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It was early in the morning, the sun's rays were just barely peeking over the horizon to glisten against the fresh dew. The flower garden quietly awaited the daily tenders with jittery anticipation as a cool breeze rustled the leaves. Breakdown yawned as he crawled away from the Stuntimoth flutter and stretched his wings to their full length. Dark blue and beautiful, as a Chephise moth, he took great pride in maintaining his appearance. The tips of his wings had brilliant white crescent moons that bled a thin outline around the entire shape. His upper body was rusty red that, if you asked him, gave him an edge against his fellow Stuntimoths. Compared to their muted colors and repetitive patterns, he would make for a fine addition to anyone's bug pin board.
He beat his wings a couple of times before rolling his helm to crack his neck. The huddle always cramped his style but he didn't mind the warmth. He sighed and continued to crawl away from the group, the morning shift would be awake soon to pollinate their territory and he didn't want to miss out on the good flowers. Lately his fellow moths had been on his aft about not being as productive, which in truth, he wasn't. For the past few days, a yellow blur kept threatening the edges of the garden and his processor. It was too fast to get a good look but he was determined to figure out who this intruder could be.
Breaks absentmindedly pulled an antenna into his mouth and began to nibble. He squinted as the glare from the morning sun bounced off the garden dew and directly into his optics. Maybe it was time to add some more leaves to the moth den. His audial twitched at a soft shuffle behind him as he began work on the other antenna.
“Who are you doing that for?” Dragstrip whispered with a sneer.
“Not you.” He muttered, “Go beat against a light bulb or something.”
“As if,” The Chickweed Geometer moth scoffed as he crept down the branch. “Come on, tell me.”
Breaks scooted away, “Buzz off will you?!”
“Would you both come off it?” A groggy voice behind Dragstrip grumbled. “Too early for this.”
“Oh good he’s still awake.” Breakdown puffed up his wings and bent his knees, readying himself to jump and fly away.
“Not so fast,” Motormaster grabbed his wing, “You’ve been slacking off on your flutter duties.”
Breaks stared at the Black Witch moth indignantly. “Have not.”
“Have too.”
“Have not!” He jerked his wing out of Motormaster’s grip.
“You have too, we’re short on nectar and there’s signs of other bugs encroaching on our territory in your sector.”
“You’re seeing things,” Breaks muttered as he smoothed down the scales on his wing. “There’s been nothing for days, it’s really boring out there.”
“They’re there.” Motormaster glared at him without blinking. “I know they are.”
Breaks pensively scratched at the bark on the tree, “Maybe we should expand.”
“Not yet,” He shook his helm and gave his wings a single beat. “We need to strengthen our hold in the garden.”
“It’s just us,” Breaks sighed exasperatedly and crawled down the branch to a new take off position. “It’s only ever just us here.”
Motormaster followed him, “Explain the missing nectar and damaged leaves in your sector.”
“I don’t know!” He threw his hands into the air. “The wind? A bird? Are you mad at me because I didn’t fix the leaves right away? Is that what this is about?”
“May I remind you,” Motormaster growled through gritted denta and narrowed optics, “This is our garden. We founded, we protect it and we ain't going no where. The world is a cruel place for bugs out there. Ain’t nobody going to look out for you except us. If one falls, we all fall.” He flittered his wings as he spoke, stretching out to his full height. “If one of us is slacking, we're all in danger. It's everybody's job to tend to their sector, if you're not, we're going to start having problems. Understand me?”
Breakdown’s gaze wavered, “The world is a big place.....what if I found another garden?”
In an instant, the bigger moth shoved him to the ground and forced Breaks’ faceplate into bark with his foot, “I found you when you were just a grub! You owe me these wings! Now get out there, patrol your sector and don’t come back without the nectar!” At that, Motormaster stepped off his back and with a swift kick, sent Breakdown tumbling off the branch.
His little body twisted and faltered as he fell to the earth, after a couple of somersaults, his wings caught air. A loud pinging rang in his audials as he spat out bits of wood. He frantically beat his wings and aimlessly fluttered over the flowers. All things considered, they looked rather nice glimmering with the morning dew. His favorites weren’t quite yet in bloom but he could settle for the early bloomers. Breakdown swiped a water droplet off a rather large primrose as he flew over it. He slurped it down with a dejected sigh. Another regular morning with his flutter done and dusted.
