Five

George felt tired and couldn’t wait to get to his roost. He was about to get off the ground when the branches of a bush swung across his path and a fearsome ladybird darted out.

“Oh!” George gasped.

“What’s the matter, Crow?” the ladybird screeched. “You haven’t seen a ladybird before?”

“Forgive me, lady,” George replied with a polite bow. “I’m the new crow, George.”

“I know who you are,” she snapped. “No news escapes me, and I’m Rosa, if you care to know.”

“I didn’t see any ladybirds at the gathering,” George said hesitantly.

“You didn’t cause we don’t go there.”

“Why?”

“Cause they don’t like us and we don’t like them. They’ve looked down on me and my daughters ever since we came. They’ve got eyes only for them... the butterflies and we hate them for that. What have they got over us, I ask you, Crow? We are five spot ladybirds, the rarest of the species. Take a look at my shell, Crow,” she said and swivelled round. In the remains of the sunset glow that slanted through the trees, her shell shone a brilliant red tinged with orange, and her spots glistened like five black gems.

“You see, Crow,” she beamed with pride. “We’re special, we’re not common. She, the spider, calls Estella, Princess, and Orpheo, Prince.” She curled her lips into a sneer. “Rubbish! Where there’s a prince or a princess, there’s a palace. Am I right, Crow? Go on correct me if you think I’m wrong. Now I’m asking you, Crow, did you see a palace in Blossom Valley?”

“No I didn’t,” he stammered. “This is my first day here. I couldn’t see everything.”

“No you didn’t, and you never will, crow, cause there isn’t one.”

George’s mind drifted back to what Thelma had said. ‘Their Kingdom was destroyed.’

“I know what you’re thinking, Crow, cause I heard all that the spider told you. If ever there was a palace, it can’t have disappeared in a huff of smoke. There would be some remains scattered or buried somewhere in this place. I’ve looked and found nothing. I’m telling you, Crow, it’s her, the spider, has made up the myth that her and her butterflies live by.

She gets stroppy every time my daughters go near them, accusing them of bullying her butterflies. She claimed my Heather tried to drown prince Orpheo. That was a lie the old wrinkly frog made up and she believed him. Why are they so precious to her? I’m asking you, Crow. And who is she, a spider, even her size, to be the head of this vast place? It’s odd, isn’t it? Something weird, spooky, goes on in here, I’m telling you, Crow. She wants to see the back of us. I know. I’m not daft. We’ll go, but not before...”

“Rosa,” George interrupted, “it saddens me to hear a beautiful ladybird such as you, use harsh words and bear awful thoughts against fellow creatures. They’re all a big family here who respect and look out for one another. You have stayed apart. Try and find the reason why. Is it jealousy? Is it hatred? Then get rid of it. Join the family and you and your daughters will feel a lot happier, trust me.”

Rosa stared at George, listening to every word he spoke in utter stillness. Maybe, she thought, the crow was right. Change, get rid of her jealousy be a better creature, be family with the spider and the butterflies. Be nice to them? No.! She jerked as if she were waking from a nightmare. No, I was born like this and no one told me there was another way. Why change now? I enjoy it as I am. I won’t change. Not now that me and my Heather are working on a wicked plan that will shudder the spider and the whole Valley for many years to come. She thrust her sneering face close to George’s.

“Well, I’ll be blowed!” she screeched. “Trust a stupid crow to come up with a speech as stupid as this. Join the family! Ha!” She gave George a black glare and took off in a huff.

George stayed rooted to the ground, too upset to move. All sorts of thoughts and questions whirled inside his head but all he needed now was his roost to lie in.

His fellow crows were nestled, all snug and fast asleep. He tried to push all thoughts out of his head, but as darkness gathered round him he felt lonely. He thought of his parents and broke into silent sobs. The crows stirred.

“Hey,” whispered, Alphie, from the next roost. “Don’t cry. You miss your parents, we understand, but you’re not alone now. We’re here for you, all of us. Try and get some sleep. Things will look brighter in the morning, you’ll see.”

Alphie’s kind words brought more tears to his eyes. He felt bad for disturbing them, so he quietly slipped out of his roost. He found a thick bush, hunched his head deep inside his wings and closed his eyes.