[Issue] In The Tall Wheat

[Narrator]

The crow and several other crows wait on the far side of the silo, perching on a piece of rusty farm machinery. Other, larger forms rustle the wheat, chattering on about their master coming. It's difficult for Ainsley to decide which of the roughly half-dozen strange animal voices is the seemingly innocent Coal.

[Ainsley Green]

The looming threat of danger gets obvious to the boy as he is drawn towards the silo by the voices, but it's far too late to turn back now. He just tried not to make himself too threatening.

[Narrator]

Ainsley first sees the Master as a shadow rising from the greater shadow of the silo.

"So you're the one distracting my pets from their task, hmm?" says a sneering voice from above and behind, nearly as raspy and inherently irritating as one of his crows.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley merely shrugs, not having the means to communicate otherwise.

[Narrator]

"Master say if you speak us, you speak him, " a crow relays.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley hesitated a moment before answering, searching above him for the source.

"Wasn't trying to be a distraction. Just wanted to talk."

[Narrator]

A winged form looks down from atop the silo, the sun obscuring his features.

"That is all well and good, but now that you know we're here... I can't risk you telling anyone."

Eyes flash red and a pair of forms slowly break cover behind Ainsley. They are shaped like large dogs, but have black feathers, jagged beaks, and the talons of birds where paws should be.

[Ainsley Green]

"I can't talk. Who would I tell?" He replied, unfaultered.

Or seemingly. Any psychic could tell he was bout ready to piss his pants, by Ainsley was a champ at playing it cool.

[Narrator]

"You could write," the figure says. A radio crackles at his hip but Ainsley can't make out the words. "It seems I don't get to play with you after all." Eyes flash again and the creatures stalk forward. "Kill him," he says before taking flight.

The announcer makes her strange pronouncement, followed by a loud crash.

[Ainsley Green]

"Coal?!" He cried out, looking for the creature he followed here

[Narrator]

The creature on the left hesitates briefly in its fast approach, performing a quick animal calculation of whether to obey.

"Run!" Coal whines before the power he's under forces him onward. The other, already in range, lunges.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley was already in flight mode the moment Coal told him to run, and jumped as the animal lunged in his direction.

He listened for any signs of anything *not* his attackers that he could use to help him out of this jam he'd gotten himself into.

[Narrator]

There are, of course, a multitude of small mammals in hiding, quaking in fear of the strange predators in their midst. Nothing that could help alone, but there are quite a lot of rodents around.

[Ainsley Green]

"Help! Please Help! I will reward you later!" He cried out in rodents, then again in lagomorph for good measure as he fled back towards the race track.

[Narrator]

Just as the battle on the track becomes apparent, two things happen.

First, the nearer crow-dog prepares another lunge.

Second, a swarm of mice bursts onto the scene and cover the creature like ants.

Coal, however, races past his fellow creature to nip at Ainsley's heels.

[Ainsley Green]

"Coal, stop! We're friends!" Ainsley cries out as the mice overtake his partner, stumbling over his feet as he's nipped at but managing to remain upright in his sprint away.

[Narrator]

The mindless look that had taken over the previously friendly creature briefly fades but, after a shake of his head quickly reasserts itself. Coal then leaps to tackle Ainsley to the ground.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley is tackled, but then a strange thing happens to Coal.

Stop is no longer a request. Stop becomes a command to Coal, as Ainsley covers his face.One he has a difficult time fighting against.

Ainsley doesn't notice as he continues to cry out " Stop, Stop, Stop!" Mentally to Coal.

[Narrator]

Ainsley's command cuts through the raven-man's power and Coal freezes.

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley scurries out from under Coal unscathed, but he doesn't run.

"I don't want to fight Coal. Do you?"

[Narrator]

Coal turns his sad dark eyes on Ainsley. "No want hurt friend," he responds.

[Ainsley Green]

" Right then. Let's not fight. Okay?

Go into the trees and hide from Master. Don't come out until I come to find you so he doesn't make you do something you don't want to do."

[Narrator]

Coal hesitates and asks, "Friend be safe?"

[Ainsley Green]

"I will try." Ainsley replies hesitantly.

"If it becomes night comes, then day, then night again without me, you need to move on. Okay?"

[Narrator]

"Okay."

Coal runs off, pausing once for a look back.

Ainsley now basically has two options: run and hide, or try to help the hostages currently running for their cars with beasts on their heels.

[Ainsley Green]

Of course, Ainsley went to help those fleeing from creatures to trip up the critters.

"STOP." He demanded, not asked, hoping to temporarily fool the beasts into thinking he was their master.

[Narrator]

The creatures actually stop, looking around in confusion before all facing him. But they don't attack just yet, only stare.

The spectators don't hesitate to take the opportunity to escape.

[Ainsley Green]

"SIT." He commanded, making a motion that one would use on a pet dog. "OBEY."

[Narrator]

Judging by their rather quick response in obeying, they have at least been trained like dogs on top of whatever psychic control their master possesses.

The success was, however, short-lived, as the raven-man chose that moment to return. "What are you doing you damn mutts! You let the humans get away!" he scolds. He turns in the air to face Ainsley. "And you... be thankful we accomplished what we came for. You get to live after all."

[Ainsley Green]

Ainsley didn't respond, nor did he go to find Coal. He knew if he did, this wanker piece of shit would just go and claim Coal again. Better that Ainsley stick to the plans, in hopes Coal remained hidden like he said he would.

Instead, Ainsley blew past him without acknowledging his super-villain gloating. There was no way for Ainsley to know what the Raven-Man was on about, due to Tosh not being physically present.

He went to join the others to see if he could be of any help there now that the civilians had run clear.

[Narrator]

The raven flashes his eyes and he and his pets flee the scene.