Snow always seemed to dampen noise. Even though there was some wind to be felt within the trees, it could barely be heard. It gently tossed snow and teased the edge of furs belonging to a figure with amber eyes just within the treeline. Watched the shore, waiting, hoping.
A black dot appeared on the horizon, getting larger and larger every second until a raven landed on the shore.
The figure within the tree line shot to their feet and began to walk out, only to pause as the raven changed shape.
Standing in the raven's place was a woman, dark skin and hair with feathers intertwined with a braid at front and across the scalp. Clad in black clothing with a raven's outstretched wings etched across her chest, and in one hand held a Staff of Power. Raven's Staff of Power, but this was not the Raven the figure in the trees knew.
The woman turned slowly, scanning the water and the treeline, pausing only for a moment as her eyes landed on the hider's position.
Finally, the person in the treeline left, trying to appear at ease as she approached. In contrast to the solid black of the woman on shore, this person had silvery hair tied back in a plait that poked out of her hood, dressed warmly in grey and white furs. She pulled down the fur lined cloak hood, appraising the newcomer with amber eyes, while a curved scar ran across her cheek.
"Did Raven send you?"
The woman clad in black narrowed her eyes a fraction. "I think you will find that I am Raven."
"I see," the woman in furs glanced at the Staff of Power in Raven's hand. It was a bit more ornate than she remembered, perhaps to emulate the new holder. "My apologies Raven. Thank you for answering my call."
"If it was your call I answered, then you must be Wolf?"
"I am she," Wolf inclined her head slightly. "Welcome to my home."
Raven scanned the snowy treeline behind them, nodding ever so slightly, her expression carefully schooled.
"I take it you were not expecting me," Raven said, unreadable eyes meeting Wolf's.
"I was not," Wolf answered honestly. "I knew your predecessor, I was expecting him, if he came at all."
"I hope to not disappoint."
"I am sure that you will not," Wolf smiled. "Are your Warriors on their way?"
"Aye. They will be here within the hour."
"Excellent," Wolf turned her gaze towards the water. "Please do not be insulted by them having to complete trials, the Giants wish to make their judgements."
"I was expecting it," Raven nodded, followed Wolf's gaze.
Wolf nodded, folding her arms and shifting her weight slightly. The water was still as glass, reflecting the clear sky perfectly. Yet the wind still whipped by, catching whisps of hair that weren't caught in the plait.
"Your message was not detailed," Raven noted. "It merely asked for the help of Raven and the Warriors against a threat. What is happening here?"
Wolf took a deep breath. "I will explain in more detail once the Warriors arrive, but simply, the land is dying, and I believe that, Nevar, is behind it."
Raven stiffened beside her before nodding. "Nevar is trapped in a desolate realm, but he seems to be able to influence this world from it, and move between at times."
"I have seen his demons," Wolf's face twisted. "Whether Nevar is physically here is irrelevant. I can feel him. Like a rabbit feels the gaze of a hawk."
Raven glanced up. "I feel it also."
"It is worse the further you go into the forest," Wolf shifted her weight again. "I hope that your Warriors are up to the task."
"They will be."
Raven's timekeeping was excellent. An hour later four canoes had been pulled up onto shore and 16 Warriors were assembled. They were split into four groups of four, dressed in red, blue, green and white. They were the Stoats, the Bears, the Lynx and the Hawks, respectively.
Raven stepped towards them.
"Warriors," she spoke. "Welcome to the Wilds of the North. We have been summoned here to aid in a great peril. Nevar and his forces have reached this place, and we will need your help to remove him," she turned to look at Wolf. "This is Wolf, the one who summoned us here, she will provide more information."
Wolf stepped forward, eying the Warriors. They were young, too young in her opinion. However their faces were determined and they held themselves with great confidence.
"I have sensed Nevar's presence within this land for several weeks, and have heard word on the wind that he and his forces have set up a fortress in the heart of this forest," Wolf cast her arm back to gesture to the trees behind her. "At the centre of this forest stands a mighty tree, which is the beating heart of these lands. Recently a dark corruption has spread from the heart, poisoning the creatures of this land.
"The rulers of this land, the Giants, also fear. For they are connected to this land as any of the trees, and this corruption is weakening them. They are the ones who asked for me to call for help, and they will be the ones testing you. They cannot risk the impure of heart reaching the Heart Tree.
"More shall be explained as time goes on, but for now we shall proceed to the leadership trials. Follow me."
Wolf began to walk into the trees and Raven followed, the Warriors in single file behind.
