Chapter 5 - Caterpillar's journey

- I suppose I should start from the beginning: I was born on a planet a little bigger than this one. It was a place full of of bushes and vines. There were also a bunch of colored flowers. The only thing that was unusual was the purple soil. I didn't know why it was that color, but I wasn't interested to find more about it. Besides, my siblings enjoyed to play in the ground so there was no need to elucidate this mystery. I was the oldest of my siblings and my mother was a butterfly with beautiful orange wings.

- How many siblings did you have? I asked the caterpillar.

- 200.

- What? 200!? That's incredible.

- Really? I think that is pretty normal for butterflies.

- Well, I couldn't have know that since you are the first caterpillar I saw in my life.

- That's a fair point. Shall I continue?

- Yes, please.

- I will not bore you with useless details so I will just say that my childhood was nothing out of the ordinary: I was waking up, eating some leaves and playing with my siblings and friends. We had nothing to worry about: food was plentiful, the weather nice and space was big enough for us.

- Who was watering the plants? There must have been someone who was taking care of the planet.

- Like your little human friend? said the caterpillar in a cheeky tone.

- What? I think that is a matter-of-course, I responded.

- Not on my planet though. There was no need for a caregiver.

- Why?

- Because the planet was looking after itself.

- Huh?

- The sun was warm enough for the plants and sometimes we had rainy weather. 

- I think I understand now. Go on, please.

- As I was telling you, everything was going well on my planet. That was until the weather got strange.

- In what way?

- The sun's brightness became suffocating, the rain was coming less and less... I think you already know what my family's response was.

- Yes... And what happened to them?

- My siblings transformed into butterflies and left the planet. 

- And what about you?

- A big wind draft came and blew me out.

-It must have been so scary for you.

- It sure was unexpected, but it wasn't that bad in the end.

- How so?

- I got the chance to be fly between the stars, saw some new planets and I found a new friend.

I was so surprised by that answer. I thought that she was a strange being who liked to make fun of me, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I am so glad that she hit my glass globe!

- Do you ever miss your home sometimes?

- Oh, absolutely. But I think my family found a good home like I did.

- I see...

Suddenly, a frightening growl made its presence. It was almost like a tiger came here. I had to do something.

- Quick! Get behind my glass globe! Tigers are coming!

Before I got the chance to say anything, the caterpillar had a fit of laughter.

- What are you doing? You have to hide. Danger is coming.

- Because, said the caterpillar through tears of laughter, there is no tiger coming here.

- Huh?

- That was my belly. I am hungry.

I should have been mad about that, but it didn't matter. It was such a funny moment that I started laughing as well.

- You really are an interesting plant, said the caterpillar after she finished laughing. However, I really need to eat something.

- You can eat the tiny baobabs. They are pretty pesky beings. It would help the planet a lot

- Alright, I will come back after a few days. See you soon!

- See you soon!

And with that being said, the caterpillar went to the baobabs. Usually I would have been worried that she might not come back, but this time I wasn't afraid anymore. I knew my friend will return.