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Firefly/Butterfly

Summary:

Eternity Larva's wings get badly chipped, so Wriggle does her best to help out.

Notes:

Wriggternity nation, where are we at?
I also tried to replicate those letter exaggerations on Eternity Larva from HSiFS, but those were odd to get just right. Apologies if those seem weird!

Work Text:

The crash was what gave it away.

Wriggle, despite the Bamboo Forest of the Lost being her closest place to a "home", often wandered away to greener pastures. She'd walk into fields, meadows, on hills, under sunflowers large enough to block the actual sun, everything natural did for her. If her small insect body could reach it, she would happily take herself there. Meeting others was a semi-common occurrence, to which she'd wave and walk on. 

But something felt odd here. Pushing past large weeds in the field she was wandering in, Wriggle spotted bright blue amongst the grass. Realizing what this meant, her eyes moved and examined further.

She spotted wings. Another insect! Immediately, she ran closer to the color, only noticing details of the scene the closer she got to it. A pale butterfly, humanized much like herself, missing the top half of one of her wings. The poor girl must have fallen out of the sky, or hit against a much larger animal (a tengu, maybe?). Whatever the circumstance, she didn't seem very phased, her antenna still attached and the rest of her body only taking fall damage in the form of scratches. Still, a broken wing was devastating. How else could she fly and flutter, as butterflies did?

"Are you okay?" Wriggle asked, kneeling down as close as she felt comfortable. This bug had...a powerful presence.

"I thiiiink," she replied, stimming her words like static. Wriggle wasn't sure how to take it, but speech didn't matter.

"Your wing-"

"Oh, I barrrrrely feel itttttt."

The long exaggerations only concerned Wriggle more. She rarely heard such, but these manners in bugs were only a sign of moderate to severe injury. And while she didn't have the knowledge of the event, when Reimu beat the butterfly down, she did the same exact thing. Not before.

"You clearly don't. Here- let me help! Until I can get you to a doctor. Bugs need to help each other."

She only now noticed her firefly features, reaching a hand out to them. "Who are yoooooou?"

"Wriggle Nightbug, leader of insects. I just wish to help-"

"I'm Eteernity Larva. Pleased to meeeeet you."

Eternity Larva. That was a new name.

"I can heeeeaaaal myself, I insist," she followed.

"There's little you can do, there's no blood coming from the crack."

Wriggle traced her fingers over where the cut was, causing Eternity to flinch. No fluid was on it, only sharp edges. The butterfly must have recently been flying, since blood is in the wings while upsidedown resting, and afterwards has to dry before flight can occur. Tracing more, the cuts were clear and near-surgical- a divine miracle, if anything. Rough and violent abrasions and lacerations were horrible news. Eternity Larva's wings were additionally free of any other injury, her other one in perfect condition. It was likely the butterfly landed on her side, cushioning her other half while taking the brunt of force on the other side.

"I keep a few herbs, first aid purposes. I insist myself, this won't hurt."

Eternity Larva paused. "I truuuust you."

Smiling and trustful in her abilities, Wriggle reached into her pants pocket. First taking her calendula- marigold- she took the freshly picked single petals and packed them onto the break. She rubbed them in well for extra protection. They would prevent any infection. She then took a folded up weed, an unknown variety that grower everywhere you went, and wrapped it around the wing to make a makeshift sleeve, jolting the wing to allow it to properly be set.

"Ow..." 

"Is this painful?" Wriggle asked, immediately worried. "I have painkillers-"

"A littttttle shall do, pleasssse."

Wriggle pulled out some chamomile, picked right up from the Human Village. "Chew these down. They're not pleasant, but they work."

Obliging, Eternity Larva took her hand, picked up the herb from Wriggle, and munch down. Her face scrunched, but she eventually consumed them fully. Taking a quick glance at the scratches, Wriggle deducted they were no worry unless they became infected. Quick large, but only in length and doubtfully deep wounds like a wolf's claw!

"Thank youuu."

Wriggle could sense her speech change, a good sign!

Smoothing some honey, stored in a clear, tiny potion jar-shaped vial (garlic would only sting), Wriggle helped Eternity Larva up.

"Feeling better?"

"Ah- yees. Much more."

The firefly felt a smile crawl onto her face. She did it! She completed a full medical procedure!

"Oh, one more! This is a motivation gift."

Reaching into her opposite pocket, Wriggle pulled out a sparkling orange dahlia. Under the sun its sun-kissed color came out perfectly, complimented by its yellow center, petals arranged like a sculpture. 

"I pick flowers often, just to admire their prettiness."

Delicately, Eternity plucked it from her hands as if they were soil. She admired with eyes only. 

"The flower of inner strength...and courage."

"I wasn't aware you knew flower language-" Wriggle replied, intending to compliment. She barely noticed that was Eternity's first "normal" sentence. 

"A butterfly must know her food. They're also a sign of long bonds. I'm sure this applies, for I must thank you for the quick care."

"It was no big issue, truly. Eternity Larva, how did you get hurt?"

"I lost balance while flying, got distracted. I'm a good flier! Don't think otherwise! I just got distracted!"

Wriggle let out a small chuckle at the sudden tone shift. "I don't, I don't! Go on!"

"I fell, and before I knew it you showed up and patched me all up. I'll be good as new!"

Wriggle nodded. "I appreciate the appreciation, but a professional should check out those cuts, or perhaps give you a medicine to grow them back."

"You're not a professional?" Eternity Larva asked, small stars in her eyes almost fading.

"I wish I was, one day."

"I'm sure one day. You're excellent."

"Thank you!"

Wriggle really wasn't used to taking compliments. This was one big surprise after another- meeting another insect, finding an injured person, proving her overheard medical insight useful. 

Yeah, why not become a doctor, Wriggle? The bug world needs more representation! Turn disease carries to wound healers!

"Shall we go to Eintei?"

"Food or help?"

"Why would you want food?"

"I didn't get my flowers!"