Butterfly had a problem. It’s wide white wings were easy to spot, making Butterfly a choice and easy snack for Raven.
“What can I do?” Butterfly asked Gold Finch as they swayed together atop a sunflower.
“Blend in,” suggested Gold Finch, who all but disappeared among the bright yellow petals.
“Thank you,” Butterfly called, flapping away on golden wings.
Raven spotted Butterfly, however, and swooped low, sharp black beak open. Butterfly barely got away.
“This is no good,” Butterfly moaned as he trembled beneath the tall grass. “I blend in amongst the sunflowers but nowhere else.”
“That issss because you need sssstripes, and earth and grass colorsssss,” said Snake, slithering past to show off her majestic stripes and earth and grass colors.
“That is better,” Butterfly agreed, careful to take flight before Snake decided to try a taste.
Lines now edged Butterfly’s wings and warm earth and grass tones spread in patterns over the gold.
Even so, Raven was upon him at once, snapping and swooping. Butterfly managed to lose Raven in the woods, and exhausted, came to rest on an old pocked stone beside a brook.
“You look winded,” said a voice.
Butterfly looked around but saw no one.
“Hello?” he asked.
“I’m right beside you,” said the voice, and a toad shifted his footing so he could be better viewed.
“Oh! How do you do that?” Butterfly gasped. “You were invisible!”
“Spots,” answered Toad.
“Of course. Thank you!” Butterfly said, lifting away with spots now adorning his wings.
He emerged from the woods and fluttered tentatively in the open air. Raven circled overhead but did not swoop. Butterfly ventured out a little more and Raven made no move toward him. Delighted, Butterfly sped off to share his secret with his kin.
“Raven,” called another raven, “why do you circle here?”
“Do you see that butterfly down below?” Raven replied.
“Where? I love a good butterfly snack!”
“There,” Raven said. “Tell me, could you eat something so beautiful?”
“No,” the other agreed after a thoughtful moment. “I could not.”
“Neither could I,” sighed Raven.
Across the field butterflies adorned their wings with the beauty of the world while overhead two ravens winged away into the blue sky.
Written by W. C. McClure. This may be shared (and please do); just please be sure to share it in its entirety, unaltered (and including this fine print), with credit given to W. C. McClure. This is a work of fiction. None of the characters or events depicted are meant to represent anyone or anything this side of dreams. Comments are welcome! Please help support this indie author by telling your friends about this short story blog at http://www.farsideofdreams.com and buying W. C. McClure’s books at http://www.wcmcclure.com. Thanks for reading.
Short Stories and Meanderings 