Littered around the giant nest was a collection of gargantuan black feathers, which were as big as a longsword, that had clearly fallen off whatever had squeezed out this unfortunate size egg. It was strange to think that it was relieving that the bird that laid it was big too.
One could only imagine the pain a normal chicken would be in if it tried to get this thing out.
Yet, of course, at the same time knowing that there was some dinosaur sized bird around and they were standing in its nest was not a comforting feeling. But at least it wouldn't hurt itself when it was swallowing them whole.
"Damn… that would make one great omelette."
Heads immediately snapped to Cynthia as she blurted out thoughts with no care for the danger that giant omelette represented. When she felt those burning gazes on her, she turned a light shade of purple and quite literally shrank away in shame.
"Oh, right…Sorry…"
This time she made sure to whisper, keeping quiet enough that a church mouse might be jealous.
Receiving one last glare from Sirius, he gestured for the rest of the group to stay quiet before starting to stealthily make his way to the shop's exit. Keeping low to the ground and taking slow, methodical steps almost as if he was looking out for any mysteriously placed twigs that were just waiting to be snapped at the wrong moment.
While the others followed in his footsteps, Seth turned to Cynthia and gave her an exaggerated look of disapproval, waggling his finger at her like a stern parent and shaking his head slightly. She, in response, simply flicked him the finger before they both broke down into smiles and silent laughter.
She then bowed her head, giving him an 'After you m'lord' gesture before the both of them followed the rest of the group as they slowly fox walked their way through the shop.
They passed by more of those humongous feathers as they stalked through the store like a thief in the night. Some of the feathers were, strangely, stuck in the ground or embedded in some clothing displays at odd angles.
One of their members, a timid young woman without any powers, got a bit too curious about these feathers when they passed near one, and ran her fingers over the side. Brushing down the length of it, in the direction of the bristles, the feather was soft and fluffy like one might expect.
Yet when she brushed her fingers back up it, pushing against the flow of the bristles, suddenly they were rigid and unmoving. The edge of the black feather glistened as they easily sliced into the curious woman's fingers as easily as they would cut through the air while the creature was in flight.
The young woman had her fingers quickly wrapped up to stop the bleeding, thankfully they had a lot of material for it laying around.
After an expensive brand name shirt was torn apart and turned into an expensive, brand name bandage, they continued on their way. This time making sure to stay clear of the scattered feathers and avoid accidentally brushing against them.
When they finally made it outside, back onto the streets of Thraven, they all stood up straight and relaxed from their time as ninjas and shirt thieves.
"Thank god it wasn't home, right?"
One of the fighters chuckled, not realising the grievous sin he had just committed. This time it was his turn to receive the death glares and even a smack in the back of his head. But before he could be properly scolded for his error, the universe took it upon itself to teach him a valuable lesson about keeping his mouth shut.
CAAAAAW!
A shadow passed over the group, plunging them into momentary darkness as the call of the beast sent icy chills into their frail, overburdened hearts.
Seth himself froze for a brief moment, a recent memory barging its way to the forefront of his mind at that all too familiar sound. Slowly turning his gaze to the sky, as if not looking at it meant it wasn't real, he saw a raven circling overhead.
It looked like a normal size raven at first, until it passed behind a towering skyscraper, revealing how large it actually was and what a cruel joke perspective truly is.
Of course it had to be the same raven. The one that he had seen devour a man whole just for daring to tread in its territory of the skies. So what would it do to those who stomped all over its precious nest? He was not eager to find out, yet life gave him no choice in the matter.
After circling once, the Lord of the Skies turned its wings inwards and plunged towards the ground like a ballistic missile. It extended its claws forward as it dove, ready to ensnare the foolish intruders.
Seeing the raven dive, the group immediately scattered. Scampering towards cover or simply diving out of the way.
When the beast landed, it cracked the road beneath its feet and caused the nearby buildings to tremor. Beneath its feet was the sinful fool who had uttered those fateful words, a talon the size of his arm was speared through his stomach and kept him pinned to the ground with another plunged through his leg.
The fighter gasped for air, coughing up blood onto the destroyed road beneath him. He lifted a trembling arm, looking at Seth with bloodshot eyes as he grasped helplessly at the air.
"H-help… me…"
Coughing up another lungful of air, he wheezed out his last words. The raven looked down at its prey with cold, void-like eyes. The pathetic and bloody state of the man reflected in those blackened pools of malice as it stared at him, almost like it was contemplating if he was worth eating.
Seemingly having made up its mind, it opened its beak wide as if it was preparing to bite off his head… until its throat started to glow.
It was a soft glow at first, a faint blue light emanating from its mouth, but it quickly brightened until its source was visible underneath the forest of feathers. The glow moved up the raven's throat as it leaned down before spewing a stream of bright blue flames all over the trapped man. Cooking him so fast that he didn't even have a chance to scream.
Once the flames receded and the bird straightened up, all that remained was a blackened husk of charcoal in the shape of a human. With a clench of its foot, the charcoaled corpse crumbled into a cloud of ash that drafted slowly up into the air.
The beast straightened up, letting out another cawing cry. Yet this time, being in its direct presence, the cry was deafening and shook them to their core as it reminded them of the creatures of old. The dinosaurs that once roamed and ruled the world.
It was clear the beast was eager to return to its roots, and intended to use them to fuel its evolution back to its prime, and beyond.
Eyes as black as the void reflected the world around it as it cast its icy gaze over the beings surrounding it, carefully choosing its next victim. It tilted its head, almost as if something suddenly caught its attention, before craning its head around and focusing its predatory gaze on a single figure.
A timid young woman with fresh bandages on her hand, bandages that were stained red with the blood she had recently shed.
The raven titled its head the opposite way, keeping her within its sights no matter how she shifted or moved. The woman stared back, trembling with fear as she felt the cold hand of death tightening around her thundering heart.
Everyone was still, knowing exactly what was about to happen. For a few moments, even the air seemed to become static and heavy until, in the same instant, everyone burst into movement.
Fighters charged towards the beast, civilians ran from the raven and the young woman fell backwards while letting out a blood curdling scream of terror as she watched the raven lunge towards her.
Beak wide open, ready to take a bite and take another step towards the glory of its ancestors.