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MIDWINTER MAGIC: SIX
Later in the evening as the firehall grew quite busy with the usual comings and goings, a ladybug crawled out of Mallee's little cottage on the fireplace mantle and flexed her wings with a wee yawn. She is not an ordinary ladybug, but perhaps her fairy friend Mallee is one of the few in Camelot to know that. The ladybug patiently moved along the edge of the mantle, her little black bead eyes looking about at all the others occupying the hall. When she finally reached the corner of the mantle, she lifted into the air, winging her way in a zig zag and looped circuit toward the bar to find a droplet of water for a sip. Having found a rather substantial bead of liquid upon the bartop, she paused to make sure it was water and not ale or mead, then sipped nearly half of it before lifting off again, a bit heavier, and alighting upon the lip of a clean mug sitting on a shelf behind the bar. Lumiere caught the motion and arched a brow at the bug but having recognized her, he let her go on her way instead of swatting at her like a lowly fly. The ladybug giggled at the bartender then waved her wings at him in thanks before beginning to make a circuit around the rim of the mug. Alas, before even her first round was concluded, something within the firehall caused a rumble and she lost her wee footing. Thus she tumbled into the mug and rocked helplessly on her back. Arista, with small creatures very much on her mind of late, had been watching the little red and black insect. When she saw the fall, she quickly went to the mug and, gently curling a finger, fished out the ladybug. Though surely none could hear it, the ladybug let out a relieved little cry and crawled happily along Arista's hand, flexing her wings to make sure they were alright. Carefully walking toward her mother's workroom with the beetle still wandering her hand, Arista used her other hand to get out her lock pick, that is, to pull the pin from her hair. "You shouldn't be out here, " she spoke to the ladybug. "Want to meet a friend of mine?" After picking the lock to Skye's workroom, Arista stepped lightly inside and closed the door behind her. She walked to the little greenhouse in back and looked around all the plants for Wallace. It was tricky to do, while balancing the ladybug on one hand, but Arista managed to light a lantern so she could see better among the shadowed plants. With the daylight gone, the greenhouse was a rather dark and quiet place. Finally the halo of the lantern revealed Wallace, happily crawling on a curved leaf. Arista held out the ladybug hand toward the caterpillar and smiled, "Wallace... meet... hmmmmm" She looked at the ladybug, trying to think of a suitably delicate name. The beetle fluttered her wings as if to say that 'ladybug' is not only what, but who, she is. However, Arista thought she'd found just the right name, "Larissa... Larissa the Ladybug." Upon hearing the girl speak it, ladybug turned in a tiny circle, perhaps trying on the name. Yes, it seemed to suit. She liked the sound of it... Larissa... Not knowing for certain, but suspecting the bug was pleased, Arista smiled as she held out her hand against the nice sturdy broad leaf where in fact Wallace was clinging. The ladybug tentatively stepped over onto the leaf and sat a moment to make sure it would hold and she need not lift in flight. Satisfied that it was well chosen, she slowly made her way along it, toward Wallace, at least out of curiosity. Arista then set her lantern down close enough for light but not so close as to be too warm for her small friends. She pulled up a stool to watch, her green eyes bright and happy. Larissa the Ladybug wandered around Wallace who stretched his front end up to peer about, though otherwise it would have been difficult to tell which end was front. She regarded him and recognized that he was... not as he should be. Ladybug fluttered her wings in an unconscious comment, knowing that Wallace should be able to do the same. However, he seemed to be completely unaware of anything more than his present form, at least as far as the ladybug could tell. The red and black beetle sighed a tiny bug sigh and turned to look at Arista. Her little black bead eyes were somehow sad. Arista seemed to understand what the ladybug was saying and she whispered, "That's why he's here. It takes time for some to get their magic. Don't give up on him, Larissa." The bug watched and listened to Arista then turned again to Wallace who has stretched out upon the leaf, finding an edge of it quite tasty. Were one very very sharp of hearing, one might have been able to hear the ladybug whispering something to Wallace. It was in fact a secret... a secret the worm had nearly forgotten, but Larissa now reminded him. In effect, she spoke a bug spell to Wallace, a bit of natural magic. She smiled, as much as her wee bug face can do such, as Wallace raised his head again to look at her. He was considering. Larissa fluttered her wings to reassure him that it will work, that it does work. He need only trust... and well... there's the matter of a cocoon. All the while Arista's eyes were locked on them, as if lending her own support to whatever Larissa had decided to do. She saw the ladybug begin crawling in a loop, an elongated loop. Larissa was actually whispering to Wallace as she tried to explain to him, to show him, though their language was different, that he must build for himself a chamber for his changes and thus may find his missing wings. Of course, she herself never had to do such a thing, but she knew of it for those of Wallace's ilk. Larissa finally stopped her instruction with Wallace and looked again to Arista. Seems the worm would perhaps have to meditate on it a while? Arista smiled at the little creatures with a nod. Whatever could be done seemed to have been done. She turned to inspect her Mama's plants a moment before leaving. She needed to make sure that Wallace wasn't eating too much and she trusted that the ladybug, even smaller, would pose no problems. Arista was preparing to leave them both in peace for the night. The ladybug, seeing Arista turn away, presumed it was time to leave this sanctuary. Nice as it was, she'd not want to get locked in there. She was rather enjoying her stay out at the hearth with Mallee. Larissa said her goodbyes and good luck to Wallace then lifted to find a safe spot upon Arista's shoulder. When Arista was satisfied that very little damage had befallen her Mama's precious plants, she doused the lantern and left the workroom. She had no notion that Larissa had hitched a ride. Nor could she hear the tiniest thanks from the ladybug before her little wings carried her back to Mallee's cottage on the mantle. For Larissa... yes, she did like that name... it had been an adventure-filled evening and now, with a wee yawn, she wandered back inside for a nap. Wallace, however, was just gearing up. He dropped his hindself over the edge of his greenery perch and began to spin his first silken threads, attaching them to the underside of the leaf... and thinking in a very caterpillar way, 'This might just work.' END SIX © 2002 DP & SO along with all other participants ~ This and other stories may be found at Willow's End |