Karasufurai
Chapter 5: Kyanpu
The entire Encampment is surrounded in a humming net of electricity.
Inside, there are Humans, and things that are distinctly not Human. They aren't Grays, either, or any form of animal. They have vaguely Human-shaped bodies, but the sunlight glints off of them unnaturally. Their muscles seem stiff, and their movements jerky, like they couldn't quite figure out how to move correctly.
Fool and King enter the Encampment.
The crow is hesitant to do the same after he notices the electric barrier open for the Humans, then close instantly.
He doesn't think it will do that for him.
But they have his Banner. He let them take it, sure, but it isn't like he's just going to abandon it.
The crow flies around the barrier, searching for a way inside.
He needs to be with his Banner. Family, his mind says, and he's inclined to agree.
{=-=}
It's his third loop around the Encampment when he sees the Human on the outside. It is moving through the trees at a pace too rapid to be casual.
There is something clutched in its arms, and a large horde of Grays behind it.
It, or he, as the Human gets closer, is crying.
That's wrong. He isn't supposed to be crying.
The other Humans inside the barrier have taken notice, but they are too far away. Even the crow can tell that the Human on the outside won't make it in time, weighed down by the objects he is holding.
Time slows down.
The Gray in the lead catches up.
The Human screams.
Fly, Karasuno! commands his Banner, so he does.
His wings are throbbing in agony, but he doesn't have time to think before he is suddenly there, in between the Human and the Gray.
The crow snaps his wings out, tilted downwards slightly, and shields the Human from the Gray.
No. He doesn't shield. He blocks.
Then, in an instant, his talons are slicing into the rotting flesh of the Gray, wings snapping down, and he shoots up again, screeching for all he is worth. The Gray barely misses him, blackened teeth closing a second too late to catch his tail feathers.
The Grays all immediately focus on him as he continues to screech, swooping around above them in a blinding fury.
No one hurt that Human.
He was family.
{=-=}
When he has finished successfully drawing the Grays away, he turns back towards the Encampment, wings numb with a bone-deep exhaustion.
When he gets close, he can see a group of Humans waiting for him.
He recognizes Fool, King, and the Human he saved, but there are many more there as well. Then, one of the Humans he doesn't recognize pushes a button on a remote it is holding.
A gap opens up in the barrier. The crow obligingly swoops down.
The Human that opened the barrier, the one with sliver hair and a spot on his face, smiles gently and pushes the button to close the gap. 'Smile', the crow dubs him in his head. The Human seems too happy and gentle for this world. Smile, well, smiles, and opens his mouth to speak.
This, apparently, is the signal for the other Human to all start talking.
Fool blubbers and babbles on and on, random sound effects sprouting from his mouth as he swings his arms around wildly. King stares at him with suspicion and something akin to respect in his eyes, blatantly ignoring Fool.
Another, shorter Human prattles loudly on as well, and a much larger one timidly stutters apologies and gratitude. 'Timid' and 'Tiny', the crow names them mentally.
Two other Humans whisper nervously to each other, and a third one eyes him with an unreadable expression. 'One', 'Two', and 'Three', he thinks, already bored with them, because why not?
Another loud Human literally wails at him, tears streaming down his face, and the crow can't help but be utterly disgusted. He's acting more foolish than Fool! 'Loud', he names him, and turns to the next Human.
The one he saved.
This Human isn't making any noise, just staring at him with a confused, hopeful look on his freckled face.
'Freckles', the crow decides to call him, but the name doesn't sound right.
Just then, another Human comes out from behind Smile, and raises his hand.
The other Humans, miraculously, shut up.
"The commander and the other soldiers are on there way over here. You guys know we aren't supposed to bring anything in here except what they allow. We were told to leave everything else on the outside." He pauses, and the others look at him with varying expressions of hope, sorrow, and resignation.
The Human sighs and runs a weary hand through his hair.
"Hinata, Kageyama, hide the banner. The rest of you find a way to keep the crow hidden."
The Humans beam, and, as one, cheer, "Yes, Captain!"
'Captain' sighs again, but he is smiling.
The Humans all put their heads together, then, and say, "Fly, Karasuno!"
All but two.
Freckles says nothing, and neither does the crow.