Crone bounded down to hop towards Kruppe. ‘You, sir, should have been a Great Raven!’ ‘And you a dog!’ he shouted back. Crone halted, teetered a moment, wings half spreading. She cocked her head, whispered, ‘A dog?’ ‘Only so that I might ruffle you behind the ears, my dear!’ ‘Ruffle? Ruffle!’ ‘Very well, not a dog, then. A parrot?’ ‘A parrot!’ ‘Perfect!’
