Crow by Night

   Marie left before anyone else awoke. The journey was quite tiresome really, and she had only a faint idea of where she was going. The baby crow fell asleep on her shoulder for most of the walk, making breathy snores into her shoulder which blew pieces of her hair about.

   After less than an hour’s trek, she spotted a large green mountain. Long curls of purple grey smoke blew from the side of it.

  Marie hurried to the site. She scrambled up the rock face, around trees that poked from the rock in odd and inconvenient angles until she at last reached the cave mouth where the smoke billowed from.

   Inside, the air was so thick with smog that it was an effort not to cough. The girl stepped through the mist. Each step echoed as her feet scraped on rocks. The crow curled his head into her. 

   Two dark beads seemed to shine through the mist. Along with drops of something that shimmered like golden rain.

   Ragged, lazy movement. Loud wheezing and curling smoke plumes. The scrape of scales on rock-

Marie’s body became stiff. Perhaps she should have stayed at home.

  After all, the dragons eyes shone like droplets of deadly mercury. It’s teeth and claws were so white that they reflected her great golden hoard. “Why are you here, child?” The dragon huffed, and her hot breath stung Marie’s skin.

   And yet, the little girl threw her shoulders back and met those huge dewdrop eyes and said “My Gran made a promise to you.She sent me here to return your baby.”

   “A promise? BAH! My babies are long gone, child. You mock an old dragon. That lummox of a grandmother you have.! Did she think I would not know a crow of the forest when I see one?”

   But the dragon did look intently at the crow and the crow, seeing the riches reflected in the dragon’s scales and teeth, hopped from Marie’s shoulder and onto the gold-covered floor. Close enough to examine the dragon’s taloned paw.

   “Oh but this crow is quite fine.” The dragon watched the crow admire her gold. “And what exquisite tastes he has.” The crow lifted a piece of gold in his beak and offered it to the girl.

“Yes, indeed. I will keep this crow.” The dragon turned haughty. 

   And Marie watched as the two cuddled into each other, large scaled wings curving around the little creature. Yes, the two would make a fine pair. And so they did for many years.