Thursday photo prompt: Appointed #writephoto

This week’s prompt ~ Appointed

For visually challenged writers, the image shows the black silhouette of a crow perched atop a blackened and dead-looking tree. In the background the sky is blue and the trees are decked in the full green leaf of summer…

It was my habit to take a short cut through the woods on my way back from the shops, as it always seemed quicker that way.

It was also a much better walk, with the sunlight filtering through the branches and the dark green shadows beneath the trees.

I thought it a magical place, and once saw my first green woodpecker there. I often wished there were a bench as I would have liked to stay awhile and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

That day though, it turned out to be the wrong place to be.

I had barely reached the first tree when the strong flapping of wings somewhere above my head, stopped me from walking any further.

The sound of flapping wings became louder as several large black birds swooped down and attacked me. Disorientated, confused and more than a little scared, I waited for them to leave. I had no idea then what they were, but now I’m sure they were ravens.

When the first set of claws raked through my hair, instinct made me start running. Not easy to do, as they were all around me, clearly upset by my presence. I was in the middle of a nightmare, with no idea of what I had done to make these birds so angry.

Once clear of the woods, the ravens stopped attacking me and returned to the clearing beneath the trees. I stood still to catch my breath and watched them, wondering why they had behaved like that.

Most of the birds returned to the trees, still shouting the odds, but two of them seemed to be looking for something on the ground.

That when I saw what they were looking for.

A baby raven was hopping about in the undergrowth, struggling to fly, and failing miserably. I knew the parents of this baby would stay with him until he managed to take off, feeding and encouraging him, the rest of the flock on guard duty.

This was the reason I had been attacked, and suddenly, I wasn’t scared any more…

© Jaye Marie 2021