Storm Crows

By Erik Christopher Martin

A young crow leads his friends, fleeing their oppressive flock. Their goal? The distant ocean.

They escape the vicious Black Wing guards and reach the coast. But there, they discover their trials have only begun.

The flock leader refuses to let them go, sending the Black Wing to exact a harsh punishment. Preda

• Language: English
• Publisher: In a Bind Books
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961215016

Erik Christopher Martin

Erik Christopher Martin lives and writes in San Diego, where he subsists on a steady diet of coffee and tacos. He believes in radical ideas like, "All people deserve dignity and respect," and "No one should be a billionaire until all people have adequate food, housing, and medical care." He is married to a super awesome grown-up lady named Toni. His pronouns are He/Him and They/Them. Erik is a dog uncle.Visit http://ErikChristopherMartin.com.

Book preview

Storm Crows

Erik Christopher Martin

In A Bind Books

In A Bind Books

San Diego, CA

First published 2018

First hardcover publication 2023

All rights reserved

Storm Crows copyright 2018 by Erik Christopher Martin

Revised edition 2023

Cover art by GetCovers

ISBN 978-1-961215-00-9 paperback edition

ISBN 978-1-961215-01-6 eBook

ISBN 978-1-961215-02-3 hardcover edition

Library of Congress Control Number 2018902350

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Summary: A young crow leads his friends away from their oppressive flock to the ocean, where they must overcome predators, natural disasters, and the wrath of their former flock leader to find their homes.

Books by Erik Christopher Martin

Dexter of Pozzelby

Miralee: A Shadow Knights Tale

Storm Crows

Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth series

The Case of the French Fry Phantom

The Case of the Zombie Ninjas (Coming 2024)

For everyone still looking for their home.

Contents

Introduction to the Revised Edition

1.Cawnor Crow

2.Ocean Talk

3.Endrex's Warning

4.Tor's Choice

5.Arrested!

6.Wia's Prediction

7.Cawnor Is Sentenced

8.With the Rain, Hope

9.Flight in the Storm

10.Two Moons

11.The Estuary

12.Wisdom and Mercy

13.Antsie Recites

14.Swimming Lessons

15.The Hawk

16.The Vision

17.Rebecca Upset

18.Kraven Goes West

19.The Diamond Ring

20.Goldfinch Down

21.The Black Wing Reaches the Coast

22.Rebecca's Discovery

23.Cawnor's Plan

24.Where Gaudio Went

25.Mallec

26.Arrival at Dawn

27.Evading Pursuit

28.Stronger Together

29.Endless Water

30.The Meeting by the Hawk's Nest

31.A Shift in the Deep

32.Water Flows Out

33.The Wave

34.A Crow Lost

35.An Engagement And An Ambush

36.Stronger Together, Part Two

37.Nothing But Sunshine

Afterword

About the Author

Introduction to the Revised Edition

Storm Crows surprised me in that I wasn't planning to write it. I was supposed to be working on Brin of Scrytch or the sequel to Miralee, but this story about a band of crows looking for their forever home kept intruding. Before I knew it, I had put those other books aside and was churning out the first draft of Storm Crows.

The catalyst for the book happened a few years earlier. I was laying on the grass in my backyard in Cleveland. It was a hot, humid summer afternoon. Tranquil. Suddenly, a bunch of squawking birds appeared overhead and shattered the peace. Four or five crows were harrying a BIG red-tailed hawk, driving it out of their territory. Not an easy task. They weren't alone though, other, smaller birds, were joined in the effort. I was impressed by the way the various species cooperated. The image stuck with me and eventually coalesced into Storm Crows.

I feel like I have to acknowledge another influence for the book, and that is Richard Adams's Watership Down. This was a favorite of mine growing up, the 70's era cartoon and then the book. As I wrote Storm Crows I saw parallels between my crows and the rabbits of Watership Down. Both stories share similarities with countless tales of finding one's home, which is really a coming of age story. All these elements combined to create the first edition that came out in 2018.

