Uni has started back up for the year and I am looking for a method of procrastination… Oh, look! Here it is! But enough of that. I'm hoping to finish this story within the next few months in an effort to make it have gone for one year. Seeing as we aren't even half way yet I think I'm going to need all the encouragement I can get!
Also, I wish to apologise for how choppy the first few chapters were :/ Reading them back made me cringe just a little at the lack of flow… I think I was going for a kind of minimalist approach and that just didn't work :P On the other hand, I reread my story The Social Experiment and quite frankly could not stop laughing. Younger me was hilarious!
vinkunwildflowerqueen: You're a champ! Thanks for encouraging me, and you are correct!
Fae'sFlower: He is indeed, "deeply shallow" :P Thanks heaps for letting me bounce ideas off of you!
ScarredHope: Holla! You make my heart smile *glows like praised child*
The moment Elphaba saw the Emerald City square that evening, she was overcome with a heightened sense of dread. As she took in the multitude of citizens who had already gathered and the man atop a hastily erected stage all she could think was, It's happening again. Although this time, there was something different. The crowd was more restless, the speaker more bold in his accusations, and Elphaba more terrified than the last time.
"These Animals are dangerous!" Cried the man on the platform. "We have received information telling us that they have formed underground communities, bent on rebelling against our glorious Wizard!"
Elphaba stood shell-shocked as more and more people poured into the square, each voicing their agreeance and horror.
"The Animals have been ruthlessly attacking the innocent, normal citizens of Oz, jealous of our superiority!" The crowd roared its outrage. Spurred on, the man continued to tell them of the Animal threat, "In an effort to protect his loyal people, the wonderful Wizard has decreed that all Animals be rounded up, and their powers of speech taken away from them so they can no longer organise themselves against us."
"Why is the Wizard doing this?" Elphaba was shaking where she stood, again finding herself powerless to help the creatures on the stage. "The Animal's haven't done anything wrong!"
"Quiet girl! What do you know!" Snarled a soldier standing nearby.
"My brother was mugged by an Ox just last week!" cried a man from the crowd which was followed by a number of similar accusations that only fueled the hate filling the square.
"Some of you may not like this idea. Some of you may even call these traitors friends, but you have nothing to fear for them! See here!" Up on the stand, the man continued to spout his propaganda as carts bearing the covered cages were brought alongside the stage by a squad of the Wizard's guard.
"By the mercy of The Great and Powerful Oz, the Animals have been taken in and re-educated by the Wizard's special taskforce. As you can see they have not been harmed. In fact, they are now more gentle and pleasant than before!"
Some guards leapt atop the cart and unveiled one of the cages revealing a small collection of Animals seated and staring vacantly out over the crowd.
"Can you see how this is not only for the Animal's own benefit, but for our own? Our great and wise Wizard has seen through the treachery of the Animals who seek to destroy our hard-earned culture and economy. He seeks to protect all of Oz! Why, if these creatures are allowed to infiltrate our societies further, we ourselves would be corrupted!"
Members of the crowd began to throw rocks and abuse at the cages, their voices filling the air.
"And it's not just these filthy creatures!" proclaimed the man. "See the gypsies!"
Another of the cages was unveiled, revealing a small family of three, mother, father and son, huddled together, terrified. Elphaba froze. "No…" Somewhere in the back of her mind a small voice called out for her to go get the Grimmerie, to use its power.
"They are the source of the Animal's spread! These unclean nomads who travel the land, living off of the profits of their thievery and black magic." The women gasped and the men roared. "These people are impure! They have mingled with the Animals, tainting their pure blood and spreading their disease into our streets and homes! They willingly trade and live with the Animals, going so far as to call them 'family'. Their impurity has led them to wildness and ruin! We must act now and eradicate this cancer from our peaceful lands if we wish to survive!"
The square was practically pulsating as well over a thousand citizens shouted and shook their fists in the air, pressing towards the stage to get a closer look at their enemy.
With the sheer number of people pressing in on all sides, Elphaba was left gasping and fighting for air. Jostled from every angle she somehow found herself at the very edge of the square, barely able to see the stage, yet free from the majority of the crowd. Out here on the edge of the storm, the voice inside her grew more insistent, willing her to use her power. Somehow she knew she could do it, stop all these people and save the Animals.
A small cage containing what appeared to be a lamb was brought forward on the stage. "A simple demonstration as to how we have managed to control these beasts will assure you that this is for the greater good of our glorious society!" A bespectacled man pushed a trolley up beside the lamb and proceeded to procure a large syringe
"No!" Elphaba cried,. She focussed on the voice, feeling a strange, yet familiar sensation expand in her chest, when a dark shaped moved in the corner of her eye. Startled she whirled around to see what it was, the magic fading from within her.
