As the Raven soared, a single figure arose from the ashes of the
bar. It was female and swearing, and until a few minutes ago
had been rooting around the bottles on the bottom shelf trying to
put together a decent cocktail.

"Sonofafuckingbitch!" Christiane shrieked. "You complete modo!
What the hell was that all about, you dipwad?"

But her curses fell only on the ears of the Raven. The erratic
mage had gone.

Brushing at her scorched clothes — being an angel's love, a
witch in her own right , and a servant of the White Lady warded
her from most physical harm, but didn't do anything for her
wardrobe — she stamped her foot. Tattered silk and linen gave
way to T-shirt, black jeans, and a worn pair of Docs.

Then the stench of ichor reached her nose, and the snuffling of
something wicked. She froze, staring at the Raven.


--- In TheGothHouse@y..., ravnlord@i... wrote:
> Bynner wrote:
> > "I hope you two have something with more punch than
coathangers in
> > there," Rennyb said to the two in the coatroom with a grin.
"I'm
> off
> > to rally the troops!" Then Rennyb vanished.
> >
> > Looking through the space he'd just vacated, Sebastian
noted the
> pool
> > of ichor spreading from the mauled tapestry... and noticed
> something
> > else... something black and taloned was stepping through
the rip...
> > something snuffling and hungry... something foul with the
stench of
> > damned things, dragging implements of rusting iron in its
grip...
> > And there were others coming behind...
>
>
> ... as the ashen remains of the once-grand bar drifted down
from the
> rafters, a figure there shook itself, scattering the flakes from its
> feathers ...
>
> ... a lone raven emerged from the swirling cloud, stepping
along a
> narrow beam ... it paused a moment to preen, stepped again,
and
> regarded the destruction ...
>
> ... it leaned and dropped, spreading its sable wings to glide,
and
> came to perch on the rail of the grand stair ... again, it looked
on
> the remnants of Winter's adopted domain with the detachment
reserved
> for birds ...
>
> ... then, the raven cocked its head towards the foyer from
whence a
> bestial growl came ... it flew to the door that was left standing
> wide, and lighted on its top ... it saw something pulling itself
> through the wounded fabric ... something clawed, dark and
> ravenous ...
>
> ... the raven's eyes glowed with fire ...
>
>
> Michael(DJ Poe)