(("Four of them! Like nothing we've ever seen!!"))
Tzano frowned, saying nothing as he carefully untied the makeshift satchel fixed to Ouzo's back. The leather bag was bulky and rather heavy, filled to the brim with assorted vegetables and fragile herbs that required immediate attention to retain quality. However, the youth paid them no attention as he immediately set the bag down on the ground.
Once the Obsidian Crow was relieved of his burden and Tzano had his hands free, the adolescent turned around and made his way to a nearby bookshelf. He grabbed a scroll of parchment paper, an inkstone, an inkstick, and a brush made from horse hair. One by one, Tzano set the items up on the desk, with Ouzo flapping out of the way to give the youth more space.
"Okay. Let's take it from the top Oz." The black haired individual lifted his brush, purple eyes fixed onto the crow. "Tell me what happened."
It happened a few hours after sunrise, roughly around the same time that Ouzo and his flock had finished gathering the ingredients Tzano requested. They had been in the midst of one last check of acquired loot when a few of the crows that had been scouting closer to the water landed next to them. Relaying what they saw, a smattering of unusual ships approaching on the horizon, Ouzo's curiosity was piqued and prompted a small little detour.
Instead of heading back to deliver the herbs, the Obsidian Crow and his flock took to the skies, far above sea level.
Using updrafts to avoid overexertion, the crows set a course towards the vessels. The same vessels that were hugging the horizon with no signs of moving.
They managed to get close, maybe about 100 meters above, before the arrows started flying.
One fallen crow. Then three. Then seven. Ouzo started with a total of 50 avian brothers and barely managed to get away with a little under half of that.
It was a miracle that they managed to get away and that the ships didn't continue pursuit afterwards.
Tzano nodded as Ouzo finished his explanation, jotting down the facts on paper in tandem.
Unusual ships. Flying arrows. Murdered Corvids.
The youth didn't utter a word as he carefully did his best to put the pieces together.
There was a wide net of information that Tzano was privy to, largely in part thanks to his BirthMark. Granted the ability to talk to crows and ravens, the youth could freely converse in the form of telepathic communication, enabling him to use the birds as an extra set of eyes and ears. From huge clan disputes to the average bickering between villagers, the crows were quick to gossip with Tzano about anything and everything.
It was for this reason that the adolescent knew far more than arguably anyone within the Village. Maybe even the entire Prefecture.
Turning around, Tzano began to pace as his mind raced at a mile a minute.
(("Aigawa Prefecture. Teigu's Pass. Can't be fishers from the neighboring Prefecture. Boats aren't big enough and they wouldn't risk getting too close to Teigu's currents.")) The black haired youth touched his hands together instinctively. (("They'd be slammed against the rocks no matter how large the boats. Not Samurai ships either. Ouzo would've recognized them. Pirates from beyond the Pass?"))
Halting his walk, a thought occured.
"Oz. We're going outside. Summon all the crows that survived." Tzano slipped off the cloak he was wearing before packing up all the ink tools and paper. "Lookout post number 3."
(("Alright. I'll meet you there.")) Ouzo sounded much calmer now, no longer panicking and no longer out of breath. (("I trust you have some answers?"))
"I'll do my best." Was the only reply as the youth opened the trapdoor.
(("That's all we need.)) Ouzo flapped his wings and slipped back through the opening.
It took less than fifteen minutes for everyone to gather at the spot Tzano requested, a large lookout post situated at the second level of the Nest. Within that timeframe, the youth had snagged more ink, a fresh scroll, and brand new clothes.
"Alright. Sorry for the call guys. I know you just went through something traumatic." Tzano wasted no time as he set out the inkstone and the scroll. "I want nothing more than for you guys to mourn your brethren and rest up from your journey. But this is important."
((What can we do?")) Ouzo asked, landing near the boy.
Aargh! Aargh!
The crows called out in response, ensuring that they as well would give the youth what the needed.
"Give me a careful rundown of everything from start to finish. Say what you know and also what you think you know. Both sides matter. If others saw the same thing, we'll log it as truth."
(("Right. What should we start with?"))
"Everything."
