The view really was amazing. I could see so many new houses that had been built while I wasn't here. It gave me an idea of how it all changed. Two years really did pass. I could even see my house from up here, it was nice. |"Have you calmed down yet, Buster?"| Joe the Crow cawed a little, still pinned to my chest. He was struggling to get free still. There was a lot of flapping going on from the others. |"What do you say? We can drop you off wherever you want, and forget this whole thing happened."|

I looked down at the dark ball of feathers, our eyes meeting. |"Sorry about all this. I'm not sure what happened back there."|

|"Don't mention it, in fact, don't even think about it. This whole thing never happened."| I nodded a little, looking back at the many buildings beneath us. |"Now, you can just let me go right here and I'll fly right next to the others and let you down wherever."|

I looked back at him, |"I'm not dumb, Joe. Tell them to let me go first, and then when we're on the ground I'll release you."|

Joe squinted at me, |"Fine, I misjudged you. I'll tell my crew to let you go. Then we go our separate ways."|

I nodded back as Joe let out a few caws. |"Make sure you tell them not to let go until we are on the ground."|

Joe pecked my chest, |"My crew might be dim, but they aren't that stupid."| As soon as the thought reached me, I felt the talons of the others let go. |"Those fucking idiots!"| We fell towards the ground everything around us turning to a blur, as Joe said a lot of different slurs. I always felt I was going to die from a skydiving accident. Even before becoming a scarecrow, it was one of those weird little things that always stuck out to me. Like how some people don't go to the beach because they just know a shark is going to get them.

Yeah, turns out that a scarecrow and a crow the size of a cat are a bit faster at falling than the crows that dropped us. Joe was practically screaming at them, while I came to terms with dying all over again. Maybe I'll be a statue this time, that seems like it could be fun. Probably really boring, but interesting. At least birds won't try to pick me up. I know I'm going to die here, but there is something I can do still. Joe doesn't have to die. He seems like a nice crow. A little misunderstood, sure, but he seems pretty cool. Sure, he got us into this mess, but he hasn't exactly hurt me or the corn.

The ground is getting closer, and I can see the golden sign of a Wack Donald's. Yep, looks like I'm dying in their parking lot. Wouldn't wish that on anyone, really. I made a last-ditch effort to spin in the air, to cushion Joe's landing. The ground came suddenly, and surprisingly scarecrows don't bounce. We just kind of hit the ground with a thud, a solid one mind you, but a thud nonetheless. It didn't really hurt, but I could feel straw coming out of my back as I sat up. Joe was stunned, his head turning as he looked around. |"We're alive!?"| He flapped his wings.

I shambled to my feet, people staring at us. |"Fuck, this isn't good. We're in the Flockers territory."| I leaned on a car, watching as people stared at me with wide eyes. I didn't know a single one of them, and the world felt like it was spinning. I sat Joe down on the hood, looking at him. |"We need to get out, but well this could be a chance. You see, they have my sister, and are using her as a hostage. I'll overlook everything you've done if you help me out here."|

People were pulling out their cellphones, just in time for more crows to fly to the roofs. Joe was looking pretty ruffled, probably not making the best decisions right now. He started cawing loudly at the others. |"Shit! They're already here. These aren't my guys, bud."| Guess I'm bud now. |"Wait, I think I see her!"| I looked over to where Joe was looking, to see a small-looking crow surrounded by four bigger ones.

Then the people around us started dropping. Cellphones falling to the ground, as a crow just a bit bigger than Joe flew onto the hood of the car we were on. A smooth voice came from the new crow with purple-tipped feathers. |"Do you jackasses have any idea how much trouble you're in?"|

Joe looked at me, then back at the crow. |"Y-yes sir. I know this looks bad, but I was brought here against my will!"|

Flocker, the new guy, looked right at Joe. |"Shut it."| His voice was low, and full of malice. |"You'll talk, when I'm addressing you. Why, if it weren't for your sister, you'd have been dead in a ditch seasons ago."| He swung his head towards me, |"Now, what do we have here? A scarecrow, is it?"| He took a step towards me, mainly to assert his dominance in this situation, or just to look cool. I didn't know, but he clearly was used to being in charge. |"Now then, want to tell me how you delivered the leader of an enemy gang to me? On a red platter no less."| He gestured to the red-painted hood Joe was shaking on.

|"Funny story there, didn't really mean to come here. You see..."|

Flocker swung his head back to Joe, |"I said shut it!"| I didn't know crows could gulp, but apparently Joe was able to do just that.

