four and twenty black birds

Poem stared up at the massive maple tree, its branches slowly getting covered in tiny green leaves. They swayed in the gently breeze and brought the young pup glimpses of the raven’s nest far above her head. Imperia peeked down at her curiously, her body positioned on the edge of the well built nest. Behind her the growing chicks wrestled to get themselves to the edge of the nest first. One by one they mimicked their dark feathered mother, each one unique. With the joining of Imperia and Solitude came the sight of bicolored offspring.

They weren’t quite fledging yet, but their curiosity was as intense as Poems. She caught the eye of one in particular. One half was white like its father and the other as black as night like its mother. It’s red eye caught Poem’s blue and lavander gaze and the girl squealed in delight as it flapped its growing wings just for her. This motion also happened to knock a couple of its siblings back into the nest. Poem giggled with delight.