Raven touches Robert's neck to take his pulse, adjusting the body's
limp posture once more. Satisfied, he turns back to Fiona, stroking
her brow while leaning forward to listen to her breathing.
“Not too close,” Oak commands, stepping forward, branch pointed
directly at Raven.
Raven responds by standing up straight to face Oak. “Please,” he
says, “You've no need of that thing, put it down and stop making
everybody nervous. They'll wake up soon,” he indicates the bodies
with a casual gesture, “And when they do I'll need your help.”
“I'll be the judge of what I need,” Oak replies firmly, branch
not moving in the slightest.
Raven sighs with resignation. “As you wish,” he says, suddenly
spinning on his toes as he ducks toward Oak. Before anybody knows
quite what's happening, he's snatched the weapon from Oak.
“That's the trouble with you trees,” he says, snapping the branch
across his knee, “Too slow to react to anything.”