The Leadership trials were simple, one physical and one mental challenge for each team. Above them the trees creaked and groaned and Wolf could feel the Giants watching, judging.
The Leaders were selected and Wolf stepped forward.
"Congratulations Warriors, your leaders have been selected. Heed them well. Leaders, look out for you team, guide them well. The Giant's Trials will begin tomorrow, so I suggest you get plenty of rest. I shall report back to the Giants, and reconvene with you all in the morrow. Goodnight."
Wolf stepped away from the group, changing into a grey wolf before loping off into the forest.
Raven watched the Warriors set up camp until she noticed the purple glow coming the Raven's Eye. With a quick excuse she walked into the trees, away from camp, and summoned Raven of Old.
A man in a black feathered mantle and black cloak, black hair and beard appeared from purple smoke.
"Is everything proceeding as planned?" he asked.
"The Warriors have arrived safely and have selected their leaders. They will be ready for the challenges that await them."
Raven of Old nodded. "And Wolf?"
"She has been helpful. She is advising the Warriors and acting as liaison for the Giants."
Raven of Old looked away briefly before looking back at Raven. "I suggest that you be careful around her. Do not trust her."
"Why? Do you not trust her?"
Raven of Old levelled his gaze at Raven, eyes peering right through her. "She has betrayed me before. Keep your eye on her."
"I understand," Raven tilted her head ever so slightly.
Raven of Old nodded in approval before looking around the snow covered trees. "This is a strange land, with many enemies. I will do my best to gather information on Nevar's forces from the desolate realm. Keep your wits about you young Raven, and may the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you."
"Thank you Raven," Raven nodded, before Raven of Old disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
For a moment, Raven let the mask slip, uncertainty flitting across her face before squaring her shoulders and walking back to camp.
Wolf meanwhile had run to the outskirts of the forest, where the trees gave way to the grey rock and scrubby grass of the mountain foothills. She sat for a moment, tongue lolling as she caught her breath, before tilting her head back and howling.
By the time the first echo had faded, the rocks in front of her had moved, shifting and twisting until they resembled one, massive, foot.
The sky darkened above her as the mountain moved, and a rocky hand lowered, each finger the width of a canoe. Wolf stepped onto the hand and settled in the palm as it rose up again. She shifted to human as the hand brought her higher, and stood up when the hand juddered to a halt.
A face loomed in the clouds, craggy lips as long as a tree was tall and eyes more than twice the size of Wolf's head. The skin was the colour of the rock, in fact it was the rock. These weren't mountains, but the sleeping Giants themselves.
"Reeeepoooort," the Giant rumbled like thunder.
"The Warriors show promise, they have selected their leaders from the trials, and will be ready for the challenges you bring in the morning."
"Aaaand the Daaark Oooone?"
"There was no sign of him. Your wards around the trials were effective."
"Gooood. The Raaaaven whoooo iiiis nooot a raaaaven, hooooow faaaaress sheee?"
"She appears to fare well. She was not who I expected, but I will take what help I can get."
"Gooood. Reeest liiiittle Woooolf. Theee fooorest groooows daaarkeerrr eeeaach daaaay."
"I will. I know."
The hand began to lower her back to the ground, and once down Wolf began to hike back to her own camp.
A/N
Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?
It's not that I haven't been writing, just, not anything for here, or not anything that's finished, and you all know I don't like to start posting stuff unless the whole thing is finished.
So, this is still fanfiction. This is fanfiction for the series Raven, from CBBC. If you've never heard of it, it's a medieval themed gameshow that I grew up that aired from 2002-2010 with the og Raven (here as Raven of Old), played by James Mackenzie, and returned for 2 series in 2017-2018 with a new Raven played by Aisha Toussaint, with Raven of Old popping in in a similar manner to what was in this chapter.
This is going to be in the style of the story based spin-offs (Raven: The Island, Raven: The Secret Temple, and Raven: The Dragon's Eye), with less focus on the contestants/Warriors and more on the acted characters. I had this idea around 2009 and recently got reminded of it and wanted to make it half decent. Obviously when I first thought of this, James Mackenzie was still playing Raven all the time and there was not even a hint of Aisha Toussaint's Raven, but there you go.
Wolf is my OC in all of this, and the Giants and the Land to the North are my own concept, but Nevar and both Ravens are canon to the Raven universe.
Giant Speech not elongated
"Report,"
"And the Dark One?"
"Good. The Raven who is not a raven, how fares she?"
"Good. Rest little Wolf. The forest grows darker each day."