“Now, now my dear,” said the butterfly, “Are you sure you don’t have any idea where you lived?”
Thumbelina didn’t and shook her head still weeping. “Well I’ll fly around spreading word to the insects, to look out for a couple who is searching for a tiny woman. But for now you need to stay somewhere safe while we search. It’s likely you’ll be recaptured if we leave you outside. I have a friend Ms. Doormouse who will take you in.
The butterfly led the way to an opening in the roots of a great tree and there was an almost invisible, tiny door. They knocked and it was opened.
“Hello Butterfly” she said smiling, “and who is this?”
Butterfly smiled too, “Hello Ms. Doormouse, this young lady is Thumbelina. She was kidnapped by that awful frog Cur-Mutt. She just escaped and she needs a place to stay. I’m going to go out to spread the word to the insects to find her home.”
“Oh certainly, poor dear, of course she can stay here. Come in. Someone will get that damned frog one day. Butterfly will you come in as well?”
“No thank you Ms. D I have to alert the bugs and begin the search. I’ll be in to fill you in as I get information. “
Thumbelina thanked Butterfly again and gave him a grateful hug, then went inside with the mouse.
“Now my dear you’ve had quite a traumatic night. You can lie down and try to sleep or if you need me I’ll be right around. We’ll put you on this soft bit of straw by the fireplace. I’ll sleep by the kitchen.” She waved across the room it was a lovely little cottage-y home even though it was underground.
Thumbelina hardly took it in. Her strength was rapidly slipping away and it had been a very, very long night with hardly any sleep. She lay down and thought of her parents who would soon be waking up to find her gone. Her stomach clenched but deep sleep of exhaustion overcame her anyway.
*****
Thumbelina’s parents did wake up and they did panic. They searched everywhere for her and only found a few frog prints which disappeared in the high grass towards the swamp. They scoured the area but to no avail. They didn’t give up though; they continued the search day after day.
*****
Day after day passed for Thumbelina too, Ms. Doormouse, Doreen, as she insisted ‘pretty young things’ call her, was a devout lesbian but in no way predatory toward Thumbelina. Doreen actually had two or three young females of various species visit her each week. During those visits Thumbelina preferred to go for a stroll in the undergrowth. To collect kindling for the fireplace, while her hostess enjoyed herself.
Doreen was very flirtatious with Thumbelina. “Sweetie that night gown needs cleaning here take it off and I’ll wash it.” She said one morning.
“Do you have anything that I can wear in the meantime?” Thumbelina asked.
“Sweetie my only clothing is this apron I always wear. Would you like to wear that?”
“I suppose it would be better than nothing.”
“Oh so you do want to see me naked. Why didn’t you ask earlier Beautiful?”Doreen sensually dropped her apron to the floor.
“Oh no I meant…” Thumbelina was flustered.
Doreen laughed “Oh Hun I know you like men (though I can’t understand why) but you can’t blame me for trying. You wear the apron; if I walk on all fours I can hide my bits if I want to.” She dropped down but flicked her tail so that her ‘bits’ were very visible to Thumbelina. She laughed more as she went out for the washing.
Thumbelina wore the apron which covered her front but left her back bare. Doreen saw and wolf whistled and twice smacked her butt like a gym towel with her tail tip. It was good fun and both women laughed.
Later, Doreen returned with the clean nightgown, saying “there you are dear.” Thumbelina thanked her. Thumbelina was especially self conscious the next few days because the hair that was ripped off of her tiny cunt was now beginning to grow back. It was painful and itchy, and Thumbelina would trade between sitting uncomfortably, squirming about, and rubbing and scratching at herself whenever she was alone.
Doreen however came in, interrupting Thumbelina during one on these moments. Thumbelina already filled with shame and embarrassment became tearful.
“Darling there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s perfectly fine to touch yourself. Though it’s not as much fun as when someone else does it,” she smiled and winked.
“No I wasn’t; really I wasn’t. It just itches so much; the hair is starting to grow back.”
“Have you put anything on it? Let me see how bad it is.”
“Doreen! I can’t do that.”
“Nonsense, Trust me Hun. When it comes to that area I’m an expert.”
Thumbelina reluctantly uncovered herself. The red, irritated skin was bumpy from the stubble regrowing. “Oh honey that is bad. I’ll look for some ointment for it. Would you like me to rub it in for you?”
“No Doreen, I can do it myself just fine.”
“You know the best thing would be a tongue bath.”
Thumbelina was getting used to this and laughed, “No thanks Doreen.”
