"Meeeeeeka meep!"

I covered my head with one arm, too comfortable and sleepy to get up.

"Meeeeeeka meep!"

I felt somebody nudge me. I moaned and groggily opened my eyes, looking up to see a big red blotch beside me, nudging me. I knew it was time to get up. Maybe I shouldn't have gone out with Akamu last night, I was exhausted today. Heck, nothing happened that much anyways, except for what happened to that poor Spotlo. Felt like I didn't get any sleep at all...

As the little bug -or, should I say- Leafy Spotlo was about to cry out again, I reached up and gently laid my hand on its nose.

"Don't worry, I'm up."

It squealed, satisfied, and waddled away somewhere. I turned over onto my back and sat up. The grass all over the bottom of our home was really comfy, but I still felt a little stiff. As I stretched and rubbed my eyes, the little Leafy Spotlos began to cry louder and more excitedly, just wanting to get something to eat. If I was going to be the 'bug leader', I had to take more responsibility and care for them, go to sleep and wake up when they do... even though, all I wanted to do was go back to sleep.

I stood up slowly, then stretched my legs out, my vision quickly coming back. I felt one little Leafy Spotlo nudge me in the back and make a loud 'barking' sound. I giggled.

"Okay, okay, let's go get something to eat."

I pushed my way through the small crowd and made my way outside... it was so busy out today. I saw Pinks and Oranges scattered everywhere, working I guess... but I never saw them THIS busy. I then looked up and noticed all the darkness... I knew it was daytime, but the sky was so gray. Dark, almost black clouds were rolling in, and even though we were currently untouched, I saw the massive trees swaying back and forth in the wind, which was growing stronger and stronger.

"I said, just leave them here! They're already useless, and you just make new mistakes every day anyways. You look after the stupid Pink ones, let me worry about the rest."

"But, Anton--"

"Do as I command, or I'll leave you here with them!"

"... yes, Anton..."

I couldn't help but have my attention drawn to the scene nearby. I could understand their language, yes, but I didn't know what they were talking about at all. Yellow Leader and Green Leader were standing near the door of their rusted heap of a ship, having some sort of conversation. Green Leader was backing down right away, his eyes looking glumly down at the ground as Yellow Leader walked away in a huff. I tilted my head to the side in curiosity and was about to walk over and see if he was okay, ask what was wrong, but a mouth gently took my arm and tugged at me, whimpering. I sighed and looked back at my little friends, who seemed to be growing hungrier by the second.

"Okay, c'mon... to the hill," I said as calmly as I could. We walked to the hill, I kept stealing glances at Green Leader. He sighed in what I could only interpret as sadness, then he turned and looked right at me. I stopped in my tracks and almost immediately I felt worried. There was just something in his expression that... disturbed me.

"Cory, how many times do I have to tell you--"

"Y-yes, Anton!" Green Leader said, a bit of panic in his voice. He hurried off somewhere, doing what I didn't know. I tried to shake off the bad feeling gathering inside of me, but it just wouldn't go away.

I continued on my way, letting the Leafy Spotlos graze on the grassy hill. Spot stayed closer to me than usual, he seemed a lot jumpier than he was before. He was probably afraid that the serpent-bird creature would come back for him, but I seriously doubted it would come back so quickly, especially after receiving such a beating. I wouldn't be surprised if the poor thing bled to death...

I then jumped in surprise as I heard a loud whistle, and it was directed towards us. I couldn't help but notice how... 'chirpy' it seemed. I mean... usually, when the Leaders whistle, they make a good, long and loud whistle. I looked back to see Green Leader looking at us, fear on his face as plain as day. He whistled again, sounding a bit stronger this time, then he motioned for us to come down, his eyes nearly begging. I didn't know why he was acting this way, but when Green Leader was scared... I was scared.

I looked around, the Leafy Spotlos were watching me expectantly, as if wondering what to do. They were used to me whistling and giving commands and such, so this was different for them.

"It's okay, go to him," I said soothingly. "He's a good guy, he would never hurt you."

Some gave me skeptical looks, one or two seemed just plain scared or nervous. But they all went to Green Leader, a bit slowly and unsurely. Spot stayed by me, whimpering slightly. He must have been able to sense the negativity as well.

