Chapter 1: The Crows
Mr. Jones stood perched on the tree's highest branch in the forest his flock called home. The sun hit the cornfields of the Smith family farm and all Mr. Jones could think about was the corn there. Sweet, delicious, yellow corn that would be so easy to take if it wasn't for that stupid scarecrow in the field. Despite its name, none of the crows were actually scared of it on the surface. But something about it unnerved them. Something was…bizarre about it.
"Thinkin' of tryin' for the corn again?" Mr. Jones jumped as Einstein asked his question. Despite his name, Einstein was one of, if not the dumbest crow in the flock.
"Always am," Mr. Jones continued eyeing the scarecrow, trying his best to ignore the other bird
"Well good luck with that," Einstein began pacing around the branch, occasionally blocking Mr. Jones' view, "It ain't never gonna work, that daggun scarecrow ain't gonna let us near."
Mr. Jones scowled. He already knew that. He was the one who figured out that something was wrong with the scarecrow. "Yeah, thanks." He decided to play it cool, it wasn't worth making Einstein insecure this early in the morning.
"Ain't no problem, that's what a leader does for his flock."
Mr. Jones rolled his eyes. Einstein assumed he was the leader just because he was the biggest in the flock. All the crows agreed that Einstein was an idiot, they just never argued with him because he would fly into temper tantrums that ended badly for everyone.
"Well, when you're done with that daydreamin' of yours I'm callin' a flock meetin' to talk about food," Einstein hopped to a lower branch of the tree, "hopefully we'll be seeing you there this time, JoJo."
He hopped away as Mr. Jones let out a curse under his breath. He hated that nickname, but Einstein insisted on using it. With one last glance at the cornfields, Mr. Jones reluctantly trailed behind Einstein.
Mr. Jones considered skipping the meeting. He'd done it before and only ever got a stern talking-to as punishment. But no, today he would go. Today he would go and try and convince some of the flock that they should try the cornfield again. He had an idea about that scarecrow and he wanted to test his theory.
"Alright, alright, y'all settle down now." Einstein raised his voice to gather the attention of the noisy flock. It was early in the morning and many of them were still waking up while others spoke of their daily plans.
"Now" –Einstein paced around– "I have called this meeting to discuss our current rations". He pointed a feather towards a smaller crow. "How much do we have?"
"About, um, ten bugs, some seeds, and this mouse we found this morning."
All the other crows gasped at this revelation. Einstein especially looked intrigued.
"Bring this mouse out now, I wanna see it."
Mr. Jones rolled his eyes. So demanding, he thought. A moment later, the smaller crow returned with a gray mouse in its beak. The rodent was flailing about as he swung from the bird's beak.
"Unhand me this instant you feathered freak!" It continued to swing its front paws in the air. "You'll regret ever catching me when I get free!"
The small crow tossed the mouse on the ground in front of Einstein, and as if rehearsed, a group of crows circled around it.
"What is it you want from me?" All courage seemed to drain from the small rodent. "I haven't any treasures on me!"
Einstein approached the small creature. "We don't want no treasures. We want food!" At this, the other crows in the circle cawed while Mr. Jones just grumbled.
"And right now" –Einstein moved closer to the cowering mouse– "you're looking mighty tasty."
The rodent backed up, pushing its forepaws in its face.
"Please don't eat me, I'm too small and bony. Plus, if you let me live I'll help you get to that cornfield!"
After what felt like a minute, the rodent uncovered its face. The circle of crows had gone quiet, Einstein was unable to think of what to do next. Mr. Jones stepped into the circle and confronted the mouse.
"What do you mean you can help us?"
"I know a little about why it's so hard to get corn from there!"
"And how do you know that?"
"I'm a barn mouse! I used to live that way. If you let me live I'll help you, I swear it!"
Mr. Jones looked to Einstein, who was still puzzled from before.
"Well? What say you 'oh great leader'?"
Some of the other crows laughed at the mocking, which seemed to knock the larger bird out of whatever trance he was in. He started towards Mr. Jones and the mouse, anger starting to steam from his feathers.
"How do we know he ain't bluffing to us?"
"How do we know he's not lying?" Mr. Jones retorted.
Einstein huffed and looked down at the mouse, who was still shaking. He looked back at Mr. Jones, taking a step closer.
"We've tried that daggun cornfield before, and every time we do we end up back where we started. The flock's gettin' hungry and we ain't got the time or resources to be lettin' possible food get away!"
Mr. Jones backed up in the direction of the mouse, while Einstein followed his footwork. Mr. Jones did not like where this was going, and the agreeing and cheers from the other crows made that feeling more apparent.
"Now, JoJo, you either move to the side and let us eat that mouse," Einstein was in Mr. Jones's face now, "or both of you become our next meal.
Without even thinking, Mr. Jones turned around, grabbed the mouse by its tail, and took off into the sky towards the cornfield. Einstein seemed dazed for a second but trailed behind them after the dust had settled.