"Whatever you wish!" Ellena blurted, scared for her life before the crow. "I can grant your deepest desires, friend. Surely that is worth my life."
"I say!" The crow called out above him. "Whatever I wish, hey?"
Ellena blushed deep red on her cheeks and felt her heart sink into her stomach. From the bird's tone of voice he didn't desire anything pure.
Soon enough a dozen other birds had fluttered to the forest floor, surrounding Ellena and her antagonist. To her horror, she realized that none of them quite approached the size of the one who had been in front of her all this time. He was the one in charge of the rest.
"So! What say you, brothers? Should we trust the untrustworthy? This spoiled brat of an elf who has not the decency to ask before trespassing on our turf? Should we assume that her magic will not be a weapon simply because she stakes her name on it?"
The rest of the crows chimed in. "No! No!"
"Then I say we teach this pathetic creature what the rest of us think of her kind. We will strip her of her fancy clothes and jeweled crown. We will make her our slave. And in exchange, she will live until she has outlived her usefulness!"
"W-Wait!" Ellena now stood on her feet, frantically pleading. "You musn't! I meant you no harm! Please, do not defile me in such a manner!"
"Oh? But that is exactly what we shall do!" The lead crow cackled, and with that he was upon her. A clawed foot slammed her to the ground in a sharp movement and pinned her to the dirt.
"N-No! No! Please!" The princess cried, as a beak slid under her cloak and tore it from around her body. Now her splendid white gown was revealed. Her glittering jewels. The glint of her tiara, her laced sandals.
"Noooo!" Ellena cried, urging her magic powers forth. In such a struggle, though, it was impossible for her to concentrate enough to use any spell against her attacker.