The Burning Pen

The Ring

by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 15

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 15 ~ Marching Toward the Unknown

Suddenly Raucous leaped off Hermione’s shoulder and streaked toward the charging herd of unicorns.

“Raucous!” Hermione cried as the raven soared toward the animals. She watched as the bird began to beat around the head of the leader of the herd, worrying the animal until it stopped, tossing its great horn and pawing at the earth restlessly. Then Raucous did something amazing. He fluttered to the unicorn’s back. Instead of bucking the raven off, the animal turned its head, listening as Raucous strutted and cawed. The unicorn tossed its head several times, and looked back at Hermione, lifting its head high as if scenting. It nickered and turned its head back to Raucous. The bird chattered a bit more, then flew back to Hermione, landing on her shoulder and watching the herd of unicorns intently.

The leader reared and spun on his back hooves in front of the herd, which duplicated his actions, then they charged up the mountain. Not up the path, but straight up the side of the mountain, running vertically over the crags and ledges at an impossible angle. Not one of them fell. They angled off and disappeared.

Hermione looked at the raven, who was preening himself rather proudly.

“Raucous, what did you do?” she asked the bird.

Raucous sent her an image of two ravens mating, then a big red “X” appeared over them, then her own image. Hermione had to think about it a second, then realized what the bird was trying to project.

“Ah, you told him I was a virgin,” Hermione said, smiling and stroking Raucous. The bird stretched out his head as her hand smoothed over his glossy feathers.

“Good thing you told them, Raucous. I really don’t think they were going to stop and find out if I was pure or not,” Hermione said, looking up the mountain towards where the animals disappeared. “I wonder why they were attacking? Unicorns where we come from don’t attack. They are shy and stay away from humans for the most part, though they do like virgins.”

Raucous sent the image of a disemboweled and partially eaten unicorn foal. Hermione gasped and pushed the horrible and heartbreaking image out of her head.

“Something is killing foals,” Hermione said, “Yes, I can see how they would be on the warpath. They are searching for the killer. Any strangers would immediately be suspect. Obviously they don’t think a virgin would do such a thing.”

She looked at Raucous.

“I’m glad you talked me into taking you with me, Raucous, or I’d probably be a corpse right now. Thank you,” Hermione said sincerely. Raucous cawed as if it were nothing. But he felt rather proud. He had saved his mistress’ life.

Hermione hoisted her backpack back on.

“Well, let’s keep moving Raucous. I’ve miles to go before I sleep,” she said, paraphrasing a line from Frost. The two headed up the trail.

From his perch, Ozmadias watched them leave. The mistress would not be pleased about this. The bird the strange witch traveled with turned the unicorn herd. Her wrath would be terrible. Ozmadias decided to continue to watch until he had better news to bring Venoma. Once she had singed his tail feathers for bringing her bad tidings. She was of a sweet disposition to him most of the time, but she still was a Snape. Snapes didn’t like to be thwarted at anything. He took to the air, soaring high and catching a thermal. He would watch them from above.

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Snape had watched Hermione facing the charging unicorn herd with his heart in his throat. He had been positive that her virgin status would protect her from Sewell. But the unicorn had been so enraged that he would have killed her first, then realized his error afterward. Thank the gods for Raucous. Mu had the most aggressive unicorns on earth. A unicorn from Mu would charge a hunter rather than wait for him to take a shot. They were surprisingly successful at killing hunters. Then they discovered the mountain could protect them from men and took up residence there, rather than the lowlands. It worked well for them.

Well, that was one protection down. Snape watched as Hermione made her way up the mountain. She had picked up a long thick limb and whittled off the branches with a little red folding knife that had an amazing amount of blades and doodads. Severus had never seen anything like it. She was using it as a staff since the trail was steeper now. She was quite the resourceful witch.

Snape felt his consciousness begin to drift again. He roused himself. He had to watch Hermione make this journey. So much rode on her success.

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Night was falling and Hermione searched for a place to make camp. She found a grassy space slightly removed from the path. It was fairly level and near some trees, so she could gather wood for a fire. She removed her pack and used her staff to dig a depression in the earth. She gathered a bit of brown grass and twigs for kindling, then a few larger pieces of wood. It was nice and dry. Before long, she had a nice little fire going. She opened her pack and took out the pop tent, and pulled it out of its carrier. It sprang open, ready for business.

Hermione unrolled her sleeping bag, took out her warming stone and put both inside the tent, zipping it closed so it would retain heat. She then sat close to the fire and took out the bag of meat and bread Petra gave her for the journey. Raucous fluttered down beside the witch, looking at the bag with interest. Hermione handed him a strip of meat. The raven flew up to a branch above the camp and set to tearing the dried meat apart. It was tough, but he managed.

After finishing her meal and relieving herself, Hermione retired, putting out the fire and sealing the tent. She removed most of her clothing and slipped into the sleeping bag. She was exhausted. In moments, she was asleep. Outside, Raucous moved to the inner boughs of the tree he was planning to sleep in. If the big bird came for him, he would hear him struggling through the branches and have time to escape. Too bad he couldn’t sleep with one eye open.

Snape watched Hermione to see if the dream mist would appear, but it didn’t. Hermione was in a dreamless sleep again. It was just as well. She needed her rest. Snape had a feeling that their next encounter would largely consist of snogging and a very forced abstinence. He allowed his consciousness to drift while she slept.

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Grog yawned a terrible, snaggle-toothed yawn, stretched his knotted muscles and scratched his tattered loincloth that hung loosely between his tree trunk-like legs. The ogre grabbed his club and exited his cave, kicking bones out of the way as he did so. He blinked into the night as his eyes adjusted. Yes, now he could see. Maybe tonight he could catch a sleeping unicorn. Or a bear. He had a terrible appetite. He threw his club over his shoulder and walked down the mountain path noiselessly. Ogres looked big and clumsy but they were quite light on their feet. Just because they were ten meters tall and made primarily of muscle was no reason to think they just barreled through the world. Sure, they might knock down a forest or two when enraged or in need of exercise but for the most part they were quiet creatures. They had to be. They were hunters. Carnivorous hunters. They only ate meat, preferably still wriggling

Grog sniffed the air. Hm. There was a strange but familiar scent wafting on the breeze. Human flesh. Something the ogre hadn’t tasted for years. He smiled horribly, with all his large rotten teeth showing, and rubbed his enormously bulbous nose, then headed in the direction the scent was coming from. If it was a man, the ogre knew it would be an easy capture. One good bash with his club ought to do it. His victim would never see him coming. He hoped he didn’t bash too hard. Meat tasted so much sweeter when it was screaming.

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A/N: Raucous thinks on his wings. Grog? Jeez. Poor Hermione. She has no idea what’s heading her way. Please review

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