Ko-Ga didn't trust this newcomer. No doubt they'd come to eat his kin, and he'd seen the way Nate-Dog bristled. If a stranger was not good enough for one flockmate, then they were not good enough for any flockmate. Shitting on him was not entirely off the table. Or pecking out his eyes, if he tried to hurt either Nate-Dog or the big white-feather.

Aaa-Aaa Aaa Aaa! (A friend! A friend is coming. A helpful friend!) He cawed, bouncing to a landing in front of the raven. Aa Aa Aaa! (Big teeth. Soft mouth. Flockmate Nate-Dog.)

Aivar stared at Nate Ronan as if the man had lost his mind. A fraud, well, that made sense at least. It was a strange expression, but what did hawks have to do with anything? And snake oil? What was that? They were questions he wanted to ask, but questions he didn't ask as they crept closer to the injured raven.

Nate Ronan's bird was making an almighty racket, and Aivar's lip curled, but he only tried to see what was going on.

The raven was not like any that Aivar had ever seen. So different was it that he was beginning to doubt his own ears. It had sounded like a raven… But the bird was white, or rather a sort of dirty, brownish white, and its eyes were a piercing blue. Its wing and chest were bloodied, but it was too far away for Aivar to see the extent of the injuries.

It made its raven sounds back to the crow, and it peered over at this “flockmate.” It watched the wolves with suspicion.

“Aaa Aaa Aah. (Big greedy wolf pups want easy meal)" the moonfeather hissed, fluffing up his feathers. Not that he could go anywhere.

Aivar glanced at Nate Ronan with a silent question in his eyes. What was he going to do?

Hey there, fella. You're awful pretty, aren't you? Nate greeted softly, flattening belly to cold ground. A sharp glance at Aivar indicated he ought to do the same.

What happened to you, huh? Looks like it hurts. Maybe I could help. Nate smiled without teeth, dipping his head down, and waited patiently.

He'd learned it first with horses, but found most animals much the same in one particular regard, especially when frightened. If you acted in a rush, you'd be there all day. The quickest way into cooperation was to act like you had all the time in the world.

Ko-Ga had not learned a similar patience. Indignation ruffled his feathers, Aaa aaa AA ack! (Nate-Dog flockmate to Ko-Ga, will NOT eat! Watch!)

To prove the point, he flapped back to Nate-Dog and landed on his head. Nipped his ear, which earned an irritable Hey!, and then pecked Nate-Dog on the cheek for being uncooperative.

Sharp twiggy feet plopped down on the tip of his snout, stopping there to preen. Aa! (See? Not eat.)