Two years later

Rove swept out of her room, wings buzzing behind her. She ran quickly down the stairs, hoping to get out before either of her parents could stop her. Unfortunately, that was more easy said than done. Knowing about her frequent outings but not knowing where she went, Arachnid and Stinger often didn't let her out on her own.

Rove screeched to a halt at the front door. Polyplax waited there, arms crossed.

"If you're going out," She said, "You have to wear this. Your parents insisted." Polyplax passed her an orange cloak, made to look just like Stinger's.

Rove rolled her eyes but put it on. She didn't like capes, they covered her wings way too much, but she knew there was no point arguing. 

Polyplax stopped her again just as Rove started to head out the door. "And I'm coming with you."

"Polyplax, no! I'm not three anymore, I can go by myself."

"I'm sorry Rove, but it wasn't my decision. Now are we going or not?"

Rove moaned but went anyway. She figured Polyplax worked for her parents, she had done them the favour of 'looking after Rove' a few too many times to just be doing a friendly job for a neighbour. If Rove wanted to go to her actual destination, she would have to loose Polyplax first. 

Rove and Polyplax headed down two levels and through three checkpoints, passing through easily, and arriving at the weekly markets held on the lower levels. Rove knew exactly what store to go to, she was a frequent customer.

"Seedlings? Really? Don't you want to go to the Florist for plants?" Polyplax asked, wrinkling her nose at the store.

"Aw, come on. Seedlings has the better variety, anyway. You wait here."

Polyplax frowned but stayed where she was, lashing her orange tail. Rove stepped into the tent, breathing in the familiar smells of soil and leaves. A brown, yellow and pink SilkWing stood by the counter, watering a couple of young plants.

"Ah! Hello, Rove."

Rove smiled at the shop owner. "Hi Ringlet."

"I assume you want the 'special delivery' you ordered?"

Rove nodded. Ringlet headed to the back of the store and dug through a few sacks until she found a small brown bag underneath.

"I'm taking a big risk giving this to you," Ringlet said.

"I appreciate it. Thank-you." 

Ringlet passed her the bag and Rove handed her a cluster of Scales in return. Before she left, Rove un-fastened her cape and dropped it beside the counter. 

"I'll leave this here if that's ok. Pretend you didn't notice I 'dropped' it."

Ringlet nodded.

With a final wave of farewell, Rove slipped out of the tent.

Polyplax was still waiting for Rove around the corner from Seedlings. Naturally, the first thing she noticed was Rove's lack of cape.

"Where's your cloak?" She asked eyeing Rove suspiciously.

"Oh, whoops. I must have dropped it at Seedlings. Could you get it for me?"

Polyplax rolled here eyes and muttered something under her breath, but headed back towards the store. Rove waited until she disappeared, then turned and bolted to the edge of the Hive. She leapt off the edge and flung out her wings, and let them take her where her heart wanted to be.