Character is habit of long duration.

- Plutarch


Mido slid the towel off the box. Sitting inside were four little things, one letting off a squeak, another chirping. The little things had big foreheads, tiny beaks, and large eyes.

Vera gasped. "Baby owls!" She put her hands on her face, blushing through her tattooed skin.

"Yup, baby owls!" Nina remarked.

"I think I saw them before," Kibou said to himself.

Luna stared blankly. Vera, however, looked like she is about to cry from a cuteness overload, clenching her hands against her cheeks, breathing high-pitched.

Luna snickered. "Really, Vera? Really?"

Vera's eyes got shiny.

"Guess she does have a soft spot after all…" Kibou whispered, Nina chuckling.

Mido leaned back, looking up the oak. "There's a hole in this tree, I've seen the same owl fly in and out of it. I'm certain that the baby owls come from this tree, must have fallen out somehow. So, it's your job to get them back in their nest."

Vera stroked the babies, the owlets extending themselves like cats for her hands. "Sssoft, sssilky, tickly feathersss…"

Mido said, "Work together to bring them back to their home. I hope neither of you will fight."

"I wish I could keep them… as pets…" Vera mumbled while Luna made funny faces behind her back. An owlet took a few steps back.

"Just bring them home. I put a rope over there, you can throw it over a branch. One of you can tie the rope around your waist for the other to pull it. You can put the owls back in their tree that way." Mido yawned. "When you're done, you both can do whatever you want. Bye!" Mido left, his quiet fairy changing color.

Vera and Luna looked at each other and scowled. The owlets squeaked.

The tattooed lass threw the rope over a branch.

"Looks like it's me who has to do the pulling, since I'm stronger and taller than you. OK, tie one end of the rope around yourself, you'll be holding the box. I'll pull the other end of the rope to lift you. You better not drop the box of babies or I'll kill you."

Luna rolled her eyes, tying one end of rope around her waist. She lifted the box, little talons clicking against the wood.

"See? You two can work together! Vera, I forgive you for hitting me, and I'm happy that you so willingly want to help Luna." Kibou happily bounced about in the air.

"Ya, whatever…" Vera's grip tightened. "Hey, ghosty, ready?"

One arm around the box against and her side, other hand on the rope, Luna placed a foot against the tree. "Ready."

Vera pulled, up Luna goes, walking up the oak at the same time. She grasped and stood on branches as she ascended to make things easier for Vera, occasionally looking at the tall vixen. The girls occasionally exchanged mild glares.

"Would've been a better idea to have lots of people pulling this..." Vera grumbled. Nina and Kibou grasp the rope, too. "Seriously?"

"Every bit helps!" Kibou said.

"Ya!" Nina chirped.

Luna looked down, perhaps twenty feet up so far. Her stomach churned. An owlet squeaked. Luna looked back at the many pairs of big eyes and smiled.

"Don't you dare drop that box!" Vera warned.

Luna shook her head dismissively.

"You know, my hands are really sweaty!"

"Shut up and do your job," Luna replied.

"Ughh!"

"Luna's careful, she'll do it!" Kibou comforted.

"She better... Hey! You going up or what?"

Up and up Luna went, nearing the cavity in the tree, about forty feet from the ground. She grabbed the bottom edge of the cavity, taking a peek. Feathers are inside the cavity, the same color as the owlets. "They definitely belong here."

Down below, Vera struggled from strain. A wasp buzzed at her nose.

"Get out of here!" Vera moved her face about, but the annoying bug kept irritating her. "Nina, scare this dumb bug away!"

"But it's a wasp, it'll sting me!" Nina flew behind Kibou.

"Uhh, I'll try to scare it off." Kibou shooed the buzzing thing. It kept pestering Vera, who closed her eyes and leaned away.

"Do something!" The wasp landed on Vera's collarbone, crawling around, little black legs and antennae dangerously tickly. "I said do something!"

Kibou flew forth and tackled the wasp.

The insect buzzed around then returned to Vera's shirt. "Oh, for crying out loud…"

Kibou produced sparkles, grabbing one and throwing it at the wasp. The wasp flinched. Kibou threw a couple more sparkles. The wasp flew away.

"What are you waiting for?" Luna called. "Just a little more!"

Luna reached the oaken opening. She put both feet against the bark, placing the box between her chest and the tree to keep it in place. She gently grabbed an owlet, talons clutching her hands, the fuzzy bird flicking his wings. Luna put him into the tree, smiling. He made himself comfortable and cleaned himself.

Luna put a second owlet in. A third. She lifted the last owlette—the rope nudged. Luna gasped, dropping the owlette, both hands slapping onto the sides of the box. She looked down—owl inside the box—and sighed with relief.

"Ohhh! That wasp is back! Kibou, do something!" Vera lost some grip. Luna shouts, briefly falling, scraping her knees and shins against the bark. Grimacing, her hands remain grasping the box.

"What's going on down there?" Luna yelled, inhaling sharply from pain, scrapes bleeding a little.

"A bug is bugging me!" Vera whined.

"Stupid girl…"

"What?"

