Willow De Salcedos

* 2018
* 2017
* 2001

Willow De Salcedos is the main protagonist of The Ravenblack Court.

## Appearance

Willow is a bit shorter than average, with dark skin and Curly Dark Brown Hair. She has a characteristic Curl of hair that hangs down between her eyes, a Mole below the right side of her mouth, three distinct eyelashes on the bottom of her eyes, and large black glasses with clear lenses.

In 2017 she is wearing a simple olive drab puff jacket with a turtleneck underneath. By early 2018 she is wearing a new olive puff jacket with a faux fur hood while wearing an Of Monsters and Men t-shirt underneath and visible bags under her eyes. In certain circumstances there is visible scarring on her wrists which can be implied it was received sometime after the Eviction. After the Summons, Willow now wears her Death Toll on her at all times.

## Personality

Willow is shy and introverted around strangers, but when she gets close to someone she is a bit more selective in her choice of words. In Early 2018, She appears tired and often with a blank expression, only smiling on a few occasion specifically with Reine and/or The Crowmother present. She is quite resourceful, being able to not only take care of her own hygiene while homeless, but being able to survive by panhandling and recycling trash with Reine; combining their funds together to survive in the City.

Willow loves Music, specifically pop-folk music and in 2017 she is seen with headphones on at all times. Listening to Music as she drifts across New York City even when she travelled to the Hallett Nature Sanctuary in Central Park to feed the birds.

## History

The Earliest known history in Willow's life is sometime in 2001 where she was in the back seat of her mother's car during a tragic car accident late at night which led to the death of her mother, Inez De Salcedos. Willow would remain at the scene until the Ambulance has arrived. From the Dates on her Family grave it seems her Father, Montez De Salcedos, has passed away the following year ; This in turn leaves Willow in the care of her Aunt, Carolyn De Salcedos, until late 2017 where she has passed away and Willow is evicted from the Apartment complex as a result of failing to pay the rent for a few months. From there Willow has become homeless and began drifting, wandering around New York City. On one fateful moment in the Hallet Nature Sanctuary, she saves the life of Kassqua who flies away after thanking Willow by simply calling her a "Poor Thing."

## The Summoning

Months later in February of 2018, Willow has befriended Reine as the two of them try various methods to make money to survive together. Willow would either Panhandle, scrounge the trash for recyclables, or a combination of both to various degrees of success. While at the Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues station, she is surprised to find Kassqua who has returned to her with a Summons to The Ravenblack Court. After meeting up with Reine and getting some Pizza, Willow figures out the answer to the riddle the Summons contains and heads to the Caroll Street station before parting ways with Reine. She would nearly be run over by a Coney Island Bound train before she descends into Unauthorized property. There in the tunnels for the lower center express tracks does she meet Melanie for the first time. Melanie would lead Willow deeper in the tunnels to a rarely used maintenance room where The Ravenblack Court resides, reuniting with Kassqua and meeting The Crowmother who serves the Court.

## The Initiate Arc

Willow would then be given a trial by The Court, where she is to learn what it is to be a Ravenblack Witch. The Seneschal would bring The Crowmother Willow's Death Toll before putting it on the new initiate's neck. Melanie would then show Willow what the Death Toll does, taking her to the abandoned lower level of the Bergen Street station where she would reveal her own Death Toll to call The Conductor. His R1 train would arrive to Willow's surprise and Melanie's amusement as they both board the train to be transported to The Otherworld, Willow would then begin to see the spirits of the deceased with Subway Tokens placed over their eyes. Melanie would take advantage to tease Willow by saying that the reason she can see the spirits is because she too is already dead. Noticing Willow being visibly distressed, she says it is a joke before pointing for her to look out the window as The Conductor's train crosses into The Otherworld; Color pouring into the train as Willow looks at herself in awe from the experience.

## The Malbone Arc

Willow's exposure to The Otherworld allows her to begin seeing echoes in time, reliving the final moments of Christina Turner who calls for helps; This is followed by Willow seeing the spirits of the dead even when she is back in The Mortal plane which combined with her realization of how much time has passed since she entered the tunnels at the Caroll Street station, lead her to have an emotional outburst caused by her Anxiety when she meets up with Reine.

After given enough time to calm down and explain everything to Reine, Willow feels like she has to do something about Christina calling for her help. She parts ways at the Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station to return to The Ravenblack Court for awnsers. From there The Crowmother explains that Willow's Third Eye is beginning to open and that she can see beyond The Mortal Plane and that she should try to find Christina and bring her to peace. But before Willow leaves, The Crowmother teaches Willow the basic concepts of using The Court's magic; This leads to Willow learning her first spell: Sunglow. On her own, Willow remembers how to call The Conductor, using her Death Toll to call his train. She would step aboard in awe before coming face to face with The Conductor, frozen in horror at his otherworldly appearance, only to have those fears quelled once The Conductor takes a knee before her and simply asks where she would like to go. Willow, remembering Christina's memories, asks him to take her to Prospect Park station where she vows to end Christina's suffering as she returns to The Otherworld.

Willow would arrive at the station and enter the tunnels where The Malbone Street Wreck has happened, wasting no time she would use the Sunglow spell to illuminate the tunnels and discover Car #726 derailed with the wreckage of Car #100 and #80 behind it. Hearing Christina mumbling for help, she would free her from the debris but not before witnessing the aftermath of Christina's death at Ebbets Field upon direct physical contact with her. The interaction goes both ways as Christina would also witness Willow's memories, but of the Car accident that would claim the life of Inez.

The two of them would make their way back to the station and await The Conductor, giving Willow and Christina time to reflect on their past, their emotions, and their grief. They would both board the R1 where they would briefly discuss music and how far technology has advanced where music can become portable. Once the train arrives back on The Mortal Plane, Willow is informed by The Conductor that this is as far as she'll go, For she cannot go with Christina to The Afterlife. Saddened, the two hug and say their goodbyes as Willow receives one of Christina's masks as a small gift to repay her for allowing her to move on to what lies beyond The Mortal Plane and The Otherworld. Willow would watch as the R1 disappears into the darkness where Christina's story would come to an end.

Returning to The Ravenblack Court right before The Crowmother departs to begin her shift, Willow is given time to think back on her brief adventure and given the choice to swear an oath to The Court. After some time thinking it over, Willow swears to become a Ravenblack and continue to help escort the souls of the dead to the Afterlife. From there, The Crowmother gives Willow the honor of writing down Christina's story in a logbook, so they will never forget Christina and the brief life she has lived.

## Relationships

### Reine Estrada

Willow and Reine are dependent on each other for their own survival in New York City; Consolidating their income to be able to buy food and necessities while staying awake while one sleeps to alert the other should danger arise. Their relationship begins to get complicated as Willow begins to search for The Ravenblack Court after being summoned, and giving Reine enough concern as Willow is now dealing with the supernatural and is now a member of a Witch coven.

### Melanie Karasu

Willow has a rocky relationship with Melanie, where Melanie would tease and insult Willow when given the chance. This is mostly due to how Melanie feels not being the only active Ravenblack Witch asides from The Crowmother.

## Trivia

* Willow has suspicious scarring on her wrists which can be briefly seen in specific moments in the webcomic and in some illustrations.
* Willow's Death Toll is the "Five Boroughs" Pentagram Token which was minted from November 13, 1995 to April 13, 2003.
* Willow's appearance is based on Elyfer Torres' portrayal of Ugly Betty in the Telenovela Betty en NY.
* She can be seen wearing an Of Monsters and Men t-shirt underneath her jacket post-eviction.
* She is the very first character drawn back when the webcomic was in pre-production.