For the next half hour or so, Tzano grilled the avians carefully over and over again. He asked specific questions like approximate ship size, color, flags or emblems, individuals on board. He even inquired about the method used to murder the crows, the arrows that slaughtered them. How many arrows? The speed of the which crows dropped. Estimated distance from the sea when struck. Number of archers. Anything that could be useful was questioned, even if the crows themselves were confused on the relevance to the incident.
In the end, Tzano had gotten what he came for.
(("Three unknown ships. Unmarked. No identifiable emblems or marks. Three masts with curled up sails. Most likely survey ships meant for speed since they're more on the slimmer side. Less bulk and more narrow.")) Tzano made a couple of strokes on his parchment, making the finishing touches to his drawing. (("One archer. Insane aim and quick firing speed. One arrow, one death. No missed targets. Either a Recon BirthMark or someone with unfathomable aim.))
Tapping the page one final time, the adolescent turned the parchment around and held it up for the crows.
"Is this your culprit?" Tzano rustled the paper as he held up his rough draft for the 3 mast ship. "Designed based on what you gave me."
Aargh aargh aargh!!
The youth was met with a chorus of agreements, with even Ouzo chiming in to agree with how well the image has been captured. Tzano nodded before setting it aside to dry properly before he could roll it up.
(("So, it's not pirates either.")) He narrowed his neon purple hues in concentration, contemplating the next action. (("Pirates wouldn't waste arrows shooting down crows. It offers them nothing and only wastes ammunition. Not pirates, Samurai, villagers. Nobles is a good bet since they like doing pointless tasks such as shooting wildlife, but the unknown boats are still a problem. They like to show off so it can't be them."))
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Tzano rose onto his feet and leaned against the railing of the lookout post.
With the added information, the youth was able to eliminate a variety of potential suspects from the board. The new problem was now that there weren't any other suspects to choose from, or at least none that Tzano himself was aware of. He had at most a few plausible theories, but those either didn't fully align with the details or failed to hold any significant weight.
So, the best he could do for the time being was damage control.
"Ouzo, relay a message among the birds to lay a net as wide as they can make it. Tell them to spread the word to other Prefectures, mainly Villages and cities along the coastline." Tzano kneeled down and tapped the parchment to make sure it was properly dried before rolling it back up. "If a ship so much as skims the horizon, I want to know about it. Day, time, location. Everything. I'll have Jahard and Wyrn do the same."
(("It'll be as you say. Let's catch whichever bastard did this.")) Ouzo immediately took off to complete order, wasting no time.
"I plan to." The youth glared as he moved towards the bridge back to the library. "No one messes with my flock."
Aargh aargh aargh!!
The surrounding crows let their cries ring through the forest, showing their agreement and defiance towards this new threat. One by one, crows and ravens rang out through the Nest until the whole forest was ablaze with bird calls.
Aargh!
One crow in particular caught Tzano's attention as he was walking away. The bird in question was perched on the rope section connecting the bridge to the main part of the Nest. Unlike all the other Corvids, this bird in particular still had its satchel fastened to its back, it's contents bulging outwards.
"Oh. Eeyna, wasnt it?" The youth smiled as he walked up to the bird. "You aren't gonna take that off."
(("Take it.")) Was the birds only response, wings slightly flapping. ((" You'll want to see this."))
Tzano'ssmile immediately dropped from his face, replaced by his previously serious expression. He didn't ask anymore questions as he walked over and began untying the satchel in question. If the crows wanted him to see something, especially during such a dire situation, then it was definitely a clue.
(("Most of our brethren hit the water the moment they were shot. But some of them managed to fly back to shore before passing away.")) Eeyna's voice stuttered a bit, her sadness bleeding through her thoughts. (("I figured grabbing the cause of all this death would help somehow."))
The youth let out a slow breath as he opened up the satchel.
The leather bag was mostly filled in with assorted vegetation, which was expected. It was the object lying near the top of the bag that got Tzano's attention.
A long shaft exceeding over one meter in length. A specialized metal tip. A feather attached to the tail end.
It was an arrow.
But not just any arrow.
Tzano recognized the carefully crafted design of the metal tip, having seen it within the Nests countless books and scrolls. He recognized the feather used, plucked from a specific type of bird that was native to only a few Prefectures.
(("This arrow...")) The youth had never felt more confused as he stared without seeing. (("Is from Acarthy Village."))