Chapter 6 Main Dish Bugs

Dream

"Ashlie~"

I woke up after I heard that calm voice again. I got up from my spot and notices my surrounding was replaced from Shade's Tree haven into some kind of misty rainforest. It was foggy in air and I glance around this strange jungle until I catch a glimpse of a dog.. which it wasn't any type of house dogs or wolves, actually, it didn't look like a dog at all. Instead, it was more like a hyena wolverine mix breed with dull yellow fur with brown strips with its medium monkey-like tail. I gasp softly when the hyena creature perks its head up and glance at me, I held my breath and didn't move fearing it'll attack. But to my surprise, it didn't know I was there. It only snorted and runs off.

I sighed in relief and walk towards opposite away from that massive hyena and then stops suddenly to hear that strange voice again.

"Ashlie~"

I gulped and glance around while I keep walking through the forest. Then I stop dead with my eyes lit up to see a huge creature hanging upside down. Feeling a bit curious I cautiously walk up to it and saw it was sleeping, when I got a little close to it the creature open its darkest eyes. My voice was caught in throat from screaming and watch it blinks and my reflection. The creature breathed calmly and spoke softly and soothing with these words.

"I've given you my hearings."

My eyes snapped open, breathed heavily and saw I was back at Shade's tree haven. He and Ariel were still sleeping and I perk my body up to look around. The whole colony didn't wake which means I was first one up. I moan silently and rubbed my back neck to get the tiredness out.

"Wow, what a dream," I mumbled. Then I catch a glimpse of a speck of light shining in the entrance. I smiled and quietly got up and looked down from where I am, I gulped and started to climb down quiet as I can without waking any bats up. I manage to get down slowly towards the ground and looked over at the entrance and grinned. I run fast out of the tree haven and see its already afternoon close to evening with the sun shining touching blue sky.

"Ah, it's such a beautiful day." I sighed and watched the pond glittering from the sun's kiss. I walked a little way and decided to go down the pond to get some drink from my thirst. I begin to go the other way towards the pond.

"HUMAN!" I spun around, gasping in startled and saw Mercury have his eyes huge and his face pale under his fur. With quick lighting, he flew fast out of the tree haven towards me. "Get back in here right now!" Before I can blink he grab my one wrist and dragged me back fast towards the tree haven. When he got me inside I made him let go, looking irritated.

"Hey what gives?.." He shushed me, clasping his hand on my mouth and we both heard the owl, hooting outside. My eyes went huge. We both peeked and saw the owl circling above the forest not too far away, scouting. About a few minutes the owl finish his duty and soared away. When he was out of sight Mercury let out a sigh in relief and let my mouth go.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you but you shouldn't go out when the sun is still in the sky." He apologized.

"Why not?" I asked puzzlingly. "What's wrong with going outside, I was just going to get some drink."

"They didn't tell you?" Mercury asked. I shook my head, giving him an answer. He sighed shaking his head.

"We are forbidden to go out in daylight," He explained. Now I felt more puzzled on his answer.

"Wait what? Why?"

"It's against the law we must follow, those who disobey it will be punished to death." He explains it more. I gulped softly remember what Shade and Chinook told me about the law.

"And what makes more deadly is if the owl saw you this small and talk to us he'll give you worse punishment." I hold my neck in fright as he finishes. "Now please, stay inside until night comes." He flew away leaving me behind on the ground. I sat down since I have nothing else to do and don't want to wake the others up.

So I lean back on the old wall tree stump and gaze out at the entrance seeing the sun still brighten the day getting close to set in the west. I don't understand why it's such a big deal to go out in the sun. I don't know why its against the law. God, I have many questions.

I heavy sighed and felt a cold wind coming though as I shivered wrapped my both arms around me, trying to keep myself warm. I know winter is coming soon since right now its autumn before another season hits and since I'm in Canada the weather will be brutal. I breathed and now wonder if I could survive through this winter including the forest when I'm small.

"I sure hope Shade and Ariel can help, " I spoke to myself and looked out once again and glance at the pond. "And I'm sure I am thirsty." I finished, licking my lips as my throat was still dry. I didn't know I was dozed off in slumber when I felt someone shook my shoulder a bit.

"Ashlie? Ashlie wake up," I groaned and cracked my eyes a bit and saw Shade and Chinook awaken, kneeling between me.

"What were you doing down here?" Shade asked. I yawned and rubbed my eyes to get my sleepiness out.