I looked into his eyes, |"Accidents happened, and mistakes were made. What are you planning on doing with us?"|

Flocker bobbed his head, giving me the once over. |"A scarecrow with an actual brain, how rare. I'll tell you what, I'll let you walk back to your field. You're pretty roughed up, and it's clear you didn't have any intention of doing anything here. I'll just take this piece of shit somewhere, and he won't bother either of us."|

Joe's talons scraped the paint of the hood, the feathers on his neck bristling. |"Better rethink that, Flocker. Sis won't let you kill me in cold blood."|

Flocker chirped with laughter, |"You're right, she won't. Though even she can't stop me from clipping your wings and letting nature run its course. You've been a pain in my tail feathers for too long. You'll die, nameless and alone."|

Joe jumped at Flocker, who raised a talon. I caught Joe, bringing him to my chest. |"Let go of me, you bastard! I'm not going to let him get away with this!"|

Flocker tilted his head at me, as I held Joe closer to my chest. I really didn't have any reason to help him. In fact, he gave me plenty of reasons not to. I wasn't sure what part of me was causing me to do this sort of thing, but I had a plan. Not a good one, but a plan that might protect the corn. My body perked up at the thought of crows that defended the corn instead of attacking it. There was an opportunity here.

I locked eyes with Joe, |"I don't know what your problem is, but you're going to die if you don't listen to me. What's the best way to piss the crows off enough for you to grab your sister and go?"|

Joe pecked at my arms, while Flocker chirped with laughter. |"A good punch to the face should really ruffle his feathers. You know you're going to die right?"|

Flocker looked at the two of us, |"See? Everyone knows you're just a waste of space. Even the scarecrow knows better. I'll tell you what, if you tear his wings off right now mister scarecrow, I'll let you take some shiny things from our nests."|

I grabbed Joe by the talons, holding him upside down. He seemed to be making his peace, while I pretended to consider the offer. I wasn't enough of a monster to think about ripping someone's brother apart right in front of them. Flocker was bad news, and I wasn't sure if he'd actually keep his promises. |"Joe, do what you think is best. I'm going to deck Flocker in the beak. You better not touch a single kernel of corn because of this."|

Joe's eyes opened in surprise, as I balled my fist. |"Heh, I like the name. Too bad you aren't important enough to make it official."| If only I could have rolled my eyes at that, my fist hit Flocker in the beak, causing him to flap backward cawing in surprise. I threw Joe to the side, watching as he rolled in the air and dove under a car.

Flocker flapped, glaring at me, |"You're not very smart. Get him, boys! Make sure the idiot of the woods doesn't get away too!"|

Joe flew out from under one car, to another, |"You got yourself a deal, buster. So long as I'm in charge of my flock, we won't touch a single one of your crops."|

Crows were rushing after him, and more were coming to back Flocker up. Yet, somehow I didn't feel afraid. It was like a switch was flipped, a drum began pounding in my head. My vision cleared, as my body became more limber. It was moving without me directing it, quickly hopping out of the way of five of the crow bastards that came from different angles. My shoulder lowered, causing me to roll and land on my feet. I grabbed my straw hat, feeling that it was warm for some reason.

The drumming was getting louder, but somehow the flapping of wings was even louder. My body rocked forward and backward, testing how much strain it could put on my open back. Straw was falling out from moving too much, but there wasn't much of a choice. Then I saw the shadows of the people erasing everything on their phones while they were still knocked out. I stared, but my body moved suddenly. I somehow grabbed a crow that came in from behind, holding it by the neck. I could feel the pressure building in my hands, threatening to snap its neck.

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I didn't want to kill anything still. I thought about helping Joe, and my body reacted, throwing the crow at the three chasing him. It messed them up enough to give him a better lead. Help Joe? A voice that wasn't my own came into my head. I was caught off guard, and really I should have been used to it. Though I said yes regardless. It wasn't the other voice, the spirit I mean. How many voices do I have in here?

In response to my agreement, my body jumped on top of a truck's tire, pretending to climb onto the hood. It jumped backward, flipping in the air, catching two more crows, and throwing one at those getting too close. Once my feet hit the ground it sprinted, doing its best to keep my torso from moving. The crow still in my hands cawing bloody murder. Joe was getting closer to the big crows surrounded his sister. I felt my body throw the other crow where I wasn't looking. The cawing thing stopped Flocker from diving down to get Joe.

Good job body. I patted it on the imaginary back. PROTECT THE CORN! Great, of course, it's crazy. Whatever gets the job done, I guess. Flocker let out a few caws, as the crows reorganized themselves. A quick jump onto the hood of a van, and then jumping up to grab two more crows. I could see the swarm forming into two groups of about twenty each. The four guarding the small crow making a sort of wall that Joe would probably need to break through.

