The Pest and the Flower: a wof fanfiction by Pastellar and Snowfox the IceWing

Chapter 27 Polyplax POV

Polyplax's wings were sore when he reached Wasp hive. There were no guards to be seen, as far as Polyplax could tell. It looked as if this was the SilkWings' home, since there were no HiveWings to boss them around.

They must all be at the Poison Jungle. His eyes stung as he pictured Hibiscus. He pictured her dead body, her wings outstretched and paralyzed. He moved toward the throne room, looking at what his life could've been. He pictured him on the throne, commanding subjects and tending to their needs. He still wondered why Wasp would choose a male queen.

She trusted me. But so did Hibiscus. He thought. But Hibiscus is dead. There's no reason to grab her mother anyway. Wasp gave me a second chance back there, maybe I should take it.

He walked to the library and saw a red-orange HiveWing, Fireant. She looked miserable and was reading a book. He caught her glancing at the Book of Clearsight, as if she wanted to read it.

His tail knocked over some books, making Fireant look up in surprise. "Pest?" He nodded. "Whaddya need, bud? A book to check out?" She doesn't know. She doesn't know that I'm exiled.

He shook his head, and then nodded. A book would keep me busy.

He hesitated, then pointed his tail at the Book of Clearsight. Fireant gave him a very confused look. "I can't let you have that, and why won't you talk?" He opened his mouth as wide as he could and pointed to a statue of Wasp.

Fireant looked inside and let out a gasp of horror. "Wasp did this to you? In the name of Clearsight, what did you do?!" He thought about showing her his flamesilk. It became a game of Charades now. He put two talons together, side by side. "Friends, right?" She guessed. Polyplax nodded and moved on. He took a candlestick and waved it around in a slashing motion. "You fought her with swords with your friends?" Polyplax slapped his forehead and continued.

He bared his teeth at the two talons. "Oh, Wasp was attacking your friends." He nodded vigorously. "So you fought her back?" Again he nodded. Then he pretended to stab himself. "Then you died." Fireant said skeptically. He shook his head. He pointed to a talon. "Your friend died? That's terrible!" He gave a solemn nod. "So you've come here for distraction." He nodded once more and collapsed on some leaves. "It's okay, you can rest here."

He gave a grateful nod and closed his eyes, with Fireant beside him. Maybe I should just be Fireant's mate. She's like Hibiscus, right? He came closer to Fireant and fell asleep.

They were awoken by the sound of raging HiveWings. He could very clearly hear Wasp. "THEY ESCAPED PANTALA? WHERE ARE THEY GOING? WE HAVE TO DESTROY THEM!!" Wasp shouted. "EVERYONE IN THE TRIBE, FOLLOW THEM!!"

Polyplax shot up, with Fireant close behind. "We need to follow them, don't we?" Fireant asked softly. He nodded. He pointed at her, then shook his head. "I don't have to come? But I want to! You have no idea how boring bookkeeping is!"

Is this a good idea? Should I bring her? Polyplax thought for a minute and did a motion with his talons. No, Fireant. I don't want to lose you too. He said with his gestures. Fireant's wings drooped, her head hung low.

You can't come, but you can do a favor... He told her with his talons. "A favor?" She asked, confused.

There's a body out there, it's Hornet. I need you to retrieve it. Fireant's body shook in sadness. Hornet was her best friend. "O-ok, I'll do it."

He 'told' her the coordinates, and she left. I need to find Sundew, tell her the news, then find out why they left. There's no islands beyond Palanta, right?

He was unsure, but there's only one way to find out. I need to find the LeafWings.