Totoka River Hummingbird, just let me die

Once again, Hiram found himself in a commotion of flapping wings and noise. Around him, gulls took flight. He felt himself covered in a living, breathing shroud. It was both beautiful and chaotic, and above all -- it was the most fun he had a long time. The fun, however, was short-lived. The flock soon dispersed and Hiram was left panting from this short burst of play.

After the flock thinned, Hiram chuffed to both strangers and turned away. This had been a brief, commercial like moment of happieness. Good every once and a while, but a distraction from the search at hand.

He left his new friends by the river delta and continued south.