The swarm moved after Joe, and myself. My body throwing one of the crows at the incoming swarm to slow them down. Then using that same free hand to toss the straw hat like a frisbee at the other swarm. Joe built up speed, thanking me, before crashing through the four big crows. They were smaller than him, so it kind of worked out. He snagged his sister, who was tiny enough to fit in his talon. A kind of crow chick maybe? I had no idea, but my body seemed to have a plan. At least I hoped it did because it throw the other crow at the four big ones to help Joe get free.

Chosen one, we may sacrifice ourselves, or they might catch the pact maker. Do what now? Joe, he is slow. If he dies, he cannot protect corn, yes? I think you're right buddy. We need to make sure he gets out. Understood. My body rolled on the ground avoiding the first crows that swarmed at us, before jumping right into the middle of the one chasing Joe. So, this is what he was asking me about. My vision was filled with a world full of black feathers and talons. I think I lost a button somewhere as my body grabbed a few more crows by the neck and used them like meaty shields. I was surprised it was actually letting go of them before any died, letting the hurt ones fall to the ground and grabbing another.

Their talons were digging deeper, but it looked like Joe and his sister got away at least. Joe's crew was up above waiting for him, and Flocker thought better than charging into them. Even as they started to fly away. Ah, an arm fell off. Oh wait, that's apparently nowhere near enough to stop my body. Yep, he just tossed a crow and grabbed the arm to start swinging it at the other crows. I really would have thought this kind of stuff should hurt more. All I felt was a dull pain, almost like a bad cramp.

Aw, the arm broke. It exploded into a cloud of cloth and straw. Some of it stuck to the crows, the syrup probably making them worried. Yep, we're not winning this fight. They got us into the air. Hey, body, stop moving, they got us. We stopped moving, as the crows flew higher while still holding me in their talons. Flocker looked us over, staying a safe distance away. I could feel the corn syrup leaking out of us from the countless scratches and holes. |"Still alive, asshole?"|

I didn't bother answering, or moving for that matter. Flocker looked at his crew, giving a nod. I was dropped into the window of a Halloween shop. The glass shattered, as I rolled on the floor. The people inside all collapsed and passed out for whatever reason. I wish I had an answer for why that happened, but apparently, it was something that just was. The crows didn't seem to pause as a couple landed on the broken window. A few picking out pieces of glass for Flocker to stand on. I briefly wondered how many times this happened to me when I was still human. I really wanted to know why it happened at the very least.

Flocker watched me, as I stayed where I was. |"How are we looking with our crew?"|

Another crow stepped up, |"He didn't kill anyone boss, but they did take the priestess."|

Flocker let out an angry caw. |"Get whoever can fly, we'll intercept them on the way to the woods. The rest of you stay here and wait for the soul to leave the body. I don't want this scarecrow coming back."|

Chosen one, if they stop Joe, this may have been for nothing. Yeah, I know buddy. We're not in the best situation ourselves right now. What did they mention about waiting for our soul? You are protected, chosen one. None can steal from our god. They may claim me, however. Wait, really? Yes, it is as I have said. There is no greater honor than to die protecting the corn. For the sake of the pact, I shall throw down my very being! Please don't?

It was already too late. One of the arms twitched before we struggled back onto our feet. Flocker was so close to turning away too. Now they're looking at us again. |"Aren't you a resilient little pest."| He bobbed his head, |"Finish him."|

Five crows flew through the window, as I was left with more questions. Clearly, I was sharing my body with whoever this was. That, or I was so far off the deep end that I really did believe someone else was talking to me. It sucked being a passenger, just watching and feeling how the other side was moving. How they were kind of badass. Even now with only one arm and a gimped leg. They were able to bob and weave under the five that dove at us. A few hops and we were in the prop section.

More crows flew through the broken window. That didn't matter though, we had an honest to Corn plastic scythe. The kind with fake blood painted on the edge, with a skull at the top. Maybe half my size, but more than enough to scare off the crows. They just sat atop the shelves, a few even flying away. Then I felt the pressure next to me. A quick turn of my head revealed a purple-haired lady, with tan skin. She was fiddling with a black cat prop, the thing slowly turning purple at her touch.

