The Beetle and the Butterfly

There was once a beautiful butterfly. He flew above all the other insects with ease, his skirt-wings billowing in the breeze. He was a most brilliant red. The same red as the roses and tulips he would delicately sip from. The tips of his wings were adorned with complex circles of yellow and blue that shined in the sunlight - all accented with ink blots of darkest black.

Such grace and beauty was matched by a frivolous soul of petty feelings.

One day, the Butterfly was flying low over a wildflower patch in a forest when he saw a rock move. Confused and curious, he landed beside it on the forest floor.

Between fluffy rotting wood, a thick, blue stone wiggled. It sat in the sun with a beautiful metallic shine. The Butterfly stopped to stare at the mysterious object.

Suddenly, the rock turned around, revealing a face.

The Butterfly jumped in fright, taking flight to a higher perch.

"Oh wow, you are beautiful!" the bug exclaimed to the Butterfly.

"You're a rock!" the Butterfly blurted out in surprise.

"No, I am not! I am a beetle!" the Beetle replied with a chuckle, "Haven't you ever seen a beetle before?"

The Butterfly snapped his wings together and puffed out his thorax.

"Never!" he proclaimed, "I would never associate with someone like you - I mistook you for a rock. You are so dull and earthbound! Why would someone as beautiful and free as me know someone like you?"

The Beetle did not react to the Butterfly's hurtful words. Instead, they turned back to their digging.

The Butterfly scoffed, gracefully fluttering away.

Though, it was not the last time the Butterfly and the Beetle crossed paths. The Butterfly would take great delight in ridiculing the Beetle at any opportunity.

He would fly over to the Beetle's little burrow project nearly every day, to shout awful things at them.

"You are just so ugly!"

"What even is that line down your back? It is hideous!"

"I would bury my head in the dirt too if I looked like that!"

Each comment simply bounced off the Beetle, and they refused to acknowledge the Butterfly. Instead, the Beetle continued to build their little burrow in the forest floor.

"You must be so jealous of my wings!"

"Look how fast I can fly!"

"So many other animals tell me I am beautiful, do they say anything about you? I doubt it!"

One day, a Hedgehog interrupted them. She snarled her sinister teeth at them both.

"It doesn't matter how you two look, only how you taste!"

The Butterfly flew away swiftly at the threat.

"Hahaha! This is your end Beetle! I, for one, am happy that I no longer have to share this forest with such an abominable creature!" The Butterfly boisterously bellowed.

For the first time since they had met, the Beetle looked angry.

The Hedgehog continued her approach toward the Beetle, salivating.

The Butterfly expected the Beetle to simply crawl into their burrow to avoid the Hedgehog. He was shocked when he saw the Beetle turn to face the threat.

Unperturbed, the Hedgehog swiftly closed the distance and opened her rat-like mouth around the Beetle.

Suddenly, the Beetle sprayed a bright red liquid on the Hedgehog's tongue. Viscous and acidic, it sat in her mouth and made her cough and retch. With her hunt paused, the Beetle took their opportunity to escape.

Two curved plates popped up from the Beetle's back, revealing parchment wings. They unfolded widely, beginning to vibrate and buzz. Clumsily, the Beetle took flight!

The Butterfly and the Hedgehog gasped at the Beetle's grand escape, shocked.

Soon, the Butterfly's surprise turned to panic when he saw the Beetle fly directly at him. He tried to fly away, but the Beetle was faster. They gripped the Butterfly with all six legs and tucked their wings away.

No matter how hard the Butterfly flapped his wings, he could not fight the weight of the Beetle, they sunk through the air quickly, towards the newly revived and excited Hedgehog.

"If we both fall, we both die!" the Butterfly screamed in terror.

"I have a burrow to hide in." the Beetle deadpanned.

"Alright alright! I am sorry!" the Butterfly continued to struggle for his life, his wings slowing their descent.

"I ridiculed you because I thought you couldn't fight back!"

"You never know what someone can do, if you never ask." the Beetle said wisely, letting the Butterfly go.

The Beetle carefully tumbled back into their burrow, successfully avoiding the hungry hedgehog.

Graceful as ever, the shaken Butterfly flew back to higher flowers.

They never saw each other again.

But the Butterfly never underestimated another creature in his life.

Moral: You never know what someone can do. Do not provoke for the sake of provocation.

A/N: Another fable for you all this fine day! I went quite simple for this one, I hope it was still enjoyable!

I am sure you have noticed, I am posting quite a bit more than usual. The answer as to why is simple, I am spending a lot of time waiting for medical things to happen/results to come through. What better time to dive headfirst into some writing, eh?

-TWW