It was a crow.
It sat on the fence staring at her, unmoving and unwavering. Elphaba frowned and looked away, shaking the crow from her mind as she tried once again to focus on her power and stop the torture of, not only the Animals, but her people too.
Behind her the crow cawed, pulling her attention away yet again. The surrounding crowd ignored the bird, intent on casting their anger at the stage.
The crow was watching her intently, as though daring her to make a move. "Caww!"
Elphaba watched it, captivated by its stern countenance, its cry almost drowned in the roar of the crowd. Something was strange with this bird, as though it knew what she wanted to do but was advising her against it.
"Caww!" With a tilt of its head the crow spread it wings and took to the sky.
Elphaba watched as it disappeared around the edge of a building further down the street before turning back to the stage and the man who was explaining the procedure for silencing Animals.
Just as she was figuring out a strategy to get to the front of the stage, a large black shape flew past her face.
Startled, Elphaba instinctively swung her arms up to protect her head. After a moment she lowered them just to see the dark shape fly past again, leaving only a breeze in its wake.
Confused, Elphaba peered up at the sky from between her arms to see the black thing coming back for a third time.
It was the crow.
The crow swooped down and flew over her head so close she felt the feathers of its tail brush her raised arms. It didn't seem to be attacking, yet it didn't seem to want to stop swooping over her head. It was as though it wanted something from her.
Looking up again Elphaba made eye contact with the bird as it hovered a few metres down the street. Frustrated that it was distracting her from helping the Animals and people trapped on stage she yelled up at it, "What do you want!"
The crow simply cawed at her and flew back down the street it first disappeared to.
Disbelieving, Elphaba stood motionless for a few moments until the crow flew reappeared from the street and flew at her again, this time snapping at her head impatiently.
Confused and ineffable, Elphaba reluctantly followed after the crow as if circled and swooped overhead, leading her away from the town square and down the street.
Elphaba rounded the corner and found herself down a small alley, at the back, atop a large bin perched the crow.
"You are most determined to cause a scene, are you not?" asked a strong, female voice.
"Who-?" Elphaba whirled around, trying to find the source of the voice, only to find she was alone with just the bird who was watching her in what appeared to be mild amusement.
"I did." The Crow ruffled its feathers and scoffed as well as could be expected of a bird.
"You- You're a Crow?"
"Indeed. With a capital 'C'." Its voice rang clear and unamused as its head quirked to the side and watched her process this information.
Elphaba could hardly express her surprise and found herself simply asking, "Do you have a name?"
"Indeed I do!" The Crow scoffed again before it lowered its head in a bow. "I am called Kreah, and you are called Elphaba."
"How did you-"
"You'd best not cause any trouble." The Crow, Kreah, cut in.
Elphaba frowned, "What?"
"Anything you do now will only cause you further anguish in the future." Kreah stated matter-of-factly.
"You're telling me to sit by and-"
"Do nothing?" Kreah cut in again. "Yes."
Elphaba was taken aback to say the least.
"To act now, in public, would be a blatant act of defiance and treason against the Wizard," Kreah tilted her head to the side to make sure Elphaba understood. "Anything you do with only end in Southstairs."
Elphaba froze at the mention of Oz's most feared, high-security prison, where only the most ruthless of criminals are sent to spend the rest of their lives in neverending pain.
When Elphaba didn't respond the Crow continued, "Blend in. We will contact you."
Kreah lowered her feathered head once more before taking flight again.
"Wait!" Elphaba called, finally having gathered herself enough to protest. But it was too late, Kreah was already out of earshot.
Just as the Crow disappeared over the Emerald buildings, Elphaba heard her voice float to down on the wind, "Be strong."
From the town square came the tortured cries of the young lamb.
Finally mention of a crow! The title makes an appearance at last! Actually, in the original plans the Crow was going to be a Mouse or a Rat, but after some deliberation and spontaneous decision making, I decided that the Crow would work wonderfully as a symbol, set piece, and companion for our heroine :)
Also! I'm looking for a new beta as the wonderful Fae the Queen is unable to continue offering her services. I will miss her advice… (She's still alive!) Mainly I just want someone to discuss plot points with and perhaps read over the chapters before they go up. Experience doesn't matter, just a willingness to offer advice!
It was The Phantom of the Opera! I tried to be a bit cryptic but you're just too good. Congratulotions to vinkunwildflowerqueen, ScarredHope and Fae'sFlower!
Next Question: An orphan boy gets a second chance at a life away from thievery…?
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