He coasted over a lilac bush, a few buds were only now starting to appear but Breaks still hoped to catch a smell. No such luck. He circled around it twice, checking all of the buds and noted a new one. Satisfied with the bush’s progress, he made his way along a patch of grass. His feet barely touched the tallest blades and it looked as though he was hopping through the garden. Here was dangerous as there were no other plants for his protection, a bird could swoop down and snatch him away if he wasn’t quick enough. A part of him wanted to linger, to tempt a bird, but his instincts got the better of him.
Maybe his flutter was right. Maybe this was as good as it was ever going to get, that he should be so lucky to be in such a bigger flutter. After all, they all looked out for each other. This territory was theirs as much as his and if anyone threatened to take it away, they’d have better odds. Still, why did he feel so lonely? He landed on a daffodil and rubbed his body against the pollen as he searched for nectar. Rather full today. Breaks jumped to another flower and intentionally brushed the pollen on the stigma. His abdomen bobbed in the air as he climbed deeper into the daffodil. Despite its size, this one always gave him trouble. At least it gave him decent cover. Satisfied with his work, he left the meager amount of nectar behind, there would be more tomorrow.
He hummed as he caught a breeze and moved on to the tulips. Pollinating alone wasn’t so bad, no one was around to rush him or second guess his decisions. It would be nice to talk to someone though. Breaks wiggled inside the lips of a pink tulip to the point where only his wings were sticking out. His tune echoed off the petals and the flower gently swayed to his motion. He didn’t care for the flavor of nectar tulips produced but to his surprise, this one was already dry. Suspicious, Breakdown shifted around inside until his helm popped out the entrance. What was left of the remaining pollen grains stuck to his chest. The garden was empty. He hopped over to the adjacent tulip and it too was dry.
Breakdown frowned. Maybe Wildrider pollinated these last night. He heaved himself out of the tulip and took a moment before coasting down to the ground. Without checking, he scurried along the rock wall and under a low hanging branch of a bush. Here was the heart of ‘his’ territory. All of his worldly possessions were stashed in this hidey hole. A leaf with a particularly pretty pattern from last season, a smooth seed, and a twig he had fashioned into a guitar. This he was particularly proud of. The twig survived a rather difficult rain storm and had just the right balance and curve to turn into an instrument. He picked it up with a grin and immediately ducked back out.
Giddy now, he darted to the far edge of the garden where he was certain no one could see him. There, a flat rock barely protruded from the dirt, the perfect spot for him to sunbathe. He hovered in the air for a moment before gently touching down, the rock already warm from the morning sun. He melted onto it with a sigh, his wings stretched and beat as his little hands gripped the surface. Breakdown twitched his antennae and tasted the air, no one was around.
“Finally,” He murmured as he sat up and brought the twig guitar into his lap. A light breeze tickled his bug fluff as he tuned the strings. “And the fields, fields.....fields,” Breaks dropped his voice down a pitch, “they're under lock and key, though-though the rain and the sun come through.” He grinned to himself as he cleared his throat, “Springtime starts, then it stops…in the name of something new, and all the senses rise against, coming back to you.....”
The garden really was lovely. His fellow moths worked hard on it, he couldn't lie. Living here may not be perfect, but Motormaster was right. He’d learn to live with it.
Twing!
Breaks frowned as he missed his note. He peered at the tuning pegs, no those were correct. He tried the note again.
Twing!
“Always tricky,” He muttered as he shook his hand around to stretch. “Coming.....back…to-”
Twing!
“Fine!!” He set the twig guitar down and looked in the opposite direction. “Was just warming up anyways....”
Another breeze rustled his antennae as he stared out into the field of flowers. His life could be worse. No point in thinking about a different one. Still. No, no point. This garden is where he belonged. Breakdown sat on that rock for a while, occasionally folding and unfolding his wings, the guitar taunting him to pick it back up. The pollinating could wait, sunshine like this only lasted for so long. His optics became heavy and his helm bounced back up as he tried to stay awake. Without warning, a yellow blur flashed across the garden and snapped him out of his grogginess.
He instinctively kicked the twig guitar under a leaf and was on his feet. “I was just taking a break, Dragstrip!”
No answer.
Breaks scanned the garden and what he saw stole his breath. There, scuttling around on his favorite orange lantanas, was a giant Dysphania Militaris. It fanned its wings slowly, almost as if waiting for him to notice it. Their optics locked and the other moth gave him a little wave.
Breakdown squinted, was it serious? Not a care in the world that it was trespassing in his garden, on his flower and it had the audacity to wave? He blinked hard as he carefully bent his knees and prepared his wings to jump. It smiled at him. It was serious. His antennae twitched and in a flash he darted towards the intruder with all the strength his wings could muster. Breaks tightened his brow and stretched his arms out to brace for impact. He was never the best at combat but he had to try, after all, what if Motormaster was watching him this very moment?
