40 - 13 - Impaled

<Marco! You'd better look out!> Rachel called.

And then the monster insect hit the bee. Hard. Wrapped its horrible legs around it, capturing the smaller insect in a spiny, iron maiden-like prison.

Like one gigantic mutant insect they flew. The bee struggled but to no effect,

And then the big bandit stabbed the bee with its needle-nose. Had to be sucking the life from the bee, because when the big insect released the carcass it was withered and dry.

A terrible close call. But the killer insect had flown out of sight . . .

<Marco! He's coming back for you!>

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

<He's about a foot behind you; maybe six inches up. I'll try to get him but . . .>

<Ahhhhh!>

I felt one of his barbed legs pierce my abdomen.

No no no no!

A second leg impaled me from the other side.

I was a skewered snack for a seriously unattractive insect.

At least it would be quick. How long had it taken this thing to suck the life out of the other bee?

I felt the proboscis against my back. The very tip of the deadly sucking needle.

WHOOOOSSSHHH!

A massive gust of wind sent me swirling, then falling toward the ground.

Falling, but not dead.

I tried to move my wings, get control. But they were still pinned against my body by the grip of the demon on my back.

Thump!

I hit the ground. Stunned but alive.

<Marco!> Rachel cried. <Are you okay?>

<I'm alive,> I said. <But not okay. The thing's still got me!>

<Oh, you're fine,> she said. <I got him. Tore him right in half. Sorry I let you fall.>

<You're forgiven. Just get me the heck out of here, will you?>

A bald eagle dive-bombing bugs in the backyard? Not too odd.

With massive eagle claws, Rachel grabbed me and what was left of the killer. We flew into the dense trees back by the hive where, one at a time, we demorphed and remorphed. Got ready to try this insane thing again.