When I watched the movie a second time and re-experienced Maleficent saving Diaval, my heart just broke. Thanks for opening my story, many more drabbles to come!

Set during the movie, rated K, drama.

The Acquisition of Wings

The horrible shrieking travels for miles.

A small black bird, caught in the net of a farmer. An angry dog, hungry for feathers and flesh. A silent watcher.

Death, coming swift, in the form of the blunt handle of a farmer's axe. Blind panic, fear, desperate to escape, to fly, fly, fly, fly-

"Into a man."

Struggling, limbs stretching, squawks fading into coughs and garbled panting. Curious dark eyes that sharpen with intelligence. The farmer flees, screaming of Demons.

The Watcher approaches. She looks at the Bird, and the Bird looks back.

"What have you done to my beautiful self?" he asks suspiciously. The speech feels thick on his human tongue, but smooth compared to the harsh language of the Raven. He has no feathers, no wings, and feels horribly tethered to the ground. The Watcher raises a delicate eyebrow. Her lips are red, her eyes starlight.

"Would you rather I let them beat you to death?"

The bird looks at his awkward, gangly body. No tail, no beak to speak of, strange sight and sounds and smells. Nothing like a Raven.
"I'm not certain," he retorts, eyes narrowing.

"Stop complaining," chides the Watcher, "I saved your life."

The Raven falls silent. The Watcher speaks truth, and her words fall on his human ears like river water; cool, clear, musical. Cold. He drops his eyes from her elfish face, ashamed.

"Forgive me."

The Watcher observes her creation, seemingly pleased. "What do I call you?"

"Diaval!" It sounds alien in the human tongue, but not unpleasant. He bows his head, hops nervously. "And in return for saving my life, I am your servant."

Ravens are nothing if not creatures of honor, and this Raven is among the most honorable of his breed. He bobs respectfully, and she stares back at him with a strange pain in her eyes, sharp like ice and twice as frigid.

"Wings. I need you to be my wings."

Drop a review, suggestions for more drabbles, or just a hello to let me know I've got some readers! Thanks lovelies.