One klik Breaks was sunbathing on the rock, the next he and this big yellow stranger were crashing through the leaves. He knocked the air out of their moth bodies and both staggered about in the grass before the yellow moth took off. Breaks was right behind him, ducking and dodging through bushes and around flower bundles. The wind whistling against his audials, he was fast but this moth was faster. He narrowed his optics, he knew this garden better. They did loops and dives and almost seemed to be playing with him, occasionally tossing its helm back to check if Breaks was still following. Breaks banked a hard right, disappearing behind a flower pot, only to sling-shot around and slam into the stranger.
The pair smashed into a low hanging hydrangea cluster, this time Breakdown didn’t hesitate. He haphazardly swung his front arms at the yellow moth, occasionally landing a blow. His wings beat wildly and his antennae folded back as he knew he was winning. Unfortunately, the stranger hit him back. It kicked him squarely in the knee, which caused him to stagger, but he responded by launching his body into the other moth’s chest. They tumbled back and Breaks found himself beating his little fists anywhere he could.
“Alright! Alright!” The yellow and black moth held up his forearms and lowered his wings with a grin. “All this for a single flower? Relax!”
Breakdown beat his wings once more as he paused with his fist still in the air. “What?!”
“There’s so many flowers around here.” The stranger gently patted the petals, “Surely this one isn’t worth a broken wing? Is it?”
“This is my flower.” Breaks folded his arms across his chest and cocked a brow. He not so subtly tried to catch his breath and his knee started to scream at him as the adrenaline was starting to wear off. “So of course it is.”
“I’m willing to share.”
“Share my flower?!” He scoffed and twittered his wings. As he did, he attempted to look around the garden for any of his fellow Stuntimoths. “MY flower?”
“You’ve been sharing it with me for the past couple of days.” He casually smoothed down fluff on his thorax. “Haven’t you?”
“What? Have not.”
“I know a gawper when I see one.” The stranger daintily crawled on top of the flower cluster and began to poke for the nectar. “And you’ve been spying on me.”
Breakdown frowned as he shifted his weight to another foot, “I’m just scoping out who’s been stealing from my territory. Safety first………and all that.”
“Not your territory is it?” The other moth looked up from his work coyly. He’d located the nectar but still hadn’t taken a sip.
“Yes it is.”
“You share it with those weird, scary looking moths.” He went back to pretending to look for the nectar. “What’s up with those guys?”
He didn’t have an answer.
“So you’ve sized me up.” His antennae twitched playfully in Breaks’ direction. He waited for Breaks to say something, anything, but was taken back by his shyness. “My name is Bumblebee, by the way.”
“Really?” Breakdown covered his face with a hand and looked away to hide a laugh, “What kind of name is that?”
“My flutter had a sense of humor.” Bumblebee flicked up his wings and gave them a quick beat. “You’ve seen a bee before?”
“Yes.” Breaks was starting to get suspicious, no one was this chatty for no reason. He glanced around for the Stuntimoths once more but the garden was empty. Still, it felt like he was being watched.
“I like your wings.” Bee politely gestured to Breaks’ asymmetrical pattern in an attempt to break the awkward silence. “Very colorful.”
Breaks tilted his helm at the other moth. “What do you want?”
“Some of this flower.” He shrugged and continued to dig around. A bit of pollen had gotten stuck to his cheek and he casually brushed it off.
Something in the back of Breakdown’s processor pinged as the other moth groomed himself. A feeling he never knew he had or knew the word for. Only that it made him giddy, yet scared. It was now he realized just how large this intruder was compared to him. If he had to guess this moth was twice his size and equally as handsome. Unsure on what to do with this feeling, he quickly tugged on a flower petal, “I’m not sharing.”
“Why not?”
Breakdown gaped, the corner of his mouth twisted and his back foot began to tap, “I don't know you.”
“You could get to know me over this delicious flower.” Bee replied with a sly smile as he scooted over and fanned out his wings. They were utterly divine, as a Dysphania Militaris, ‘Bumblebee’ really was the perfect name for the moth. Mostly yellow, the edges were lined in black. Where Breaks had white crescent moons, Bee had black that framed both his apex and hind wings. On the yellow he was covered in symmetrical black spots, while in the black tips, the spots were white. His abdomen was also yellow, but here there were stripes instead of spots that gave him the distinct ‘bee’ pattern. He slow-blinked at Breaks before closing his wings and patted the space next him.
