2nd Lieutenant Aeval, commander of scout sections Corvus and Beira, disciple of Cathubodua, Sister Militant, walked up the ramp of the Chinook with the last of her bags, strapped them in place and sat down back against the webbing, brushing her tangled hair back with her hand. The showers here were shit, brown tepid water that dribbled out, in 3 hours they'd be back at base and she could get cleaned up. A mechanical whirr announced the the back door shutting, she looked out seeing the old light, white against the blue sky, high on beacon hill, she had said her goodbyes to the old bird up there, he had seemed subdued, perhaps not believing her promise to return, but she would, it would be good to see him again.
As the the aircraft banked out over the sea the Raven was riding the sea winds over the southern cliffs, his home. He caught an updraught, rising 200 feet up, and followed for a while, out over the ocean, pulled by the tug of his heart as she left, then turned to home.
He knew she would be back, had read that truth in her mind, but knew too he would not be here to greet her, he had seen the 17 summers granted to him, the winter when it finally came, would take him. Already the stories of the flame haired little witch were legend amongst his kin here and she would be warmly welcomed, but he would see her nevermore.