(lol like two seconds after i posted this i realized it's a raven not a crow in "the raven" (you'd think i'd realize that, huh...). Ah well.)
A small body with short, stubby legs and big ears began growing into a taller, slimmer wolf. The past few months Malia and her siblings had been quickly developing, showing signs of the adults they would become over time. Some may say that this change would placate a fiery temper or curiosity, but not so for the Thorben daughter. Her mischievousness encouraged her to still venture further than ever before, yet she admitted to herself that she would still stay in reach of her parents since that adventure in Redweed Rise. So many wolves in one place and so much tension made even the pup feel uncomfortable, and it was a feeling she did not like.
Malia now wandered aimlessly away from the den. She enjoyed the freedom of stopping to smell any plant or rock she wished to, and spent the afternoon chasing after bugs and butterflies that passed. Rain was still falling, soaking the fluffy pup to the skin, but she had learned to ignore the cold when she wanted to focus on something else. Sometimes she burrowed herself into a hollowed out tree and watched the rain fall as her fur dried, and then she would take a quick nap before awaking. All thoughts of her siblings and parents had disappeared from her mind and it was like she was the only wolf in the world. Only her growing hunger caused her game to come to a pause for a little while at least.
Her brown eyes caught sight of a particularly tasty looking acorn by a large oak tree. The Thorben girl wandered towards it and bent over, taking it between her lips and cracking down firmly. Its outer shell broke apart and she continued to chew until swallowing. The nut left her unsatisfied and looking around for more food possibilities. But all she could see were wet, slimy plants and rocks that were wholly unappetizing.
While pondering her predicament a particularly haughty looking crow seated itself on the branch above. It cawed down at her derisively, and Malia automatically looked upwards with a curious expression. She inspected the black-feathered bird that cocked its head to the side and peered down with beady eyes, fluffing its feathers before letting out another shriek. It was on one of the lower branches and its tail hung down. Maybe... just maybe... Malia made up her mind and crept closer until she was sitting directly underneath the bird. Seating herself down, she remained silent. With a sudden burst of energy she leaped upwards and tried to bite down on one of the tail feathers. The crow cawed wildly and flew away out of her reach to a higher branch. The small pup lost her balance and tumbled into the wet grass. When she lifted her head back, she now saw three crows. Was she seeing triple?
They sat side by side, looking at her with various states of... anger? Could birds even feel emotions? Malia sniffed, partly because of her own embarrassment and also because of her own rage. The three of the crows cawed, and then were joined by another, and then another. All in all there were five, fidgeting on a thick branch and peering down at her. Then, all at once, they were upon her. They flew down towards her, claws outstretched. The pup let out a cry of alarm and then was buried beneath beak and feathers. "Speech"