Breaks stood there, unsure if he was being pranked or not. Surely this moth had ulterior motives. Although, he could be innocent. Yet, he was a thief. He considered splitting the nectar with Bee but ultimately shook his helm. Like it or not, Breaks’ duty was to his flutter. “Get off my flower.”
“Fine.” He pouted before sighing and carefully crawled off the petals. Bee looked at the smaller moth once over as if trying to decide something, “What flower around here isn’t taken?”
“This whole garden is claimed.” He retorted with his hands on his hips. Annoyed by his persistence, Breakdown would admit, he liked the audacity of the other moth.
“Surely there's a flower around here that’s been overlooked?” Bumblebee slow-blinked at him again with a playful smirk as he began to groom one of his antennae.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and underbrush while Breakdown thought of his options. Sure, this moth was definitely his mystery bug and most certainly handsome, but stranger danger. Yet, that’s something his flutter told him and he rarely met other bugs these days. He glanced over his shoulder towards the moth den, not a soul. Bumblebee stared at him expectantly.
“Yeah,” His voice started to trail off and he cleared his throat. “Yeah I know a good one.”
“After you!”
“No?” Breakdown motioned towards a far off corner in the garden where he knew no one in the den could see from that angle. “I’ll follow you, it’s there.”
Bee shrugged and brushed his hands against a bit of upturned fluff. “Alright.”
After a moment, Bumblebee jumped off the flower and Breaks followed suit. They flew over the flower buds, around a garden table and landed at the base of a tree that was surrounded by bushes. The grass tickled their feet as they scurried towards the safety of a low hanging bush branch.
Bumblebee shook his wings and stretched a bit nonchalantly, “You never told me your name.”
“Breakdown,” He felt a tightness in his chest at the realization. When was the last time he’d introduced himself to another bug? The tightness only got worse as he truly couldn’t remember. He tried to seem unbothered by it but his optics strained as he followed up with, “I’m called Breakdown.”
The yellow moth grinned at him, “Now there’s a name.”
He stared, “Yeah……”
Breaks held up a leaf for the other moth to scurry through as he glanced back at the moth den. No sign of life. He held his breath, ducked into the bush and gestured for his guest to climb the flower stem. Together, they inched their way up and back into the open air where a rather large, pink and white Camellia Japonica awaited them. Another one of his special hiding places, this flower faced away from the garden and into unknown territory, easily protected by shade, yet the occasional ray of sunshine made its way through.
Bumblebee quietly gasped at the sight of it. Not a stain or even a tear in the petals. The yellow moth didn’t wait for permission, he jumped and delicately landed near the center of the flower. Breakdown studied him with squinted optics, a part of him wanting to join but the other still nervous that a Stuntimoth would catch them.
“So now what?” Breaks asked, trying somewhat to keep it cool.
“You aren’t very friendly,” Bumblebee teased as he poked at the new flower. He flicked his gaze back at Breaks, “Are you?”
“I’m plenty friendly,” He scoffed as he sat down to join in the poking. Right at the top there was a droplet of nectar the other moth clearly missed. Breaks quickly stuffed it into his mouth.
Bumblebee watched him closely, his wings fanned out just to come back together with a quick beat. “Well, if you don’t mind, l’m going to snack on this flower while I have the chance.”
“Go ahead,” Breaks found another pocket of nectar and eagerly scarfed it down. “I might leave you some.”
“You’re too kind.” Bee murmured as he too produced a drop of nectar. He ate it with a slight bit more of decorum. “Say.....were you the one playing that music earlier.”
Breaks felt his cheeks become warm, “Maybe. Why?”
“It was pretty.” Bee didn’t look at him. “Who taught you?”
“Nobody.”
“Nobody?......You’re pretty good to be self taught.”
Breaks paused as he held a handful of nectar to his mouth, “……thanks.” No one had ever been this nice to him. “......Do you have a twig guitar?”
“Me?” Bee quickly swallowed his nectar, “No. I don’t have the hands for it. But there’s a few in my flutter who do.”
He stared at the other moth’s hands for a klik too long. “....I don’t see anything wrong with them.”
Bee flicked his gaze at the deep blue moth as a salacious thought crossed his processor, “My Head Wing would disagree.”
Breaks looked away and suddenly became very interested in the flower petal he was sitting on. He tugged on it, “Oh.”
