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Cethosia and Papilio flew up, caught the breeze, and were off. They climbed and climbed to catch an air current that would keep the sea on their left wings. Flying along they felt a thrill of exhilaration and excitement.

The clouds in the air billowed and tumbled into the highest reaches of the sky. They were like giant castles being made by impatient gods. The sun was throwing out great splashes of orange and streaks of red as it sank over the mountains to the west, dragging the night sky behind it. Then, the first star started to twinkle in the east.

‘We should find a place for the night!’ yelled Papilio. ‘Let’s go down and see what’s in that forest over there.’

The two butterflies, who had become expert flyers by now, let themselves out of the air stream and floated back to earth like a pair of richly coloured autumn leaves.

They came down into a copse of banksia trees with three tall gums standing in the centre.

They stepped lightly onto a branch, next to a rich red banksia flower, and delicately supped at the nectar.

A Christmas beetle with golden, speckled wings came over with her children and made herself comfortable on the branch. The children were soon running about and tumbling over each other.

Cethosia laughed as two little beetles, who were playing a game of chasing, ran under her legs. Papilio pretended to ignore them until little Jonathon stood on his foot.

‘Ouch!’ started Papilio, looking around indignantly.

Cethosia laughed again and put her arm around the little beetle.

Mrs Beetle came over to the two butterflies.

‘Hello, are you staying here for the night as well?’ asked Mrs Beetle.

‘Yes,’ replied Cethosia. ‘We are on our way to the realm of Queen Arcadia. Do you know if it is far away?’

‘I have heard of it,’ said Mrs Beetle, ‘but only in legend. My parents used to tell me stories of the Killer Wasps that surrounded it and the evil queen, Regan. I only know that if you fly with the sea to your left wing your are supposed to find it.’

‘We are very tired,’ said Papilio. ‘Would you mind being guard while we have a little sleep. Wake me in a while and I will look out while you sleep.’

‘That is very sensible,’ said Mrs Beetle. ‘You sleep over there and I will put my children to bed also.’

With a sharp look and a shrill little cry Mrs Beetle soon had her children scurrying around her legs. They knew that shrill sound meant danger and to come home at once. Mrs Beetle led them off to a shelter and tucked them into a bed.

The night closed in and the stars came out like sparklers scattered across the pitch-black sky. Everything was still and quiet. After a while, the gentle sounds of the night insects and animals going about their business floated through the air. Safe sounds. A light breeze slowly stirred the leaves. Mrs Beetle sat near her children and listened. A sharp cry sometimes carried through the air as a bird or a night animal called out. Insects flew about and bumped into branches and leaves. Small sounds of the night. Safe sounds.

A scratch. A faint scratch.

Mrs Beetle looked up.

Nothing.

The night sounds went on.

Another scratch, a little nearer.

Mrs Beetle looked around again.

Nothing.

A scratch, followed by a sudden rush of movement.

‘WATCH OUT! FLY! IT’S MR LIZARD!’ shrilled Mrs Beetle.

The two butterflies were immediately awake and flew straight up into the night sky.

Mrs Beetle also flew into the night with her children swarming around her.

The lizard stood on the branch looking at his supper flying away to the next tree, his head moving gently from side to side.

‘My heart is beating so fast. Thank you Mrs Beetle,’ cried Cethosia. ‘ Are all your children safe?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ said Mrs Beetle. ‘Little Jonathon bumped his head because he was sleeping under a twig, but otherwise we are all fine.’

Little Jonathon sat next to Mrs Beetle rubbing his head and looking a little sad and sleepy.

‘I will stay awake now, if you would like to sleep Mrs Beetle,’ said Papilio. ‘You can also get some more sleep Cethosia. It will be another long day tomorrow.’

‘I am still excited from the lizard,’ said Cethosia. ‘I should like to stay awake with you Papilio, for a while, if you please.’

Papilio was very pleased.

Mrs Beetle herded her children into a safe place and after settling in front of them, she went to sleep.
Cethosia and Papilio sat together in silence. After a while Papilio took Cethosia’s hand in his. They sat listening to the sounds of the night. The moon climbed into the night sky, basking the bush with a soft yellow glow. It smiled down benevolently on the two butterflies.

Cethosia soon fell asleep.

Papilio looked at her and sighed.

He whispered, ‘You are the most beautiful butterfly in the world, and I will protect you forever with my life.’

He then brushed her wing lightly and settled in for the long night watch.

A faint, rose-pink glow heralded the new dawn. Banks of clouds hugged the horizon where the ocean met the sky, far out to the east.

Slowly, one patch of clouds started to glow brighter and brighter. Soon it began to sparkle. Bright, silver lights danced in and about the clouds, like children too excited to stay in bed.

Then, the top of the sun’s head peeked out. The clouds welled up and the sun disappeared again, as if it had thought it was too early and had gone back to bed. The silver lights, like naughty children, all jumped and bounced around the clouds, telling the sun to get up. It’s time to get up! Then it rose. It heaved itself up and smiled on the earth; basking it in light and casting the first shadows of the day; long dawn shadows that danced through the leaves.

‘Wake up, Cethosia, wake up,’ whispered Papilio, gently shaking Cethosia’s shoulder.

‘Oh, Ummm.’ Cethosia blinked her eyes and then saw Papilio. She smiled and felt warm and happy all over.

‘Hello, Papilio,’ she said sleepily, then with a start.

‘Why did you not wake me to stand guard?’

‘You were tired, so I let you sleep. I wasn’t tired anyway,’ replied Papilio, stifling a big yawn.

Cethosia smiled to herself.

‘Thank you Papilio, but I must take my turn from now on.’

‘Lets have some breakfast and then head off again,’ said Papilio. He walked over to a flower and delicately sniffed inside.

‘Good morning,’ said Mrs Beetle. ‘How are you this beautiful morning?’

‘We are both very well Mrs Beetle, thank you,’ said Cethosia, ‘What do you plan to do today?’

‘Oh, I think I might stay here for a while and let the children play. Before you go, I would like to warn you of the Deep Gorge you have to cross today. It is the Kingdom of the Killer Wasps. There is a castle in the middle shaped like an old gnarled tree. That is where King Exeirus lives. If you are to cross over the gorge, you must fly low through the shrubs and make sure nothing sees you.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Beetle,’ said Papilio. ‘Is there no way around this gorge?’

‘No. It is said that Regan caused a terrible gash in the earth with one of her lightening bolts. That gash became the Deep Gorge. Regan gave it to King Exeirus as his Kingdom. It goes on for ever and ever, and no-one has ever found the end,’ replied Mrs Beetle.

‘We will be careful then,’ said Cethosia. ‘Goodbye Mrs Beetle. Goodbye children.’

‘Goodbye and good luck!’ Mrs Beetle waved to the two butterflies as they flew up and searched for a wind to carry them along. They were careful to keep the ocean to the left of their wings.

End of preview

There are 11 Chapters - Cethosia will be published as soon as I have found an illustrator.