Five years later, I felt it was time to give Storm Crows a new look. The first cover was my own design and I will be the first to admit that I'm not a cover designer. But if I was going to commission a new cover, I thought I should check the manuscript too. Until a couple years ago, I was a one man show, mostly due to budget. A quick editing pass turned into a substantial rewrite where even the ending changed.

Thanks for being here to join Cawnor and his friends on their journey to the ocean. If you've been here before, you'll notice differences, for the better I hope. If it is your first time, enjoy!

one

Cawnor Crow

Sunset. Cawnor flew high, higher than any of the other crows of the flock. He had to fly that high to see the gold and pink of the setting sun as it burnt a path across the far off sea. It was so far away, but on a clear evening he could just make it out. He always flew the heights at twilight on such days. The twinkling beauty filled him with longing. The rest of the flock was forgotten below.

Cawnor only descended when the sun had completely set, and the last bit of the orange had vanished.

He was just above the treetops when a frightened cry called out from the ground.

Rebecca!

Gliding, he looped back and landed high in a tall tree. He hopped down lower being careful not to shake the branches.

Rebecca spoke to someone Cawnor couldn’t see. I told you to leave me alone! That’s not funny. Get out of my way right now or I’ll—

You’ll what? Scream? You tried that already and no one came. You should know better than to go north of the stream after dark. The flock is bedding down. You’re lucky I came along.

Cawnor recognized the second voice. It belonged to Kraven. Cawnor’s feathers ruffled, and his eyes narrowed. He hopped lower so that he could see. Amidst the deepening shadows, he could just make it out.

Kraven had the much smaller Rebecca backed up against a blackberry bush. She moved left. He blocked her. Rebecca tried to push off and fly away. Kraven knocked her back, causing her wing to snag on the thorny branch.

Stop pretending you don’t like me and give me a little peck.

Cawnor launched himself off the branch. Kraven was bigger, but Cawnor struck his shoulder with both talons and his momentum sent Kraven tumbling.

Leave her alone!

Kraven got up and dusted himself off. He regarded Cawnor with pitiless eyes. He spread his wings and shook off a clinging white blackberry petal.

Cawnor, go away. This doesn’t concern you.

I will, but Rebecca is coming with me.

Kraven cawed an ugly, mocking laugh.

I don’t care where she goes. However, before you go there is one thing that you should see.

Kraven scratched the ground as if scratching for a potato bug. He appeared to pick up something. Kraven opened his wings for balance and held out his closed foot. Cawnor hesitated, but then leaned forward slightly, trying to see what Kraven held.

Behind you! Rebecca yelled.

Cawnor jumped right just as an unseen attacker flew at him from the rear. He was buffeted by a wing but, thanks to Rebecca’s warning, the talons missed.

That Rafe had ambushed him didn’t surprise Cawnor. When Kraven was present, Rafe was usually lurking nearby.

Kraven and Rafe cawed at him with derision. Both were older and larger, but Cawnor stood his ground. Rebecca was nearly free of the thorns, but not quite.

Afraid to fight your own battles, as usual, said Cawnor, stalling.

Rafe ranged out to one side. They would attack from different directions. Cawnor was not inclined to wait for it. He leapt at Kraven, claws forward. Kraven squawked in surprise and fell back. Cawnor didn’t press. He flew up before Rafe could join in and landed near Rebecca. Quickly, he used his beak to untangle her.

What’s going on here? said a new voice.

Tor had arrived.

Kraven’s demeanor shifted instantly from aggressive to nonchalant. Tor was older than either of them and just as big. More important, he was friendly with Cawnor.

Nothing’s going on here, Kraven said. Isn’t that right, Rafe?

Sure, nothing at all.

In fact, we were just leaving. Come on.

Kraven and Rafe pushed off and took flight, heading across the stream where the rest of the flock was.

Are the two of you alright? I heard fighting.

Cawnor bobbed his head. We’re fine. You’ve got good timing. Kraven caught Rebecca alone and decided to give her some unwanted attention. I came to escort her back to the flock.

"Always the gentleman.