When they were all surrounding Green Leader, he pat a couple on the head, then looked up at Spot and I.

"M-me no wanna go... a-scared..." Spot leaned against me, and I just hugged him.

"It's gonna be okay, everything will be fine... Green Leader... you can trust him, okay?" Spot nodded, he looked like he was about to cry. He really was scared... and I didn't blame him. He's been through an awful lot, and things don't seem to be getting any better. "Come on, we'll both go over," I said, patting him lightly. He nodded, his eyes squeezed shut. I gently took hold of his stem and led him to Green Leader. I hadn't noticed, but the whole time, Green Leader was giving me the oddest look... perhaps curiosity.

"You really are something," he said quietly, watching me. I looked up at him and tilted my head a bit.

I looked out beyond the ship, I heard Yellow Leader yelling again, but couldn't make out what he was saying. But, I'm not sure how, Green Leader flinched, as he seemed to be able to hear it loud and clear.

"C'mon, c'mon," he said quietly and a bit fearfully, trying to herd us away from the hill. I didn't know what was wrong yet, but everybody's behavior was definitely starting to scare me. He stopped for a moment and was about to whistle, but then he stopped and looked at me, then at the Leafy Spotlos. "I forgot..." he mumbled to himself. I tilted my head again. What did he forget? Not seeming to know what else to do, he pointed at our home. I still didn't get his message, but then he nodded towards it and said a bit hesitantly "G-go back... please, go back..."

I nodded, understanding. I turned to my little friends and told them, "We gotta go home now, okay?" Some nodded right away, looking up at the sky and afraid. "Okay, let's go home now..." We all began to go back home, except Green Leader of course. I stopped as I heard him sigh, sad again. I turned to look at him, his back was turned to us and his head was hung low. I felt sorry for him. I didn't know what had him so scared and panicky today, but heck... anything to do with Yellow Leader, and I'd either be afraid or just plain mad.

In an attempt to try and make him feel better I said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

I got the strangest reaction from him. His head perked up right away and he looked around, seeming completely confused. I tilted my head, then he looked at me, as I seemed to be the only one nearby. The look on his face was just... pure wonderment, really a mix of confusion and surprise. I just gave him a smile, and went back home. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on his face, it was a lot better than what he was feeling earlier in my opinion.

As I entered our home, a couple bugs were laying down on the grass and napping. Some were gone, probably exploring the other rooms. Spot was laying down in a corner by himself, watching a tiny bug flitting around the wall. I walked over and sat down beside him, but he didn't seem to notice me.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

Spot looked at me with his big sad eyes and replied, "Me have bad feeling, no good... bad things happen soon, friend."

"What bad things?" I asked, curious.

Spot looked at the floor, sad. "People get hurt, no good..."

"But why? Why will people get hurt? Spot..." I was about to pet him, when I heard yelling outside. Spot looked up, alert, but I just pat him.

Standing up, I looked around at everybody and said loudly, "Nobody leave, okay? I'm going to go and see what's going on."

I left and watched as other Pinks and Oranges were running around in more of a frenzy than before. I looked up at a massive tree nearby and heard it creak very loudly.

"It's almost time! We don't have enough room for those rejects, just get in the ship and prepare for takeoff!"

"Anton, they're still living creatures, we can't--"

"Be quiet and do as you're said, boy!"

Green Leader cried out in pain as Yellow Leader knocked him to the ground, then he ran away, whistling and calling some Oranges to his side. I immediately ran to Green Leader's side, worried. He seemed to be struggling to stand up, like he already had injuries I couldn't see and they were bothering him. I held onto him and helped him to stand, he looked at me and I could see tears of pain squeezing their way out of his eyes.

"G... go home..." he said, pointing at my and the Leafy Spotlos' home again. I shook my head and squeaked, gripping his arm. I let go of his arm when he winced, I must have touched something I shouldn't have. "Please, go... I'm sorry..." He backed away from me, he seemed almost ashamed. He whistled loudly, Pinks from all over began to run towards him. He then made a different whistle, the same kind I heard Yellow Leader make before when he was telling me to 'go back to my onion'. They all stopped, then ran towards their big pink-colored home. I watched as they climbed up the stilts, and disappeared inside.

