Ravenheart

The raven flew down and landed with a thud on my shoulder. He clucked a few times and settled precariously there. His sharp claws dug into my skin, through the thin leather shirt, and the wounds seeped blood. I was numb. I had covered my garment with a breast plate of armor; the shoulder straps were of narrow leather strips. The raven didn't care. It was during the pounding rush that I got an idea. My raven understood it better than I. Just as we were hearing some startled yells from the nearing camp, he jumped off my shoulder and took flight, heading straight at the camp. I turned him into a dragon with a thought. I had to concentrate on his flight, while Ciaran galloped toward the camp. I could sense that Ru had seen the deception. He soon was helping me with his own energia. To my surprise, Fiach was also sending energia my way. the raven grew big and black about the size of Redwin. I gave him shining black claws and a long tail, his body was like a snake and was covered in crystalline scales of dusky smoke. When he opened his beak, now a long sharp nose with a mouth covered in rows of saber-like teeth, he spit out smoke and balls of fire. I held this illusion as we galloped. It flew over the camp, wreaking feaar and chaos. I don't know if anyone sent an arrow off or threw a spear, but nothing stopped the raven. It flew low and high. It flew into groups of men, scattering them like mice. With the help of Ru's energia, I could keep the illusion moving with the raven. It never touched a single man or beast, but all were fleeing the camp, dropping lances and swords, bows and arrows, as they ran.