The subtle crunch of the delicate snow beneath his robust limbs and the discreet thump of his beating heart were the only noises the baron heard as he wandered through the labyrinth of lifeless vegetation. His cranium was held low as his crimson lanterns scanned the vast winter burdened terrain. The crows that evermore followed Murder inspected him mutely from the branches of a nearby sycamore. They have been with him since the day he was thrust into this wicked world, constantly observing him in his every venture and habitually being his only companions. It has remained a mystery as to what draws the dismal obsidian fowls to shadow Murder like death himself. It astounded his dam as she witnessed these ominous birds begin to trail her, gradually at first but as the foal inside her grew so did the quantity of crows. From the moment of conception to the day the colt took his first rasping breaths of oxygen the ravens were there. From that day Murder, likened to his name, has never been without his murder of crows. Nonetheless he has grown quite fond of his feathered comrades and they in return appear to have a reasonably affectionate bond with him.

Murder reduced his gate to a halt and elevated his duel-horned skull to gaze into the trees, reassuring himself that the feathered beasts were still with him before he moved further. When the crows detected the approach of another being or menace he was made quickly aware, of this he was very indebted. Murder has from the commencement of his existence been a rather introverted creature; because of this he has avoided many interactions with others and if it wasn’t for his ravens he would not so effortlessly be able to sustain his life as a vagrant. Smoke pierced the atmosphere from his nares as he took in and exhaled the arctic air and scanned the grounds, discerning what his ensuing course of action should be. Darkness was starting to cloak the land and the already freezing air was growing colder. Murder was beginning to ponder seeking out shelter as the snowflakes once more began to dust his cadaver.

Just as rapidly as the thought crossed Murders mind one of the crows took flight and slipped grimly into the obscure formation of trees. Knowing, after so many years of noting the fowls every movement that tracked him incessantly, this was an indication that he should follow. His lion like extension lashed haphazardly at his thighs and rear as Murder twisted his torso and front pistons towards the west and began to slither his way in the identical direction in which the melancholy bird had recently vanished. It took but a scarce couple seconds for his voids to modify to the darkening of his environment but as rapidly as they did it became clear to Murder where his faithful cohort was escorting him. The insignificant cavern was even more elusive than the growing night and the abyss it created in the flank of the mountain was almost unsettling, in that instant Murder recognized it was the perfect resting spot. Inconspicuously he slinked into its sinister stomach and rotated to glare inquisitively from its depths, regarding his posse as they kept watch from the surrounding pines. A salient caw shattered the hitherto unbroken silence and perked Murder’s horns as his eyes scanned through the abundant ravens before him. He knew well what they were saying, that it was safe to repose and if any foreboding individual should transpire too close they would rouse him. With that Murder let his vermilion chasms regress behind his lids and the soft sounds of the snowfall draping the earth lull him to sleep.


[finished, sorry it took so long had to go out of town for work. But there you have it, sorry I'm a bit rusty its been ages it feels. And Sveilana, I wasn't quite done so if you could edit your post that would be much appreciated.]