A Squadron of Crows (Part 1)

The sky was still dark, but the mall was already beginning to stir. The dawn would be here soon. I felt the change before I saw it, a familiar tug at the edges of my feathers. Few humans had arrived yet, just a few employees shuffling into the parking lot, heads down, lost in their own routines. From the shadows, perched high in the trees and on the ledges of the surrounding walls, my squadron watched. Each crow was still, feathers ruffled just enough to blend into the drab, morning backdrop. We were invisible, just another part of the early morning routine – a fleeting glance would reveal nothing but a few birds doing what birds always do.

I arrived last, gliding silently into view like a shadow in the predawn light. I flared my winds just before landing, steadying myself on the highest branch of an old oak tree at the far end of the parking lot. The others noticed immediately. Without a word, they began to stir, gathering in perfect formation beneath me.

I was Commander Corvus, leader of the 32nd Squadron, the Black Wings. My squadron, silent and efficient, had already positioned themselves around the area, awaiting my signal. They knew their roles, knew their strengths. They were ready.

As I settled on the branch, I took a moment to survey the scene. Below us, the sprawling suburban shopping mall sat like a fortress of steel and glass. The humans, still half-asleep, moved sluggishly across the parking lot. Their machines, the noisy, shiny ones they called “cars”, had started to roll in.

Sergent Ravenna landed next to me, her winds beating softly as she took her place in the small gathering at the base of the tree. She was a seasoned veteran, feathers frayed at the edges, a sign of countless battles fought and won. Her eyes scanned the perimeter, always alert. I could see her assessing the humans moving around below, the distant shuffling of feet, the twitch of their heads. She was ready to spring into action at the slightest signal.

Lieutenant Noctis landed silently next to Ravenna, his dark feathers barely making a sound as they touch down. Noctis was my scout, always first into the field, a crow who’d spent more time flying than walking. His eyes were sharp, and his senses sharper, always scanning the area for threats or opportunities.

I looked down at the rest of my squadron, seeing them in position, all eyes trained on me. Corporal Ash and Corporal Ember, the newest recruits, stood slightly apart, a little less composed than their squad-mates but their readiness was clear. Ember, with her youthful enthusiasm, was already eyeing the snack kiosks near the entrance, but I could see Ash, ever the cautious one, watching the humans more intently, waiting for the right moment to move.

I took a breath. Time was slipping away. The humans would be fully awake soon and we couldn’t afford to be seen as anything more than what we were. Crows. A small gathering of crows was nothing unusual. A large one? That was an anomaly.

I flared my wings once more, a signal. The squadron gathered quickly, moving into formation around the oak tree. We didn’t make a sound as we took our position, not yet.

The humans below were oblivious, mostly. A man with a coffee cup stopped and glanced up at the tree for a moment, eyebrows furrowing as he noticed the odd number of crows in one place. His eyes narrowed, but after a moment’s hesitation, he shrugged and continued toward the entrance. Another woman, walking briskly toward the mall, slowed just enough to give us a curious glance. She paused. The crows, so many on one tree, were strange. But she didn’t linger. She turned back to her task, moving toward the sliding doors without another thought.

All of us stayed still, almost painfully so. We were blending in, blending into the morning scene. The humans weren’t enough of a threat yet. But that could change in a heartbeat.