"I woke up early and decided to go out for a bit and get some drink from the pond," I replied. Chinook has his eyes lit up.

"You mean you went out in the daylight?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "Um yes but don't worry Mercury found me and took me back here no big deal, even though I was thirsty." Shade let out a relieved sigh.

Then he smiled. "Well my mom told me Chinook and I should get you out of the tree haven to get some food and drinks for you and teach you about how we survive nature,"

"Wait Chinook is helping?" I blinked. The second pup grinned.

"I can't let the runt have fun with his new friend, I can even show you a few tricks I've learned." I hummed and then gulp when the owl came to me.

"But what about the owls?"

"Dont worry as long as your with us it'll be okay," Shade reassured. I nodded and got up and stretched my both arms out and let out another yawn.

"Well what are we waiting for let's get something to eat I'm getting hungry," I spoke, right after I felt my stomach rumble a bit. Shade and Chinook flew out of the entrance and I ran to follow them heading out towards the nightly sky. I catch a glimpse of other silverwing bats out of the tree haven flying towards the dark woods and coming back.

I then walked towards the pond and use my both hands to get some water, check to make sure it's clean enough I drink it a little bit with cautions. It was very cold after I drink some thought at first I was going to have a brain freeze in a second.

"Come on Ash!" I heard Chinook called me and I got up and see Shade and Chinook flying above me.

"Um guys a little help here?" I reach both arms out, reminding them I don't have any wings or not a bat. Chinook swopped down and grabbed my wrist with his feet and soared up with me and we all three headed off through the forest. A minute later we flew up towards the tree and landed on the branch before Chinook lets me go. Shade roosted above us while Chinook stands beside me.

"So what do we eat?" I asked. I watch Shade about to say it but Chinook cuts him off spreading his wings out and smile at me.

"Here I'll grab some be right back." He took off leaving me and Shade alone. We both didn't say a word for a couple of minutes until Shade grunted.

"You know I could've gotten some food for you," I laughed softly.

"Its alright Shade he just wants to help,"

"But he already did that, twice." He protested and has this grumpy look.

"Why are you making this a big deal? It's okay to help around," I crossed my arms not understanding his new attitude all of sudden.

"its, because he's, does everything because of his looks and charm," Shade replied.

"Well he's trying to be nice," I come back but he only huffed.

"That's his way of getting females to like him more..," He stops when I look at him funny until he realized what he just said. I burst out laughing.

"Oh my gosh, you really think I'm going to like him that way!? Shade come on I'm not that interested in him. I mean we're different species. Him bat and me human, I don't' think nature would like that much you know what I mean?"

Shade almost laughs in embarrassment. "Yeah, that would be crazy." Then we both Chinook coming back with something in his mouth and landed in front of us. I realized he has some kind of bug in his mouth that was all orange with strips on its back.

"Um, Chinook, what is that?" He looked at me funny.

"It's your breakfast," He answered through the bug in his mouth. " I looked at him like are you serious but I didn't want to be rude so I nodded as he dropped it. I bend down and grab it with both hands feeling it's cold and hard on my palm. I swallowed to look at the moth and felt them watching me eat it. I took a deep breath and put my teeth in its shell and took the bite out of it. I thought my stomach dropped when I felt my teeth went through its skin and feel some juice on my tongue tasting like some uncooked meat. I grab some chunk of bug meat in my mouth and chew it thoroughly which it's really disgusting. It's like trying to eat an oyster by chewing it but this is pretty worse. I finally manage to swallow it and gag a little bit and looked at both of them.

"You like it?' Chinook asked. I forced to smile and ate another one.

"It's pretty good very chewy." I swallowed it.

"You don't have to eat it all Ashlie," Shade said. I shook my head and ate another bite of it.

"I'm hungry Shade and this is the food you guys eat," I swallowed more despite feeling my tummy sicken. "And besides I need to learn your ways of nature and this is my first start." I ate the whole tiger moth a few seconds and forced to swallow them in my stomach last time.

"I'm glad you like it." Chinook smiled. 'Tiger moths are one of the best foods we ever ate in this part of the forest." I nodded and wipe some bug juice off my lips with my hands.

"So I see," I muttered in disgust, knowing the main food dish I need to eat is tiger moths and other bugs lurking around here.

Author's Note: how is this one so far everyone? Hope you like where this is going but if not...DONT READ AND REVIEW IT! DX Any way sorry if the part she ate tiger moth disturbed you but she needs to survive in the forest and this is the only beginning of learning bat's nature