A Cap!
Here's more from book one, The Girl Witch. Enjoy.
Caterpillars were unique. Magical. All of them. All of them.
They did not vary in shape or size or color.
They hatched from small, round, yellow eggs, usually laid on the underside of a leaf.
All caterpillars ate. A lot.
When their time came, caterpillars made their cocoons on thin branches or leaves.
It was in those cocoons where the magic happened.
Each caterpillar had a special, unique dream. These dreams shaped their coming lives. Literally.
Caterpillars who dreamed of light and beauty were likely to become colorful butterflies.
Caterpillars who dreamed of secrets and darkness most often became moths. They would live their lives hiding either by trickery or the black of night.
In his cocoon, Wincey dreamed.
He came upon a place in a forest. There was a giant living thing. It was not animal or plant or human. It was made from dirt and rocks and earth, like a piece of living land.
Wincey was afraid and hid in the shadows.
He felt his body change.
He kept away but studied the earth beast. Many animals came to it for help or friendship or comfort or even shelter.
Wincey was curious but remained hidden.
He felt his body change.
The earth beast reminded him of Signy. It did not look like her, but it was able to speak to animals the way she could.
Wincey was sure it would understand him too, but he cautiously remained hidden.
He felt his body change.
Wincey felt that the earth beast was important. Was it a friend? Was it dangerous?
Signy appeared in his mind.
Then the earth beast.
Then Signy again.
The two flashed back and forth as a beam of light burst through the clouds on them both together.
Wincey understood, or thought he did, that Signy needed the earth beast and that the earth beast needed her too.
He felt his body change.
The dream revealed a purpose to Wincey.
All caterpillars discovered their purpose in the dream.
His purpose was to find the earth beast, then to bring it together with Signy.
He felt his body change.
He leapt from the shadows into a new, magnificent sensation.
His body seemed to float on air.
He fell.
Suddenly he moved something on his back.
Wings? Yes. Wings!
He was flying!
His body was complete.
The dream was over.
Wincey awoke the world.
The time to dream was finished.
He pushed his head from the cocoon and used his new, strong, long legs to pull himself out.
He shook the last pieces of cocoon from his tail.
He shook himself, then spread his wings.
He had wings!
He wanted to fly!
Could he fly?
He felt that he could, but where?
He looked out and the world was dark.
Where was he? Where was Signy?
Wincey discovered quickly that he could see very well in the dark.
It was not a night-time darkness.
He didn’t know how he knew that. It just felt that way.
It was like the darkness when Signy had first brought him into her home. It was a strange, but pleasant kind of darkness.
Wincey saw that fresh leaves had been scattered around his cocoon.
Signy had brought him food while he slept.
He loved her for that.
Wincey flapped his wings. They felt strong enough. He flapped them open-close-open-close until he felt comfortable.
He spread his wings and was about to leap when, at that precise moment, a part of the darkness seemed to fold in and a blinding light took over the space.
“Wincey! Is that you?”
It was his Signy! She came back for him!
“Wincey! Is that you?”
Signy knew it must be him!
She dashed across the room to him.
Delicately, she placed her finger next to him and he stepped on.
Signy lifted him to eye level to get a better look at how he had changed.
“What wings you have!”
They were black as night with bright red spots on them. Signy had never seen anything like them before.
Wincey flapped them.
Signy studied the shape of his wings closely.
“Wincey! You’re a moth! I was afraid you might come out as a butterfly.”
In her experience, Signy found that moths cared about the world around them while butterflies care mostly about themselves.
“Signy! Where’s that bucket?!?”
Mama called from outside. Signy forgot why she had come in.
“Oh yeah,” she told Wincey. “I’m supposed to fetch water for the sheep. Want to come?”
Wincey flapped his wings. He seemed unsteady. Unsure.
“I haven’t flown yet. What if I don’t know how?”
Signy lifted Wincey to her shoulder.
“You can ride with me here until you’re ready, okay?”
Wincey wiggled his antennae in agreement.
The bucket was next to the door. She picked it up on the way outside.
As she stepped outside, a small gust of wind blew her in the face.
It wasn’t so small for Wincey. The wind blew him from Signy’s shoulder.
Her little friend spread his wings and learned how to fly very quickly.
“I... I’m doing it!”
He was flying!
Signy laughed and danced and spun in circles as Wincey fluttered around her.
He was so much fun as a moth, but more than that, it felt good to be with her friend again.
“Signy! The water!”
Mama had a disapproving look on her face.
Signy lowered her head and apologized.
There was work to do.
Wincey followed her to the river. It was on the southern edge of the clearing.
As they went, Signy told her friend what went on while he was changing.
She told him about talking to Snog, the moose, at night when they travelled.
She told him about meeting Snog, the moose, when they came to the clearing.
They reached the river and Signy dipped the bucket into the cool water.
She told Wincey about riding Sn...
“There’s something in the water,” flapped Wincey.
Signy had been so caught up in her story that she hadn’t noticed.
There was something in the water. It wasn’t a leaf or a stick or a pinecone.
What was it?
She pulled it from the water and held it out in the light for a closer look.
A cap?
How did that get there?
Signy set the bucket on the ground.
She wrung the cap out and turned it around in her hands.
Wincey landed on the edge of the bucket.
“What is a cap?” Wincey asked.
Signy answered as she turned it inside out.
“People wear these on their heads. Well, not all people. Girls don’t.”
The cap was made from wool; she could tell that right away. It was embroidered at the base. Someone had put a lot of care into making it.
She turned it right side out again.
The cap had no rips or holes. It couldn’t have been in the water all that long.
She whispered to herself, wondering where it came from.
Wincey wiggled his antennae.
“Are there people that way? Not-girl people?”
“Of course!” Signy cried. “There must be people upstream!”
“Come on! We have to tell papa!”
Signy dashed to find him.
“Wait,” Wincey fluttered. “The bucket!”
It was no use. She was already too far gone.
(It might help to read this section too. It comes just before)
Butterfly's only care about themselves. This is the quote that made me want to be a moth, but also I want to be a butterfly too!
I love these stories. Wincey has my heart.