"Please, please, just go back," Green Leader said, looking at me. I could sense desperation in his voice, and I wanted to know what was going on. I opened my mouth and was about to ask, but I couldn't get a word out before somebody else came walking in.

"Well, that's the last of 'em. If only SOMEBODY wasn't being a lazy good-for-nothing, we could have gotten this done faster," said Yellow Leader, glaring at Green Leader. "Now all we need is one of those stupid little insect-dogs of yours."

Green Leader looked at him in confusion. "But I thought you said--"

"Shut up and let me finish!" he barked, and Green Leader hushed right away. Yellow Leader smiled maliciously. "If we take only one, then it would be worth more money. We could call it the last of its species! That's the only thing it'll be good for. Those Pinks and Oranges have real uses like being worthless slaves, just like you!" Yellow Leader laughed and slapped Green Leader on the back, who squeezed his eyes shut. Then Yellow Leader's expression went back to mean and spiteful. "You get in the ship and I'll get the dog, can't trust you to do the simplest of things." He then looked at me suddenly, and I impulsively took a step back. "... leave that thing here too, it's as worthless as the rest of them."

Yellow Leader pushed past me and towards my home, and I began to panic. I started to run after him, but Green Leader grabbed me from behind and held me back. I struggled and tried to get away, all I could think about was that Yellow Leader might hurt one of my friends, and I couldn't let that happen. He said something about taking one away... but to where, and why?

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," Green Leader murmured over and over again, and I could tell by his tone of voice that he might have just started to cry. I stopped struggling against him, but my inner-struggle kept going. I probably could have hurt him and gotten away easily, then I could save my friends. But I didn't want to hurt Green Leader, and that would only mean that one of my friends would be taken away... either way...

A loud shriek of terror and panic shot through the air, and I watched as Yellow Leader came back out, dragging Spot behind him. I yelled out in anger and began to struggle harder, but Green Leader had a firm grip on my arms. I sensed that he didn't want to do this at all, but he was scared. Scared of that Yellow monster...

"I TOLD you to get in the ship, Cory!" Yellow Leader yelled.

"But--"

"NO BUTS, THROW THAT THING AWAY AND LET'S GO BEFORE THE WIND GETS TOO POWERFUL, YOU IDIOT!"

Yellow Leader lunged at us and swung his arm back, then made a wide arch and knocked Green Leader right off his feet. It was enough force to send us both sprawling all over the ground. But before I could get up, I felt Yellow Leader grab my stem and throw me violently. I hadn't even thought of screaming, even though I was terrified, I just threw my arms and legs out and tried to control my fall, landing on all fours very close to my home. I looked up and watched as Yellow Leader opened a second door of some kind on the side of his ship and threw Spot inside, then he closed it and drug Green Leader into their own usual door.

I got to my feet quickly, and I jumped in fright as a loud bang sounded over my head. I looked up at the sky and noticed a bright flash once in a while, a loud bang following the flash soon after. What was going on..?

I jumped again as the ground beside me... jumped. A small spot of earth was now wet, and I watched as it happened again. Water was falling from the sky! I squeaked as a large 'blob' of water fell right on my head, soaking most of my body and drenching my flower. I quickly ran into my home, looking out and wondering what was going on as more water fell. I heard the wind begin to howl and the flashes and bangs increased. This was like a nightmare or something, never in my life had I imagined something like this.

"Friend, what happen... where brother?" squeaked a little Leafy Spotlo, who came up to me. She looked out and seemed afraid, leaf twitching slightly.

"Yellow Leader took him, but don't worry, everything will be alright," I assured her. We both looked out as the big ship began to make a low humming sound, and I wondered what was going on. Then I gasped and jumped back when water began to run around my feet... the water was coming down too fast and too much, it was starting to flow inside of our home! The Leafy Spotlo beside me just watched as the water flowed in, not seeming worried, more like curious. But I was worried for sure, the water could all flood in and drown us all!

"Everybody, come here, now!" I called out loudly, unable to mask my fear. Then I made a loud, sharp whistle. Very quickly, all the Leafy Spotlos ran out from where they were and came to me, chatting among themselves and wondering what was going on. The ship's hum was becoming louder.

