A Human takes their Havenworlder friends to Earth to walk through a beautiful park where the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. Lining the path are beautiful lilac bushes, also blooming, and not far from there are early blooming apple trees. A lovely garden of flowers surrounding them on a warm, early, summer afternoon. -- Anon Guest
It was a cascade of colour. Pink and blue and primrose too. Some of that colour was literally cascading downwards with every gentle breeze. There were scents, too. Soft and sweet and evidently appealing to the insects buzzing or flitting about.
"Just a reminder," said Human Kaz. "Don't try to eat the butterflies." He pointed out a pair of colourful wings.
Piflithid Sar paused with their mouth open, closing it cautiously. "Deathworlder insects are toxic, yes?"
"Some are, yes. These ones are just expensive. There's a butterfly farm that's only partially sponsored by the bee colony... Oh. And watch out for the hummingbirds. They get territorial near anything that matches their colour scheme."
"Hence the advisory to not display iridescence," Sar was beginning to understand. "This is one more incident of, as you say, body of walnut, heart of lion, is it not?"
"Exactly," said Kaz. "And since they're protected in Flower Park, and clearly not frightened by anything bigger than they are, it's just safer to mute the shiny things."
One of the aforementioned birds purred by, inspecting them before jinking off towards more available food sources. The butterflies were unconcerned by any of this.
"Some of the petals are safe to eat," lectured Kaz, "but it's advisable to order them at the restaurant. They have food safety indicators there." Including all known sensitivity indicators. Access to ingredient information had become far more amenable after multi-species tourism.
"Is it possible to feed some of these creatures?" asked Sar. "I am experiencing the very Human desire to pet them."
Kaz laughed. "Through to the parrot enclosure, where they let you pet the lorikeets, rosellas, cockatiels, and the galahs. They will probably mob you the instant they see a tin plate."
"They commit aggression?"
"Only overcrowding. You're wearing the tough coat, you're fine." Kaz grinned in a way only Humans could. That mix of manic anticipation with the desire to share. "It's an experience."
Well. Human Kaz wasn't exactly lying...
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / mikdam]
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