their short life spans with all their frailties and limitations to the very end.
They are a species on the brink of extinction, their numbers growing smaller and smaller with every turn of a century, the bloodline slowly dwindling away.
An unfortunate but very possible fate for their species with the passing of every individual.
So, do you know the Raven?
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The moon had risen high in the sky, illuminating the darkness in silvery light as the sound of rapid beating wings could be heard in the night.
Clouds moved in the sky, covering the light of the moon, bathing the world below in darkness once more.
The wing beats stopped.
And the soft thud of landing feet was the only warning that the master of the mansion had returned.
As a cloud shifted, a ray of moonlight peeked through, shining on the lone figure standing on the balcony. Dressed in black with large wings spread from his back and his dark hair swirling in the soft breeze, he pushed the balcony doors open and entered the quiet house, his wings folding and disappearing into his back.
Closing the doors with a wave of his hand, he sat down at a large oak desk, leaning his head back on the cool leather seat, his hands clenched into fists.
He shouldn't have gone.
She had looked so lovely, her smile lighting up the room. It had torn him up, looking at her radiant expression that would never be his. The sort of smile that was reserved only for her beloved. His friend.
He had known she was not the mate destined for him.
But he had fallen in love with her anyway.
Her hair the colour of a raven's wing and amethyst eyes that sparkled of fire and confidence. There was no one that could not be entranced with her. The glass paperweight on his desk went flying, smashing against the wooden wall panelling.
After almost 800 years, perhaps the madness was finally taking a hold on him.
Who was he lying to? He was already mad.
"Raye..."
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To be continued...
A new story. I know many want me to work on Twilight, but this just kept beating at my brain. Yes, yes... I've heard it all before. Oh no! Not another supernatural story. What can I say, I've got no imagination. But the idea of Raven's really just caught my interest.(Don't winged bishies just make you drool?) I don't know japanese folklore, but the Tengu part just fit, so I just used it. Basically, so far all I've written in this prologue is just a huge jumble of some raven facts, myth and imagination.
15/11/05
Edited: 19/11/05