Everything screamed that whatever she was, it was too much to fight. The shadow beneath her was swirling and separating into purple cats. Her baggy clothes rustling as she turned towards me. I felt it looking at my very being. I couldn't move, I couldn't look away. She cracked a smile, before disappearing. Flocker flew over, |"We need to hurry this up, that was our warning!"|

The crows filed into the shop, dozens of them coming at me from all sides. My body swinging the scythe and twirling to bat them away. The crows were getting more desperate with each passing second. More of them taking a suicidal approach and just diving beak first into my limbs or chest. There were too many. Everything became a blur as my body was torn apart piece by piece. Everything fading to black, as I met my end here.

I felt like I was falling again, everything completely dark. All of it turning warm, as light started to filter in from above. I blinked, feeling happy to have eyelids again. I started to focus, realizing I was back on that strange field. The corn god stretching well past the clouds, a ball of yellow energy where the head should be. Q was coiled around me in a loose circle. He thumped his tail, this time wearing an eyepatch. His body covered in scars, and his scales were a different color altogether. "You truly are foolish."

I sat up, looking at my human body. Just enjoying the feeling of flesh and blood. Blinking is really where it's at though. I flexed my fingers, while Q kept thumping his tail against the ground. He was clearly frustrated, but that wasn't my problem.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" He slithered a little, to look right at me.

I looked back at him, "I don't know what you're talking about." I shrugged, which got the Corn god to laugh.

Q hissed, "You're lucky, our lord finds your antics amusing. You're also very lucky he saw such an event like this coming. Igor has another vessel for you, but I have been graced with the privilege of keeping you until I see fit to dismiss you."

"Cool, so why are you dressed differently? What's with the scales?" I stretched a little, before slowly standing up.

Q hissed, "I'm asking the questions here, you insolent creature. My current form is meant to reflect that creatures of my status can change their forms at will. That you cannot trust your eyes for everything. To entities like us, what you perceive is fluid, malleable. Like clay ready to be molded and shifted at will."

I rolled my eyes, enjoying how nice it felt to do that. "Cool, don't trust everything I see, got it. What was with those people passing out?"

Q narrowed his eye, hissing again. "Whenever a fight of supernatural origin breaks out. It is common for entities within the domain of something powerful to be excluded. Time stopped, all damage that was done, has been repaired. The humans will go about their lives, not knowing what transpired."

"Great, does that also mean anyone that gets hurt while they're knocked out, won't actually be hurt? You're doing a great job asking questions by the way." I pointed finger pistols at Q.

"I have been asked to answer your questions by our lord." Q reared back, looking down at me. "In most cases, those not involved in a fight, are immune to any damage that might be done to them. Though certain things can be done to them during such. For example; if a soul-eating creature were to eat someone's soul. They would lose their soul because there is no way to recover such. Hence why many soul-eating creatures have been hunted to near extinction."

I nodded, "Cool, so what's up with my body? Is there another soul in there or something? What happened to the spirit?"

Q bared his fangs, "Stop interrupting me! Let me ask my questions!"

I stared at Q blankly, as he slammed his tail into the ground. A few seconds later, he managed to calm down. "You okay buddy?"

"If it wasn't for our lord, I would have swallowed you whole by now! You do not understand the power of what is before you! I can end your miserable existence here and now, but it is by the grace of our Lord that I do not. You truly are an insignificant creature in the grand scheme of things! I do not understand why I have been made to endure talking to you directly like this! I have vassals and spirits waiting for my command, yet here I am responding to something as lowly as you!"

I put my hands up, "Woah, calm down. What did you want to ask? I didn't mean to piss you off this much." I kind of felt bad that I managed to work the big snake into a tantrum.

"I MISS THE DAYS WE HAD WORSHIPPERS SACRIFICING THE HEARTS OF THE WEAK TO US! I MISS THE DAYS WHEN MY NAME WAS SPOKEN OPENLY WITH FEAR! THE TIME THAT ALL MORTALS FEARED THE SERPENT OF THE SKY! THE TEMPLES THAT WERE ERECTED IN MY HONOR, JUST HOPING FOR A BLESSING! HOW BLOOD WAS SPILLED UPON THE EARTH TO CALM THE QUAKES OF MY MOVEMENT!"

"Right, do you think that makes you special?"

This stopped him, as he looked at me. "WHAT!?"

"Humans are weak, if you're as strong as you say you are, then why does that matter? Sure you could kill me by swallowing me, or eat me I guess? I'm not sure how this works, but as a human, I could die from choking on a fishbone just fine. I could get shot by someone that just wanted my money. There were so many ways for me to get killed, that it's sad you think how you can kill me makes you special." I shook my head slowly, "Grow the fuck up, Q."

Q just stared at me, at a complete loss for words. I think I might have broken him when he shrank and slithered into the meadow to hide.