A/N: OMG, so sorry for the wait! I've been sooooo busy at school, I didn't have the time. SCHOOL SUCKS! Who's with me?
Grim entered the graveyard with Jack, still cradling the girl in his arms. "Okay," said Jack, "what are we to do about her transformation? She can't be seen like this." Grim looked at her, and then looked at Jack. "Well, Jack; we shall leave that up to her."
Suddenly, the girl's eyes began to flutter open. Her eyes began to sting when she glanced upon her company. "Who..." She began, "who are you? Wherever am I?" Grim was the first to react. Setting her down upon the ground, he rose up. "My name, dear girl, is none of your concern." Jack bowed. "I must apologize for Grim, he can be.... a bit difficult at times, you see. I am Jack Skellington, and this --" he said, gesturing around him, "-- is Halloween Town, our dear home."
The girl looked around, astonished. "This... This place.... This place is not like anything I would have imagined." With a start, she added, "Oh! Where are my manners? My name is Raven. May.... May I ask you a question?"
"Of course," said Jack. Raven averted her eyes, pawing the ground with her feet. "Am... Am I dead? All I can remember of myself is this name... And a gunshot." The two paused for a moment, not sure how to continue. Finally, Grim replied: "We found you by the door of this realm. Were you to have remained there any longer, there would not have been hope for you."
Raven began to tear up. "So, then.... I'm alive? Can't I at least remain here? I have no home to return to." Jack beamed. "Of course, my dear! You can stay with me and Sally. You'll meet her later. But first...." he trailed off. "But first, what?" asked Raven nerviously. "Well," Jack began, "As you are, you will not quite, eh, fit into our lovely little town. So," said Jack, "we must first alter your physical form."
"Oh," said Raven tentitively. "Exactly. However, we must first decide how best to go about it; have you any ideas, Raven?" Raven thought, trying to piece together an idea of how she would best be described. The first thing that came to mind.... "A caged bird," she said. "Hmm, a caged bird?" Pondered Jack. "Well, well, let's see what we can do. Grim?"
Grim snapped his bony fingers. After just a moment, dark clouds began to circle around Raven. At first, she bit down her tounge; pain began to surge through her. But then, just as quickly as it began, it was over. Collapsing to the floor, Raven breathed heavy; once rested, she rose up, and examined herself. On her back had sprouted two larger wings, as black as the night. Her skin paled to that of a gravestone, and her hair took on a light, feathery texture. Her eyes, silver as the stars above them.
"I, uh...." She quaked slightly, still shaken from before. "How.... How do I look?"
"Absolutely terrifing," replied Jack.