The mite and the chameleon

There was once a chameleon who befriended a neighboorhood of insects. Everyday, it came to the Insect village to entertain the young insects whose parents were away for food hunting.

"Would you like to see the color of the blue velvety sky today?", the chameleon asked.

"Show us, show us please?", the young insects cried in unison.

"Oh surely you have seen its colors when you go out each day", it replied to them.

"Yes we do, but since we are so tiny, we barely see it close enough.", one insect said.

"Yes that's true", the others agreed.

And so the chameleon brought out a blue cloth, lied on it, and viola! The insects could barely see their entertaining friend because it blended perfectly on the cloth.

"Wow! That's pretty amazing", an insect said.

"Do it again", exclaimed the youngest of the brood.

"Oh, let's try another game. How about we play hide and seek?"

The little insects at once sprinted to their little feet. When no one was in sight, the chameleon blended with the dried leaves and tiptoed stealthily. This was its third time to visit the bug world and caught no less than ten of their youngs.

"They would not think it's me behind the loss", it thought to himself as it moved to find the nearest prey. His mind raced to the thoughts of different delectable delights he would make out of them.

"I bet you could not change in all colors".

The chameleon turned to see a minuscule mite scratching what appears to be its body with its tarsal claws.

Composing himself, the chameleon switched to fashion the color of the fresh leaves while walking towards the mite.

"How about that for a color switch, little friend.." it said, all the while preparing its first tongue-stretch for the day.

"I bet you are no match to the lord chameleon of the North", the mite said cooly.

The chameleon's tongue dropped. His eyes bulged as he circled around the mite.

"And who is this lord chameleon of the North that you speak of?"

The mite brushed its bristles and hairs. "Oh you probably don't know him. Pity, he must only prefer chameleon friends who can do as much switch colors as there is."

With raised spiked crests, the chameleon said, "Try me... I can do as much as that lord or vasal cold-blooded reptile"

"That's interesting. Let's see. For a starter, his majesty of the North can sneak into a lion's den without waking any member of the pack", the mite challenged.

Standing erect and looking ahead, the chameleon said, "Stand aside. Keep pace and see me ace such job".

The young bug followed as the chameleon and watched him stealthily moved with its feet and fascicles. When they were few feet away from the lion's den, the mite whispered.

"Just one more thing Mr. Chameleon the Challenger, his majesty of the North do bring something for its sweeth tooth"

"Something what?", the chameleon mumbled.

"Oh something like a berry or two which it carries with its front toes, how cool for a chameleon champ he is" the mite said with pride.

"Consider it done. How does a bunch of blackberries sound?", withdrawing from mites, it it clawed its way up a blackberry.

"Wow, you are one mighty rival to his majesty of the North... go my future King Chameleon, prove your valor worthy of the title. But first you must rest my mighty one, and wait for the perfect timing. You see, the lord chameleon of the North only sneaks into the lions' den when he sees a signal - as for you, make your move my future King when you see a firefly just before the den's mouth."

"Very well, I shall.be ready with your signal."

Feeling the crown as an added glory to its head ornamentation, the chameleon clawed its way up once again to the nearest bark. He could not wait to march gloriously to the lion's den. Meanwhile, the mite rushed to the hive of bees they passed by.

"What's the rush you little mite?" the queen bee asked.

"Oh mother of the bees, your majesty, ten of my friends have been eaten by a cunning chameleon. Please help me save the lives of the others from our village from him", the mite requested.

The mite recounted how he lured the chameleon to the lion's den.

"So you want us to wake the lions the moment the chameleon is inside their den?"

"And if I find favor to your eyes my queen, please encircle the chameleon too"

The queen approached the mite. "You really want the end of him, do you think that is fair?

The mite bowed down, "Oh no my queen, I would not go down to the level of a jungle specie killing its own... please trust me on this one, your majesty".

"Very well," the queen said. "There is not time to spare. Vanguard bees, buzz the word, I want three swarms of your most valiant and buzzing bees to do this mission"

"And one more favor my queen", the mite said in a low voice.

"Yes my dear, what is it?"

"If I could just make my way faster there, there is one more task I need to do to make this mission work."

"Very well, I will fly you over there myself in no time."

Before the mite can say a word, the queen grabbed it by its sternal plate and for the first time, it went up, up and up.

"The world is so beautiful from up here", each second gripping tighter with its vow to make his plan work.

"This is how far I can go," the queen said, landing him in the middle of the lion's den. "My soldier bees must be here any second. I trust in you, you can do this"

He bowed low, and with the queen gone, the mite rushed to his plans.

Summoning a firefly pal, it sent the signal for the chameleon. Eager to claim its mighty throne - as King Chameleon I, the chameleon made its stealthiest moves inside the den. But it was not a step closer to the middle, it heard the buzzing sounds. Before it can blink, the bees were around him

"What the... it must be these berries..I am so stupid! That mite... just wait and see", it thought. It threw the berries to shoo the swarms but it was too late. Awakening the lions, the chameleon sprinted like he never did before, but not fast enough for the King to grab hold its tail.

"Oh mighty and wise one, I was just passing through", it said with a wide grin, making effort to show its teeth to add sincerity to its feeble smile.

The mite appeared at the moment and said, "Oh King, you by far work hardest to make.our jungle safe for everyone. As a present, may I present to you from the Insect Village, a gift of gratitude. This chameleon is by far a great entertainer my lord. May you find his color switching tricks relaxing to you and your pack"

The King accepted the gratitude of gift, amused with the sample color tricks it saw from the shivering, grinning chameleon.

And so the mite returned to the village with its new found allies of bees, happy and thankful to save the day for all its kinds.