“Look Mommy!” said six-year old Amy. “A Butterfly!”
“Ooh,” said Kaitlin. “I’ve never seen that one.”
“Oh no!” squealed Amy. “There’s a praying mantis stalking it. Fight him, butterfly!”
“Oh sorry, Honey,” said Kaitlin. “Butterflies are harmless creatures. They don’t fight.”
Amy was close to tears. “But you said even prey get to fight. Like that zebra on the TV. It kicked the lion.”
Kaitlin hugged her daughter. “I know, Honey. Butterflies just aren’t like that.”
Amy lunged for the butterfly. “We’ve got to save him!”
Kaitlin held her back. “No, Honey. We can’t interfere. It’s the Circle of Life like I told you. Some animals get eaten so others may live.”
“But it’s not fair!” sobbed Amy!
Just as the mantis reached striking distance from the butterfly, the butterfly reared up. A tiny stream of fire streaked from the butterfly’s head. In an instant, the mantis was engulfed in flames. Its body crisped, then fell away.
Kaitlin stared, speechless. How would she explain this?
“See, Mommy,” smirked Amy. “You were wrong. Butterflies fight back!”
_________________________
Written for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers weekly writing challenge. Each week, hordes of folks join to write for this fun challenge. Look here to see what other writers wrote: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/fffaw-week-of-10-20-2015/
Lovely story! And the ending is just my sort of ending!
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That’s awesome to hear. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks kindly! 🙂
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My pleasure!
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Hahaha! The butterfly dragon. He burned up the preying mantis! Happy to know he can take up for himself after all. The circle of life has changed. LOL! Great story Eric!
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Yeah its a deadly prey to be sure. The butterfly makes the circle of life turn backwards! I’m not sure if the world is ready for a fire-breathing butterfly. 😉 Glad you had fun. Thanks so much! 🙂
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That would be tough to take, a fire breathing butterfly!
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Yaay! Let’s hear it for the butterflies. And I bet Amy will remember this incident as she gets older and it will inspire her to fight the predators she encounters no matter how big and scary they are.
Eric de Aesop entertains us once more 🙂
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Yep. Someday when aliens attack and appear invincible, she’ll remember the butterfly, and find a way to stop them. 😉 I’m always happy when you’re entertained. Thanks much, Lyn! 🙂
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It is exactly the Circle of life: what you eat just might bite you back. 🙂
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Very true. Prey that bites back pushes the predator harder. Ultimately, it makes for better predators.
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Ooh, the preying mantis got burned. Talk about leaving everyone speechless lol. The circle of life with its mysterious ways for sure. Awesome story and ending
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Yeah, Kaitlin is trying to teach nature, when suddenly nature does something she never imagined. It may take her awhile to explain something even she doesn’t understand. Glad you enjoyed this one. Thanks so much! 🙂
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Great story of a butterfly….like people….if pushed too far will sometimes do the unspeakable!
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Yep. Especially if the people or butterflies spit streams of fire. Not the right folks to back into a corner. 😉 Thanks much! 🙂
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LOL after reading your stories so often, I was waiting for it. Well done.
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Hehe. I guess I’m predictable in writing the unpredictable. It works for me. 😉 Thanks so much! 🙂
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I agree it works. Enjoy reading your stories.
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Thanks. 🙂 I really do appreciate that. 🙂
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A mini Mothra. Nice one!
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Hehe. Yep. Just one is interesting. But what could a swarm of them do? Could be interesting. 😉 Thanks Joe! 🙂
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Now that would be cool to see…. a flame-shooting butterfly! However, I might be a bit more cautious stalking them for photos 🙂
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Haha! Yeah, maybe wear an asbestos suit whenever photographing them. 😉
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Well I suspected by the title that the butterfly would fight back but I never imagined fire would come out of it…I love it!! What fun, very creative. I’m going to be much more careful around butterflies from now on!!! 😉
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Yep, unless you come bearing pollen, it’s best not to approach butterflies with anything less than a fire extinguisher. 😉 So happy you had fun. That’s the whole idea-r. Thanks so much! 🙂
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Lol!!! I’ll remember that… 🙂
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Lovely story.
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