As soon as he stepped off the bus, he heard them. The sound of them taking flight all at once was like the ocean roaring, a strange sound in this decidedly inland location. Whatever had startled them into motion had also urged them into their characteristic cawing and countercawing, filling the air with enough noise to drown out the ambient sounds of the city. The jackdaws swirled for a while, then settled atop spindly trees, which somehow managed to support the hundreds upon hundreds of birds.

It is good to be home, he thought, and continued walking.