“I’m actually a backup vocalist in my flutter’s band,” Bumblebee leaned in closer to the other moth. “Everyone says I make a great tenor.”
Breakdown’s optics went wide as he realized Bee could probably hear his heart beating throughout his little body. His antennae drooped and he tried to appear disinterested as he poked at a clump of nectar. “No doubt.”
“You’re more of a baritone,” Bee scooted even closer, a rare sunbeam caught on his wings and it looked as though he was glowing. “Aren’t you?”
“I-” Breaks really thought about it but came up blank, “.....wouldn’t know.”
Bee reached out and gently brushed away a fleck of pollen on Breaks’ chest. “I’d say so,” He murmured.
Breakdown stared at him, this time he was certain the other moth could hear his heartbeat as it was all he could hear. He sat there, frozen, watching Bee slowly smooth down his fluff. His hands were so strong, yet delicate, definitely the right kind to play a twig guitar. Breaks gritted his denta and fought against the sudden urge to fan out his wings. Instead he focused back on poking around for nectar, but he didn't get very far.
Bumblebee grabbed his hand and held it up to his own palm with a laugh, “Your hands are so small!”
He blinked. Bee's touch was so tender? His heart stopped. His antennae twitched. Breakdown had never been touched by another moth like this before, sure the occasional accidental hand bump here and there while passing nectar to his fellow Stuntimoths. But like this? So tenderly? So curiously? Never. If he could spring into the air and flutter about until he burst into a billion tiny pieces he would have. His cheeks flushed a deeper maroon as he averted his optics.
Bee tilted his helm to meet his gaze, “You’re trembling?”
Breaks hadn’t realized it, but his fluff had puffed back up, his abdomen held a low vibration and his wings gave away his excitement. “......Why are you in my garden?” He whispered as he pulled his hand back to his chest. “The world is full of flowers but you want mine?”
The yellow moth’s smile faded as he meekly tucked his hands between his thighs. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“My flutter,” His voice trailed off as he seemed to reconsider something, “my flutter is great, I’m not complaining, but sometimes……sometimes the world is a little too big.”
Breakdown looked at him, really looked at him. The moth’s wings had knicks on the edges he hadn’t noticed before. The colors were patchy and antennae uneven, a faint scar ran across his cheek. “What do you mean?”
“It’s nice to get away from them,” Bee quietly shifted his weight. “We travel a lot, klicks and klicks, gardens and gardens and gardens.” His wings folded down around his frame. “That’s what I do, scout out new gardens for the flutter.”
“You don’t have your own garden?” Breaks found himself leaning closer, “At all?”
He nodded, his turn to avoid eye contact, “Sometimes……I wish I could just stay in one spot, even just for a season.”
“It gets boring,” Breaks tried to lighten the mood as he dug around for any remaining nectar. “You’d miss traveling eventually.”
“Have you been far?” Bee murmured, his optics flicking back to the other moth, his faceplate gave away he already knew the answer.
“No.” He admitted with a shrug, “Maybe one day.”
There was a pause. Breaks licked the remaining nectar off his digits while Bee studied his movements.
“Would you,” Bee carefully chose his words, “like to see a new garden?”
There went his heartbeat again. This time he let his antennae fold back in surprise, “With you?”
“Why not?” Bumblebee grinned at the idea, “We could start a new flutter.”
“A new……flutter?”
“Other moths will show up eventually,” His optics got wider and his wings perked up. “We could start our own band while we’re at it.”
A laugh escaped Breaks’ lips, “Now a band?”
“You can teach me how to play twig guitar,” Bee shuffled closer and gathered both of Breaks’ front hands into his. “I can teach you how to stretch out your vocal range. It’ll be something new!”
“I-uh,” Breaks wanted to say yes. He so desperately wanted to say yes. But in that moment, something deep inside of him was unsure.
“A whole garden might be a lot of work for only two of us,” He pressed further, already imagining what his new moth den would look like. “But you’ve got nothing to lose!”
“Sure he does!” An irritated voice bellowed from over their helms. The peeping-moth quickly dropped down between the pair and shoved Breakdown away from Bumblebee. “So this is where you’ve been getting off to!”
“Motormaster…” Breaks wheezed as he attempted to scuttle away, “Deadend.....”
“You got me out during the day!” Motormaster loomed over him, his wings seemed to blot out any leftover sunlight. In one swift movement he stomped on Breaks’ hind foot. “With the despoiler?!!?”
Breaks quickly covered his helm with his hands and tried not to squirm, “It’s no-”
“AND ON MY FLOWER?!?!!?” He bellowed, with his free foot he kicked Breakdown in the chest.
