The Raven (character)

*"Oh, think nothing of it. You see, laddie, everyone thinks that Beyond the Beyond is a lawless place. Well, it is and it isn't. A lot of outcasts come here that can't live in the civilized world. Thieves, egg snatchers, chick-nappers, murderers — hireclaws, you can buy them by the dozen. But we do have our way of doing things.*"
— The Raven to Coryn in regard to the nature of Beyond the Beyond
The **Nameless Raven** is an unnamed male Raven, or *Corvus corax*, who resides in Beyond the Beyond. Though unwilling to give his own name, as was the case with many of the airborne residents of the lawless land, the Raven was a reasonably friendly individual, being the first to greet Coryn when the runaway son of Kludd and Nyra first arrived at the Raven's homeland. Like many of the birds of the Beyond, the Raven also is distinguishable for his accent, which bares the tinge of what is known among Dire Wolves as the MacBurr.

## *The Chronicles of Coryn*

### *The Outcast*

Soon after his arrival in Beyond the Beyond, Coryn was approached by the Raven, who, along with his flock, had been following the lead pack of the MacDuncan Clan. Swooping over to Coryn as he warned the young Barn Owl as he made to light down on the fallen carcass of a caribou brought down by the clan, telling Coryn that it was his kind who ate second after a kill, declaring that ravens like himself were not known by the name 'wolf birds' for nothing. When Coryn mistook the title for a seperate species, the Raven corrected him and, lighting down besides Coryn, explained that his species followed the wolves, thus earning them the name. Coryn, however, showed ignorance over the word wolf and the Raven asked sarcastically if he believed the killing to have been done by fairy folk, a third word that Coryn echoed uncertainty. Laughing at this, the Raven continued his series of explanations, voicing how superstitions such as the existence of faeries had once been widespread among owls and Others. The Raven's amusement grew when Coryn confessed to have until then known the wolves and caribou as 'River Legs' and 'Running Trees' respectively. Cawing with incredulous amusement as he relayed this knews to his 'mates' among the flock, the Raven, after recovering from his laughing fit, corrected Coryn to the true nature of the caribou's antlers, addressing the scarred Barn Owl as 'laddie'. Answering Coryn's inquiry to if introductions could be made between the two with a dark look, the Raven denied such pleasantries being part of the way of life to the birds of Beyond the Beyond, in contrast to the rigid courtesy of the Dire Wolves and their clans, who he went on to explain in further detail, comparing the structure of a clan to that of a family, explaining how such clans were divided into various 'packs', all under the central leadership of the main clan, such as that of the MacDuncans that was finishing of their meal below, identifying Duncan MacDuncan to be their leader. Continuing to explain the lives of the dire wolves to Coryn, including the size differences between them and normal wolves, which the Raven reasoned was what caused the dire wolves to take the name clan rather than pack, listing the names of the clans of MacDuff and MacFang Clans in addition to the MacDuncans as examples.

The talk turned then to Hamish, who Coryn pointed out as an outcast in the pack. Expressing pity for the young Hamish, who he knew personally as a 'nice fella', the Raven, when voicing his belief that Hamish's shunned status was just the point, cocking his head to the side with a blink as he eyed the Nyrolian Owl, who meekly confessed his ignorance. The Raven subsequently explained that because of his deformity, Hamish was unable to perform the tasks necessary to rise through the ranks, leaving him the lowest ranking MacDuncan of the clan as a gnaw wolf. Unable to fully explain the purpose of gnaw wolves due to his own ignorance, the Raven also gave a summary of the word 'volcanoes'. Concluding with a pause, the Raven readied to peck at the body of the caribou, telling Coryn that he would tell the rest of the ravens flocking that Coryn would join them in eating from the carcass after a period so that when he did, he would be welcomed. Dismissing Coryn's thanks, the Raven notes how the somewhat lawless Beyond the Beyond was the home of many outcasts and owls who could not or just would not live in the civilized owl world but found sanctuary here, earning Beyond the Beyond the reputation of a land not governed by or obedient to laws. However, whilst the Raven rambles off the criminal histories of many of the owls that called the Beyond home, including thieves, murderers, hireclaws to be bought by the dozen, chicknappers, outcasts, and egg snatchers, he tells Coryn that the land did have a way of governing and was not, as some believed, a land of barbaric nature. Voicing admiration for the strategic mindset of the wolves below them, which the Raven, as he lifted off, claimed he might very well trade in his wings for, the wolf bird subsequently bid Coryn farewell, declaring he would see him at the carcass.

The Raven and Coryn would interact several times afterwards at the bodies of prey felled by the MacDuncans. Though unconfirmed, the Raven might have been present at the Sacred Ring of Volcanoes as Coryn retrieved the Ember of Hoole, crowning him the new King of the world of owls.