Crow Princess, Page 32

PAGE 32

Panel 1

Cora stares at the newcomer in shock and recognition.

CORA: You're that girl! The friend from my dreams!

BRANWEN: Yes. I'm so sorry this happened.

Panel 2

CORA: What happened?

BRANWEN: It was all my fault. We should have stayed dead together. But, I held us back on our way into the afterlife.

Panel 3

Cora looks stunned.

CORA: You're dead?

BRANWEN: No. But, we should both be.

Panel 4

Queen Oreb begins to tell the story. An illustration shows a crow on a nest of eggs.

QUEEN OREB: Let me explain. Years ago, the Queen of Crows was about to hatch her first clutch of eggs.

NARRATION: Her first-hatched daughter would be her heir. And the queen was very excited.

Baby altricial (nesting) birds are very ugly: all pink skin, no eyes, big mouths. “Cute chicks” are the precocial ones who are hatched with fluffy down, big open eyes, and tiny mouths, ready to run and eat and take care of business. It’s hard to draw cute baby nesting birds!