"We have to get out of here and find better shelter somewhere, or we'll all die!"

The thirteen little Leafy Spotlos all looked at me fearfully, wondering what I was talking about. Then they all jumped when a huge flash came overhead and a loud, deafening bang was heard at the same time. Some began to whimper and they all huddled closer. I looked out and immediately my eyes fell on the Pink home, another flash appeared overhead and allowed me to see it better for a split second. Surely they would help...

"Follow me," I called over a loud rumble in the distance, and the ship's hum was getting louder and more intense, making the ground vibrate slightly. I closed my flower, then ran out into the storm, my little friends hiding under their leaves and following closely. As we made it to the Pink home, I stopped and was hit with a sudden realization; the Leafy Spotlos have no arms, so they can't climb on their own. I considered carrying them all up myself, but the increasing hum made me panic, and I knew I didn't have that much time.

"Wait here!" I yelled, then I grabbed onto the nearest stilt and climbed. I could hear them all whimpering and crying after me, they seemed so lost and confused. When I climbed inside and stood up, soaking wet, all sound in the Pink home ceased immediately and all eyes were on me.

"What are YOU doing here?" said one Pink, breaking the silence and glaring at me.

"P-please, help! You have to help us!" I said, my voice quivering. A few Pinks looked at me curiously and with genuine concern on their faces, but the vast majority didn't like me being there at all.

"Why should we help you," said another Pink, stepping forward and crossing her arms.

"Yeah, and what do you mean 'us'? Do you have some Orange friends outside?" said one Pink with a cut on his cheek, a few others snickered as if he said a good joke. But I didn't find this funny at all.

"You don't understand! If you don't help, my friends will all die!"

"Well, let 'em die," said one Pink, throwing a nut of some kind at me, and it hit me right across the face.

"Hey, there's no need of that!" said the Flower Pink, quickly walking over to the Pink who threw the nut at me. He quickly scrambled away from her, probably thinking she was going to hit him. "If lives are at stake here, we can't just abandon them all."

The Pinks went into an uproar, not believing what she just said.

"We can't help her, she's filth just like those Oranges!"

"Let them die, she chose to do this to herself!"

Everybody hushed as the whole place rocked, a bright flash illuminating the whole place for a second and a huge bang following it. I heard my little friends scream out in fear outside.

"Get down there and help them inside," ordered the Flower Pink.

The Pinks who seemed concerned in the first place jumped up and ran over right away, then started to climb down. I heard one say, "What the heck ARE those?" but they climbed down and helped anyways. I smiled up at the Flower Pink. I always felt so small when I was around her...

I turned and climbed down as well, I let go and jumped down the rest of the way as some were climbing up, the Leafy Spotlos held onto the Pinks' legs with their stems and they would try to climb together. Another loud rumble, the water was rising too quickly. Where we were, it was still a canyon-like area, this place would fill up like a pond in no time. I began to help the last one over to a stilt, he was shaking in fear and from the cold.

"I w-w-want m-my mommy," he stuttered out, terrified.

"Shh, you're safe now, we're all safe," I said to him soothingly, then I grabbed onto the stilt. "Hold my feet with your stem, then I'll help pull you up." He cringed when a loud rumble and flash came overhead again, but he did as I said. I slowly began to climb, this was more difficult than it looked. When we finally made it to the top, I climbed inside, a couple other Pinks helped us in as well. I breathed a deep sigh of relief and shook my body, opening my flower again. I sat down and the Leafy Spotlos ran over to me, nuzzling me with affection and concern. A few checked me with their leaves to see if I was hurt in any way.

"You were, like, so brave!" exclaimed a Pink who was watching me admiringly. "I never would have, like, IMAGINED somebody going all the way out there to help these little cuties!"

"She wasn't out there willingly," I heard a familiar male voice say. I looked up right away and saw a Pink I never thought I would see again. He stepped forward, and he seemed much... taller than I remembered him. "Long story short, Kiki, she got thrown out of here a while back. She's not one of us."

"Huh? What do you mean, Tauri?" asked the Pink, apparently named Kiki, tilting her head as she looked at him.

