Zeus knew they were trouble the first time he saw them. Actually he heard them first. Dozens of grackles are in the tops of two evergreens and a walnut tree. All seem to be shouting the same greedy chant.
"Mine! Mine! Mine!" over and over again is all Zeus can hear as he walks by the three trees and proceeds down the path.
He is unaware of the many eyes that follow him.
"That is a big one!" said Ik.
"We'll worry about him later" answers Yuk.
Yak leaned in and adds "Yes, later."
A loud cluck from the top of the tree signals their leader is summoning them. Rok and his mate Iz are the leaders of this flock nearly 200 strong. Ik, Yuk and Yak are his generals and follow his every whim.
"No time to waste!" Rok starts. "Yak go set up a toll. Yuk oversee the rotation in the walnut tree. Ik take a few and see what else is around here."
"Yes sir!" all three shout and then flew off.
Iz drops down from her higher vantage point and cuddles next to Rok.
"Good times ahead" she said.
"Yes but much work first"
Then he starts the grackles in the evergreens in a new round of "Mine! Mine! Mine!"
Zeus had walked down the path near Torch's house and found his friend waking from a nap under a tree.
"Seen that new flock of birds at the walnut tree?" Zeus asks.
"Not yet but Sebastian has been getting the word out. He didn't have anything nice to say about them."
"Did he say if they eat walnuts?"
"Ha! They don't but he said they put walnut juice on their feathers."
"Eeewww!"
" I know. But that is why they are camping there."
"Hope it's just temporary"
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