Nocturnal

Rustling leaves of the Mulberry tree subtly interrupted the buzz of silence. Soft moonlight blanketed the clearing. Bombi took a deep breath, fluttering her dripping wet wings as best she could. Spring breeze danced through the trees rattling the branches. She clung desperately to the thin shell of her previous home as it swung violently from side to side. Newborn wings would surely not carry her very far should her perch detach. Mustering what little strength her furry body was developing, Bombi scaled her home to the heavier limb it dangled from. Here she could rest until her flight came in. Her small moth body ached from months of metamorphosis causing her to tremble as did the foliage around her. Sydney watched from the back porch, feet propped up on the railing, sipping her beer and cringing at the non-alcoholic aftertaste. Silkworms had eaten through the Mulberry months ago. In some places they take the web and process them into silk, but Syd's family just knocked it down with a broom. She'd begged her father to wait until the worms had receded into their warm cocoons so she could relocate them, but many were just thrown to the ground. They would be back next year to eat the Mulberry tree bare all over again. One little silkworm managed to cling for dear life and wrap itself safe and warm. Sydney came out to decompress after long days. She saw the little cocoon hanging there everyday. It was a nice way to clear anything happening in her mind. Barely awakened from it's long hibernation, life beginning, and the first thing it would have to do was manage to survive the night. Of course, Sydney knew it wouldn't. Rita, the pretty-feathered owl that lived up in the loft, would catch sight of her soon enough. Syd kicked back and waited. It crossed her mind to help but there was nothing she could do. Rita's eyesight was 18x better than hers. She would find it and with brand new wings it would never be able to flutter fast enough. This full circle of life moment would happen whether she intervened or not. Something about that made her mildly sad as A shrill screech echoed in the dark followed by the frantic whoosh of Rita's wings, an unmistakable sound. Surprisingly when she descended from the barn it wasn't into the closest tree but onto something in the grass, a small rat or maybe a snake this time of year. Sydney saw the silk moth stiffen, go completely still, then decide to make a run for it. She wouldn't have don't that. It's easier for Rita to see moving prey. Rita swallowed the mouse whole, taking a moment to survey for another snack. Just as Syd suspected her eyes locked in on the silk moth attempting to scurry across the tree branch deeper into its green. Rita landed smoothly, talons securing her in place. The branch lurched violently under her weight, the silk moth bouncing into the air and onto the branch above. Rita attacked.

The moth bobbed and weaved as Rita tried to capture it. The little thing was spunky, managing to avoid her beak of death for several minutes. Sydney found herself rooting for the insect despite her dismal odds. She leaned forward with her elbows on her thighs enthralled by the dance. The moth disappeared into a divet in the trunk. Rita pecked furiously at the spot, determined to capture her winged target. Sydney watched as Rita hacked away at the tree trunk, but her stamina was waning. When she seemingly could not persue the moth anymore Rita rested momentarily before giving up and gliding into a nearby tree.

Hm. Refreshing change of pace.

Sydney huffed a breath, returning back to her original positon. She could still hear Rita scavenging in the dark out of view of the porch light. The tips of tiny antennas poked from the tree trunk.

Don't come back out, honey. Just stay in the tree.

She waited, strangely invested in this bug that didn't know what was good for it. It stayed put for the time being but Syd's gut told her it wouldn't for long. The sudden sound of something shattering drew her attention from the dramatic saga. The neighbors again.

"I thought we were over this!"

"Over it!? You still talk to her!"

"How many times do I have to tell you we're just friends!?" He raised his voice. Sydney sighed.

"You weren't just friends last year In that hotel in Cabo!"

Good for her. Syd had never heard Wendy yell back before. It seemed her breaking point was on the horizon.A loud slap came shortly there after.

Despite her better judgement, she didn't go inside. She stayed on the porch to listen.

"I told you to let it go!" He had been escalating faster lately. There was less time between the start of the fight and what he thought was the end of it. They had moved into the kitchen in front of the window facing Sydney's porch. She stared shamelessly through it, watching as Wendy pounded on Greg's chest. Greg grabbed hold of her arms, shaking her violently. Then, Wendy disappeared from view with a resounding thud. Greg, satisfied with himself, looked down. He glanced out the window, locking eyes with Sydney. Her intense stare made him look away.

Coward.

He sauntered somewhere out of sight. Wendy reappeared in the window, leaning over her sink to wash a bleeding cut on her cheek. A moment later Greg, too, came back into view. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and whispered something in her ear, most likely an insincere apology. Wendy kissed his lips and he walked away. She made eye contact with Sydney, holding longer than Greg had. It was Syd who looked away. Rita, who had been rooting around in the trees, landed on the porch steps with a sickening retch. A small white slimy mass dropped onto the porch from her mouth. Sydney sighed.

And so the world was.