“Not cry. Fly.“I can’t fly,” Bran said. “I can’t, I can’t…”How do you know? Have you ever tried?The voice was high and thin. Bran looked around to see where it was coming from. A crow was spiraling down with him, just out of touch, following him as he fell. “Help me,” he said.I’m trying, the crow replied…The crow took to the air and flapped around Bran’s hand.“You have wings,” Bran pointed out.Maybe you do too.Bran felt along his shoulders, groping for feathers.There are different kinds of wings, the crow said…Bran was falling faster than ever. The grey mists howled around him as he plunged toward the earth below. “What are you doing to me?” he asked the crow, tearful.Teaching you how to fly.“I can’t fly!”You’re flying right now.“I’m falling!”Every flight begins with a fall, the crow said. Look down.”

“Now you know " the crow whispered as it sat on his shoulder. "Now you know why you must live." "Why " Bran said not understanding falling falling. "Because winter is coming.”

“It seemed as he had been falling for years. Fly, a voice whispered in the darkness, but Bran did not know how to fly, so all he could do was fall.”

“If the crow has to be shoved down your throat; maybe you should just let it fly.”

“1Cain lifts Crow, that heavy black birdand strikes down Abel.Damn, says Crow, I guessthis is just the beginning.2The white man, disguisedas a falcon, swoops inand yet again steals a salmonfrom Crow's talons.Damn, says Crow, if I could swimI would have fled this country years ago.3The Crow God as depictedin all of the reliable Crow bibleslooks exactly like a Crow.Damn, says Crow, this makes it so much easier to worship myself.4Among the ashes of Jericho, Crow sacrifices his firstborn son.Damn, says Crow, a million nestsare soaked with blood.5When Crows fight Crowsthe sky fills with beaks and talons.Damn, says Crow, it's raining feathers.6Crow flies around the reservationand collects empty beer bottlesbut they are so heavyhe can only carry one at a time.So, one by one, he returns thembut gets only five cents a bottle.Damn, says Crow, redemptionis not easy.7Crow rides a pale horseinto a crowded powwowbut none of the Indian panic.Damn, says Crow, I guessthey already live near the end of the world.”

“The last thing he ever said to me was, 'Just always be waiting for me, and then some night you will hear me crowing.”