[Prompt 2 Raven] It's A Damn Crow

The sun was just rising as me, Flynn, Hazel, and James were walking. Hazel was by my side, and walking a little stiff from last night's incident, but thankfully she didn’t blame me for it. “Nice morning huh?” James said. The clearing in front of us seemed to sprawl forever, but I knew that wasn’t true.

“Yeah it is.” Hazel agreed. The beautiful clearing was filled with grass to munch on, moss, and little creatures. As we were walking, James nearly walked into a rabbit's nest. 

“Very demure, very mindful.” Hazel hummed. James shot her a side-eye, and honestly as did I. 

I had a bridle and bareback pad on today, and was raring to go. “Ready?” James finally asked. Hazel nodded, and we stopped. He walked over, giving Hazel a leg up onto my back. She sat with a plop, and grabbed the reins. I watched James walk back over to Flynn and pull himself up without any help. Not even a saddle. 

“How the fuck does he do that?” I asked Flynn as we started walking. Flynn shrugged.

“He’s been doing it forever.” Flynn noted. “At first, he wasn’t very good at it and it would hurt a bit, but now he’s gotten a lot better and I barely feel it.” He complained for a second. I nodded, and took my attention to the forest’s edge where a bunch of crows were gathered. Flynn watched too.

“You wanna go over there?” He asked, his voice low. I nodded. 

“Why not?” I asked, starting to walk over. I felt Hazel tense above me, but she didn’t contradict us.

“Are those ravens?” James asked, pointing to where we were headed.

“Crows.” I grumbled, pinning my ears.

“I think so.” Hazel said, giving me a pat. “Zelda, what's your problem?” She asked. I grunted. “Alright then.” Hazel sighed. 

We made our way over to the edge, and a strong smell of, is that decomposition? Hazel threw herself over to my side, heaving her stomach contents up. Gross. James was doing the same. Me and Flynn shared a look, as we heard a bang from the forests, and took off as the crows flew into the air. 

We raced to the other side of the clearing. Hazel nearly slipped off, but thankfully managed to cling to my neck and mane. “Remember training!” I shouted over the sound of the wind in my ears. I glanced over at Flynn. We can do this.

Racing out, my breaths drawn short, heading to the college. “Go Zelda, go.” Hazel whimpered, clinging onto my mane. Shit. She doesn’t have any weapons or armor. We’re screwed. 

My breath comes in jagged as I feel an arrow whiz by. Yup definitely screwed. I glance at Flynn and James. James seems to be better off than Hazel, but maybe it’s because he didn’t fall yesterday. Flynn is still going hard, racing towards the only place we can call safe. The College. 

Though we all refer to it as The College, its actual name is The College Of Lucius And Bellum. Lucius meaning light and Bellum meaning war. It’s an odd college to say the least, yet the only place we are entirely safe.

The crows fly overhead, curving towards the college. Spies? Fuck we are so screwed.

I feel Hazel’s weight shift on my back. The bareback pad is slipping. She clutches even tighter to my mane, not paying much attention to my reins, which are currently being held way too tight. I persisted, trying to go faster. 

I caught a look behind me. Holy shit-
“Call it in! James call it in!” Hazel shrieked. She must have seen them too. With newfound adrenaline I was running even faster, Hazel clinging to stay on. Flynn stumbled as the crows dipped down. 

“Flynn!” I screeched my voice hoarse.

He popped up, now jumping over the grass. “I’m alright!” He called, a bit of blood trickling down his brow. 

The gates weren’t far, but they were shutting and alarms were blaring. In front, stood a pair I knew well. Silent and Hunter. 

“Silent! Hold the gates!” I screamed, trying to pump myself to go faster.

“Zelda.” Hazel cried, starting to slip off my back, her foot flying up to my shoulder, clinging on for dear life.

“Hold on Hazel.” I said solemnly even though she couldn’t understand me. Yet. 

I reached a new max speed, going even faster than before. The ground growing rockier by the minute. My hooves grow unsure as they barely touch the ground. The gate. The gate is still open, but shutting faster than we can run. We aren’t going to make it.

Silent is staring at me. “Come on.” I whisper, my breaths, oh I’m not breathing no wonder I’m slowing down. I take a large lungful of sweet crisp air and keep going.
Silent’s eyes pass over me and Flynn. Flynn, where is that guy? I whip around, seeing him right behind me. But it's also behind him, and closing in fast. It doesn’t look very happy.

“Zelda! Look out!” Hazel screams. My attention snaps back to in front of me. To the magic swirling around us. Oh no. Is this a- No it can’t be can it? Not a curse, please don’t be a curse.

The magic swirls around my feet, lifting me in the air, giving me raven-like wings. “What?” I whisper as the magic engulfs me, keeping me moving towards the gate.

The magic is full of colors. Black, green, purple, you name it. It makes me feel oddly at rest as we move. The black wings on both sides of me are flapping. Real wings… Just as I think this can’t be real, we enter the now propped open gates. The wings guiding me down. The moment my hooves touch the ground, the wings disappear. Gone to the wind, along with the magic that caused them… 

Only Silent and Hunter stand before us, panting. Why are they panting? Hazel lets out a soft breath and gives me a pat, hopping off and walking to James. 

“Flynn!” I cry running over. We are reunited once again. I peck his cheek and nuzzle my head into his shoulder. “Flynn.” I whisper, feeling safe once again.

“Thank God you’re safe.” Flynn whispers into my ear.