"Nothing."

Vera felt the wasp buzz past her ear.

"Oh, it's gone now!" Kibou sad.

Vera heard the wasp again.

"Now it's flying after mmmeee!" Nina flew away.

"Wait up!" Kibou chased the wasp, but the insect flew faster. It turned around and buzzed in Vera's ears again.

"Get out of here, dammit!" Vera snapped her jaws at the wasp but missed. It landed on her neck. She froze, one eye big, the other twitching. It crawled under her shirt.

"Uh oh…" Kibou and Nina say at the same time.

"Nnnih-nn-nnn…" Vera's face reddened, eyes close, teeth clenched...

Vera lifted her shoulders and squeezed her knees together, writhing as the wasp's little legs prance along her skin. The wasp reappeared, crawling up her neck.

Kibou flew into the wasp, knocking it off Vera. "Gahh! Get away from me!" The wasp buzzed after Kibou. The two zigzagged about wildly, Kibou's body making weird high-pitched shimmering noises, Nina keeping her distance.

"Fly, Kibou! Fly!" Nina cried.

Kibou punched the wasp in the head, dazing it, then he flew off. "Ah, there."

The wasp went after Nina. She shrieked and flew off, trying to evade the bug.

"Nina!" Kibou cried.

She cannot outpace the bug, so spun around, grabbing both antennae and pushing it away while screaming her head off, insect's mandibles clicking together. The wasp curved its body inward, stinger pivoting. Nina stuck her butt back, avoiding the stinger.

Kibou tackled into the wasp's back, impact throwing it back. Kibou and the wasp plummet together. The two fell amidst blades of grass. Kibou climbed out while stomping the bug's face, hearing and feeling the wasp's wings vibrating behind him. He took flight, sparkles raining behind him. "OK, I think it's going away."

Vera sighed with relief.

"Well? Are you going to lift me up or what?" Luna called.

"This is getting pretty heavy!" Vera complained.

The wasp landed on Vera's neck and crawled down her shirt. "Are you serious!?" Vera lifted her shoulders and froze. "Nina! Help!" Vera looked at her blue fairy with big eyes.

"I'm allergic to bee stings, I can't risk dying!" Nina whined.

Luna looked down. "It's a wasp, not a bee."

"Well, still!" Nina cries.

"Kibou! Do something!" Vera looked at Kibou with a pair of puppy dog eyes.

"Uh, I can't just go down your shirt, I'm a guy..."

"I don't care! Do something or I'll hit you again!"

"Alright, alright! Sheesh!" Hesitating, Kibou hovered, Vera breathing like a panicking baby. "Please forgive me..."

"I won't forgive you if that thing stings me!" Vera threatened. She grimaced. "Get this wasp out of me!"

"OK! OK! Stay still! I guess!"

Luna looked down. "What's taking so long?" The owlet in the box walked around cheeping, the three others looking out the cavity.

Kibou snuggled down Vera's shirt. Luna rose an eyebrow, now really wondering what was going on.

Kibou uncomfortably made his way down to the wasp, stomping with both feet. It lost grip and fell. Kibou fell, too, pushing the wasp at the same time, hoping it won't bite his hands. The two fall out Vera's shirt, both taking flight and whizzing at each other.

The wasp charged. Kibou grabbed its pincers, holding them apart, headbutting the wasp repeatedly. The two fly about aggressively, trying to outmaneuver one another, Kibou's larger wings making him the stronger flyer. They push to and fro—Vera backhanded the wasp, nearly hitting Kibou, knuckles cracking against the insect.

Vera was nudged forth. "Oh-whoa!" With one hand off the rope… The rope slid out Vera's other hand.

Luna shouts, briefly falling before Vera can grasp the rope with both hands, Luna's boots scraping against bark. Vera slid along the ground before coming to a halt.

Luna landed on a branch, both knees bent to keep balance. "Vera! What the heck are you doing!?"

"You're not the one holding the rope, Luna!"

"Just shut up and lift me, then!"

Vera's grip tightened, knuckles whitening. The wasp buzzed by her ear. She flinched, almost losing grip again. "What the hell is this thing up to!?"

Kibou sighed. "That's one persistent bug..."

"Nnyahh!" Nina threw a tiny rock, Kibou ducking as it flew overhead. The little rock bounced off the wasp's head. It clumsily flew off, crashing into a flower.

"Nice throw, Nina!" Kibou complimented. Nina spun mid-air and made a little bow.

"Is that wasp gone for good?" Vera pulled the rope, shoulders stiff and sore. Nina and Kibou help pull the rope as much as their tiny arms can.

"About damn time," Luna remarked.

Vera grunted.

Luna reached the cavity, pushing the box with her chest against the tree. Both hands free, she cupped the last owlet, who gently bit her with a tiny beak. Luna placed the last baby owl back home, the four owlets cuddling together and staring at Luna. She smiled, petting their heads and tickling their bellies. They squeaked.

"Are they back in their nest?" Vera called.

"Yes! You can let me go down now!"

Vera loosened her grip, putting one hand behind the other repeatedly to lower Luna, fairies helping.

