Gregarious

From hunting friend to wartime foe

Once, an exile was saved by a particularly gregarious raven: it led her to a corpse grove.

When she split the skulls and shared the choicest meat, it took the form of a god, plucked out its eye, and planted it like a seed.

She lived beneath that tree until the end of her days.

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ANALYSIS

Gregarious is the origin story of the Maehlorn tree, which in my Verraine universe provides for most of the needs of the Voldshee people. They live in a big, forested mountain range along the north side of the Isle of Maehlorn. The inner bark of the Maehlorn tree is a useful fiber for textiles. Both the fruits and nuts are edible, and the roots can be brewed into a medicinal tea. The timber grows straight and true, is resistant to rot and insects, and is sturdy enough for furniture but soft enough to carve.

But that's enough about fantasy trees; let's talk about real-life ravens.