But everybody yelled out in panic as the place rocked violently. It didn't seem as though it happened because of the quickly rising water, nor because of the wind... it felt like it moved on its own.

"Wh-what was that!" yelled out Kiki. The Flower Pink seemed to be the only one perfectly calm. The place rocked again, even more violently, causing me to fall right outside and into the water, which was now higher than I was. I surfaced quickly and immediately began to panic. Just being in the water caused me great pain, I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore.

"Swim to the hill!" called out Kiki, poking her head out and looking just as panicky as I was. I very quickly obeyed her, flailing and slowly making my way over. I felt like I was going to black out any second, but I held on for as long as I could. When I finally touched grass, I pulled myself up and collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily.

It wasn't long before all of my senses were completely overwhelmed. The huge ship, making loud and frightening noises, finally struggled its way out of the water and right into the air. I watched, astonished, as it made its way upwards, wondering how such a huge thing could even fly. Then other strange things happened. I turned onto my back and watched, mouth hanging open in wonder, as the Pink home suddenly reared up and began to move completely on its own. One leg-like stilt stretched out and made contact with the hill, then the other two stilts began to move as well, until it climbed to the top of the hill. I was just... speechless... amazed... shocked, surprised, you name the word, and that's what I was. I had no idea that the very place I used to call home was actually ALIVE.

It then bent its three legs and crouched near the ground, the flower on top began to spin. It spun faster and faster until the whole thing jumped up into the air and followed the ship. I looked off into the distance and saw the Orange home do the very same. Soon, all three crafts were swaying very hard in the air because of the high winds, but they mostly stayed on course and near each other... and, during this whole spectacle, I very slowly realized... I was all alone.

"... no..."

That was all I could say. I was just in complete disbelief, not knowing what to make of what I just saw and everything that just happened. I was all alone before, but now I was all alone, trapped, and in a ruined land. How could things get any worse...

"Filthy insect..."

I froze as fear gripped my entire being, then I turned and looked into the eyes of someone I didn't expect to see anytime soon... or, should I say, eye.

"You and your little friends stole my vision... now I will steal your life."

The serpent-like beast reared her head up into the air and shrieked loudly, a bright flash appeared right behind her and made her appear even more menacing than before. She then lunged downward towards me. I just barely avoided her beak, scrambling away on hands and knees. I barely had a chance to get away, but I quickly got to my feet and started to run... but HAD nowhere to run. Now the water had risen so far that we were on a mini-island.

"You can't escape now. Where are your little friends? Abandoned you, did they... that's alright, revenge will be sweet nonetheless."

I kept running for my life. I knew deep down that my energy would run out soon, but I really didn't want to die. I dodged her beak time and time again, and she just seemed to be playing with me. We both knew very well that she could kill me whenever she wanted to, but seeing my fear and frenzied movements seemed to greatly amuse her. She made one extra-hard lunge, and her beak got stuck in the ground by mistake. She seemed only annoyed and struggled to get free, and that was when I seized my chance. I ran and grabbed her beak and began to climb up to her head. She glared at me with her good eye, it was a deep red with black in the middle. I could see my own face reflected in the smooth, shiny surface. And, as much as I greatly regretted the thought, I found that this was my only chance. I swung one arm back, then powerfully swung my hand at her eye, slicing it with my claws.

Red liquid spurt out and splashed me and she struggled violently from the intense pain. I fell off right away and she pulled herself free from the ground, throwing her head back and screaming out in agony. Now both of her eyes were ruined and she couldn't see me... but she still knew where I was because she could smell her own scent on me from the red liquid. She screeched out in rage and lunged towards me, and I just barely rolled out of the way in time. This time she was serious, pecking rapidly and desperately trying to catch me. I yelled out in pain when her beak speared my flower and she slammed me to the ground. I could only lay there, stunned, and looking up in wide-eyed fear as she was about to make the final blow.

But then a bright bolt of white-hot energy shot down from the clouds and struck her dead-on. She hadn't time to scream, realize she had been hit, or even feel the pain. Her blackened body fell to the ground, sending massive tremors everywhere. I laid there, all of my energy gone, my body completely spent. I then blacked out, and the world around me left as I slipped into pure darkness.