Luna descended steadily.

Vera grimaced, twitchy hands aching, leather gloves tensed.

"Come on, I haven't got all day, Vera!"

Vera scowled. She let go, fairies jingling.

Luna hit the ground heels first then crashed onto her bottom, box bouncing. Luna rolled back, grimacing but stayed quiet.

"Vera!" Nina squawked as she flew to her child's face, Kibou whizzing to Luna.

"What? Luna is a selfish little prick!" Vera checked her aching palms. "I think I tore my gloves..." She glared at Kibou with her tattooed face, and he at her.

Kibou faced Luna, wings brushing her face. She picked herself up, massaging her sore butt. Both girls stared at each other scornfully.

Chirping.

Everyone looked up. The four owlets peeped out the tree.

"Well, at least we put the baby owls back in their nest. You girls did great," Kibou remarked.

"I did most of the work." Vera walked away angrily. Nina looked at Kibou and Luna. "Thanks." She went after Vera. "Wait up!"

"Bye, Nina!" Kibou watched Nina fly away. He and Luna checked the owlettes.

"Yeah, at least we got them home." Luna untied the rope at her waist and tossed it away.

"Maybe we should bring the rope and box back to the village?" Kibou suggested.

"Mido brought them here, he can get them back," Luna replied with a little heat.

Buzzing echoed.

Buzzes gradually intensified.

Luna and Kibou looked around.

"Uh oh… Looks like the wasp brought some friends!" Kibou exclaimed.

Luna ran, followed by Kibou.

Up ahead, Vera turned, seeing Kibou and Luna charging.

"Run! Go! Wasps!" Kibou cried as he and Luna whizz past Vera and Nina.

Vera beheld a massive swarm of wasps.

Nina went behind Vera. "I think we better..."

Vera ran, Nina flying after her.

The girls covered their heads, long hair trailing behind them, the wasps freely giving them the unpleasant sensation of vibrating bug wings.

"If you sting me, I'll kill you!" Vera threatened.

The girls ran, panting, rushing through bushes and shrubs, betwixt trees and boulders, leaves and branches hitting their faces.

Up ahead, a Deku Scrub waddled around. He noticed the Kokiri running towards him. He squeaked aloud, his snout contracting. Vera smashed into him—he rolled over. The swarm of wasps flew over the Scrub.

Once everyone's gone, the Scrub...just lied there. He spat out a nut perfectly vertically. It reached the climax of its ascent, stopped, then fell, landing on the Deku Scrub's forehead with a clunk. His aim hadn't improved…

Meanwhile, the wasps race after the girls. They scream as wasps writhe in their hair. Upon hearing Vera screech, Luna stopped squealing and weirdly looked at Vera. Luna never heard someone scream like that tall girl.

Vera's long legs propel past Luna. Vera trampled over a Deku Baba in the way, whereas Luna jumped over the carnivorous flower. The Deku Baba lunges after her, but upon feeling the wasps buzzing about, retracts back in the ground.

The evil wasps at the back of the swarm gradually lose track of the girls. Perhaps even insects are unable to see the Kokiri beyond several feet?

Luna tripped from weeds, faceplanting. She picked herself up, Kibou fending off many wasps as best he could.

Luna got up and continued running. She and Vera swat the wasps close to them, huffing and puffing. They reached the village outskirts. Two dozen or so Kokiri drop their tools and run over, both girls sweating and panting.

"What happened?" a girl and a boy ask at once. Concerned murmuring came.

"Freakin' wasps! Thousands of them!" Vera grunted, flowing her hands through her hair to make sure no wasps were inside.

The passive Kokiri looked at the forest, raspy echoes of buzzing... They ran away, not caring about their work anymore.

Other groups of Kokiri rush forth to ask what was the matter, but upon hearing the buzzing, they ran off in various directions, screaming their heads off.

After upbeat running, the children and fairies escape the wasps, the fairies flying around frantically and squeaking various words of caution. The wasps dispersed.

Luna sighed with relief, pale face red. "Hah! That was…and was actually kinda fun! I don't think I got stung…"

The other Kokiri calm down, talking abot the horrible monsters they outran.

Luna looks around. Is someone missing?

Kibou clumsily flew.

"Ah, there he is." Luna calmed down.

"Kibou? Are you alright?" Nina piped, but he didn't reply.

Vera stayed with the children, catching her breath, feeling better to be around other people. The tall girl gestured Nina, who flew back.

Luna made her way home. "I think that's enough work for today. Those wasps better not be skulking around..."

The albino reached her tree, no wasps buzzing anywhere. Groaning, she climbed, sore and tired but thinking of bed. She made sure the curtain in the doorway was fully shut. She sat on her bed, kicking her boots off and massaging her feet. She paused. "Is something wrong, Kibou?"

"I'm alright, you just get some sleep." Kibou plopped on the pillow as Luna went under the covers. She turned her head, eyes glistening with Kibou's purple light.

"Buzz, buzz," Luna whispered. They chuckled. "Bedtime…the best way to end the day."