KORBIN
It could have been comical. A solitary man, sharing dinner with a bird. It could have been awkward. Meat consumed in silence, as memories and sentiments bounced between the walls. It could even have been sad, how the raven so easily pecked and tore at the offered morsels. A foot on the meat, while the beak ripped away slivers and scraps, easily tossed back into ravenous gullet. The separation from a boy who had been almost picky in his tidy eating was startling, and showed how right Noah had been. Korbin was not ready to return. Might not ever be, in truth.
Yet, as minutes ticked by and the crackle of the fireplace was allowed to fill the room, the feeling that followed was none of those things. There was an easing. Unwinding of taught muscles, of breaths withheld. There was a lowering of guards, crumbling walls... and even a glipse of something warm, when the raven sidled stealthily towards the hunter's plate. One step at a time. Until he was just close enough to dart in and steal a piece of fruit. It was devoured in a single gulp, and there was a look to the raven's eyes. Almost a glitter, as if challenging the man to object.
Yet, as minutes ticked by and the crackle of the fireplace was allowed to fill the room, the feeling that followed was none of those things. There was an easing. Unwinding of taught muscles, of breaths withheld. There was a lowering of guards, crumbling walls... and even a glipse of something warm, when the raven sidled stealthily towards the hunter's plate. One step at a time. Until he was just close enough to dart in and steal a piece of fruit. It was devoured in a single gulp, and there was a look to the raven's eyes. Almost a glitter, as if challenging the man to object.
Young and alone on a long road,
Once I lost my way
Once I lost my way
