[nf] A quiet night before chaos

Sylvester had been sitting at the fire most of the night, the forewarning sat across him, and Raven Vulture Crow had perched himself in a tree. Remi had found a safe-looking corner nestled into some bushes behind. The sky was full tonight on top of the mountain. The cliffs overlooked every possible detail around them, and they had learned to scan it all. Which is why on nights like this, when they weren’t out hunting people. They knew they would be safe to light a fire. 

Vulture in his loud raspy voice, not liking the silence, barked up loud. 

“OK, SOMEONE TALK, SOMEONE DO SOMETHING! I SWEAR I WILL BREAK SOMEONE'S LEGS EVEN YOUR JAWS IF SOMEONE DOES NOT SPEAK UP.” 

Vulture started choking and whining about a headache. His voice had changed no sooner than a stopwatch clicking off. To sound entirely more distinguished and completely less rude. Still just as violent though.

“Vulture, if you don’t shut up at this hour of the night while I’m trying to sleep. I will throw us off this damn mountain. Splatter us into little pieces and neither of us will ever talk again.”

Vulture didn’t chime in after this, and Raven had stayed instead. Raven was fully aware that people were watching him argue with himself. He didn’t care much and neither did they. They had grown used to him being like this. Ever since his injury, he hadn’t quite been the same. They knew it almost immediately after they saved his life, so they didn’t lose another brother. 

Sylvester, after the camp had gone quiet, pulled his guitar out. In his heavy British accent looked around. 

“Vulture, if you are done talking to all three of you over there, might I play a song to ease your mind. I wrote it not too long ago, I believe everyone here will enjoy it. Especially you, Forwarning. After all, it is about you.”

Instead of saying anything else and not having anything more to say for that matter, he picked up his guitar and started strumming. Soft hums came from him. Something about it almost seemed unreal with how carefree their life had become. The only thing that mattered now was the Wildmother. 

“Let me tell you a story.

A story of the Wild-mother.

A story this land won’t soon forget.”

“She came down and spoke to me.

She came down and sang to me.

Whispering her sacred truths.

Wildmother, brace me for the storm of fire waiting for the path man alike has to choose.

She came down and spoke to me.

She came down and sang to me.

Lost and wandering far from home.

Forwarning, speaking in her grace.

Spoke the word of her embrace.

Ooooh,

Ooooh,

Among the flames he emerged, bathing in her light. The world is burning at his feet. Her guardians by her side. The earth shall prevail. Humanity shall fail. Through her eyes he has brought her back to life. 

Among the flames he emerged. 

Bathing in her light. 

The world is burning at his feet.

Her guardians at his side.

The earth shall prevail! Humanity shall fail! Through her eyes he has brought her back to life! 

Through her eyes.

Through her eyes.

He has brought her to life.

Through her eyes. 

Through her eyes.

He has brought her to life.

She came down and spoke to me. 

She came down and sang to me.

Whispering her sacred truths.

Wild-mother brace me for the storm of fire waiting for the path man alike has to choose.

Ooooh, through her eyes.

Oooh, through her eyes, oooh”

Sylvester’s voice rang out in different octaves and at times sounded aggressive. He was talented when it came to singing. It was the one thing besides hunting people he excelled at. His songs were always a good way to fill the void of silence between them.” 

Sylvester’s voice at the end drew to a close as he sang the last line. Looking around to gauge the reactions of everyone, he saw that everyone was pleased. It had even calmed down Raven-Vulture-Crow. Almost as if it had reeled him in and caught him in a state of trance. 

“Now that we have that out of the way you guys better have liked that. IT TOOK ME WEEKS TO COME UP WITH THAT! I have to go find more pencils out in that wasteland with how many I broke composing that.” 

Sylvester let out a small laugh, and the vulture had joined in. The Forewarning sitting across from them gave an approving nod. Remi had all but fallen asleep. The camp fell silent once again. The night grew darker, so everyone had drifted off to their tents. Sylvester and Vulture had taken over watch for the night, so sleep would be minimal for them this evening.

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