“Should I stick around to watch you rub yourself make sure it goes ok?” Thumbelina just smiled and shook her head ‘no.’ “Oh well can’t blame a girl for trying.”
*****
One day when Doreen had a slinky sultry female ferret over for a visit Thumbelina went out for a walk. As she strolled she heard a rustle in a nearby bush and an anguished cry of pain. She rushed into the bush to see a sparrow thrashing against the bush with its wing caught between two branches. When it saw Thumbelina it stilled and bowed lowly and spoke.
“Oh Mistress, thank goodness you found me I became separated from the rest of the outing and crashed into this bush. I fear that I’m fairly injured.”
“Poor thing,” cried Thumbelina and rushed to help. She climbed up the bush and pushed the two branches apart so that the sparrow could get out. He looked at her oddly for a full moment until she asked, “Why do you look at me like that?”
“I thought you were one of us but you aren’t are you?”
“I’m not a bird if that’s what you mean.”
“Anyone can see you’re not a bird silly girl. I mean you’re not part of the Court.”
“Court?” Thumbelina was thoroughly confused.
“The Faerie Court, You’re no faerie. You don’t have wings and you climbed the bush to move the branches instead of flying up and release you magically.”
“I’m certainly not a faerie. I didn’t know they actually existed. Do they? Are they my size?”
“They do exist and they are just your size. Though most are a tiny bit taller than you I suppose. Is there someplace you can take me? I’m afraid I can’t fly for a while, I need to heal.”
“I’m staying with Doreen. I mean Ms. Doormouse. I can ask if you can stay there as well.”
Sparrow was grateful. He and Thumbelina exchanged stories. Thumbelina told of her kidnap and escape and the insects search for her family. Sparrow told of his life as a steed in the Royal Faerie Calvary, life in the roosting stables and the royal family: the King, the Queen and the Prince.
Sparrow was the prince’s favorite steed, He had another he rode for ceremonial purposes, which sparrow derisively referred to as ‘the pretty one,’ “but I’m his favorite. I’m braver.”
Thumbelina was intrigued, and wondered what life must be with winged people her size, as she took Sparrow back to Doreen’s. They found Doreen’s company had left and Doreen was in a very amiable and satisfied mood. She said she’d let Sparrow roost in the corner.
*****
It was difficult to say how well Doreen and Sparrow got along. Sparrow was at first quite taken with Doreen but upon learning that her tastes ran a different way was quieted. Doreen seemed to delight in teasing Sparrow about it and often used that as an excuse to flirt even more heavily with Thumbelina. However in all the bird and mouse were becoming fast friends.
*****
Thumbelina’s parents continued to search for her, one afternoon they were in a dark wood and they came across a dilapidated cottage. They decided to knock and it was answered by an old woman. The very one who gave Thumbelina’s seed to the wife years before.
With recognition the wife entreats the woman, “Madam I don’t think you’d remember us you gave us our daughter years ago. Well you gave us the seed that gave us our daughter Thumbelina. She’s been kidnapped madam. We’re desperate for any help.”
The old woman seemed to remember them then, “Oh I remember you. You were kind to me, good sort of people. I’ll help if I can. Make us some tea and let me think now…hmm.” The woman fell silent.
A cup of tea later the woman looked up. “I don’t know what I can do myself. It’s not something I can magic a solution to. You need a search party; but people our size aren’t good at finding folk that size. I’ll ask the wee folk to help. It’s almost the full moon, and I’ll surely see them at their court then.”
The couple was confused but they knew they were granted a favor and were grateful. The old
woman said she’d have more information for them after the full moon.
*****
You may be wondering, what Butterfly has been doing all this time? He had promised to help, but I haven’t mentioned how he was getting on. He had checked in with Thumbelina and Doreen about once a month. By now though it had been two months since the kidnapping and a fortnight since Thumbelina helped Sparrow, who was healing nicely, when Butterfly came back.
Butterfly had spread word throughout the insect world that Thumbelina had been kidnapped by Cur-Mutt and was staying at Ms. Doormouse’s. The insects knew to look for a couple searching for a tiny woman. The problem was that her parents didn’t really talk to others about it. They still feared her being put in an oddity display or something like that. So when an insect passed by the sad quiet couple they didn’t realize it was them that they were charged to find.
Butterfly noticed Sparrow who hadn’t been there on his last visit and they were introduced. Butterfly did notice a lot of faerie activity lately but they didn’t cross paths. They certainly could have been a search party.
Butterfly would try to catch them when he next saw them and again spread word around to other bugs. Though with Sparrow’s healing quickly in a week he’d be able to fly at least to his home at the faerie court.
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