Amish's Note: And now we've arrived at the last entry from the latest writing contest. I have a few more chapters loaded in the chamber that were submitted by authors after the contest was over, but I really should think about what to do next to keep this series going...

For now, though, enjoy.


Title: Black Crows

Author: Raven

Cherv sat in his chair, rocking back and forth, staring at the concrete wall of the warehouse that the Cranes chose as their HQ. Pained moans and groans arose from the bedrolls spread all over the floor. Two of the bedrolls went silent an hour ago. Cherv made too many mistakes, and two of his comrades paid the ultimate price for them.

The Cranes were born over a year ago when a group of workers organized a strike after yet another incident in the Dust mines. They were suppressed just after a few days, but their example became the last push Cherv needed to finally realize the necessity of a revolt against the city in the skies. He had a hard time finding recruits to the cause - until the arrival of ADVENT, the presence of its armored soldiers radicalizing many from all over the undercity. United under a red banner, chosen for its lack of association with any of the Kingdoms, the Cranes grew in numbers - and yet it did them little good, as his people were still unsupplied, and even meetings became difficult to arrange between the growing suspicion of some of his still patriotic neighbors and the ever-stricter black armor-clad patrols.

What saved the Cranes was the arrival of Rusak. Cherv admired the man's bravery from the very moment he first saw him, entering the bar despite the "closed" sign, weapon drawn, and stating that he knew about their plan - only to announce his intention to join seconds later. Nobody asked him where he came from, although his experience led Cherv to suspect many things, for it was that experience that allowed the Cranes to find the abandoned warehouse or understand when and which ADVENT outposts had the least defense, making them vulnerable against infiltration and theft.

Emboldened by their success, Cherv began to reach out to people in other districts - and his attempts bore fruit a week ago when somebody knocked at the warehouse's door during the Cranes' meeting. After a quick discussion, Cherv gave a nod to his people to open the door, letting a sheep Faunus walk in. The messenger was the first to break the mutual silent staring as she spoke:

"Blanche sends her regards, Cranes, and an offer of cooperation."

Cherv's optimistic mood instantly soured. Although it was unlikely that Blanche had any connections to Atlas, she was anything but independent...

"You must understand that we, as patriots of Mantle, cannot accept any cooperation with agents of our enemies," he answered, accompanied by supportive mutters from around the room.

"I can assure you, Blanche..."

"I know about Blanche," Cherv interrupted. "And I know about people that have been going around your hideouts. They aren't from Mantle, and while I'll do you a favor and won't suspect you of fraternizing with the tyrants above, those damned Valeans are no better"

The messenger went silent for a moment, as if unsure how to answer, but quickly pulled herself together.

"XCOM is on the side of the people," the Faunus answered with confidence in her voice.

"Oh, that's what they want you to think," Cherv retorted, growing angrier. "And when the Mantle is freed and our resistance weakened, what do you think they'll do?"

"Do you not understand that Mantle needs a united front?!" the messenger shouted back. "Do all of you," she continued, looking around the room and locking eyes with each of the Cranes, "not understand under what danger your paranoia puts us all in?!"

Cherv stood up, not feeling the pain of his nails digging deep into the table. Before he could answer, though, he caught a hard glance from Rusak and forced himself to take a deep breath.

"Mantle can only rely on itself," he said as he turned back and walked to the red banner, not returning to face the room until he heard the messenger storm out of the warehouse.

"If that's what you really think, then I guess you were all wrong for not shooting me down when I entered that bar," he heard Rusak say. Several of the Cranes gasped in surprise, but Cherv merely nodded at the confirmation of his theories.

"You have proved your allegiance. The XCOM did not."

"Maybe they would've if you ever gave them a chance," was the answer - and the last thing he heard from his second-in-command before he followed the Faunus out of the building.

As the door closed Cherv felt the stares of the Cranes on him.

"I understand that many of you have doubts," he began after a deep breath. "But all the Kingdoms, no matter their colors, are nothing but crows and vultures, eager to descend upon the working people at the first sign of weakness..."

When, several days later, Cherv heard of the extent of the uprising staged by Blanche's forces, he was beyond astonishment. He had severely underestimated the numbers under the woman's command, and even as he ordered the Cranes to take up arms and raise barricades he couldn't shake off unease at the thought of such a large portion of the city falling under XCOM's influence. Such thoughts proved themselves to be quite optimistic when he saw the first wave of ADVENT troopers advance towards their little fortress - unjustifiably so after he heard of Cinder Fall entering the battlefield. Fortunately, it seemed that ADVENT was more focused on fighting in the Maiden's immediate vicinity, sparing the Cranes from the worst of the night.

"Death to the crows!" came a shout from the nearest barricade, and in another second Cherv was blinded by a sudden flash, accompanied by a thundering explosion. Blinking the afterimages away, he saw the charred remains of the barricade and bodies lying around it.

"Retreat!" he commanded, and saw the rust-brown of Rusak's coat fly past him. Throwing a glance back at the fleeing Cranes, Cherv unsheathed his sword, forged from a Great War bayonet, and followed his lieutenant - he may have never received any sort of Huntsman training, but Rusak's lone charge was suicidal, and he was one of the only other Cranes with an unlocked Aura.


Cherv took a deep breath and finally rose from his chair. He walked up to the silent bedrolls, lowering his comrades' eyelids, then kicked the chair over in helpless fury as he realized another one stopped breathing in the time he spent buried in his memories. A knock distracted him, and as he turned to face the door he was greeted by a concerned face of Catherine, the young woman taking over Rusak's position until his recovery. Nodding, Cherv followed her out of the makeshift infirmary and into the warehouse's main room were the rest of the Cranes were waiting.

"No speeches today," he began abruptly, his eyes facing the floor. "I have failed you, Cranes. I will remain for however you deem necessary to oversee the election of the new leader, then leave my post."

"Those in favor of Cherv remaining commander, raise hands!" Catherine suddenly said.

"I have already admitted I'm unworthy of this post, Katya, there's no need to rub it in...", protested Cherv, yet as he raised his head to look at the crowd he saw almost everybody standing with their right hands outstretched to the ceiling.

"You are the one who inspired us to fight, commander. The Cranes can have no other leader," smiled his new lieutenant.

Cherv wiped his forehead and inhaled sharply.

"So be it," he said as confidence slowly found its way back into his voice. "Katya, contact Blanche's men and assess the situation. We need medical supplies and a place where we can be of more use to the resistance than in this derelict. Others, take stock of what we have left and what of it we'll no longer need with our... updated numbers. Let us act fast, comrades. For those who fell. For the city of Mantle!"