Hailey looked around desperatly, trying to find some way to free herself. The crows were getting bolder, coming closer and closer to the pole... and her. She kicked at them when they came in range and they hopped away, but one by one they came still. Weariness began to settle in her bones and her arms and hands were numb from being tied for so long. Sensing her weakening, the crows flocked closer, their beady black eyes watching her closely.
Finally, the first crow took the plunge. He leaped off the top of the pole and landed on her shoulder, pecking hard at her skin. With a hiss, Hailey lunged at the crow with her head. She burried her teeth in its back and broke its spine before it knew what was happening. The dead crow, however, had broken the veil between her and them, and the others were now landing on her.
Hailey lunged again and again, grabbing crows as fast as she could. But it seemed like no matter how many she grabbed, three more took its place. Soon she could hardly see through the flapping wings that covered her whole body. She screamed in pain as the crow's beaks bore into her and struggled to free herself.
High above, watching from the top of a mountain peak, sat Master Rayne. Her face was expressionless, betraying no emotion as she watched the crows pick Hailey to pieces. Finally, she stepped off the peak and glided gracefully down to the ground, scaring away the crows with a loud snarl. Hailey was deadly still, her flesh hanging from her body in clumps, exposing bone in some places. Only the faint beat of her heart, detected by Master Rayne's sharp ears, showed that she was alive.
Master Rayne stepped up to Hailey and lifted her head up with a claw. Hailey's eyes flickered open and focused weakly on Master Rayne's face. "Can you tell me what your name is now?" She murmured.
"Hailey" She whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Gooood" Master Rayne said encouragingly "Who are your friends?"
"Addison and" She coughed up some blood "A-Ainsley"
"Did you tell the Tribes we are coming?"
"Y-Yes" She whispered.
"Where are they now?"
"Heading towards the Mountain Tribe" She whispered, closing her eyes in exhaustion.
"Thank you Hailey" Master Rayne replied, removing her claw and letting Hailey's head fall back down. "I think Lord Galeron will find this information most useful. Now, unfortunantly for you, we have a reputation to keep. You and your friends have compromised that reputation... We leave no survivors."
Hailey looked up a her with wide eyes as she realized what Master Rayne was getting at "No... p-please" She whispered pleadingly.
"Shhh" Master Rayne whispered soothingly "The crows have a nasty, although useful, habit of leaving nothing behind. Within the hour, your bones will be picked clean and all traces of your existance in my kingdom will be gone. Goodbye, Hailey" She smirked, taking flight and leaving Hailey alone for the crows.
Grr... I'll get to it.
