What's in a name?

Origins

Phillipé sits alone, resting his back against a large piece of driftwood. He cradles the small object in one of his forelegs. "There's nothing left for me here," he thinks to himself.

He rises to his feet, pulls his arm back, and tosses the object. He watches it arc, then suddenly catch with a bright glint of light.

"A shooting star?" he says aloud as a light sploosh is made in the pond from his toss.

No, that's... That's close. That's real close.

His eyes widen. He can see a figure in the middle of the light, whatever it is, hurdling towards the middle of Cranberry Pond.

Gods. It must be trying to brake... still going to crash...

Before Phillipé could think another word to himself he was waded into the middle of the pond, claws and forelegs stretched out.

WHAM

Waves ripple out from the center of the pond where Phillipé has been knocked over. Steam is rising from the two figures, and the water bubbles.

Phillipé looks down at what appears to be a ladybug with injured wings, perhaps from trying to brake such a fast descent. "You awake there, friend?" Groggy eyes seem to register him.

"ACK! What the 'ell are ye! Don't eat me!"
A watercolour illustration of ladybugs crawling over a dry leaf fallen in the grass

Companions

What you just read was the introduction to a story about a crab Bug-kin named Phillipé and a ladybug Bug-kin named St Frederick that go on a great quest together and learn the meaning of true friendship. It's also where Bug & Claw gets it's name from, and I hope you stick around for more of the story and to see the world get fleshed out. Right now, it's kind of like a cross between Nausicaa and Redwall.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram