A Conspiracy of Ravens
Corax ruffled his sleek black feathers as he crept into the large earthy hollow which had become the meeting room. He spotted the head of a worm jutting out from the muddy surface and greedily snatched at it, flicking his head back to gulp it down. In doing so he exposed a long scar which snaked across his underbelly. The small cluster of ravens assembled before him had their own wounds too; ever-present reminders the green-feathered enemy. These war-hardended corvids were the remaining clan cheiftains of the erstwhile Court of Ravens. Once proud park-lords and now humbled exiles they represent each of the lost territories of the park; The King's Gate, Central Parkland, The Pitches, The House of Tea, and The North Playground.
"Hail to thee all and thanks be to the skylord that we may meet this day. I have gathered you five here today as I have a proposal which I for one think may change the course of this war and the fate of us ravens forever. For too long the Parakeet menace has dominated this fair park. It besmirches and befowls our sacred lands with its raucus screeches and the merciless mutilation of our ancient trees. All the while we great Raven Lords of old sit here in damp dank tunnels, our wings deprived of flight and our feathers tarnished with mud. For twenty nine long years we have sullied ourselves and fought a guerilla war which has salved our pride but done nothing for our standing." Corax strutted back and forth as he declaimed, shifting his head sideways every so often to make eye contact with his audience.
"We six birds have the chance now to change this forever and I will tell you how. The Parakeet army has become complacent and lazy. They are reduced to just twenty birds stationed around the park. I have analysed their troop rotations and found a weakness. The Great West Gate is left completely undefended every day from 0:00am until 1:43am. This is where we must strike, and hard."
"But we don't have the numbers!" Albicollis protested, the white feathers around her neck standing on end.
"Well that leads me onto the next part of the plan. I have made contact with factions of the Magpie, Blackbird and Egyptian Goose clans. They are willing to support us but on a single condition. They want help... from the humans.".
"Humans!" Blurted out Mellori, a small Raven with pale white eyes.
"The humans are the enemy of all of us birds!" She kicked at the earth beneath her in disgust.
"Calm yourself Mellori. I understand that it feels feel like a terrible compromise to side with them but it is the only way. If we can convince fifty of them to sign up in support then the other birds will agree to form an avian alliance with us and we will finally be able to rid ourselves of the Parakeet forever. I have left a parchment for them to sign. We now simply have to spread the word to them and wait. The rest will follow." Corax looked solemnly at his fellow creatures and they back at him.
"Raise a wing if you assent".
Albicollis raised a wing straight away. She was shortly followed by Rhipudurus, Tasmanicus and Ruficollis. Mellori looked around at them all before bowing her head slightly. She raised a wing.
Corax nodded back at the birds.
"I thank thee all. Now let us do what must be done."He turned and beat his wings before disappearing away into the tunnels.
