Shiny glass beads
During a severe storm a Fortean sky fall of shiny glass beads landed in the deserted dead sands of the Dread Desert of the far side of The Forest.
A Crow that had been run out of the Murder discovered them when he was flying far from the Forest across the dead sands of gray sand and bits of black ember strewn well through. Bits of the Burned World that died a thousand years ago.
This Crow flew upon the rare shining baubles and plucked one up and flew back into The Forest.
At dawn, This Crow made his appearance before The Murder flying well above their perch. He caught the rays of the rising sun and shone the beam into the dazzled eyes of the now deeply excited birds.
This Crow purchased his way back into the Murder with this rare shiny item. Of course the leader of The Murder claimed the privilege to posses the item for the group. So shiny and exciting was this treasure that the other crows began to get very jealous. The leader of the crows was found dead miles away from his usual haunts, having been obviously beaten to death by several large birds.
This Crow remembered that there was a small pile of the items and made the long flight to the desert. It might be difficult to find them in the desert as it all looks the same. It was one of the main reasons he had not gone back to get more he knew if he got lost he would die. He was basically lazy or smart and did not want to risk his life for the troublesome wealth. But The Murder has been corrupted by the shiny glass bead and he things that he will be able to make a lot of money. The idea and desire of being set for life made the safe life of normal living unbearable.
Of course he did get lost.
hunkered in the cleft of an old cactus like tree huddles a dry dusty bird, his black ruffled feathers cooking in the sun. A parched little throat to hoarse to caw or crow wheezes and fades into a deep survival sleep/slowly dieing.
The sun fades. Air pressure suddenly changes. It smells of ozone.