“Hey!” Bumblebee jumped to his feet but Deadend rushed to block him. “Do none of you know how to share?!”
There was a silence that hung in the air for a beat too long.
Motormaster narrowed his optics and tilted his helm before snatching Breakdown up by his antennae. Breaks knew better than to scream. He swung the smaller moth around to face the intruder. “Go ahead big-moth,” Motormaster shoved Breaks in front of Bee, “rough him up.”
Breakdown sheepishly met his first love’s gaze. They stared at each other, all their future possibilities gone in an instant. They lived an entire lifetime in that look. Flowers pollinated and new frontiers explored, summer days toiled into autumn nights as they snuggled down in the moth den they built together. They’d ruin each other, tenderly, their fluff intertwined and scales staining each other’s wings. Little by little, grubs would fill up their den and soon their garden became over-populated with rambunctious baby moths. They’d name every single one of them, mourn the ones lost to elements and predators, teach the rest about the best flowers and that light bulbs were a cruel joke. A world of their own making, together.
But a bird’s shadow interrupted the fantasy. Every moth froze. A wistful grin threatened the corner of Bee’s lips.
“You gotta catch me first,” Bumblebee breathed before giving his wings a single mighty flap and shot himself up into the air.
“After him!” Motormaster threw Breakdown at him and quickly followed in pursuit.
Breaks frantically beat his wings, his limbs screamed at him, something was certainly broken but he ignored it for now. Bumblebee was fast, this was true, and the Stuntimoths knew this garden. But Breaks knew his tricks. The group swooped low, across the tops of the tulips, down and around a bird bath, and Breaks could swear he heard Bee laugh as he thwhipped a leaf back in their faceplates. Breakdown didn’t miss a beat, he pitched up, barely avoiding the rebound of the leaf as it hit Motormaster. He didn’t stop at the scream, he didn’t check to see Dead End stop to help their Head Wing. Breaks tucked in his antennae and willed his body to go even faster. Bumblebee seemed to dance along the grass, it was too easy for him.
Bee glanced over his shoulder, still smiling as he spoiled his wings to make an abrupt stop. Again, they crashed into each other, but Bee recovered and took off through the chain-link fence.
And just like that, he was gone.
Breakdown had landed on his back, cushioned by some taller blades of grass with his feet splayed up towards the sky. He blinked, once, twice, desperate not to cry. He sniffled and lay there. Everything hurt. If he could dissolve into the earth he would have done so. A breeze ruffled his fluff. There was no time for all that.
Motormaster reappeared, a scowl chiseled into his faceplate. He leaned into Breaks’ faceplate, his optics were hard and his breath stank.
“I should leave you for the birds.” He growled.
“I-I,” Breaks coughed, there was a crackling sound in his spiracles, “I got rid of it.”
Motormaster stood up to his full height and seemed to consider something before shaking his helm. “Don’t come back to the den for three nights. When you do, it better be with double the nectar you owe.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Motormaster gestured to Dead End and the moths headed back to the den.
Breaks sighed. His body hurt so bad. Where it hurt the worse, he couldn’t tell. He sighed again as a cloud slowly passed overhead. It was probably for the best. He closed his optics and this time he did cry. Warm tears slipped from his optics and fell to the earth but he didn’t make a sound. He lay there, body shaking for what could’ve been an eternity. The sun made its way, like it always did and by the grace of Primoth, no birds spotted him. However, an ant crawled up one of his blades of grass and started to poke at him.
“Go away,” He muttered to the ant.
It only pried further.
“GO AWAY!”
It ignored him and started to nibble.
Breaks sat up and shoved the creature away with all the strength he could muster. It scurried back to where it came.
He sighed again. Now he was alone. Without checking, he made his way back to where he stashed his twig guitar. The morning dew had officially evaporated and he was too weak to climb into a flower. But he didn’t mind. The rock was warm and welcomed him back with a soothing touch.
Breakdown picked up the twig guitar. He admired the neck, the tautness of the strings and ran a hand along the crook. It really was well made. Breaks rearranged himself on the rock, pulled the twig guitar back into his lap, and paused.
There, stuck to his chest fluff, was a splattering of bright yellow moth scales. His heart stopped as he stared at it, Motormaster had seen it too. Yet, the moth had said nothing to him. One final insult. He tepidly pulled off a scale. It was so smooth and beautiful. He placed it back exactly where he had found it.
He cleared his throat, and began to pluck at the strings, “....coming back to you.....”