The Butterfly Rebellion by Jack Patton

Author:Jack Patton [Patton, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2016-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Bug Base Camp was bustling with activity. All the bugs were full of excitement and pride, and the news of the IAF victory at the watchtower just added to it. Max watched them hanging up banners made from webbing, going through parade ground drills, polishing one another’s plating, and marching in formation.

Webster popped up in front of him without warning, as he so often did. “Hi, M-Max! Want to help me put some decorations up?”

Max sighed. “Not right now, Webster. I’m not really in the mood.”

“But it’s a celebration. Everyone’s helping out,” said Spike, who had waddled over to join them.

“What’s the m-matter?” Webster asked.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.”

Webster patted Max on the shoulder. “I get that feeling a lot,” the spider admitted. “Everyone says it’s my n-nerves. Maybe you’ve got n-nerves, too.”

“I guess.”

“It’s going to be fine!” Spike boomed. “Now, come and give my armor a polish and stop being such a worrywart.”

Max put his thoughts aside and pitched in with the preparations, but whenever he could, he climbed up to the battlements and looked out over the forest. As night fell, Max peered into the distance and Alexis floated up by his side.

“Still thinking about the Dracos?”

“I can’t stop,” Max said. “In fact, I think we should go on a quick scouting mission.”

“If that’s what you need to cheer yourself up, sure.”

Max and Alexis slipped away, leaving the noise and excitement of the bug camp behind them. They headed out to the tree line, where web lines had been laid to trip up any reptile invaders that came over land. Then they flew past the first of the huge trees, which looked ghostly in the moonlight.

“See anything?” Alexis asked.

“Not so far,” said Max. “Let’s head on a bit farther.”

Up ahead was a crooked, ancient-looking tree draped in vines. It was full of gaping holes where branches had broken off long ago.

“Just a little farther,” he said to Alexis. “I think we’re getting close to—”

“Close to this!” hissed a voice from above and behind.

In the next second, sharp claws gripped Max. He went tumbling off Alexis’s back and down into the leaves. The Draco lizard had swept down as silently as a ninja.

Max fought, but there were more lizards swarming out of the old tree. They pinned him down. Nearby, Alexis had met the same fate.

All he could do was struggle as one lizard came swaggering up to him. It was the one they had fought with before—the one who they had cornered, and who had escaped.

“How nice to see you again.” He grinned. “I am Captain Drax. And you have flown right into my trap!”

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