The Adventure of Cassandra Caterpillar (continued)

Later that evening, as twilight flooded the land, one of Cassandra’s friends, Francis the Frog, was resting at the bottom of the tree. After exchanging greetings, she asked her friend the same question that she asked the hare.

Francis thought a moment and reflected on the problem. “Perhaps you’re a change animal, like me.” said Francis. “When I was very young, I only had a tail, and I could only breathe in the water which meant I could never go on land. After a while, I grew legs and a pair of lungs. I went through some awkward times learning to breathe air, and to hop on the land. But now I enjoy both the land and water.”

Cassandra thought about what Francis said. She remembered that as she grew sometimes her shell would get very tight and uncomfortable. After a while, it got so tight, that it would break, and a new one would grow in its place. Yes, perhaps, she was a change animal.

Cassandra decided that she would live like the hares, eating, making friends and enjoying life. The day came, when one by one the caterpillars on the great ash tree in the middle of the meadow attached themselves to branches and became very still. Cassandra noticed that too she was becoming very slow. She attached herself to a branch, her shell was becoming tight again. She became very still, after talking to Francis she decided not to worry too much, perhaps this was the time of change.