Tavi and Tovi...part 5

Through brush and briar she flew, traveling as fast as her little legs would take her. Tovi's heart beat wildly, she was so very nervous. Raven whispered over and over into her ear. Tovi remembered Tavi's letter and swatted her hand at the  air as she ran. "Go away, you pest."

The Raven laughed and whispered again. Tovi stopped still and glared at the vision which hovered above her. Her pigtails were full of pine needles and her face was covered with a film of dirt. Her black locks were almost gray, they were so filthy. "You go away, Go la nv! I won't listen to your lies anymore." Tovi spit in the air and growled. She waited to hear more silly ranting from the bird, but the air was still.

With a long exhale, Tovi started to sprint again. She felt some driving force pushing her onward. Could it be Wa ya? Raven told her to go east and Wolf said to travel west. She trusted the vision she had from wolf the night before. The stars were right and she felt a spirit in her tummy that usually meant she should hurry. Wolf said in her dream that Tavi was lost, that she needed Tovi. Tovi believed him and remembered her sister's words about the Raven.

Tovi ran faster. She jumped twigs and dodged slapping branches. Her cheeks were red with her effort. Tovi felt the spirits grow stronger in her tummy the further she traveled. She almost lost her dinner when she dodged the last big pine. "Ho wa tsu...Ho wa tsu, Tavi... A da nv do!!" Tovi lost the contents of her stomach as she pleaded for help. Grabbing a large pine, she lurched and emptied the remainder of her tummy. The spirits swirled inside her and made her head spin. Tovi sat down hard. Sweat poured down her face and into her dress. Her head began to pound and she felt her vision fading.

Tovi watched the trees dancing in front of her eyes. Raven dropped to the earth before her and changed his shape. He looked huge, maybe 30 hands or more from the earth. A solid black shape. He laughed at Tovi and shook his head. His beak protruded as he looked to the north. Raven spoke clearly. "Yes, sit and rest. Help will come"

Tovi sneered and growled at Raven. "Get away, Go la nv! Si gi na!"

Raven laughed and spoke in a gravely voice. "v v, A si gi na!"

Tovi's hand dug in the leaves for something to throw at Raven but she found nothing. Her body was so weak from the spirits which seemed to have invaded her. She began to cry and stare at Raven. Her eyes scrunched and she cursed him under her breath. Her vision faded more and more and she tried desperately to stay concious. Despite her fighting, Tovi lost all sense of reality and darkness fell over her.