Alternate Beginning Snippet

I'm just going through all my Croaking notes to write a longer summary of TC for the kickstarter and I came across some alternate beginnings of TC that I thought would be funny to share - this one is just Scra scaling Ky's building and having coffee with him and I somewhat regret not using it lmao - enjoy!

- Ky walks around his tiny apartment unpacking, saying it’s shitty and there’s no room to spread his wings but at least it’s only for a night. Looks at photo of his family .Looks at the window out at the city while changing. Scra stares back, climbing down from the roof after some rival gang members beat him up and dumped him there.

Startled, Ky lets him in through the window door. Sit awkwardly for a bit. Scra gets up to leave, ky panics and asks if he wants coffee. Pours coffee.

“Sorry I don’t mean to keep you, you’re just the first person that’s talked to me all day. City people are rude.”

“Ha, and you don’t think I’m rude for scaling the side of your building and breaking in?”

“Hey, I opened the door for you.”

Scra looks at Ky’s one bag, half unpacked, “You just move here? Must’ve been a big day for you.”

“I’ve had a lot of…new experiences in the last 24 hours.”

“And now you’re having coffee with a crow. You won’t do anything weirder than this, I’m afraid.”

“..What were you doing up there, anyway? Get a wing cramp while flying or something?”

Scra shows his cut feathers. Ky winces.

“Was that…for initiation?”

“What, you think because I’m a crow, I’m in a Murder?”

“I didn’t mean – ” Ky sips coffee in shame. “Sorry, I just…I only heard about Murders recently so don’t really know…”

Scra snorts, “Where are you from, country boy? What idealistic rock where crows don’t exist did you crawl out from under?” drains coffee.

“Uh, just a small farming community by the coast.”

Scra clunks mug down. “The ocean, huh? Never seen it. I’m leaving.” Opens front door, sees people in uniform, closes door quickly. “What the fuck kinda place is this? It’s crawling with Sallies.”

Ky looks up innocently. “Flock barracks? I’m moving to the on-campus dorms at the Roost tomorrow and they said I could stay here tonight – hey what are you doing?!”

Scra opens the window door, “Don’t feel like getting arrested today.” Puts one leg over the edge.

“Well, uh, let me help you then.” Ky gets up.

“What – ” picks Scra up “put me down!”

“Wow you weigh, like, nothing. This is the only way right? My wings will hold us, don’t worry, they’re strong. Do you trust me?”

“Hell no –“

“How ‘bout taking a risk, then? Hold on.”

“Ffuuccckkkkkk–“ Dives off platform holding Scra. Fly over city slums. Sees Ky’s red feathers.

“Keep to the dark parts, no one can see me like this.”

“Would you get in trouble?”

“No, man, I’d just die of embarrassment. Drop me on the ridge over there.” Lands on a small ridge at the edge of the city. They look back at the blue glow of the rich part of the city.

“Must be nice, living that high life, huh?” turns back to Ky,

Ky asks if a Murder took someone, where would they keep them. Scra doesn’t turn back, glances at red feathers again, “If you were careless enough to lose them, you were probably no good for them in the first place. Thanks for the lift.” Walks away. Ky leans back on rock, watching him disappear. “You’re welcome.”

Neither of us knew it at the time, but we’d be seeing each other again a lot sooner than we’d expected.

(Scra was 70% more of a dick and I love him for it lmao)